Ode to my friends Eric

I have two very dear, close friends both by the name of Eric; one is a carpenter currently living in Brandon, Manitoba, the other is a professor at the college I attended.

Over a year ago I decided to adopt this song as my own personal theme song because it is catchy and epic-sounding; if I ever needed fight music or a death scene this would be the music I would want to be played over it.

This last weekend I was visiting Eric in Brandon and this CD just happened to be playing in my car stereo. Whenever we would stop to go into a store or restaurant Eric would be humming or singing this song. I eventually told him, "That's part of the reason why I picked this as my theme song: it's catchy."

While I had a mix of hilarious emotion after reading Eric's (the professor) latest blog entry I couldn't help but abandon words. This video was the first thing I thought of immediately after reading his blog (especially the first minute).

For those who know either of these Erics I hope you can appreciate this.

Guys this one's for you.

Cheers.

Making the Switch

Hello readers (yes, this is my second post in 2 weeks...applaud now).

I don't know how many of you read magazines but I have always quite enjoyed this medium of written media. I typically never read (or commit) to more than one magazine at a time (because (a) I don't think there are many magazines worth reading and (b) I would feel like I was cheating on one magazine if I read another), although it happened at times.

For some number of years now my magazine of choice has been Rolling Stone (I know some of you are making a face...stop that) because I consider myself to be a 'rocker' in some sense of the term (I was born to be a rock star, but I won't go into that now) and somewhat enjoy keeping up with the ebb and flow of the music industry in general. I started reading Rolling Stone when I was in high school while my brother had a subscription. Ever since whenever I see a new issue I pick it up and page through it, and, depending on the articles, make the purchase. While in college there were times when I would just feel that need to relax a little so I would buy the latest RS and listen to Neil Young (why Neil Young??? Well it was specifically his Freedom album, and particularly the song 'Crime in the City'...listen to it, you'll understand).

Over the last few months I have regularly been purchasing Rolling Stone magazine, regardless of the articles, in order to keep my reading a little more interesting (and there's an excitement finding the new issue each time). However, since this steady purchasing has come to pass I find myself getting more and more frustrated with Rolling Stone regarding their very left wing (liberal) perspectives on world happenings. While I consider myself to be a person who can appreciate a well thought out argument, regardless of position, RS seems to blindly shoot from the hip with very little thought or explanation of their points of view. I now find reading RS to be a brainwashing exercise; those who read are just expected to go along with whatever the editors of RS print.

For this reason, along with my growing dislike of entertainment-driven culture (you've probably caught that already if you've been following this blog), the need to grow up and pay attention to larger issues, and feeling that I should be supporting a Canadian publication (and therefore more Canadian-driven content) I have taken out a subscription to Maclean's magazine (if you don't know Maclean's think Canada's take on Newsweek).

While some may argue that in regards to political content Maclean's is about the same stance as Rolling Stone in reading Maclean's publications lately I have been attracted to it for the following reasons:
1) I find it to be enough of a mixed bag, most of the time, in terms of political stance
2) Agruments made in Maclean's largely seem to be thought out and explained (at least more than RS)
3) Maclean's is a Canadian publication with Canadian content
4) Maclean's writes about world issues as well as Canadian
5) I have come to the realization that it is time to grow up and quit being so self/entertainment driven and start being informed about larger issues affecting my country and world

I am not completely sold on Maclean's being a weekly news magazine, as I am more comfortable with a monthly pubication, but I guess it's just going to have to be something I get over.

While I am largely walking away from Rolling Stone I think the allure of the glitz and glamour of it will always remain to some extent. Knowing myself I will probably buy the occasional issue...if there is an interesting article or someone great is on the cover...hence my self-loathing.

Interpretation of the Songs

(I deleted two longer, less pointed intros to write this one...enjoy)

Recently I have been frequently listening to 'The Killers' lastest album Day and Age and one particular song on this album (their first single) 'Human.' While I did not really care for the song on first hearing I started to grow a liking for it, particularly the lyrics.

