FREE HUGS!

My little girl, Elora, loves giving hugs and receiving hugs to pretty much...anything. People...apples...hairclips. She's a little lovebug.

In the spirit of her recent behaviour, someone recently forwarded this to me. Check out FREE HUGS!

http://www.youtube.com/v/vr3x_RRJdd4

Moby's Testimony

Here's something interesting for your day: Moby talking about Christianity. It doesn't surprise me to learn that he has an interest in Christ. Funny that Eminem mocks Moby as a Buddhist.

Check this out for yourself:

http://www.sojo.net/special/multimedia/audio/061004_moby/player.html

The Brick Testament

I was perusing various sites today on the book of Deuteronomy and Old Testament law; and came across this great website that gives us some very pertinent and colourful illustrations on God's Law as it was handed down to Moses....through Lego.

Check out my particular favourite Old Testament verse Deut. 25:11.

http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/index.html

Many Ideologies, One Christ

I had some interesting conversations with some students last night as we gathered to inform first-year students about the various Christian faith communities around UW.

In one of their conversations, I discussed how my particular community is often labelled as left-wing. A large reason for this is our focus on the poor; our willingness to partner with organizations like the UW Muslim Students Assn.; and our adamant belief that Jesus didn't come to start a new religion, but to actually shut down religion and initiate relationship as the way that we get right with God.

I was quick to point out that the last thing we want to be is a left-wing group. Our community is about Christ, pure and simple. As a result, it is so important that left and right-wing students alike feel comfortable being a part of our community. We are less about creating a particular social, cultural, and political bubble as we are about creating a place where everyone can feel safe to come and find Jesus.

Religion will often align itself with a particular ideology. All too often, that ideology includes judgement and hate of someone or something. It is so amazing to me that instead of advocating a particular political agenda or ideology, Jesus taught that if you love others in the radical way that he taught, you'll be following the right ideology. That's it. Love others and the rest will follow.

So with that in mind, it is so crucial that we invite everyone to experience Jesus in our community; regardless of their political or ideological leaning. When I read the Gospel stories, I don't see Jesus setting up some kind of qualifiers or criteria as to who gets to be around him. If anything, religious people had problems with the fact that Jesus would invite even the "wrong" types of people to be with him.

Therefore, if Jesus didn't seem to create communities where certain people were excluded, we should likely do the same with our own community. That's the idea, at least. We'll see how it goes!

9/11 V for Vendetta

Well, it's been another long while since I posted to this blog. Consider it a summer off. :)

For the comeback, here's a compelling video recommended to me by a friend. Consider it a platform for discussion rather than a particular opinion.

**Warning: strong violent content towards the end of it**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjfOfe5DTNg&mode=related&search=

Daughter Update

I've decided that my blog needs something a bit lighter after the ultra-heavy topics of the last few posts. So here's an update on some of the things that my daughter, Elora, tends to say these days:

I got you (said when anyone is in pursuit to actually get her)

Where's the bubbles? (said in reference to an actual inquiry as to the whereabouts of bubbles that you can blow)


Mama (said when she basically would like you to hand her something; note that this phrase is pretty much used for anyone even if they are very clearly papa and not mama)

Hi (said to complete strangers as she walks down a restaurant aisle and high-fives everyone along the way)

Papu (which means puppy)

Go (said to anyone riding a bicycle)

Row, row (said when she would like you to sing Row, Row Your Boat with her)

Y and Z (her re-mixed version of the alphabet song)

There you have it: a quick insight into the uniqueness that is my little girl.

Hadji Girl Song and Video

Here's an article on Alternet.org that you may wish to check out.

*Warning: Content may offend some readers.*

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/38084/

I think that the author here has a very good point in regards to how racism is appearing in the current war in Iraq. The perpetrators of many of the racist crimes that have emerged during this war are not necessarily exceptionally bad people. They may in fact be people who are caught up in a systemic situation that simply breeds racism, ignorance, and hatred.

America will certainly have a huge task before it if it ever hopes to overcome the pain and hatred that has come from the events of this extended offensive in Iraq.