Who Do We Think We Are?

The US has taken its self-righteous and self-proclaimed role as the world’s police force to a bloated, puffed up and more prideful level of being the world’s bully. Our military continues to wage war in Afghanistan and Iraq and in the process murder, yes murder, thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians. Also, the armed forces continue raids and missile strikes across borders into Syria and Pakistan. We are walking in a terrible kind of hypocrisy, and we are telling the world that we care only about ourselves and not about its poor, its men, women and children, its helpless, its down-and-out.

 

I was looking through some of our military forces websites and was utterly disgusted at the blasphemy emanating from the text. The Marines declare themselves as “the aggressive tip of the American military spear.” I wonder if this is the same spear that pierced our savior’s side as he hung dead on an imperial cross. I wonder how we, who venerate that man who was pierced for us—pierced by evil—have come to believe that we should now pierce the helpless instead of being pierced as we were originally called, as our savior modeled. Also, the Army’s website describes its “Core Values”; one of those being “respect.” It defines respect as “treat people as they should be treated.” I’m not sure if the Army was intentionally attempting to pervert and completely corrupt the “golden rule,” but that’s exactly what it has done. So if someone committed a crime than that person is a criminal. Yes, maybe, but then we must treat them as a criminal forever which would mean “an eye for an eye.” There is no room for grace or mercy or even love in this scenario. This statement takes the Word found in Matt. 5.38-42 and twists it into “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile, but I say to you an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” If the Word would have said this, I don’t think that he would have lived the way he did or died and rose the way he did. Instead of riding the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem he would have strode in upon a magnificent, white war horse just as a Caesar would have.

 

So today, now and forever, I say that the US is not my lord. I denounce it as my lord and I denounce its “sovereign” power. I’ve bought into the myth that the US is god and its decrees are holy for too long. Sometimes I wonder if our leaders, who claim to be believers, have ever opened up the Good Book from which they prophesy and preach. I wonder if their Book is the same as mine or if some of its most poignant and revolutionary passages were simply left out. Or maybe these passages blessing the meek and warning the proud, proclaiming enemy love, demanding gentleness, condemning bloodshed, deploring revenge are merely being overlooked and completely ignored so their counter-nationalism, counter-empire theology won’t conflict with the agendas of our “godly” leaders.

 

I realize I am pointing a harsh finger of condemnation at our leaders. I realize that four other fingers are pointing right back at myself. And I realize that these men and women, myself included, are only human. But being human has nothing to do with being an animal or treating people like animals. Being human means learning to fully bear the image of the Creator and to value that same image in those around us. It means taking part in the Creator’s awesome, loving world transformation and creative activity, rather than stepping into the ranks of hell’s world corrupting and cliché, destructive activity.

 

So again I denounce the Caesar’s of this world as lord and their false power that seeks to dominate everything under the sun. Instead, I declare the Prince of Peace as lord and it is only under his rule (he is ruling whether we like to believe it or not, whether we can see it in our lives or not) that this world will find true peace. I refuse the statement that one of our presidential candidates blasphemously made: “America is still the last best hope for the world.” I refuse this because it is absolutely and utterly false. It is a hellish lie. It has the mark of evil written all over it, for it casts America into a golden image that should be worshipped as ultimate hope. And we who bear a different mark, the mark of the Creator, of true Ultimate Hope, know that idols are not to be toyed with, because they easily become god.

 

Behind locked and guarded gates

Our Dominators fail to realize

That we will never bear their image

And in our dusty bones lies the recipe for creation

So now our trees break through their concrete

Our meager weeds swallow their steel

And without becoming Dominators ourselves

We refashion the tools of their domination, and use them to heal

 

The Dominators may be big

But their strength is a lie,

A bold-faced lie,

A hellish lie

Their structures are sure to crumble

And bleach under our reclaimed skies

 

These are just my thoughts. I’m not completely right, and I’m not claiming to be. I just believe that we, who claim the Name Above All Names, should live differently, live lives set apart, and I’m struggling with what that means and what that should look like. Please help me in this journey. Any comments are greatly appreciated.

Some Thoughts

In the last few weeks, and earlier when I was in America, I’ve been struggling with how to deal with beggars. It seems like such an easy thing to say, “Don’t give to them. They’re just alcoholics, and they will only buy booze with that money.” This may be true, but it is also terribly naïve and contradictory to the diplomacy of the kingdom of heaven.

 

First, it doesn’t deal with the fact that these people bear the image of God just as much as we do. They are created from the same mold and are deeply loved by the Creator just as much as we are. So when we make assumptions about their intentions and judge them we are in turn passing judgment on our Lord. If we simply ignore them and brush past them, we are simply ignoring the Suffering Servant whose name we claim. I pray that when I see their outstretched, dirty hands, I will see my Savior’s hands reaching towards me. I pray that when I see their confused eyes, I will see my Savior’s eyes looking at me. I pray that when I ignore them and cast unjust judgment upon them, my Savior will have mercy upon me for neglecting him in the streets and for refusing to feed him when he was hungry, to clothe him when he was naked, to visit him when he was in jail, to touch him when he was outcast, to at least lovingly look at him when he was ostracized.

