We Are Jonah

Fishing for Hearts...

2007-12-16T17:25:00.000-08:00

I have just been reading a little bit of Calvin's commentary on the book of James, and something stuck out at me about the way that our wayward little hearts work...

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed"
- James 1:14
The words are very striking, — “But every one is tempted (or, seduced) when, by his own lust, he is drawn away, (that is, from what is good,) and is caught by a bait (or, ensnared.)” He is in the first drawn off from the line of duty, and then he is caught by something that is pleasing and plausible, but like the bait, it has in it a deadly hook.
- John Calvin, "Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles" (link)

It would seem that first we are lured away from something, then lured toward something, hmm... Of course! How else could the blessed children of God, who have been shown the immeasurable gift of knowing the love and presence of our Lord, be led away so easily, except by clouding our vision of what we already have in Christ? If, instead, we would see and cherish the ultimate worth of Christ our saviour, our Lord, our meaning, then the deceitfulness of riches and the allure of pleasure would hold nothing for us.

May it be so, Lord. May it be so!

Too Easily Pleased...

2007-12-16T16:42:00.000-08:00

I really love C.S. Lewis. Check it out:

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, buttoo weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
- C.S. Lewis, "The Weight of Glory" (link)

This is me, man. I am an ignorant child who escapes into lame, waste-of-time interests when I could have so much more. I join with billions across the world in entertaining myself to death every day watching other people's (made-up) lives on the idiot box, missing the glories that hide just under the surface of my own life. I busy myself on the Internet during my lunch break, forgetting to look outside at the sunshine-soaked day that I have been given. I lounge around in my house, my "fortress of solitude", rather than talking to my neighbours who I genuinely like, and who I think genuinely like me, too... I grumble about the things that I don't like at church, then grumble when I am offered the chance to do something about it, because it's so much work. I feel bored and listless in my life with God, forgetting that it is *God's* life, lived through me.

Think about that for one second - the life of God, in us. The boundless, formless, unfathomable power of the only wise God, the one who brought back Christ, that good shepherd, from the dead - is at work in us! The power of the age to come. The one who hovered over the waters at the beginning of creation, bringing life from nothingness. Bringing light out of darkness. Bringing hope and meaning from disorder and array. This is the one that is in us. This is "Christ in us, the hope of glory". If that doesn't brighten your heart, stop you dead in your tracks and make you rethink logging onto MySpace, there's something wrong here.

Here we are now, entertain us

2007-11-28T16:58:00.000-08:00

Hi again. Yes, it has been a while. I'm sorry, ok? :(

That's what this post is about, actually. You see, I haven't been around much lately because I've had my head buried in books, or taking notes, or just generally mulling over a bunch of stuff. And not my usual, aetherial, God-related, head-in-the-clouds sort of stuff like soteriology, missiology, culture, philosophy or any of the -ism's, either. Nothing even nearing the (oft-lacking) usefulness of these subjects, unfortunately.

What *have* I been doing, then?

At the risk of sounding like even more of a nerd (or a devil worshipper, to some...), Richard (go to RichardSpace) and I have gotten back into an old highschool pasttime... roleplaying. Yes, I said it, and on the IntarWubs for all to see, too.

And even worse, we've subverted the potentially indie-cool Brad (who lives here and here) and lured him into the coolness-sapping world of RPGs. It's over for him now, even though he still trucks with the terribly cool Annie Shannon. I think I deserve a +2 halberd for that, or at least some extra XP. (note: the preceding line was a really terrible DnD joke, and if you don't get it, you should count yourself lucky)

Beyond the damage that this does to my already fragile social standing, I am aware of a danger in all this stuff, despite the fun.

What the problem is not...

First, I want to say very clearly that I don't believe any of that Jack Chick crap about Dungeons and Dragons luring people into Satanism or roleplaying games prompting suicide. Just as listening to rock music or having a glass of wine doesn't invite demons to eat your soul, playing a game does not open you up to "dark forces". I don't think that I even need to go into all the reasons why Chick is a wackjob. At least I hope I don't.

The problem that this stuff poses for me is of a different variety...

What the problem really is...

As you may know, I am a bit of a "thinker". I think a lot, I dwell a lot. I think that I have an obsessive personality. When I find something that grabs my attention, I think about it until I can't think about it anymore, often leaving other stuff (maybe the last thing that grabbed my attention) by the wayside. This may sometimes be good (being obsessed with learning more about God, or investigating how culture really does interact with current expressions of Church), but at times it becomes nothing more than delving into a fantasy world as a way of escaping the humdrum tedium of "real" life.

There's the problem, though. The fantasy world of roleplaying is not real. The real world is. The real world is where we are now, where God is, where people are suffering and dying and needing help. The real world is where we are called to go, where the harvest is waiting, and where we are needed. It's fine to read books. It's fine to write books. It's even fine to make up a character and play them in a roleplaying game (which is almost the same, in my understanding.)

There's nothing wrong with being entertained. But we must, must recognise that we're not here to be entertained. We are here at the desire of a sovereign God. We are here at the command of our King whom we love. We were born for him, we were saved by him and for him. He is the "author" of our story, and it's not right that we whittle away our time on someone else's creation while we neglect our place in God's creation.

So yeah, this is preachy, but at myself. I am fasting roleplaying games, not as some sort of "I'm so holy because I'm not reading a certain book", but because time is a precious, fleeting thing, and I don't have enough of it to go 'round. God needs more of my time. The family that God has gifted me with need more. The wife of my youth needs me to be there for her. The Church needs me to present. My friends need me to listen. The world needs me to act. And God commands that my priorities be in order. There will be no other "gods" before him, no idols of pleasure and entertainment. Nothing else which pleases me like him.

"Thou and thou only, first in my heart
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art"

Hosanna

2007-11-13T16:09:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know this is another cheap post, but I've got more lyrics for you -- Hosanna and Belong, by Jason Morant. Seriously, check these songs out on his MySpace. The ambient instrumental bits in Hosanna are awesome...

