Counterfeit detection?

Part of the training to work in a bank involves being able to tell the difference between counterfeit money and genuine currency.  This is accomplished, not by studying various types of fakes, but rather, by spending hours upon hours handling the real stuff.  This was the basis of a favorite analogy in the Fundamentalist Christian environment I grew up in.  The "moral of the story" was, of course, that one did not need to be familiar with other beliefs to be able to share the "Truth".  (This applied not only to other religions, but other variations {perversions} of our own Christianity).  We were encouraged to remain within the safety of our little bubble, only venturing out in groups, and properly "armed", lest our "Truth" be challenged.

Even as a youngster I was troubled by the implications: if our "Truth" is infallible, can it not withstand a challenge?  Am I to assume that everyone that believes differently than I do has malicious intent to deceive me in some way?  

Nevertheless, I have apparently always been very pleased with an opportunity to present a clever word picture, and I offered this one many times.  But cleverness doesn't always guarantee validity.  

Perhaps this well-intended analogy can still be redeemed?  I think so.  I believe that the analogy is simply incomplete.

It is certainly valid for a banker to spend countless hours studying the very purpose for their existence.  It is certainly important for them to be able to quickly identify someone intending to deceive them with a counterfeit.  However, I feel that it is also important to recognize that there are other civilizations out there with other currencies that, while different from your own, are not entirely without value.  While they may not have any value to you, and may not be valid to make a purchase in your system, they are not necessarily presented to you with intent to deceive.  The person carrying that currency truly believes in its value, and there are legitimate civilizations based entirely on that real or perceived value.

So, the moral of my updated version of the analogy is this: you are under no obligation to accept the currency of another culture, but I think it is important to differentiate between those that intend to deceive you and those who are offering you something they legitimately believe is valuable.  

To be clear: the original analogy is about how you view the currency you wish to distribute, and how you deal with counterfeit currencies that wish to devalue your own.  My version is really about how you will approach the people with different currencies, and whether or not you will devalue them.

Personal Politics?

So, this is a follow up to a previous post, in which I discussed my feelings on abortion.  Here's a quick summary:

I am content with the label "Anti-abortion".

My faith totally and completely informs my position on this.  I believe that life begins at conception, and should be protected from that time forward.

I think the term “Reproductive Rights” is bullshit.  (That’s the strongest language I have used in a public online forum to date, and I apologize if some of you find it offensive, but it is what it is...)

I don't believe there is ever an appropriate time for an abortion.  Certainly not as birth control.  And I think that two wrongs just make a really wrong situation, so I don't believe it is truly beneficial in cases of rape or incest.  Finally, when we're talking about mother's and/or baby's lives at risk, I'm just not confident enough in medicine and science to allow doctors to decide that certain death is necessary to prevent potential death.  That's personal- I'm here because my mom didn't buy it either.

So, where does that leave me?  Ready to outlaw abortion altogether?  Not so fast...

After that last post, a friend of mine asked if I was prepared to legislate my religious beliefs on the entire nation.  Yikes!  That goes against my position on religion and state.  Hmmmm, how do I reconcile these?

As I said, my position on the starting point of life is based on religious beliefs that I'm not willing to impose on others.  So, let's talk about science instead.  Let's talk about "viability".

Now, in the animal world, “abortion” is when a mother rejects her baby for one reason or another, and abandons it, leaving it to fend for itself.  “Viable” is when that newborn animal is somehow able to care for and defend itself, otherwise it is eliminated by “Natural Selection”- often contributing to some other animal’s “Survival of the Fittest”.
With that perspective in mind, I think it is safe to say that a human offspring could not be considered “viable” for a number of years after its birth. However, I’m going to assume that we’re not ready to legalize abandonment as a method of birth control.

OK, I'll admit that I'm in no way qualified to determine when a fetus might be "viable", which may be why I resort to my faith to inform my position. But I think I might have a scientifically acceptable compromise we can agree on: take the earliest recorded premature birth in which the child survived and make it illegal to have an abortion from that point on. I'm optimistic that many of us could agree to that.

Optimistic?  What does that have to do with anything?  A lot really.  See, I'm not optimistic that we could ever completely outlaw abortion in this country.  Furthermore, I'm not optimistic that abortion would stop even if we were able to outlaw it.  I think it would just become even more unsafe than it is.  So I would take that compromise as a win.  

But let's dig even deeper.  If laws couldn't/wouldn't stop this, then what is going on here?  Clearly, these are women and girls who feel that they don't have any other option.  They feel that they have no way to cope with it all: the pregnancy, and the responsibility of rearing a child.  Fear is a powerful thing, and I think the only thing powerful enough to combat it is love.  Law can't do it- it just makes it worse.  Piety only turns fear to hate.  If we want these girls to bring these babies into the world, we can't just tell them it's the law, or that they need to carry out their responsibilities- we have to love them and help them see the possibilities.  

