I always picture left and right opposite where they should be. I always pictured the spectrum coinciding with the time line. That the right wing (in my mind right was on the left side) was closer to the past, ie. Reactionary; the left, closer to the future. When I discovered my mistake, I wondered where the terms came from. Well here it is:
Left-Right politics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Historical origin of the terms
The terms Left and Right to refer to political affiliation originated early in the French Revolutionary era, and referred originally to the seating arrangements in the various legislative bodies of France, specifically in the French Legislative Assembly of 1791, when the moderate royalist Feuillants sat on the right side of the chamber, while the radical Montagnards sat on the left.
Originally, the defining point on the ideological spectrum was attitudes towards the ancien r�gime ('old order'). 'The Right' thus implied support for aristocratic, royal, or clerical interests, while 'The Left' implied opposition to the same. At that time, support for laissez-faire capitalism and free markets were regarded as being on the left whereas today in most Western countries these views would be characterized as being on the Right. But even during the French Revolution an extreme left wing called for government intervention in the economy on behalf of the poor."
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Monday, December 26, 2005
Travel update
I wonder if Mary and Joseph had a night like this… Christmas day for us has been ups and downs. We had a nice intimate service with thirteen people this morning. We took off right after service to make the trek to my parent’s house. We picked up a new van we were given in Grand Rapids and continued on our way. We were making good time too. That is until about 11:00 tonight. Foster threw up. And my word the fight that ensued between his exhausted parents while the poor little man recovered. I cleaned up the mess and got back on the road in time for him to throw up again. We pulled off in Wisconsin Dells and cleaned up again. Coming out of the gas station with some Pedialyte, I discovered we picked up a nail and we had a flat tire. After struggling for a long while trying to get the spare down, we gave in and got a hotel room where I sit now typing. Blessings, disappointments, more blessing. We have room in the inn. And a good night a head. Praise God.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Initial Physical evidence
The biggest concept I have been wrestling with tonight has to do with the evidence of the baptism in the spirit. I’m not concerned presently with whether tongues is the initial physical evidence, but with what that means and should mean in our lives.
My quandary is this: if the Pentecostal revival of the past century was to mark a particular closeness to the return of Christ, and so some extra power was available to evangelize the world as we said when the A/G formed…
And if we accept that saints of old were not filled with the Spirit by lack of that evidence…
And if I am filled with the Spirit, as I have spoken with tongues,
Then why is my life marked with significantly less power than heroes of the faith, capable theologians, preachers, and reformers who were not filled?
Does the Spirit connect to the hearts of people in my congregation more than he does in the congregations of my dear brothers in other denominations?
What can I say about this doctrine which I hold dear and have experienced, since I like most practicing Pentecostals don’t seem to find use for my Spirit-filled giftings to build up the body?
Perhaps being filled with the Spirit, like sanctification, is a process. It isn't enough to have a single experience but like the mystics of old, we must practice the gifts until they work out a greater power in the body than we have seen in practice these days.
My quandary is this: if the Pentecostal revival of the past century was to mark a particular closeness to the return of Christ, and so some extra power was available to evangelize the world as we said when the A/G formed…
And if we accept that saints of old were not filled with the Spirit by lack of that evidence…
And if I am filled with the Spirit, as I have spoken with tongues,
Then why is my life marked with significantly less power than heroes of the faith, capable theologians, preachers, and reformers who were not filled?
Does the Spirit connect to the hearts of people in my congregation more than he does in the congregations of my dear brothers in other denominations?
What can I say about this doctrine which I hold dear and have experienced, since I like most practicing Pentecostals don’t seem to find use for my Spirit-filled giftings to build up the body?
Perhaps being filled with the Spirit, like sanctification, is a process. It isn't enough to have a single experience but like the mystics of old, we must practice the gifts until they work out a greater power in the body than we have seen in practice these days.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is an ancient tradition. In England it was “Harvest Home,” the harvest festival that the pilgrims celebrated with their native friends. It is tragic that the relationship forged in the first hard years of Plymouth colony wouldn’t last as spiritual pilgrims gave way to colonists of political and consumerist aspirations. Harvest Home shares its roots with festivals common in cultures celebrating harvest and bounty.
Ancient Israel had its harvest festival as well; the feast of Tabernacles celebrated the harvest, and God’s provision in the wilderness. It also carried with it an apocalyptic expectation of the coming messiah.
Ray Orth preached last night at our Thanksgiving Eve service. He asked the question “Where does thanks begin?” Ultimately his answer was “at the foot of the cross.” It begins with the gift and the giver.
An important expression of thanks is as we partake in the gift. The image of sitting around the table and feasting on the fruit of the harvest should not be a picture of consumerist gluttony, but of a spiritual partaking in the gift, accepting it with thanks and celebrating.
Ancient Israel had its harvest festival as well; the feast of Tabernacles celebrated the harvest, and God’s provision in the wilderness. It also carried with it an apocalyptic expectation of the coming messiah.
Ray Orth preached last night at our Thanksgiving Eve service. He asked the question “Where does thanks begin?” Ultimately his answer was “at the foot of the cross.” It begins with the gift and the giver.
An important expression of thanks is as we partake in the gift. The image of sitting around the table and feasting on the fruit of the harvest should not be a picture of consumerist gluttony, but of a spiritual partaking in the gift, accepting it with thanks and celebrating.
Friday, November 18, 2005
LookSmart's Furl - View Item - Sacred Idolatry
LookSmart's Furl - View Item - Sacred Idolatry I found this story from The Ooze interesting.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Why so long a dry spell...
I got my second rejection letter a couple weeks ago. I sent my article Relational Ministry to Family Ministry. I promptly got my triplicate manuscript back in pristine condition. Not a red pen, not a drop of coffee, not a smudge of cheeto. They say that it doesn’t fit their journal.
I found myself loath to write since. Am I a writer? or do I fool myself? At least I can claim “laziness” more than Bill at the coffee shop. He smells like a nihilist with coke bottle glasses and grand thoughts of himself. He rarely buys a small coffee and always chats up the pretty young girls with his idea for the greatest American novel.
At least my words actually make it to print, and don’t simply fall out from my mouth like so much drool. I resist this feeling of inadequacy. So what if my articles aren’t published in print? They are published here, and here they shall remain until I can rework them into something better. My plan of action: couch the articles in narrative; conduct more case studies to provide characters for my story.
I found myself loath to write since. Am I a writer? or do I fool myself? At least I can claim “laziness” more than Bill at the coffee shop. He smells like a nihilist with coke bottle glasses and grand thoughts of himself. He rarely buys a small coffee and always chats up the pretty young girls with his idea for the greatest American novel.
At least my words actually make it to print, and don’t simply fall out from my mouth like so much drool. I resist this feeling of inadequacy. So what if my articles aren’t published in print? They are published here, and here they shall remain until I can rework them into something better. My plan of action: couch the articles in narrative; conduct more case studies to provide characters for my story.
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