Hosanna

There was a man who smiled like the sunrise
His face I can’t forget
His love displayed was unlike any other
He humbly dressed just like a vagabond with
Discourse like a King
And when he talked the angels stopped to listen

Hosanna Filio David, Hosanna In Altisimis
(trans: Hosanna, Son of David, Hosanna in the Highest)

He often spoke about a Kingdom coming
His words I can’t forget
Where all who come may rest beneath His mercy
Where royalty is flowing through the veins of
Every citizen
And every soul is treasured like a promise

Belong

With me on Your mind
You looked through time
And saw what I
Would become without Your blood
Without Your breath
And so You came
And You drank from that precious cup
You partook with love
And that war You won
For I could do nothing
No sword in hand
No way to stand and fight

Now I forever belong to You
I will always belong to You

If on Your throne You'd stayed
If justice had her way
Alone I'd have remained
Without this song to sing
And Your breath to breathe
And so You bled for me

And I forever belong to You
And I will always belong to You

I think I've realised what I like about them so much -- they are just so simple, so focussed, so centred on Jesus. That's awesome, man. We need more stuff like that, rather than the "Jesus makes me strong and happy" or "I'm gonna do great things 'cos I've got the Spirit's power" rubbish that gets churned out... It also helps that they're the really mellow, ambient, (some may say "whiny") style that I've come to love, too...

Nothing Without You

2007-11-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know, it's been a while, but to make amends I've got the words to a song by an artist that I've recently fallen in love with -- Phil Danyew. If I wasn't already married... and a man... then oh yes, I would bear his children. Good, strong boys to bear his name, they would be.

Uh... OK... moving right along. Check it out:

Nothing Without You

How is the sun shining on it's own?
How does the song bird learn it's song?
I can search the world both high and low
There are so many answers i will never know

Our world is beautiful
But i think it would be nothing without You
Life is wonderful.
It moves my soul
But I know I'd be nothing without You ... Without You

When the sower starts to sow
How does the flower start to grow?
Why do the weeds then start to choke?
In the same bed is death and life below

Time is cavalier,
A one track mind to persevere but
Soon it will crumble in the dirt
So choose this day whom You will serve

Our world is beautiful
But i think it would be nothing without You
Life is wonderful. It moves my soul
But I know I'd be nothing without You ... Without You

Creepy!

2007-10-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Check it out - possibly the creepiest thing I have ever seen - hand soap! Seriously, who would you run these little hands along their naked skin?!?!?11one

A Big View of Redemption

2007-09-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

This here is what makes me a Calvinist (and to want buy this book, too) --

“At their best, Reformed Christians take a very big view of redemption because they take a very big view of fallenness. If all has been created good and all has been corrupted, then all must be redeemed. God isn’t content to save souls; God wants to save bodies too. God isn’t content to save human beings in their individual activities; God wants to save social systems and economic structures too…”

“Everything corrupt needs to be redeemed, and that includes the whole natural world, which both sings and groans…The whole world belongs to God, the whole world has fallen, the whole world needs to be redeemed - every last person, place, organization, and program; all “rocks and trees and skies and seas”; in fact, “every square inch,” as Abraham Kuyper said. The whole creation is “a theater for the mighty works of God,” first in creation and then in re-creation.”

- Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Engaging God’s Word

To-ler-ance?

2007-09-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

"It used to be that tolerance was the virtue of the person who held strong views about something or other, but who insisted that those who disagreed had an equal right to defend their views – the sort of stance picked up in the slogan, 'I may detest your opinions, but I shall defend to the death your right to speak them.' Today, however, tolerance is the virtue of the person who holds no strong views, except for the strongly held view that it is wrong to hold strong views, or to indicate that someone else might be wrong."

- D.A. Carson, Maintaining Scientific and Christian Truths in a Postmodern World

A Creed... Pt 1

2007-09-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

There is a God. One God. He is good, all-powerful and perfect in every way. This God created all things, for a perfect purpose - to glorify him and enjoy him forever. To share life with him and to enjoy it. That is why trees grow, why birds sing and it's why we are born.

But mankind has rejected its Creator and its purpose, going our own way in this world. We have made up our own gods to fit our preferences more, or we have changed tact and decided to live as if the whole world revolves around us individually. Now we've reached the point where we don't know whether there even is a God, we've deceived ourselves so much. This selfishness - this self-worship and self-delusion - is the essence of "sin", and this leads to death in every sense of the word. We've murdered our relationship with our creator, we've poisoned our personal relationships with others, and we keep destroying the very world that we've been placed on. Death follows us wherever we go.

Now, having rejected the source of all life, love and truth, we find ourselves lost, confused, empty and dying, and we search frantically for something to help. Religion, money and pleasure all consistently fail to satisfy our deepest needs - to deal with this gaping whole in us.

But this is not the end. Seeing the mess that we have made, the God that we rejected - and continue to reject every day of our lives - chose to help us. God, the maker of all the universe, stepped off his throne and entered his own creation, for us.

He became a man, like us in every way except sin, and revealed the unseen God to us. He shattered all our preconceived notions of what God is like and what life is all about. He taught, he healed and he showed us what life could - and should - be like. He showed the poor and the rejected that God loves them. He showed the rich and the proud that they are chasing the wrong things. He ushered in "The Kingdom of God" - a glimpse of the way things were meant to be.

But we would not have it. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, was hated by the world that he came to save. The political powers and the religious elite framed him and had him brutally tortured and executed. The people who once hailed him as a leader and a visionary abandoned him to death. He died, and was buried for three days.

But even death was not the end. This was not just the execution of a small-time political criminal, but a sacrifice on behalf of a sin-riddled world. A willing acceptance of the punishment due to us, by the one we victimised. And now, with the punishment meted out and the ransom accepted, we find ourselves acquitted by our Judge and welcomed back into the arms of our Creator. In the death of Jesus, mankind was and is reconciled to God.

... Part Deux coming soon...

Commuters - Redeem the Time

2007-08-30T23:45:00.000-07:00

I - as you may also - catch the train home from work every night.

It is my first breath of fresh air and freedom after work, and it normally precedes the "dinner-bath-bed" rush that begins when I get home. You see, by the time I get home the kids are normally way into "Arsenic Hour", or the "5 o'clock Fit", as we've dubbed it, and Marianne is on a razor thin edge between "loving mother of 3" and "missing person". The moment that I set foot in the house at 5:45, it is complete madness until about 7:15.