Possibilities.  I don't know what all the possibilities are, but I think making adoption easier might be a good start.  And we need to make education more available.  And we need to turn the churches back into places of safety and love, instead of condemnation.

So, let me leave you with some other thoughts to stir you up even further:
If the church is so concerned about the welfare of babies, why are there so many babies on Welfare?
Given the option, which would you choose: an aborted baby, or a child adopted by a same-sex couple?
Why are most Pro-Lifers also in favor of capital punishment?

And finally, check out this debate for 2 more views on this topic.

Contemporary Survival of the Fittest

What do you think of when you hear the phrase "Survival of the Fittest"?  Darwin?  Evolution?  Big strong cavemen?  Dinosaurs?  Do you think it is a concept that is still applicable today?  Still in the same way?

Well, let me tell you what I think, since this is my blog....  :)

I think that the evolutionary understanding of the concept is very much a reality in many parts of the world, including parts of our own relatively wealthy nation.  That's not what I'm here to write about though, as you likely suspected.

I think that "Survival of the Fittest" represents a mentality in our society today.  It is a way of life.  It no longer refers to a literal need to preserve one's own life, but rather, in our contemporary culture, it describes an urge we all feel to justify our own existence.  "Survival of the Fittest" in 2011 means "Hey, this is why I deserve to live!"

This need to convince others we are valuable often shows up as boasting of our own goodness and/or accomplishments, thereby offering proof that we are contributing to society.  Alternately, if I can't think of any redeeming qualities in myself, I might just try to prove that you are scum, and therefore if one of us has to go, it should be you.

Sometimes though, this idea shows up a little more subtly.  Individuality seems to be a worthwhile trait- you certainly don't want to extinguish a one-of-a-kind!  So we turn to distinction to preserve ourselves.  Distinction leads to separation, and fear of anyone that is different, because their brand of different might threaten my right to life.  Do you see where I'm going with this?  Have you ever seen the damage this causes?  Racism?  Sexism?  Sectarianism?  Homophobia?  Middle school cruelty?  The list goes on and on.

Sadly, the problem seems to intensify when you consider religion- especially in the Bible Belt.  Now we're not only justifying our existence, but also our right to live forever.  One reason there is a church on every corner is because each one of them wants the world to know that their theology is better than that of the church across the street.  It is so important to let people know how superior their faith is that they will bus kids in from every county within a 2-hour drive to make sure they hear the true gospel at their church instead of the heresy of some wolf that has breached the fold.

REALITY CHECK!!  Guess what?  None of us deserves to live!  We're all selfish scumbags at our core.  We have been since before we were born.  It is the reality of "Survival of the Fittest"- it is no theory!  It has existed since the Fall of Adam when he decided that God could not be trusted.  You may be familiar with some of it's other aliases- "Me first!", "Looking out for #1"- or it's pseudo-religious alter ego: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!"

The truth is that none of us can justify our own existence, and apart from the grace of God and His desire for us, we would not be alive and prospering today.

Oh, and if you think that you "saw the light" or "got right" or any other form of self-glorifying distinction, you can go ahead and drop that now....

Pro-Life? or Anti-Abortion?

*edited to add in a couple ideas a comment sparked*

The politics of slanted lingo drive me mad.  Quickly.  And it's usually the media- both sides.  They nonchalantly pass off words that were carefully chosen at some prior time, for the implications they will bring.  Sometimes it's just the order things are put in that lead you to lean a certain way.  I'm a communicator- I recognize it immediately, and it drives me bats.  But I'm going to do it to myself here.
See, the terms "Pro-Life" and "Pro-Choice" are carefully used.  Nobody wants to be called "Anti-Life" or "Anti-Choice".  For that matter, I don't think anyone wants to be "Pro-Abortion".
But I am willing to wear the description of "Anti-Abortion"- because I am.  You can quote me here:  I don't believe there is ever a good reason for abortion, anywhere, anytime, for anyone.  Never.
If you know my "story", you know why this is true.  But I am also ready to acknowledge that my position is almost 100% informed by my religious views.  I believe that abortion always assumes that God has lost control, and is not capable of handling the situation.  In fact, I believe that it suggests that He never was in control.  This just doesn't jive with my faith.  Furthermore, I believe that if God "knew you from before you were formed in the womb", then life is important from conception.
Now we can go around and around about a lot of related and distant topics from here if you like.  We can talk about "Pro-Life" in the contexts of war and capital punishment, and Euthanasia, etc, etc.  We can talk about birth control and contraceptives.  We can even talk about God's sovereignty when abortions do occur.  There's tons to discuss....

but call me what you will, but I'm ready to come out and say it: I am "Anti-Abortion", and I'm OK with that.

My Crazy Life!

Most of you know that I have a 1 year old little boy, Gabriel who is just starting to walk and talk and generally get into everything.  This is the greatest joy I have ever known, and I could on and on about him for quite some time.  But I am writing this note to tell about some of the other things that are going on in my life these days...

