Freedom

God doesn't want us to harm each other, but he gives us the freedom to do so.

We can choose to benefit each other, or we can choose to hurt each other.  I go about my daily life, and I try to be kind to others, or at least keep my bad thoughts to myself.  However, I could, at any moment, choose to hurt someone else.  I could hurt them emotionally or physically.  I could do anything, and God, most likely, would not stop me.  Why?  He won't stop me because he gives me free will.  He lets me choose my path and my actions - good or bad.

In a vacuum, that's no problem, but we don't live in a vacuum.  My actions cause reactions.  What I do will usually impact someone else.  It's like we're a bunch of marbles pinging around and hitting each other.  Unfortunately, sometimes we crack or destroy the other marbles, which wouldn't be a big deal if those marbles weren't actually people.

We are cracked or destroyed when people do any number of terrible things.  As humans, we can kill one another, rape one another, lie to one another, steal from one another, gossip about one another, abuse one another, and on and on.  We have the capacity to do unspeakable things to those around us, and God gives us that free will.  He doesn't do that because he is bad or because he wants those things.  He gives us free will, and he asks us to choose what is right, but he doesn't force us.  It's our choice.  It's up to us.

You can choose to murder others by setting bombs and blowing them up at public gatherings.  You can choose to kill innocent children by going into their school and shooting them down.  You can choose to deliver live babies in your clinic and then sever their spinal cords in order to get rid of them.  You can choose to do all those things, but you can also choose to do none of those things.  Instead, you can choose to shield, and heal, and care for others.  You can choose to love others.  You can choose to protect the lives of those with whom you share this earth.

With our free will, those are the things we should choose.  Those are the things that God wants us to choose.  Therefore, let us choose godliness.  Let us choose everything that is good, and holy, and righteous.

I also believe that it is not our natural inclination to do good.  I believe that we are less than perfect, and therefore, we tend to think about what will benefit us the most.  This leads to selfishness and selfish actions big and small, but it doesn't have to end there.  We can ask God to help us.  We can ask him to help us love, care for, protect, promote, uphold, maintain, heal, save, and uplift those around us.  If we ask, he will help us.  If we seek him, he will answer.

So, for real, we need to seek him.  We need to ask for help.  We need to say, God, help me love you with everything I have, and help me love others as myself.  That's what he wants, so I can guarantee he'll give us a hand.

But even if he doesn't...

King Nebuchadnezzar creates a golden statue, tells everyone they have to worship it, and also says that if they don't, he'll kill them.

Then enter some guys who must have had a beef because they tell the king, "But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Of course, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego won't worship this idol because they worship the one true God.  Consequently, the king has these three guys come out, and he gives them another chance to bow down.  He tells them, basically, do it or die.  If you ask me, he seems a little prone to anger and rash behavior, but moving on...

Well, these guys go ahead and say, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from You Majesty's hand."

I read this, and I think, yeah Nebuchadnezzar, in your face.  God can save them from you.  You don't scare these guys. Ha!

Then I continue reading, and they say, "But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Wait, what?  What was that?  You said even if he doesn't...You mean, even if he doesn't, you won't be angry and bitter and hate him and stop believing?  You won't curse him and ask him how he could do that to you after you were so faithful?  You won't say, "What a joke!  I never should have believed.  What a waste of time!"

Because, man, I think that's how I would react.  I would probably think, seriously, I talked you up and you just let me die?  How could you do that to me?  Don't you love me?  Why wouldn't you want to save me from that pain and from the cutting off of my life?  How could you watch as someone harmed me?  What's wrong with you?  How could I believe in a God who would let that happen?  I'm pretty sure that is exactly what I would say.

I want that though, man.  Seriously.  I want to be able to say, "I know that God can deliver me from any terrible thing that could happen to me, and yet, even if he doesn't, even if something happens and it is ridiculously horrible, I will still worship God, and I will still give up my life in service of him."

That blows my mind though, and I feel like I'm not there, and I don't know how to get there, but that's where I want to be.

(Daniel 3)

Some Nights and Noun Clauses

You know you're really into teaching English when you're excited that a song you're listening to is a good example of using noun clauses and that you can use it in your grammar class.

Some Nights by FUN.

Some nights I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights I call it a draw
Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights I wish they'd just fall off

But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh
Woah oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Woah oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Most nights I don't know anymore...
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh,
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh

This is it, boys, this is war - what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white
I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked,
But here they come again to jack my style

That's alright (that's alright)
I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am
Oh, who am I? Mmm... Mmm...

Well, some nights I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change.
And some nights I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights I always win, I always win...

But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
Woah oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Woah oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Most nights I don't know... (oh, come on)

So this is it. I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?

(Come on)

No. When I see stars, when I see, when I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like this one, so come on.
Oh, come on. Oh, come on. Oh, come on!

Well, that is it guys, that is all - five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks at home;
Sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
Who the f**k wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?

My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she calls "love"
When I look into my nephew's eyes...
Man, you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from...
Some terrible nights... ah...

Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh,
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh

The other night you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up but we'd both agree

It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... Oh...
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... Oh...