To "Throw Away" My Vote…

So, I’ve been reading about the presidential candidate Michael Peroutka and I’m thinking of voting for him in the fast-approaching election. For those who don’t know, I’m rather apolitical, so I really don’t have many political/economic issues completely decided in my mind. However, there’s a strong libertarian streak in my thinking, and the Constitution party seems to uphold many libertarian ideals while eliminating some of the less desirable features of libertarianism. I need to read more before I can really decide though.

I’ve decided that if I agree with the party, I’m going to “throw away” my vote and vote third party. Since Nebraska is safely Republican, I think a Constitution vote may do more good as a voice for Republican reform than a Republican vote would by reinforcing the Republican norm. Anyone have a reason why I ought or ought not to vote Peroutka?

Breakfast

My 40 day policktical fast was completed yesterday. This process was probably one of the best I’ve done in my life; the time in peace from politics have given me a lot of time to do better things (like this blog), and I feel much less likely to have a gut reaction to an event or idea come straight out of the Republican Party platform. Up to this point, I have still not visited the Drudge Report or Rush Limbaugh’s web site, but I may after a while.

This morning, I read the Omaha World-Herald and the New York Times, but I skipped most of the stories about politics. I suspect that I felt today like what I will feel on my twenty-first birthday: I’ll finally be able to do something, but I’ll have no desire whatsoever to binge. The political world seems much more dull than it ever did, and I am reminded of that song: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Pray for me that I don’t enslave myself again to American politics: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

Reflections on a Willow Creek Conference

First, I should note that, contrary to some rumors that have been circulating, I am neither dead nor apathetic toward my beloved blog; I have merely been working like a legalist to get caught up from having taken pretty much four days off of any homework to go to the preaching/teaching conference at Willow Creek Community Church.

Second, I want to answer a few of the comments posted where I announced that I was going on the conference:

• Yes, I want to become a pastor of some sort; I feel extremely led to preach (and have been blessed to have been given opportunities to do it a couple times at my college ministry).
• What I think about Willow Creek is something that I may take up in a future post. My impression was largely favorable, but I feel I need more time to reflect on the church as a whole before I write something one way or another.

Those things taken care of, I mainly want to write about something that has seemingly been coming up in various aspects of my life, and was one of the main ideas of the conference: the idea of striving for excellence in what we are called to do.

I personally have been a little hesitant to want to be a great preacher because there seems to be something egocentric about that. I now have a slightly different approach to this idea: a desire for people to think that I am a great preacher is egocentric; a desire to be the preacher God wants me to be (which entails my striving for the upper boundaries of the abilities He has given me) is not egocentric, but fulfilling my calling. In the Bible, Paul exhorts Timothy to be devoted to growing in his preaching because the salvation of people is at stake therein, for preaching is proclaiming the Word of God.

Also, I have been starting to read Rick Howard’s and Jamie Lash’s This was your Life, which deals with the Judgment Seat of Christ (see also Hebrews 6 on this subject), where believers will be asked to give an account of what they have built on the foundation of their salvation through Christ. The book challenges Christians to bust their butts for Christ here on earth–not for salvation (that is completely accomplished through faith in Jesus Christ by grace), but to accomplish the work for which God saved us to enable us to do.

So, what have I learned? First of all, I really see the great need in my life to be disciplined. I have struggled this entire semester with procrastination. Although I have finished all the work I needed to, I have been crippled from accomplishing more than the bare minimum to do well in my classes, which barely covers the sort of ministry God has called me to right now. Thus, I am shortchanging myself, those with whom I interact, and God (although I’m not quite sure if it is possible to shortchange the self-sustaining God of the universe, but I’m sure that you know what I mean). So, without becoming a workaholic, I am trying to manage my time a little bit better (which has gone pretty well this week–we’ll see about next week).