For nearly 2 years now I have been playing in a band called Joe Next Door. I started out just playing bass, but as things have progressed I have added percussion and backing vocals.  I'm very pleased to admit that I my be finding my voice, and I am excited about singing again, after having abandoned it for nearly 2 decades.  

Joe Next Door is currently working to build a fanbase, and also working in the studio to begin the recording process of nearly 5 albums worth of material.  This project will find me singing, playing bass and drums,  and quite possibly adding guitar and keyboard parts.  And most definitely having a lot of fun!

Also on the musical front, I have taken on some new responsibility at church.  Due to some financial cutbacks we lost our Worship Director.  I had been his right hand man for at least the last 5 years, and had actually been wondering if it was time for me to move on to somewhere that was more in need of my skillset.  This opportunity quickly anchored me right here (I'm actually typing this at Redeemer Church).  For a few months now I have been sharing the responsibilities of worship coordinator with one of our elders who has been musically involved.  As we move into summer I will be taking on even more responsibilities.

For some people this has been a difficult transition, and that possibility was certainly there for me- this friend had been my longest running "bandmate" ever- but it has been a huge blessing instead! I feel alive, like I am doing what I was created to do.  I chose to believe that things happen in God's time, and that our actions and decisions are the instruments He uses to bring about His will.  I am thriving in this new situation, implementing things that I've dreamed of for years.  And based on their response, it seems that the great majority of the people were ready for some changes.  Worship has been more intense these last few months than I have ever seen it.

Now, many of you know that I moved to a new job about 2 years ago, and wrote a lengthy note about how that came about.  It has been an important 2 years, with plenty of growth, and I am happy to say that I am content there.  But opportunity has come knocking.  A week from tomorrow I will break into the IT field with no college and no experience.  Through the efforts of an insider friend, I have secured an IT admin position with Pepsi that could change my life.  Because he is their primary programmer, and because they have been unable to find a capable second programmer, I am being brought in to relieve him of all that is not programming, and learn the programming over his shoulder.

Here's the scary part: initially I am signing on as a contractor with a 4-week assignment.  In that 4 weeks I need to prove that I am the valuable asset that this friend has promised, and then I can secure my position for the rest of 2011.  The long term goal is to become an official Pepsi employee for 2012.  The really long term goal is to work in IT for the rest of my life, unless music takes me elsewhere!

Oh, and the pay is more than a few dollars beyond what I currently make when I'm working OT.  :)

Reality, is it real?

I talk a lot about the aspects of being an artist.  That's because I think a lot about the aspects of being an artist.  I think that artists enjoy a special connection with the Creator whose image we bear, but that doesn't come without associated burdens.  I think the urge to create new things is directly connected to a keen awareness that our souls have the capacity for a greater reality than that which we observe around us.  In other words, we're always seeking something greater.  Sometimes we are referred to as "The Dreamers" of society, and we're often told to get our heads out of the clouds.  But we're just searching for what we believe exists.  Sometimes we ache for it so badly that it physically hurts.
Unfortunately, many times this leads to harmful habits and lifestyles, often involving the proverbial sex, drugs and rock&roll.  We spend a lot of time trying to find this greater reality in the very limited things this world has to offer us, and it seems that many of the most creative artists in history have ruined their lives in this pursuit. 
Lately I've been feeling a greater awareness of this huge void, and feeling stronger urges to find something more.  Much of that manifests itself in my music and art, and is ultimately a good thing as I strive to create better things for our current reality.  But very often lately, this greater awareness simply leads to a greater disappointment in the reality around me, and I see the deficit in culture, relationships, integrity, and society.  It just leaves me feeling angry and bitter, and trying to find or generate a joy to counter it.  But I too am guilty of believing that it can be found in things around me.  Even good things like music and relationships can't fill the need in my life.  Only Jesus can do that. 
I just wish I had a better understanding of how to truly pursue that.

Different kinds of art....

I've been thinking about this for years now, but only recently have I been able to put it together coherently.  I'm inclined to call these different levels or grades of art, but that might make me sound elitist.  In my life these ideas mostly apply to music, but they could apply to other forms of art too.  Here's what I'm talking about, you decide!

Level 1- the Performance Artist: this artist strives to represent something pre-existing, often without any personal interpretation added.  In music this would be a cover band.

Level 2- the Composer: this artist creates a work that is intended to be displayed or performed in its original form repeatedly.  In music this might include the majority of classical and pop/rock/country/etc artists.

Level 3- the Structured Improviser: this artist creates a "skeleton" that is intended to be "fleshed out" somewhat differently every time it is displayed or performed.  In music this would describe a lot of jazz and blues.

Level 4- the Spontaneous Improviser: this artist creates a work in front of the audience with little or no prior planning.  The work may never be duplicated again, or may be a future "skeleton" for type 3.  In music this is rare, but its sometimes found in jazz and avant-garde music.

So, here's my big question(s): are any of these "better" than the others?  are any more "creative"?  can you think of other types?