I often occupy myself during my voyage ("into the mouth of madness", as it were) by reading, flicking through a copy of MX if one has been left nearby, or listening in on other train-dweller's conversations. If my day was really tough, I may even just stare blankly into space for 20 minutes.

But Justin Taylor from Between Two Worlds has done many times, I've been challenged to do something more with my time than waste it. This time is not just a last little moment of relaxation before stepping into a warzone, but a transition time where I make sure that my head and my heart are in the right place to be the servant-leader that I should be to my family.

Home is not just the place where I put my feet up and relax after work. First and foremost, it is the place where I engage in some of my most sacred duties, to shepherd - that is look after, teach, guide, protect and care for - my wife and children. My roles as a father and a husband are, after my role as a son of God, the most important ones I have, and I can tell you that after a long day, I need to get my head in the right zone to appreciate that fact.

So, whether you're a husband / dad or not, check out http://theologica.blogspot.com/2007/08/transitioning-your-soul-during-your.html and think about it. We *all* need to - continually - be transitioning our minds from self-centredness to God and other-centredness.

Grace and peace

-- Nate

A Snapshot...

2007-08-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I've been a little slow lately, but that's because I signed myself up to list all the people that have influenced me, and then I thought how biiiiiiiiig a list that would be... So yes, I wimped out, but it will come soon. I promise...

Instead, though, I thought I would offer a snapshot of where I'm at right now:

Wednesday 22nd August, 2007

I am feeling:

Meh. Still not quite well, but it seems that Marianne is getting over her cold, which makes me happy.

I am wearing:

My new funky jacket from JAG!. It's trenchcoat colour (yes, that may be the technical term), and Richard pointed out that from the waist up I look like Columbo or something, but I like it! It is seriously so cool to have a sister-in-law that works at a clothing store - I get to have nice looking clothes without spending the money that the horrible money-grubbing corporations ask for them - yay!

I am thinking:

About gender, creation, headship, submission and Corinthians 11. We're coming up to the good ol' controversial "Headship passage" in a few weeks, and I want to be thoroughly read, thought and prayed up.

As to where I land on the whole issue, I'm beginning to see more and more that in God's Kingdom, as in all of God's world, there are indeed relationships of authority and submission (as much as some may want to refute that, you really can't get out of it...), but the way that they play out is very different from the wisdom of the world.

So, we can't just throw this portion of inspired, divine Scripture out because we're uncomfortable with it. It doesn't work that way. What we must do, instead, is look at the "why's" of Paul's instuctions regarding head coverings and such. We must see what timeless truths these culturally-sensitive practices were symbolising and proclaiming, and then creatively and sensitively set about demonstrating the same truths to the world that we live in. Easy, right :) And FTR, thoughts are definitely welcome!

I am struggling:

To work out -- still! -- what we should do with regards to Church. Where to call home. Who to commit to building community with and working alongside. Honestly, it is driving Marianne and I slowly insane! We are craving community and belonging, but strangely reluctant to commit to anyone or anything. We are cynical and skeptical and lonely and more than a little scared >:(

Here's my current thoughts:

Williamstown Church of Christ, which we have been going to quite often, have asked me to join their "Experimental Design Team", which is all about taking stock of where the Church is and finding creative ways of moving into a more missional stance. It is admittedly a "long-term" solution, and I definitely do understand - major large-scale cultural change is a long process...

There are obviously people there who are passionate, aware of their problems and willing to change to see the community impacted with the Gospel, which is awesome! But on the downside - not counting us there are *TWO* people under 40 there! They realise that what they need is a surge of young, passionate, active, Jesus-lovin' young people, but I don't know whether it is even *possible* for a bunch of 40, 50 and 60-somethings to reach out, embrace and get along with young professionals and families... But then again, impossible is God's middle name (well not literally, but you know what I mean...)

On the other hand, John Jensen has told me about all the awesome things happening in Footscray and Ascot Vale, which is not just one Church doing alright, but his bunch, and Footscray Salvo's, and Footscray CoC, and people from Urban Seed in the city, all working together to take the Gospel to the kinds of places that need it most... They seem to have the right idea about spreading out and networking, and basically they seem to be actually *doing* what I've only found myself talking about.

I don't agree with all of the "emerging-ness" that I've seen, and I can see the potential in these sorts of situations to easily (and sometimes gladly) slip away from the historic, orthodox Christian faith for something a little more hip, accepting and modern. But honestly, sometimes, compared to some of what I've seen and heard, the EC can look like the freakin' doctrine police! And they don't always get it right, but at least they think about it...

I think that given a little time, I could fall absolutely in love with the passionate chasing of community, social justice and living differently to the cookie-cutter mold that the world bombards us with. I mean, younger people that actually love Jesus and are reaching for a better world? You don't see that everyday (unfortunately...) I think that, even if we go with Willy, I will be keeping in touch with John and his peeps. The opportunity to talk, learn, debate and argue with a real guy that loves and follows Jesus, and walks in his footsteps no matter how radical it may look, is far too much to let it slip by. And the creative ideas and opportunities for service that hooking up with these guys presents is amazing, especially in the oft-creatively burned out state that I find myself in quite a lot right now...

I'm Reading:

Not a lot of books, actually, though I'm really wanting to get my hands on "Colossians: Remixed". As I said before, we're going through 1 Corinthians right now, so I've been reading over that for the millionth time (which is excellent, difficult, challenging and really enlightening), and I'm reading Ezekiel and a little Hebrews in my own time... I just finished reading "Fallen", which is a novelisation of the Fall, told backwards from Cain's death to Eve's apple-biting. It's really good, kind of weird, excellently written and a little angry at God... =/

Finally, I am listening:

To a lot of free stuff on MySpace. I am, unexpectedly, really getting into The Killers and The Strokes, as well as the current crazes of Muse, Copeland and Dashboard Confessional, though they've recently replaced all their songs and I'm really missing "Stolen".

Just yesterday I even found myself listening to Panic! At the Disco and 30 Seconds to Mars (two bandnames that I really love, actually), and on the rare moments that I'm away from the computer, I'm listening to Switchfoot's "Oh, Gravity" and "The Beautiful Letdown" albums on repeat.

Something Else Completely Different...

2007-08-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Hey, check this out -- 101 Frightening Ice Cream Flavors from Around the World! All I can say is:

I love them, they are generally very hard-working, always entertaining, and they make some fun computer games, but the Japanese freak me out!

