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| While it's still in its stages of infancy, I've gone ahead and made the new blog on WordPress. It will more or less be a continuation of this site through a new platform, but that's just my thought now. We'll see how it develops. Go here for the new Eric Pettersson.
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| "It is easier to argue points of doctrine than to stand honestly
before God in prayer or confession. Doctrine is important, but only as it makes Christ known to
us. But the knowledge of Christ that saves is not the knowledge one
gains as mere information - but rather the knowledge one gains inwardly
as we repent, pray, forgive, and humble ourselves before God. The
promise to us is that the 'pure in heart shall see God.' Doctrine is not known until it becomes united to the heart
in a continual act of communion with God. Thus, if we are honest, we
will profess ignorance and pray for true knowledge." - Father Stephen Freeman
Pieces like this are a perfect example of why I have such an affinity for the Orthodox Church.
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| When summer hit, it came with a whole bunch of other changes. I was getting really into Rocky Votolato, Gasoline Heart, and The Snake the Cross the Crown. The five albums I have from these three artists would be the music playing in my car at least 75% of the time over the summer. Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense for someone in a position which requires him to write about new CDs and to be aware of all the latest music. I guess you could just say I got sick of all the trends and wanted something real. These bands were real. They had heart and played folk rock with more feeling than any pop, emo, or hardcore band could ever achieve. I even went so far into these bands as to forget about mewithoutYou, my favorite of the past few years.
Well as I was driving back to La Salle after church on Sunday morning, I just had to pop in Brother, Sister and I was instantly in love again. I wanted to sing along, to take off my shoes, to go to Circle of Hope. And I think I will. Yesterday I read a description of the different areas of Philly in a guide for new students, and under the Fishtown section, it specifically mentioned friendly people. I don't know what an area has to do to get that sort of reputation, but I bet Circle of Hope has something to do with it.
I was reading in Luke last night, and Jesus was talking about how some people will be taken up to Heaven while others will remain. The disciples asked him where this would happen, and he replied, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." And I thought, what kind of response is that? This guy was crazy! No wonder people hated him enough to kill him. Yet I still find myself so drawn to him. To want to follow him and his example. But I'm afraid that even the religious people would think I was crazy if I actually tried. I guess Shane was right when he said a lot of people like to "love Jesus" but only a few truly follow him. And they're not the types who have it all together. In high school we had a Christian club that I didn't join because I was too cool and it was fully of the typical nerds and losers. But now I realize that that was a beautiful thing, because it just shows that Jesus really does reach out to the unwanted and loves those that others reject.
The other day a strange thing happened. Something that up to this point in my life I probably wouldn't have believed, but I absolutely know that it was true. I met my first gay Christian. That's right, a gay man who is in love with and follows Jesus. There are times when I can just tell, "this guy is a friend of God," and when I listened to this man talk about his life and his spiritual journey, I definitely got that vibe and knew that he was honest and that he really did know Jesus. But he was a homosexual. I still don't know how that works exactly, but for some reason it didn't really matter as much anymore. That issue is between him and God.
My coffee has been especially good this week.
And as embarrassed as I may be to admit it, I can't get enough of the guitar solo in "Sweet Child O' Mine." Not sure where this post is going, but in mind all the thoughts are flowing, and only like two people read this anyway, so why not keep writing if it's basically just an outlet for my own sake anyway?
After reading more stories in the Old Testament, my simplified theology
doesn't ring true. It seemed that the focus wasn't on who is and isn't
going to Heaven. In fact, there's not much talk or worry about the
after life at all. The real concern is following God. Perhaps we would
do well to get back to this mindset. Then could even avoid the dreaded
predestination argument altogether! What a wonderful world that would
be. Actually, we could avoid most doctrinal arguments, because we
wouldn't be trying to convince people of a belief system. Instead we
would be living a life worthy of our calling and showing others how to
do the same, which to me sounds much more Christ-like.
I want to see the truth searched out in humility, and I want no one to claim any hold on it.
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| When I first got back into Xanga, I said it was a temporary thing to see if I'd keep up with it, and I say that I have. Which means, according to the original plan, that I should now be switching over to a WordPress account. I don't really have time for it now, but some day when I do, it's gonna happen. Be ready.
I know I've already got the other WordPress for both me and Steph, but that has a specific subject and I still need my general personal blog. So while I did write something on there tonight as well, I still want space for the things I write here, and like I said, that will be on a new site sometime soon.
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| It feels good to be back at school. To be unpacked in my room, getting to know my staff here in St. Basil. To have a car on campus this year and to be back within 40 minutes of my fiancee.
To kick off training we spent the past 24 hours or so at the St. Francis Retreat House in Easton, and while our focus was building teamwork and getting to know each other and learn some of the relational basics for being RAs, I still ended up being drawn closer to God during my time there. Maybe it was Mehow's statement of "Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God" before saying grace for each meal, or maybe it was the reminder of my Savior through all the artwork inside and outside of the building. Or maybe it was wandering away from the group during freetime to explore and finding the chapel and for some reason feeling compelled to go inside and pray, something that has taken up far too little of my time lately.
I thought it funny that I would go to this place just a week after reading about the life of St. Francis. He is definitely an inspiring man, and a great example of a follower of Jesus. It also feels good to be back in Catholic territory this early, because I don't think I could have taken another month with Baptists (even if I do seem to have a stronger affection for Catholicism than most of my Catholic classmates... perhaps due to my ignorance, but I prefer to think more generously in regards to the real reason).
Sometimes the truth seems to hard to find. May God have mercy on us all.
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