To Poison the Baby

When we watch a movie, read a book, look at a magazine... what does it take to tip the balance between that which is true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy and that which is not? This is a question that Christians should ask themselves daily, because there is no constant, simple answer. After all, the world is broken by sin. However, I'd like to address an even more pressing question: How much is too much?

What kind of content does a book need to make it fail to promote purity? For that matter, what kind of content does a book need to make it SUCCEED at promoting purity? I've read some "pure" books that were absolute trash from a word artist's standpoint, and I've read some "smutty" books that were a veritable credit to their form. Few books accomplish both between the same cover. Is avoiding all the gray areas really realistic or wise? By doing so, we miss out on a lot of the most intense beauty produced by our God-given creativity. His power is made perfect in our weakness- even in the area of discernment in media. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit to know when our focus has begun to shift.

Spy Jealousy

I really, REALLY like spy movies and tv shows... why is this? I'm not too sure, but I think it's because of the "hurry-up-and-wait" lifestyle. Not the typical motivation for spy fantasy, I know... But seriously, I sure as heck wouldn't mind living a deep cover in Your-Mom-istan for 18 months just to collect a mysterious package on the second Tuesday in December at a small bookshop on 12th Street. Be nice to catch up on whatever language they speak there, ya know? Maybe I could find a favorite neighborhood deli and get a job there, just for the free salami on wheat. Perhaps I could play chess in the park with an old man every day for a week. Then there's always the idea of purchasing a small motor scooter and cruising the countryside on days when it's not raining. Ah, why do I bother? No one reads this blog, anyway.

HardWorkLazyGoHome

Got back from MO, had a week in which I accomplished less than half of what I had wanted, and then headed to camp... Looooooong drive, long odds, long friendships, long memories, long nights, long looks, long dreams, long way home, long year ahead. Now I feel I'm trapped between exhaustion and task-orientation, the need to rest and the need to move, this undiscovered, undefined, and as-yet-unverified passion and that one. I can't harmonize to this melody, if anyone would even call it that. God, where's the music in all this?

Missouri or Bust!!

Hey... I need to write. I'm not sure what to write about, but here I am writing.

Right now, I feel pretty dang insecure. School ended not too long ago, I went on a trip to Colorado with some guys, and now... Now, I've got time on my hands. Funny tendency I've noticed about myself- the more time I have to sit around, the more the dark cloud rolls in and I start listening to the lies that Satan feeds me. He tells me that I'm not worthwhile, that everyone else is better at life than I am, that God has no purpose for me, that no one wants to be my friend or my lover... the list goes on. God help me, I'm a bum.

Ah, but I'm a bum that headed somewhere... Missouri, to be specific. On Monday, I'm gonna go down to Jordan and Megan's new house to work for a few weeks. My, oh, my!