Some of the ice creams displayed here are weird, funny and pretty gross-looking, but some of the monstrosities that have come out of Japanese ice-cream makers are uniquely disturbing...

Here's my Top 3 Freaky Ice-Creams:

1. Raw Horseflesh Ice-cream
2. Deep Sea Water Ice-cream

3. Charcoal Ice-Cream

It must be said, though, that the Japanese have given us Iron Chef and ninjas, so I suppose that putting raw freaking fish in ice-cream can be forgiven...

On Prophecy...

2007-08-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, 'Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

'Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken.'"

- Isaiah 4:3-5 *

OK, maybe you thought I was going to start some long-winded controversial rant on what prophecy is and what it's not, but I won't. Yet (hee!)

Instead, I will point out some elements that are *always* there in true prophecy, from Ezekiel's "woes" to Mary's Magnificat --

God's Words build up and tearing down. They pronounce "woe" and speak comfort. They exalt the valleys - the humble, people downtrodden and oppressed, people suffering under God's judgement - and bring low every mountain - that is, the proud and arrogant, the fools who say there is no God, and the hypocrites who profess God with their mouth but deny him by their actions.

God's Word brings forth equality, births righteousness ("making the crooked straight") and softens hearts to God ("making the rough plain"). It "prepares the way". And it does all this for the glory of God - so that "all flesh may see it together" and that all may praise God's glorious grace.

So, here are some telltale signs of true prophecy -

It doesn't tickle the ears. It doesn't speak of "power" and "great authority". Often, it's what you really don't want to hear.
It doesn't just condemn, and it doesn't just give warm fuzzies. It convicts, it brings low those that need it, and it encourages and lifts up those who need it.
It brings forth fruit of righteousness. It inspires and compels people to turn away from sin and to renew their passion for God and his purposes in the world.
It has it's eyes firmly planted on what's most important. It realises that all this - all that we do, all that we are - is for the glory of God. Everything is "so that ye may know that I am the Lord".

* - I chose KJV this time. I think that the "thee"s and "thou"s were particularly appropriate when talking about prophecy. Heh.

Now for something completely different...

2007-08-08T16:51:00.001-07:00

Check this out - this is a really awesome old hymn by a guy named William Cowper:

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way
his wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs
and works his sovereign will.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
the clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
in blessings on your head.

His purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
and scan his work in vain:
God is his own interpreter,
and he will make it plain.

The most far out thing, though, is that this wasn't written by some ivory tower intellectual professional hymn writer - Cowper (pronounced like "Cooper", FTR) was a British poet and writer, and was all about putting real-life experience into writing, rather than delving into lofty, intellectual realms that are disconnected from real, lived experience.

And beyond that, this glorious song that praises God's sovereign might even through suffering was written by a man who suffered his entire life through severe depression, particularly so after the death of his wife.

He never bounced back from that, you see. He never saw the light at the end of the tunnel while he was still on this earth. But he still held on, still believed in the mighty God that holds every circumstance - good and ill - in his hands. God does move in mysterious ways, which is often uncomfortable, difficult and painful for us to come to terms with.

Sometimes, for reasons we may never know on this side of eternity, his ways involve us suffering extreme pain and loss. But we will be alright if we can learn to say, with our brother William Cowper, "His purposes will ripen fast,unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower".

An Addendum...

2007-08-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hey, hey, I just realised that I forgot two awesome bunches of books...

The Quickening Trilogy, by Fiona McIntosh

Not as in "Highlander", but a really good low-but-with-some-elements-of-high fantasy trilogy by a good ol' Aussie artist.

Here's the gist - a realistic world (as in, no elves!) dominated by two Kingdoms - Morgravia and Briavel - who are hoping to find peace amidst a bitter, ancient feud. Enter Wyl Thirsk, the young general of the Morgravian Legion and the hated enemy of his new King - and one-time childhood companion - the arrogant and charming Celimis. Jealous that Wyl was like a son - a favoured son - to his late father, Celimis sends Wyl on a suicide mission into Briavel that will likely plunge the entire land back into a terrible war. But a most unexpected plot twist, offered by a dying witch that Wyl comforted in her final moments, changes everything...

Seriously, these books are a little bit "mature", but they are the most accessible fantasy books I have ever read! I didn't like the fantasy genre at all until I read this, and I quickly bought the rest of the trilogy as soon as I could find them. Seriously, I will lend these to you!

The Screwtape Letters, and Basically Everything Else by C. S. Lewis

I realise that I've already mentioned him, but Narnia is just the tip of the iceberg for this dude. The Screwtape Letters is one of the most intelligent books I have ever read, and I could seriously put this in all three categories of books - for the mind, the creativity (heart?) and for the spirit.

And his non-fiction is amazing! The Weight of Glory, so they say, "addresses some of the most difficult issues we face in our day-to-day lives." That, though, won't do it any justice, so I will just quote it to you, and point you to where you can read it for free --

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but
too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Bibliography Pt. 2 - Books that Rocked my World!

2007-08-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Books That Grew Me Spiritually

1. The Bible

Duh! I'm not quite sure where the point was that I stopped reading the Bible because "it's the thing to do", or to pull out a quote to back me up in a debate, or to find all of the really weird names in there (my fave is still "Mephibosheth") .

But at some point, somewhat recently, I stopped reading it as a passive observer, and started reading it like a student. Like a devoted, hungry student that *needed* to understand, that *needed* to be challenged and inspired and encouraged. Or better yet, like a real child of God that needed every last breadcrumb, every last word that came from the mouth of the Father, to survive.

I've found that I need God's truth. Where else are we going to find a sure anchor in this world? When "news" and "current affairs" bleed into eachother, when we get old enough to realise that our old school teachers are humans just like us, and we know a lot less than we thought they did at our age - you know that you need *something*.

2. Knowing God, by J. I. Packer

The first book that I read that was a hardcore, almost systematic approach to "God", it was still really readable. The best thing about this book is that it's not all about pushing you to live a better life, or to read the Bible or pray more, or anything like that. The simple aim of Knowing God is to tell you how great God is. To provide rich fodder for meditations on God's greatness. What better goal is there for a book?