 

In class last week, as I mentioned in my last entry, we discussed justice. Our journal topic for the week was to respond to Martin Luther King, Jr’s quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” All of my students had outstanding entries. It’s amazing how much they are teaching me, rather than just me teaching them. It’s truly humbling and awesome!

 

Many of my students pointed out that we often blame others for injustice, but we ourselves are often unjust. N.T. Wright in his book Evil and the Justice of God talks about how we so easily think of our selves as ultimately good and terrorists and dictators as ultimately evil (or at least that’s what our president and would-be presidents tell us). We so easily draw the line separating good and evil between us and them, when rather, we should realize that the line runs in our own hearts and minds. None of us are completely good or completely evil. To say so is to blaspheme. And our presidents and potential presidents have this degrading form of blasphemy hanging from their mouths almost constantly. To say that we are completely good is to say that we are God. Jesus spoke against this and reminded us to see the log in our own eye rather than focusing on the speck in our neighbor’s eye. But our leaders (and our own sinful pride) incessantly tell us to focus on our neighbor’s speck, and in doing so, we open the doors to all kinds of evil; hatred instead of love, cynicism instead of joy, shedding blood instead of peace, impatience instead of patience, cruelty instead of kindness, pride instead of goodness, might instead of meekness and gentleness, dishonesty and slander instead of faithfulness, hedonism and perversion instead of self-control. All of these are fruit directly opposing the fruit of the Spirit in which we are supposed to be bearing.

 

So back to beggars: One of my students, in reference to blame-passing said, “…we not only see injustice, but also frequently we are unfair.” Unfair by whose standards? Fair by the world’s standards would be to further ostracize the beggar and treat them like the dog they are used to being treated. But fare according to our Prince of Peace’s standards would be to touch those considered unclean, to heal on the Sabbath, to dine with sinners, to never refuse a beggar, and to denounce the oppressive powers of the elite. In the light of this example my actions seem so darkly oppressive and unjust. I spend my time with those like me and I know too few poor people.

 

Another student said, “Life’s value isn’t money, human life is a value.” How profound. If I truly believed this, I would spend my time preserving and saving human life rather than preserving my own wealth and saving my own money. I’m finding it easier to pass through the eye of a needle right now. May God have mercy on me.

 

And even still, it’s so easy for me to point fingers, just as I have done in the early paragraphs at our leaders. I repent of my pride and blame-passing. May God have mercy on me a sinner.

8 Weeks Down…Whoa!

It’s Saturday night, and I’m just about to hit the town…not really. I’m going to chill for the rest of the evening and talk with my folks via Skype. Today was a busy day though. I met David and Erich, the only other male teachers, at the bazaar for shashlyk. We ran into one of my students who also joined us. Oh, it was delicious as usual.

I absolutely love the bazaar. It’s such an amazing mix of peoples and sights, sights and sounds. On one side the scent of semi-fresh fish beckons you to buy. Then you turn the corner and see a giant vat of plov – rice with carrots and small chunks of lamb - sizzling and looking delicious. Fruit, shoes, shirts, pants, hardware, winter coats; you name it, it can be found. Kazakhs, Russians, Uzbeks, Koreans, Chechens, and more vend their goods or maneuver through the crowds with purpose prepared to the desired goods. Just when I feel like things are getting normal Saturday roles in and I find myself in the bazaar completely in awe of abounding beauty. I love it! 

This past week in teaching was awesome. We spent both sessions discussing “justice.” In the last lesson we looked at 4 different theories of justice and we held a small debate discussing the pros and cons for each theory. The students did an amazing job. I was impressed! When I was learning Spanish my senior of high school, my teacher had us discuss philosophy and such things. I found it aggravating at times and very difficult. But that class was one of the most beneficial classes I have ever taken (unfortunately my Spanish speaking abilities have virtually disappeared due to lack of practice). I hope my students experience the same growth and learning.

our courtyard

our courtyard after the rain

painting at Apple Tree

a neighborhood around town

Where Did Fall Go?

Two days ago the trees stood holding brilliant yellow and orange leaves. Yesterday there came a chill and with it furious winds. And now today most of the fall colors lie in messy ruin on the wet streets. It’s amazing how quickly the seasons have seemed to change. The temperature went from being in the low 70s two days ago to the 30s today. There were even a few snow flurries in the air this afternoon! It would not be a surprise if the weather warms up again before the genuine deep freeze sets in, but I’m preparing myself for either scenario.

 

Things continue to go well. I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead in the classroom. We may be discussing such things as justice and the upcoming American presidential elections. These topics should be interesting! This morning I attended Sunday service with one of my students. It was a really neat experience.

