C.S. Lewis

“Those who cannot conceive Friendship as a substantive love but only as a disguise or elaboration of Eros betray the fact that they have never had a friend.”

Art is different...

In life there are absolutes.  There is right and wrong, truth and falsehood, fact and fiction, righteousness and sin.  The earth is in fact round and the sky does in fact appear blue.  Life does require water to survive.  If your head gets cut off, you will die.  In life there are absolutes... and then there is art.

Art is different.  There are no absolutes in art.  There is no such thing as "good art" and "bad art", no set of prescribed rules or regulations to measure arts inherent worth.  Sure, people try.  We have important people called critics who's life goal is to take art and critique it, pick it apart, say whether it is good or bad, right or wrong.  But it's all in vein.  Two different people could listen to the same piece of music.  The first might say, "How magnificent!" and the second, "That was horrible!"  They could watch a film and the first could say, "Crap!"  and the second say, "Perfect!"  Which one is right?  It's all opinion.  And differences in opinion are good, because everyone has different tastes.  Some people like coffee, others don't.  But just because you don't like a piece of art doesn't make it "bad". 

That is why art should be made for the artist's sake, not the audience.  Art should be a direct overflow of the artist.  It should be the reflection of an emotion, opinion, idea, concept that is part of the artist.  And only the artist knows what he is actually thinking or feeling and the best way to convey that.  After all, that is what art is, right?  Expression?  An artist, a true artist does art because he has to express something, not because he cares what other people think about what he's doing.  Who cares what they think!  I guess that is a huge problem that I have with a lot of so called "art" today.  You know, people who write a poem or paint a painting because they think it is what the audience wants to see or hear.  They don't do it because it means anything to them, only because it will get a positive reaction from whoever they care about.  Maybe it will make them a lot of money.

That is the whoring of art!  When art becomes a pay check or a self-esteem boost for narcissistic people that crave compliments and not a reflection of the soul, it becomes void, barren, shallow, cheap... it becomes not art.  So call it "a pretty picture" or " a nice piece of music" or "an entertaining movie"... but don't call it art!      

In 1925, Richard Strauss, the famous composer wrote "Ten Golden Rules for Young Composers".  Rule number one: "Bear in mind that you are not making music for your own pleasure, but for the pleasure of you audience."  

Well Richard, if your only goal is to sell tickets and make money, then yes, that is true.  But if it is to be an overflow of who you are as a person, a way to express the inexpressible, to say what words can't say... to be art... then you couldn't be more wrong.

     

On Saturday...

I go to Colorado! This will be my 8th time skiing out there and it looks like it could be the best snow I've ever had! Can I just say that I am EXCITED!?!?!?!

Before I Die...

So I know that lame movie, "The Bucket List" just came out and it seems like I'm just copying that idea. Well, I'm not. Believe me if you want. I do have certain dreams that I would like to accomplish in this life and these are the ones I can think of now. I may add more later...

Publish a piece of original music.

Write a screen play

Learn the Bass

Make a movie

Camp in Alaska

Write a non-fiction book

Visit New Zealand

Be an extra in a movie

Play keyboards for a funk band

Compose a symphony

Write a fiction book

Live on the West Coast

Learn to surf

Compose a movie soundtrack

Preach the gospel to a large crowd

Road trip across the country

Ski Whistler

Read David Copperfield

A quote to ponder

It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it is still there. So get out there and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the grizz, climb the mountains. Run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, that lovely, mysterious and awesome space." ~ Edward Abbey

How true, how true...

It's cold and I want to golf!

I've been away for awhile.  I mean, not from home, but from here... anyway, thats not important.

It's been winter for a long time now, and I am to the point where I am SO ready for spring.  Don't get me wrong, I love winter and snow.  I am going skiing in Colorado in about a month and I can't wait for all the glorious snow that will greet me on those amazing mountain slopes.  But seriously, a person can only handle so much -10 degree weather without wishing that it was at least 10 or 15 out, you know?  

One of the things that I am missing most about warm weather is golf.  I know, I know, you think golf is lame, for pansies, a waste of time, not a real sport, yada-yada-yada.  Well I don't care what you think, I like it.  In fact, I probably dislike a lot of the same things about golf that you do.  I hate how expensive it is.  I hate the people behind you that act like they are in a hurry to get to the next hole because it might be gone when they get there.  I hate the whole country club, yuppy, rich, spoiled-brat atmosphere that so often accompanies this wonderful past time.  I am not one of those knicker-wearing snobs that talks about buying/selling stocks and portfolios while riding in my electric golf cart with a martini.  YACK!  No, I just love being outside in the sun.  I love to golf in a beat up t-shirt and shorts without any shoes or socks.  I love the feel of the grass under my feet and the breeze in my face.  I love walking up and down the fairway lazily and without a care, the sensation of the sand traps and the greens on my toes, the feel of hitting a ball square in the sweet spot and watching it soar through the air. 

To me, golf epitomizes the essence of summer; laid-back, carefree, chill.  I miss that right now.    

Predestination: Cruel or kind? - or - Predestined for freedom!

Predestination is one of the most hotly debated topics within Christianity. Churches, families, denominations and friendships have been split up and ruined because people cannot seem to agree on whether we choose God or God chooses us. So I am going to start by saying that you can TOTALLY disagree with me on what I am about to say and still be my friend. Please still be my friend! Having said that, you may ask, "Well if this is such a touchy topic, then why write on it at all, Nick?" Well here are my reasons for writing on this particular subject. There are at least 3:

1. I believe that the FULL glory of God is at stake within this doctrine. More on that later.

2. I think that many Christians are hostile towards this doctrine because it is misunderstood and often misrepresented. I do not necessarily aim to change your mind if you disagree. However, I do aim to give a clear, fair, and accurate presentation of predestination and election.