And better yet, when this stuff goes into your soul - deep down where you can't stop thinking about God's glory, or his amazing mercy, or his absolute, almost-alien holiness - you get inspired to pray more, to work harder for him, to love others more. It's win, win!

3. Blue Like Jazz, by Don Miller

Hmm, what could I possibly say about Blue Like Jazz? This book gave me hope for Christianity when I was really, really messed up and couldn't see how God could possibly love - let alone use - seriously screwed up people like Christians.

Don Miller showed me that it is possible to be a "real" Christian without looking down your nose at people that are different from you. He gave me hope for an experience of Christian community that I still haven't found, but I'm not giving up on. He gave me an example of Christians who haven't given up their ancient, historic roots but who are still vitally relevant to the world of today.

Most importantly, though, he showed me that it's alright to be brutally, horribly honest about where you're at. Personally, this book did so much for me (so thanks Annie for lending it to me, BTW)

Books that Inspired my Creativity

1. The Bible

I know I already listed it, but there is nothing that has inspired me to write a new song, or jot down pages and pages of notes, or even write a short story, like the Bible. I read a really good quote the other day which lamented the way that the world is draining away our creativity with its marketing slogans, reality TV and mind-numbing jingles.

We need a touch of the divine, guys - we need the words of God to awaken creativity and passion in us. We need to be able to dream - to dream of what could be and what *will* be. The Bible is so, so much more than just a crusty old book of theology - it is reality written down!

2. Lord of the Rings, by J. R. Tolkien & Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

Yep, the nerd in me had to come out somewhere, and this is it. I love the idea of world building, and our friend Tolkien has refined it to perfection! Where else can you find books that devote pages to explaining the historical migrations of tribes of hobbits, all to make a point about how one of the characters has hairier feet than the rest?! (though the question could be raised of how many actually give a rip why Samwise has hairy toes...)

Seriously, though, these books really are literary classics, with good reason. They weave together powerful stories, rich in symbolism, pathos and epic grandeur. I love that these two guys were friends, too, inspiring each other to write awesome, well-crafted stories for the glory of God. It is extra cool that Tolkien would give Lewis crap for writing such a blatant allegory to Christ in Narnia, while you have to look a little deeper to find it in LoTR...

3. Uh... Comics

Now the *real* nerd comes out! Seriously, there are so many well written (not to mention drawn) graphic novels out there that it is a shame that the comic book industry is still seen as "trashy" by so many. They were my staple diet for most (oh, ah, I mean "some!") of my teenage life, and look how I turned out (...)

Particular faves have been X-Men, the earliest issues of Night Man, X-Factor, Bat Man and Spidey (though I thought Scarlet Spider was cooler, so nyeh)

Books that Trained Me Intellectually

1. Yes, the Bible

You should have known I was going to put this here, too, you know.

I firmly believe that if the Bible is the Word of God, we need to be diligent in understanding what it means. How many cults and crazy people have taken the Word of God out of context, butchered it, and then used it to justify everything from gay marriage to genocide? How many people own a Bible (which may or may not be propping their couch up), yet they don't really know what God has to say about how they spend their money, treat their wife or spend their time and attention on?

Consequently, I have devoted myself to learning what the Bible *actually* says, to come to the Word as a humble student, eager to learn whatever mysteries God is willing to reveal to one such as myself. And seriously, when you gather with a small bunch of people, read through the Word and together figure out what God is saying to us - it all comes together! It all makes sense! And it is so awesome!

2. The Picture of Dorian Gray and other Works, by Oscar Wilde

This short-ish story by (also loaned from Annie), and the assorted poetry that came with it, is a really gripping tale of obsession, arrogance and external beauty vs internal character. Oscar Wilde, though a really weird guy, had a way with words that entrances you. I'd definitely recommend it if you're the olde-school language type...

3. Every Damned Reading that I had to do in Uni

OK, I studied communications and professional writing, so I learned a bunch of stuff about communication theory, the history of public communication in Australia, syntax, editing principles, grammer, public relations, book writing, radio writing, screenplay writing and a whole lot more.

I'm slowly forgetting everything now, but I still use a lot of the grammatical principles that I learned on many long nights at Uni.

4. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, by Lesslie Newbigin

This book was a heavy slog - and I don't think that I could have handled it if not for my Uni training (as above) - but it is a very intelligent, very thoughtful look at the current paradigm permeating the public sphere of the Western world. Newbigin knows his philosophy and postmodern theory inside out, and uses it to great effect to show how the dichotomy of "fact" and "value" - where "facts" like evolution are to be accepted by all, while "values" like Christian morality *cannot* be pushed on others - is misguided, not to mention can never really be put into practice.

I thoroughly recommend this book, if you are the sort of person that can sit there and philosophise about how you can know *anything* at all.

-----

OK, there are many more, but I will leave it there for now. Next time, I think I will go on to Pt 3 - People who have Influenced Me. You may be surprised!

An Annotated Bibliography of Nathan, Pt. 1

2007-08-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hey hey, I saw someone else do something similar, and I thought I'd try my hand at it...

Below you will see a (growing) list of some of the influences that made me "me". Not all of them are *good* influences, mind you, and there are some that I really wouldn't recommend, but they all went a good way in making me the man that you see before you.

(...well, not "before" you, because you're sitting in front of a computer instead of having a meaningful, face-to-face relationship - but THAT is for another day!)

An Annotated Bibliography of Nathan, Pt. 1
- Things that Influenced my Taste in Music:

KoRn - the heavy stuff

Heh, yeah, it's true. KoRn is the band that dragged me out of the darkness of "yeah, music's alright I guess" to the blistering, searing light of "I'm a teenager and music defines me, man!"

They lead to the disaster of long, dirty, lanky hair, ridiculously ripped jeans that I think gave me hypothermia and the signature t-shirt that saw so much use that it went from black to pale, pale grey that characterised my teenage years. That t-shirt lasted until Marianne threw it out on me in secret, long after we were *married*!

I don't really listen to them so much these days, but their signature sound (really complicated bass made unintelligible by so much distortion, really emotive lyrics revolving around anger, depression and death, and a vocal range with two settings - screaming and crying pitifully) still gets me. They also lead me onto a lot of other bands which probably won't get a mention here, such as Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Evanescence and I even had a little thing going with SlipKnot and Marilyn Manson for a while there, too.