 

I’ve settled into a pretty comfortable routine. Monday through Thursday I plan for my classes, practice Russian, and attend language lessons Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Friday morning I walk to a nearby town (about 10km away), where we spend some time with disadvantaged children. The program there is called Apple Tree. Then I walk home if I have time, get cleaned up, relax a little, and head to our Book discussion group. On Saturday I walk to the big bazaar and buy dried apricots, raisins, and almonds from the same Uzbekistani lady each time. She’s awesome! I also eat lamb shashlyk (kebabs) at the same little café inside the bazaar. Those are awesome too! Then, I head to the field where we play baseball. We usually play for a few hours. Afterwards I usually head home and chill out for the rest of the evening.

 

My walk to Apple Tree this weekend was fantastic. The fall colors were really alive on the step. The grasses and shrubs, at times, caught the light in such a way that they seemed to glow. Another type of plant, glowing red or orange, almost appeared to be on fire. I took some pictures, but they never do Creation the justice it deserves.

 

But again, it’s cold and wet today, and I’m sitting by the light of my computer screen as the light coming into my window quickly fades. Soon it will be completely dark, and soon I will awake to the start of a brand new week; a brand new day that is both a gift and wholly unique. I’ve been reading the Book each morning, and I just recently finished reading Micah. What an incredibly challenging few chapters! My hope is that as I begin each special, God-given day, I will remember the commands given through Micah, and live as our Father would require. My hope is that I will do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with him.

 

Despite the uncertainty the weather throws at me, I am learning more and more to revel in the steadfast love and faithfulness of our Father.

 

Apple Tree

End of 4th Teaching Week

On Thursday before class I was standing in front of my classroom door with some of the other teachers. None of my students were in the classroom, and usually about half the class arrives at least 15 minutes before class starts. Then, we looked and saw a herd of people coming at us down the hallway. This mob was most of our students from our 4:30 classes, and they came bearing gifts. Saturday or Sunday is teacher day here in Kazakhstan, so the students surprised with some small gifts. It was a wonderful surprise. And like good students, each class gave us an apple – and some chocolate along with some other things!

 

Also, in my class we had a small celebration at the end of class time to celebrate Ait, or Eid which is a three day celebration at the end of Ramadan. It is traditionally a time to celebrate the end of the Ramadan fast where families will cook big meals and dine with relatives and neighbors. In class I brought some sweats and one of my students, a business woman, brought in 3 different kinds of traditional bread with yogurt to share with the class. It was awesome and delicious! We had a good time enjoying each others company, and I loved being able to celebrate a traditional holiday with my students.

 

The weather here in Karaganda has been absolutely beautiful the last few days. It’s been in the high 50s to mid 60s during the day and the skies have been a peaceful shade of blue. Many of the trees are turning or have turned and fall seems to definitely be in fall swing. I hear that by the end of the month it could start to get pretty cold. I’m excited about experiencing some intense cold. However, I’m sure I’ll be singing a much different tune in the midst of lifeless winter when I have to wait 20 minutes outside for the bus. But regardless it will be fun to “endure” winter in another part of our glorious world.

 

And I do truly believe that this world is glorious. And I believe that our Father wants us to believe this and act like it. Heaven – a far away by-and-by in the sky – as some people define it, is not and will never be my home. The Prince of Peace prayed to his Father that his kingdom (the kingdom of heaven) would be on earth as it is in heaven. Heaven’s kingdom was inaugurated by a descending dove when our Lord was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Heaven has come, it is coming, and it will continue to come. Heaven is here and now, and it will continue on into the eternal future. And as believers it is our divine commission to aid in this process; shining the light of heaven’s glorious possibilities and transformation into situations of deep and saturating darkness.

 

Just as heaven is here and now, so is hell. There are places in this world that are suffering hellish oppression, injustice, torture, slavery, persecution, genocide, poverty, malnutrition, etc. And as citizens of one of the richest, fattest, most polluted, biggest resource consuming nations on the planet we must consider that we, each of us, could be partially responsible for this hell that over a third of the world is burning in. Hell isn’t always run by demons and devils; sometimes they have help from us who are indifferent, gluttonous, greedy, and squanders of God’s good creation.

 

Which kingdom are we helping to establish? Is it one of gated mansions, infinite wardrobes, manicured gardens, oil rigs, mega-buildings – things that appear to be heaven for some, but most definitely mean hell for most others. Or are we establishing an entirely different kingdom, which at its very heart beats the rhythm of heaven and pumps the blood of heaven – blood that was shed to save us from ourselves and save the world from the sins of greed, pride, violence, lust, and gluttony which bestow their hellish wages to everyone?

 

May it be said of me that I denied power and glory to the powers of hell and that instead, I took part in the holy communion of heaven.

 

May our Father have mercy on us for we are all sinners.

 

May Mercy make right

The things that we have made wrong

May It look into our hearts and minds

And find Itself not too far gone