3. I find that this doctrine of predestination/election (pretty much the same thing, just different words) gives me so much hope, joy, peace and courage. This is such an amazing, glorious truth (I believe) that I can't help but share it with you!

First, a definition so that we understand what is being talked about. The doctrine of predestination states that before the foundation of the world was laid, before time ever existed, before anything, God chose those who would be His children. He planned in advance those whom he would save from hell, those who would become Christians. 

I want to start by showing that this is a biblical doctrine. This is not something that people just made up to get everyone all riled up. It is in the bible.

"And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." ~ Acts 13:48

"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints." ~ Romans 1:7 (Notice that not everyone is called to be a Saint.)

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in oder that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. An those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." ~ Romans 8:28-30

"What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." ~ Romans 9:14-16 (All of Romans 9 is very helpful.)

"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In LOVE he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." ~ Ephesians 1:4-6

"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will..." ~ Ephesians 1:11

"And all who dwell on earth will worship it (the beast), everyone whose name has not been written BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain." ~ Revelation 13:8

This is just a sampling of verses. There are many more, but I don't have room. But, I think that we can gather from these verses that God does in fact predestine people to be His children. 

Now, some people have said to me, "But that just isn't fair. How can God still be a loving God and then go and chose some people to save and not others?" Here is my answer to that. The fact is, folks, that absolutely none of us deserve to be saved from hell anyway. We all deserve hell for eternity! (Rom. 3:23; 6:23) In fact, if God was going to be totally fair, he would just let us all go to hell and get what we deserved. That would be absolutely fair! But he doesn't! He lovingly chooses some of us to save from eternal punishment. Why? I don't know, but he does! 

But someone else will say to me, "But then God is playing favorites!" No he isn't. Just because God chooses someone does not mean that he has to chose anyone else. Once again, we are all equally wicked and equally deserving of eternal punishment. But God decides who he will save. Ephesians 1 says this when it says that, "... he chose us according to the purpose of HIS will." You see, we live in a democracy where all people have equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And it's good! But if you take that love of democracy and try to apply it to our relationship with God, then you will ruin Christianity. Why? Because no one has ANY RIGHTS with God. We don't have any! And so no one can say, "I deserve to be saved!" No one does!

"But what about my free will to choose God?" someone may say. But I would say to that person that they do not have a biblical view of free will. The bible says that our nature is so sinful and wicked that it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to choose God. The fact is that our will is actually in complete bondage to our sinful nature. (Rom. 3:9-18; 8:7-8) Paul wants us to see it like this: We are spiritually dead. (Eph. 2:1) Sure, we are physically alive but spiritually, before we trust Christ, we are spiritually dead. Dead people can't choose to become alive! All they can do is continue in there deadness. Paul also says that we are spiritually blind. Blind people can't choose to follow a light they can't see. So really, before Christ, our will is not free at all. But then, 2 Corinthians 4:6 happens to us. And O, how glorious it is! "For God, who said, 'Let light shine our of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus christ." So God chooses to remove our blindness and suddenly, we see Jesus! We see the most glorious light in the world, and we can't help but to FREELY choose it! When God chooses us, he is predestining us to freedom. Only when 2 Corinthians 4:6 happens are we finally free to choose God. And just like Jesus said in John, "Lazarus, come out!" to the dead man, so he says to our dead souls, "Become alive!" to make us spiritually alive in Him.

You see, this is where the FULL glory of God comes in. In saying that we choose God, then we are taking his power away from Him and saying, "You didn't choose me, I chose you!" But this simply isn't true! We can't choose God, and saying that we can is taking the credit away from him. But when we say, "Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for choosing me! I don't deserve salvation but you gave it to me, not because of who I am but because of who you are!" If we don't say that, then we are not giving God the full glory that he deserves.

Now, in my experience, a lot of people do not like this doctrine because they have a loved one that is not following Jesus and they are scared for them. They think, "Well if my loved one isn't predestined to be a Christian, then there is no hope for them!" But, this is reverse thinking. Predestination gives us WAY more hope for lost loved ones than if it were up to them to choose God. Why? Because it is completely up to God to save! Therefore, it doesn't matter how messed up or bad or far from God someone is. God can save anyone! So everyone has the exact same chance of getting saved as anyone does. Think of the person that you know who is the furthest from God; further than anyone you know. They hate Him, reject Him, don't want anything to do with Him. You might think that there is no way that they will come to know Jesus. But guess what? It isn't up to them; it's up to God! They have the same hope of salvation as you and I do! Predestination levels the playing field. No one is beyond Hope! No one is beyond the reach of God! No matter how far your loved one seems to be from God, He can still make them alive and remove their blindness! How great is that? This is what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. He wasn't searching for God, He wasn't even close! In fact, He was killing Christians. And then God said, "POW!" And he was changed! That should give us immense hope! 

This is really long already and there is a lot more I could say. But let me finish by giving you two great resources for further study.

The sermon, "The Called Of Christ and the Loved Of God, Part 1" by John Piper is the best sermon I have ever heard on this subject. Please listen to this! www.desiringgod.org

The sermon, "Predestination" by Mark Driscoll is the second best sermon I have ever heard on this subject. www.marshillchurch.org