Being someone who is a fan of the radio and some Top 40 music (even if I don't like it I still appreciate the change up from what I ordinarily listen to), I have, at times had a tendancy to take these songs and try to tease out a deeper, alternate, or spiritual meaning to their often ignoble or confusing lyrics. (I'll have you know that I once even turned one of Hamlet's soliloquys into a prayer).

Anyway, upon multiple listenings I've teased out some meaning to 'Human' which may not be processed on a primary listening. Here's the lyrics:

"I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes, clear your heart
Cut the cord

(Chorus)
Are we human or are we dancers?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancers?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye, wish me well
You've gotta let me go

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we're receiving
Let me know, is your heart still beating?"


My interpretation:

I can't help but hear this song being sung by someone looking in on our Western culture, most likely a follower of Christ. The first verse is hearing the call to follow Christ; closing their eyes to step out in faith, clearing their heart of that which binds them to sin (accomplished only when we are "called to the platform of surrender"), and then cutting the cords that keep them entanlged in that sin.

The Chorus flashes back to the human race (or in this case "Westerners") and they ask themselves "Are we human?" beings created to feel, live, love, breathe, to walk with Christ "or are we dancer?" beings who are caught up in what they are doing: entertaining, and being entertained, by everything around them that they have become children of that entertainment, no longer do they care about those who are human. In fact "human" is something that is lying on its deathbed, the dancer has taken over and almost completely forgets what human even means. But there are those few who are still on their knees seeking the Truth found in Christ.
(My point here is not to get down on dancing, I like dancing, have even taken lessons, and realize that it is a biblical practice. Please understand it as a metaphor.)

The second verse continues on; either character in this story could be realizing that in the pursuit of the "dancer" all of these traits, which are indivisible from being "human," are being lost. To the follower of Christ they "wave goodbye" to an old life, to the "dancer" they wave goodbye to their remaining humanity, instead chasing their own passions.

The final verse (the bridge) of the song switches back to the perspective of the follower of Christ asking those "dancer"s (or those caught somewhere in between), "can you handle a vision of your true Home? You are not hearing the Message (of the cross) that was sent, can you truly live without it? Have you abandoned the 'human' all together, are you all 'dancer'? Or is there still a chance of your 'human'ity?"

While I have edited out repeats of choruses and other lyric repetition the main thrust of the song, the question, "Are we human or are we dancer?" is repeated 9 times. This is a question that keeps coming up over and over again, it is the most recurring lyric in the song.

I post this because two weeks ago I got to preach in my home church. I fully intended on sharing what I have written in part of my sermon as I asked at one point, "Why do we need to be so entertained?" While the excerpt I have written here, regarding 'Human' did not make the final cut of the sermon for the sake of flow and content the song did inspire many other thinking points of my sermon. The answer I proposed to my own question, of being a society in constant need of entertaining, is that perhaps we are trying to drown out the voice of God who wants to be in relationship with his children and we are afraid of what he might say.

Maybe your thinking, "Wow, that was out there." That's not entirely unexpected from me, but I hope you enjoyed.

Questions, comments, abuse???
I hope not the last one, but I have inspired it before :)...hence my self-loathing.

...Footnote.

I figured it was time to write another entry here, and instead of editing my first post yet again (something I've done countless times already) I thought it best to just write a sort of footnote to that post.

In correspondence with a good friend last week this person told me that the name of my blog seemed quite depressing. I couldn't help but laugh. As I have already much explained why I titled my blog as I have I now wish to offer a more thought out (mature?) apology for my blog's name.

Recently I have been dealing with the reality of what Paul writes in Romans 7 on struggling with sin (emphasis on verses 21-25). At times I find myself questioning my faith because I do struggle with sin. I'm not sure if I can put it any simpler than that other than to say that I have been learning the hard way what it is to struggle with not just sins, but a life surrounded in sin. Every day I still come to this place of realising that following Christ is an EVERYDAY thing, turning from sin is an EVERYDAY thing, but I still want to get to this place of feeling like I have arrived at some spiritual "higher ground."