Second, I have had to repent of a certain fatalistic outlook where I have not worked as hard as I could, thinking that God will still accomplish what He wants to accomplish no matter what I do, which coincidentally (or is it?) is a point about which D.A. Carson wrote in today’s reading in For the Love of God, Vol. 2 in regard to Daniel 9:

When Daniel becomes aware from Scripture just when the close of the exile would take place, far from resting and waiting for the promises to come true, he prays for such fulfillment. The peculiar dynamic between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in the Bible never retreats to fatalism. The promises of God are incentives to intercession.

That’s probably enough for now, but I’ll keep you posted on what God is teaching me about all of this.

Caedmon’s Call: Share the Well

I’ve been listening to Caedmon’s Call’s new album for a week now and, though initially quite taken with it, I’m beginning to realize it’s not as ground-breakingly great as I first thought. It’s not bad by any means, and probably on par with (I never bought so I can’t compare it with that.)

The interesting thing this time around is the international emphasis. Caedmon’s traveled in India, Equador, and Brazil in the spring of 2004, and this album is a direct outgrowth of their experiences in those countries. Many of the songs relate directly to people they met while traveling. Also, a percentage of profits goes to help build schools for “Dalit” (the lowest, “untouchable” class in the caste system in India) children.

Much of the music exhibits different world stylings, especially noticeable in the percussion. This makes the album more of a departure from Caedmon’s typical folk-pop (which can honestly become a bit tiring after a while.) And, it’s Caedmon’s so it’s generally five times better than most other CCM.

So, here’s the tracks I’d recommend getting:

1. – Musically, my favorite track on the album, and IMO the best execution of the different, world feel on the album. Brilliant minor guitar riff juxtaposed with a major vocal part. I do desperately wish they’d made the chorus more interesting though.

2. – This is a typical Caedmon’s worship song, similar to but it has a great melody and lyrics. My own appreciation for the song was enhanced by my experience backpacking in Colorado a couple weeks ago. I listened to the track repeatedly in my tent while winter weather raged outside. The line “There’s only One who sets loose the gails and ties the trees down tight” was driven home as I heard the wind tear through the trees.

3. – Ok, so this one has a slight touch of cheese, but it has a wicked flute part during the chorus that makes even me want to dance.

4. – I’ve never been a big fan of the obligatory Danielle solo, but this is probably the best I’ve heard (excepting the aforementioned “Wings of the Morning” and maybe )

5. – I rank this last of my recommendations, mostly just because I’m not that big of a fan of Andrew Osenga’s vocals. (At least I’m pretty sure that’s him singing.)

is good too, but it’s an 11 minute track (thanks to hidden tracks) and so it’s not available to buy as an individual track.

Essential survival gear

I will be writing a post soon on my experiences this weekend at the conference I attended in Chicago. For now, you should read this story to find out about an essential piece of survival gear should you ever become stranded on a desert island or something like that.

Free Derek Webb mp3

Here’s a free mp3 from Derek Webb’s new album, “I See Things Upside Down.”

Reputation

Reminds me of Wilco’s off Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

New Pictures

I’ve posted a few (and by “few” I mean “very few”) pictures from my trip on my Pbase site.

En vacances

For the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Fall Break, I have travelled to Chicago to attend a preaching and teaching conference at Willow Creek Community Church. So, I’m writing this from a hotel in a suburb of Chicago, and I probably will not have a lot of opportunities to post until Wednesday. Still, I should be back full force on Wednesday! For those of you at UNL, have a good break.

Timid at Heart

Apparently, I’ve used up my supply of manly identity for the semester, and I’m heading back to the mountains to refuel. Chris, Josh, and I are going camping/climbing in the Gore Range for the weekend. I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures with posting in mind.

Have a good break everyone, and stay safe and sober.

My next computer programming assignment…

This is pretty cool. Apparently, they have hooked up sensors to a quadriplegic’s brain that allows him to operate a computer with 70% accuracy. The implications of this are amazing. Does this raise any ethical concerns with anyone? (It may or may not; I’m just curious.)