Faves would include "Freak On a Leash", "Clown", "Blind", "Twist", "Got the Life" and "Let's Get This Party Started", though "A.D.I.D.A.S." was a very meaningful song for me as an undersexed teen.
.
Matt Redman - the light stuff

Now on the absolute other end of the spectrum, British worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman showed me that "worship music" (as in, music played in church to sing along with) didn't just have to be "campy" 90's Hillsongs. His passionate pop-rock music and authentic lyrics made a real imprint on me, so much that a big portion of the songs that I play in church are "Redmans", or originals which sound a lot like him.

One of the greatest things is that, in person, he is such an average guy (who's not very good at soccer, for a Brit). He's kind of shy, and is quick to leave the spotlight as soon as a set is finished - he's not about getting all the glory for himself, but in using his music to point people to God and say "isn't *HE* great!"

He pointed me in the direction of too many artists to name, and I have far too many favourites to name, either, so I will just *highly* recommend that you see what this guy is one about.
.
Switchfoot - the pop-punk stuff

Mmm, yeah, Switchfoot are the ultimate in surfy rock that tells it like it is. Yes, they are a bunch of Christians, but they do anything they can to avoid being labelled as a "Christian band", even refusing to go to the Dove Awards to receive an award (a "Dovey"?).

They are pure power-pop, alternately fun-loving and serious, and their cool, "frullety" hairstyles hide the really deep, artistic minds beneath them, which are more than capable of writing evocative, challenging lyrics and tunes that get stuck in your head for days. I love how they don't feel the need to go on singing "Oh Jesus, we love you", but they constantly challenge what the world holds dear - money, sex and power - with an authenticity rarely seen in Christians. Absolute faves would be "Meant to Live", "Oh Gravity", "Dare you to Move", "Awakening" and "The Beautiful Letdown".
.
Incubus (and to a lesser extent Hoobastank) - the rockin' deep stuff

I have always loved Incubus' musical talent and spiritual attitude (though I disagree with them on the finer points of *Jesus*), but I *adore* Brandon Boyd's voice. Pshhahh, I *wish* I could sing like that guy! Both these bands are perfect examples of how spirituality gets into music, and resonates with people, if you chill out and write from your heart (something so many Christians seem unable to do, preferring to write songs about how you'll go to hell unless you go to church on Sunday). Incubus faves would be "Privelege", "Warmth" and "Nice to Know You", but seriously, every single song is awesome!

Hoobastank *are* basically Incubus' younger brother, but I have found an old CD of theirs and fallen back in love with "Crawling in the Dark" (especially their acoustic version!) and "Pick Up the Pieces". And I could never go without mentioning "The Reason" - Anthony Callea strangled it to death, but man that is such a good song!

These bands have also served to "form my palate" (eh, wine reference, eh?), predisposing me to other "deep", "emo-ish" bands such as Dashboard Confessional, Copeland, etc. I would suppose that John Butler and Pete Murray would fit in there, too, not so much for the style as the content.
.
Muse, Radiohead, Phil Wickham, System of a Down, et al. - the weird stuff

OK, I'm running out of steam now, but there has been a slight current in all of the music that I have *really* enjoyed - starting all the way back with KoRn - of "strangeness". I don't know what exactly, but a certain little *something* that makes them different from the rest. Looking at the list, I think it has to do with the vocals - great range, interesting technique and some ridiculously good falsetto for good measure.

OK, that's it for now! Man, that was hard! And long! And it didn't have nearly enough exclamation points! Until now!!!

And now, for one final exclamation point...

Next time on Nathan's blog -- Bibliography Pt. 2 - Books!

The Light...

2007-08-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Hey guys (guy?), what up?

I'm kind of pumped, and I've got to tell someone!

Jerry and I have about finished recording our first song! Yay! It's called "The Light", and it is fairly typical "Nathan-style" muzak - acoustic rock that is most likely a little too confronting to be warmly welcomed anywhere but church, but a little too "grungy" to really be appreciated in church. Ho hum.

I do like it, though, because it is a deep, moody look at the metaphor of salvation as a "coming of the light", and because it honestly looks at what we humans generally do when faced with an uncomfortable experience like that - shut it out. It's full of awesome guitar riffs courtesy of Jerry, a pretty interesting vocal timing and lots of layered backing vocals by both Jerry and myself. I highly recommend it (of course).

When we're totally finished we're going to throw it onto MySpace - and yes, of course I'll link to it so ya'll can give it a listen - but in the meantime, let me share a small sample of the lyrics --

The light - so bright - like the sun in the height of
summer;
And we've shut our eyes so tight;
Because it
lights up all
our selfishness.

-- But the light
has shone;
In the dark, on our hearts;
And the light
has shone;
From the face of the Son of God, yeah.

Yeah, maybe you have to be there... but at least I think it sounds good.

Awakening...

2007-07-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

"Wake up O sleeper. Arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you"

- Ephesians 5:14

"Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain - we're awakening!
Here we are now with our desperate youth and pain - we're awakening!
Maybe it's called ambition, but you've been talking in your sleep;
About a dream - we're awakening, yeah!"

- Switchfoot, "Awakening"

And on that note, check out this *awesome* giant sculpture in Washington DC...

The Awakening

The Will

2007-07-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

OK, this post isn't going to be long.

There's a thought which I've found myself dwelling on a bit lately, and I'm going to put it down on paper (metaphorically, of course - no one uses that stuff anymore right?) in the hope that it will help the idea to grow and take shape... It's all web 2.0, man! - interaction and shared power of creation! (man, I am such a geek...)

Aaaanyway...

---

The Will. Such a nebulous concept. What does the term even mean?

Freedom? - "Do as you will", so they say.

Willfulness? - the joy of every 2 year old, and the bane of their parents. It is such a surreal experience to see your child - who didn't even exist 4 years ago - trying to enforce his will on the world like a mighty despot. "General Daniel, El Presidente for Life." Less surreal and more unsettling, actually...

Or what about "free will", hmm? We all want to believe that we have the final say, don't we?

"Change your circumstances with positive thoughts", says Oprah.

"It's a free country", says random punk teenager, "I can do whatever I want" (and when it comes to it, freedom to do what you want *is* why the USA was even founded)

Or as we Christians like to say "Choose God! Accept him as your Personal Lord and Saviour (tm)".