Also, in regards to my subtitle, "Thoughts of a Theologian at Large," I wish to state that by presenting this information that I, in no way, consider myself a Theologian in the sense of "Ph.D, writer and professor," rather in the sense of "I am a Christian." All Christians are/should be Theologians, in some sense of the term, in that they should always be able to follow the admonition of 1 Peter 3:15-16. It is my hope that most of my posts will express some theological bent, but I by no means promise this

Some of you may have noticed my change of bakground format. I did this for two main reasons: (1) having a black background and blog name that I do just seemed too depressing and (2) my previous background just didn't have the same quirkiness that fit my personality (not that this one does, it's just more my style).

Moving on...After this post I promise to actually start posting "bloggable material." I'm sure just about any of my profs from college would tell you about my need for extensive introduction and definition of terms/ideas so that once a person actually got to the point of a paper they knew exactly what I was talking about. But I promise I do have a number of blogs I've been meaning to write on a variety of topics (...not that you care, I'm just writing this for my own benefit), but sometimes I'm just too lazy to sit down and start writing...hence my self loathing.

By Way of Introduction...

Let me begin by stating that if you are even reading this I am surprised.

I am not really one for reading or writing blogs, if you haven't already guessed by the attached video clip; allow this to be my introduction to my blog for all those interested.

I would have to say that I am in almost full agreement with the comments made by 'Hank Moody.' When I saw this video I laughed as it seemed to clearly communicate my feelings toward much of our modern "communication" technology. When I see people (mostly) younger than I who cannot be detached from their mobile device for any length of time I feel like screeming. How someone can stand in a room full of people and still feel the need to "be in contact" with someone else of their choosing via some electronic means of communication is beyond me. And don't even get me started on what it is doing to the English language. A friend of mine once said, "The only connection you need is an internet connection." I feel that this has become the sad mantra of the upcoming generation.

Alas, while I am quite frustrated with this explosion of pseudo communication and monkey English here I am (much like 'Hank') starting a blog of my own. I am writing my own blog for a few of reasons:

1. I wish to keep my writing skills, somewhat, sharpened. Although I do not promise spectacular grammar, eloquence or precise use of the English language I will try.
2. Just to get my thoughts out there. I have heard that it is easy just to vent by writing at times (and indeed have found this true on some occasions) and so I mean to employ this method of...yammering.
3. I also wish to, perhaps, establish this blog as a way of communicating feelings and thoughts to a number of whom I wish to communicate with. For those of you who are included in this group know that I do not mind the spending the time writing or telling you what exactly I am thinking, but know that after writing it in a few emails, or saying it a few times, I often find it loses much of its original punch from trying to recommunicate it over and over.
4. In the past I have witnessed how blogs can be a great tool for people to interact and share ideas (mainly these are friends and profs of mine from college). It is my hope, in having my own blog, to enter this forum where I find thoughts to be more personal, yet retain their intelligible intergrity.

For those of you that do know me this blog may, on occasion, take on an angrier tone than you are used to hearing me use. This is just me being myself and I ask that you bear with me, I will try not to be too nasty.

In closing allow me to state that I do not think that what I have to say in necessarily profound or earth-shaking (I want to leave that to true movers and shakers); again, this is just me putting my thoughts out there. If you wish to comment on or discuss anything I write great. If I am ignored I'm fine with that too.

For a long time I have found the Internet to be a place where anyone can say anything they want, unedited and, often, not properly thought through or with some other annoying error. While I may not think that all blogs are written by "stupid people" much of what is found here is just drivel (perhaps even this). It is my feeling that the Internet was created as a resource to assist in the sharing of helpful information (don’t ask for a definition) and not a place where people are trapped and spend all their time. Time and thought was meant to be spent “within smelling distance of one another” with the tools of the Internet as an appendix or sidebar. Sadly people have become the tools of the Internet.

I am Joshua and this is my blog…hence my self-loathing.