When I hear all this talk, I can't help but think that in spite of 400 years of science, we all secretly harbour the belief that the universe revolves around us. You'd think that at least the Christians would have ducked that one...

What I'm finding, more and more, is that my will is bad. Does that sound too strong? What if I could honestly say that out of all the times in my day that I'm faced with temptation to do something wrong - whether it's to tell a white lie to get out of trouble, or get angry when my train is late, or lazily waste my time on the computer, or over-eat, or look a little bit too long at a raunchy ad on TV - what if I could honestly say that most of the time, I gave in. That given the choice, I would choose to do wrong?

Personally, I've never been dragged to a table and forced to eat too much. I've never had my eyes taped open. You could say that I "freely" chose it, eyes wide open, every time. It was an action of my will, willing myself to go and do something that displeases God, hurts myself and most likely hurts others too.

That is what my will is like, anyway.

And that is why I believe, alongside some old dead guys like Jonathan Edwards, in what they call "The Bondage of the Will". In real theologian-speak it's called "Total-" or "Radical Depravity". It doesn't mean that we "can't choose anything at all", or that we're robots. It actually makes a big deal out of our culpability - it says that when it comes to it, all things being even, we human beings willingly choose to sin, every day, in basically every way we can manage.

We are all radically messed up - for all our claims to freedom, and being able to choose what we do in life, we can't help but do what is wrong. Not because we want to do what's right, but we have trouble making it happen - but because even deeper, even more sinister, we want to do what's wrong.

That is why Jesus says "anyone who sins is a slave to sin". You see, this stuff is not a sign of freedom, or of wisdom in rejecting conventional morality - it means you're not free. It means that your lust, or your anger, or your greed, or your selfishness - it's controlling you! You can't help it!

So... Woo hoo! Isn't this a happy state of affairs. We all say we're free, but we're not. We all say we can do whatever we want, man, but we can't. Real freedom isn't in freedom to sin - it never could be. Real freedom, as God defines it, is in being free to do what is right. Being free from the emotions and desires that plague us from the inside out. Being free to love God with undivided devotion. Being free to be the man, or woman, or lover, or parent, or friend - that you were made to be. And that only comes through the God that made you. Through the Rescuer who breaks your chains of sin and unholy desire. Through the Lover who can burn away all the lesser loves in your life in the ferocity of his own.

If "freedom", as the world defines it, is what I've experienced time after time in this world, then I don't want to be free. I don't want to be my own. I want to be God's.

On Challenging Pleasures...

2007-07-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

"The course of wisdom consists of learning to trade easy pleasures for more complex and challenging ones"

- Marcus Aurelius (famous Roman guy who it seems was pretty smart)

An Update... and a Quote

2007-07-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

OK, my lunch break is over and I'm not finished the left nav yet. At least you know what it's *meant* to look like now, though... I'll attempt to get it done tomorrow, ok? OK? Geez, get off my back, man! You people...

---

Oh wait, while I'm here, let me share a quote with you. It's not an average, "lah-di-dah" quote, from just some guy or something, but an excerpt from the Divine Liturgy of St. James, as practiced by a small segment of the Syrian Orthodox Church... Yeah, not a quote you hear everyday, huh?

But it's really, really awesome though. It's a prayer that spoken just before a reading from one of the Gospels, and is a prayer of thanks, guidance from the Holy Spirit, and transformation in light of the Word. I think that the sentiments (though probably note the exact words) are already making their way into my mind when I open up God's Word, too...

"Master, Lover of humankind, make the pure light of your divine knowledge shine in our hearts and open the eyes of our mind to understand the message of your Gospel. Implant in us the fear of your blessed commandments, so that, having trampled down all carnal desires, we may change to a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all things that are pleasing to you.

For you are the glad tidings, enlightenment, Saviour and guardian of our souls and bodies, O God, and to you we give glory, together with your only-begotten Son, and your all-holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages."

Really awesome stuff. It really gets to one of the most important aspects of Scripture in our lives - not just to inform, or encourage, or God forbid to simply entertain us - but to transform us. That we may live spiritual lives, thinking and doing all things that are pleasing to him.

That's my prayer.

A Setting Straight...

2007-07-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I realise that the website currently looks a little... weird. I'm tweaking it as we speak, and while it's in mid-transition - I'm lettin' it all hang out!

I'd get fired if I did this with a client's site, but I must admit, it feels quite... freeing... to be able to leave it up there, warts, mismatched colours and all.

My site is a naturalist. Take it or leave it, baby :)

PS: Yes Annie, this post in absolutely in response to you. Get back to work.

The Way

2007-07-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

Hey gang (if I can be called a "gang"),

I've decided to port over the couple of posts that I made on my 'Space (saying "my MySpace" just seems wretched - I can't bring myself to say an oxymoronic "my", even if it is part of a proper noun!). This serves the twofold purpose of putting everything in one place... AND giving me the ability to tell anyone who remarks on the lack of comment activity "yeah, but it's totally got tonnes of hits on my other blog" (which it doesn't.) Perfect.

So in honour of my previous posts, I won't use the same post naming conventions which I may have unofficially adopted for this blog (read: vagueness, ellipsi and use of rather odd English.)

----------------------

Once, a long time ago, there was a guy from the sticks who was causing a lot of ruckus. He was a preacher from a blue collar neighbourhood, known for its political activists and fundamentalist whackos, in a country oppressed by foreigners and torn apart by competing religious groups.
But this guy travelled the countryside, preaching a different message. Living out a different way of life.

When people boasted over their accomplishments and gloated over others' failures, he took them down a couple of pegs. When people were shunned because they were poor, or sick, or working on the streets, he comforted them, befriended them and treated them like real human beings. When people resorted to violence and war to get what they want (no matter how noble the goal might be), he showed them a better way.

His way, the way of "the Kingdom of Heaven", was the polar opposite of how everyone else was doing life. They were all about consumption, selfishness, stepping on whoever you have to to get to where you want to be. In short, their way looked at themselves as the centre of the cosmos (a little like our contemporary Western way today, huh?).

But his way was about taking your eyes off yourself, your rights, your possessions, and focussing on the greater reality - the Kingdom of Heaven, and the King himself. Instead of selfishness comes selflessness - thinking of others before yourself. Instead of mindless consumption and frenzied pursuit of wealth and pleasure (the "Australian dream"?), a life of service, humility and kindness to our brothers and sisters in need. And instead of strutting around like you're the God of your life, doing whatever the hell you want because you want it, others be damned, his way was a way of passionate faithfulness and obedience to the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Truly, he showed us a new and better way of life. He called (calls?) people to something greater than they had ever imagined.

Now, how is it that this man - this revolutionary, if there ever was one - can be admired, looked up to and talked about so much, but not respected enough to be followed? How is it the people who bear his name ("Christians", if you hadn't guessed), can cling so tightly to the antithesis of their Master's way? How can his face be seen all over stained-glass buildings, but not in the face of the ordinary people of the world who he has called out to.

Or how about a better (harder?) question - what will you do about it? What will your response be to the Way that this preacher / activist / revolutionary / healer / friend / saviour / God has shown us. Will you go your "own" way, the same as the millions of people that have gone before you, or will you follow him a while. Maybe you'll see for yourself whether he was just a starry eyed activist with his head in the clouds, or something more. Maybe he really is God?

Yours (trying to be) faithfully,

-- Nathan

A Renovation...

2007-07-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have changed the layout...

I didn't really like the original that much, but it was *there*, and that meant that I didn't need to make one for myself. Now, however, in an unprecedented demonstration of moxy and aplomb (I like oft-neglected adjectives), I have made my own template!

However, after spending more time than I would like to admit playing with the colours, I've decided that I don't really like it that much after all. I wanted to keep the background in the background all the time, but I didn't really want the heading to stay there (but alas, it is part of said background...) I'm not really very happy with the end result - because in setting the background to *not* static, you lose the picture and get a whole lotta black when you scroll.

Keep in mind, it's not just a plain black fill (such a thought!), but a scrolling background that lines up with the background image above it. It's a *whole* lot classier, but that doesn't really help because it's so dark that only people with ridiculously bright monitors (like me!) will even be able to make out... Ho hum.

Who said that teenagers had the monopoly on angst. I'm all angsty over this, y'all.

A Question...

2007-06-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

Is this layout hard to read? I'm having trouble... but my screen lightness is up quite high (because of work) and my eyes just aren't what they used to be (probably because of work, too)... Somebody let me know if this one hurts your eyes too, and maybe tell me where the good layouts are, too? Annie stole the one I wanted, and considering that I make website for a living, I really can't be bothered making one for "fun" too...

A Disclaimer...

2007-06-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, for the record, I won't always be as preachy and long-winded as this first post. (OK, maybe that's a lie, but you'll still come back, right?)

I'm planning on posting some of my favourite quotes, song lyrics (including some of my own songs, too) and random musings, too. I can be light and fluffy (or at least not harcore and challenging)...

Peace out

By Way of Explanation...

2007-06-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hey hey!

Yes, I have a blog now! It may turn out to be wildly popular, or I may wind up only using this as a holding cell for the meandering, loutish thoughts that regularly escape from my mind (I've got to keep them somewhere...), but I'ma finally going to do it. What becomes of it, it would seem, is up to you, my loyal / sceptical / bored / offended reader.

Aaaanyway...

I figure that I should offer an explanation for the title of this blog - "We Are Jonah" (or "wearejonah" if you didn't think to mentally insert spaces into the URL). Well, it's basically a cross between an in-joke and a reminder. The only people part of the in-joke are me and God, but I've decided that I'll let you in, too. It all began long ago, with a bunch of nasty oppressors, a boat full of really wonderful fishermen, and a jerk-off named Jonah...

Y'all probably know the story. There's this guy, named Jonah, and he's a prophet - a man called by God to speak for him, tell others all about him, and basically act on behalf of God in a broken and messed up world. Well, God wants him to do something - to travel to Nineveh, the capital city of the people who have oppressed and enslaved his people, and warn them to shape up or get ready for a boot from the Creator. Well, Jonah hates these guys, and he's scared of 'em - so he says "actually, God, I have to be somewhere else now", and takes the first boat in the opposite direction of Nineveh. Basically, "no, I hate these guys and I want them to get what's coming to them". Yeah, really upstanding guy here, our Jonah.

Well, God is - understandably - kind of peeved at Jonah for essentially giving him the finger and leaving these people to their doom, and a furious storm beseiges the boat he's jumped on. He's not the only one on it, though - there's a bunch of completely innocent fishermen whose only crime was giving a lift to a stanger they met at the docks (which, as an aside, is probably a rather dangerous thing to do if you really think about it). So, Jonah's rebellion has doomed these guys, too.

You all must know the rest of the story - Jonah finally grows a pair and tells the guys to throw him out of the boat, sparing their innocent lives. There's a fish, an apology and the undoubtedly interesting sensation of being vomited up by a large sea-creature and swimming to shore. In the end, Jonah warns the Ninevites, they turn their lives around too, and God spares them. Everybody's happy. Now.

But this guy, Jonah, was a real piece of work. This man's purpose in life was to bless, to help, to speak words of truth and life. And instead, he rejected the people that God called him to help, and almost doomed a big bunch of people. He had a calling, and he perverted it by his own arrogance. The protagonists of the story aren't the good, wonderful people of God, but the ones on the outside that were shunned, hated and screwed over by the people of God. That's full on, man.

It's so full on that God's people - first the Jews and now we Christians - have a tradition of reading this story once a year and together declaring "We are Jonah, we are Jonah".

We are the people called by God to bring joy, hope, love and life to the world. We are the people who have rebelled and hurt the people we should care for. We aren't the "good" people while the rest of the world are "bad". We need to get off our high horses and look around and see and touch the world that needs to see and hear and feel God's love. We need to follow God into the world instead of secluding ourselves from it.

I am Jonah. If you're a Christian, odds are you're one too. If you don't make any claims to be following Jesus, and you feel more like the fishermen who were minding their own business when a "religious" person bursted into their world and started causing trouble, then you're in good company. If you've been hurt (and who hasn't?) by all the many ways that "Christians" have hurt when we should have healed, hated when we should have loved and condemned and rejected rather than accepted and cared, please accept my apology. I really am sorry for what we've done to the world. We are trying, but to be honest, it's really hard.

We are Jonah.