Best of CU

Hey all,

Be sure to pick up Buzz Magazine today. It is the Best of CU edition and I've got about ten pictures in there. Pretty cool!

Alternatively, you can stop on over at the217.com to look at the Best of CU, although not as many of my pics are on there.



On a more intense note: While trolling 'the book,' I came across the anti-FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) group. In one of the message boards, the question was posed

If Life Doesn't Begin at Conception, Then When?

The thought here was, if you're not pro-life, when do you actually think life begins. The most interesting thought (and to me, saddening) came from a person who will remain un-named to defend their privacy.

Either way, it does not matter at all. Human beings are not allowed to use another human being's body without that person's direct and ongoing consent. A fetus could be human and abortion would still be legal.

Interesting. This person has basically described a fetus as a freeloader, and if we don't want it, it is ok get get rid of it. Aren't these pro-choice policies typically held by a group of people that believe it is good to help the less fortunate? And since when would it be ok to kill a free loader?

The Equipment

Today, in my first Mass at the St. John's Catholic Newman Center on campus, the sermon from father Greg Ketcham really caught my ear.

The scripture that he had to speak on is some of the most powerful scripture I know.

Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27

He then spoke on how important it is to have our focus on the Resurrection. I think that is so easy to forget as I get caught up in performance for the church.

He also quoted C.S. Lewis, which is almost always a good idea, and in this case, especially so. He quoted this in reference to the idea that it can be difficult to see God or experience God.

Unfortunately I did not get the quote exactly, and I didn't look too hard for it, but at its root, Lewis is saying that the sun shows no favorites, it just shines better in a clean mirror than in a dusty one. We are the instruments through which we see God and there is some work to be done for us to best experience and see God.

I love this idea, especially when combined with the idea of spiritual discipline and putting ourselves in the best situations to experience God. Now, some days may be cloudy and the sun will be hard to see regardless, but we must be prepared when the sun does shine, to reflect it as well as we can.

A new era

Alan is going back in time. 9 months after getting my first SLR camera as a gift, I have bought a second. This one, however, is a lot different. The first was a digital, this is a film camera. The first one was a gift and new, this one is a self purchase and is slightly used. But, both use the Canon EF mount, which means that I can interchange lenses between them, which is super exciting. The reason I bought this camera was for a class that I'm taking here at Illinois. Photo 1 is the name, and there is a good section of the course discussing black and white film photography. I'm just excited to give it a whirl.

Not only did I buy this used, but it was my first successful ebay victory (granted, I was the only bidder. People really don't want film cameras.) and it was on the cheap. It will be a good experiment, along with the darkroom work in class to really see how far into photography I can delve.

Check out my new toy/tool for yourself...

Tis Settled

I will be taking classes next semester. Obviously, and my schedule will look right along the lines as such...

Senior Design
Human Factors
Engineering Psych
Basic Photography

I say this now...I am stoked about the semester to come. It being my last one, I am truly hoping my classes will be fantastic. Should have very little calculation, which I'm stoked about. Lots of reading I'm sure, but I'm down with that, as I love the kind of thought involved with the classes.

Running out of Time

Well, I register for my last semester of classes here at the U of I this evening. I've got a few picked out and I'm working on my strategy for the second when the gates open. It is a rather sad and yet exciting thing. I'm super excited that I am but 9 credit hours from graduation and that I should be done in December. I'm sad because there is a chance that I'll leave this place called Champaign (not guaranteed), and I would miss that. I'm also sad because I believe I am a person that wants to live life to the fullest. I want to experience a lot and don't want to leave much to anybody else. The same goes for classes, (This of course excludes business classes) as I have so many I've wanted to take. They vary like night and day and hopefully I will get educated in some things that are relevant to me and my life.

The classes look as such potentially

Senior Design
Human Factors
Engineering Psych
WILD CARD

The wild card class could be many a thing. There is an advertising class, world religions, coaching strategies, the Bible as literature, philosophy classes, manufacturing engineering, and the list goes on. I also really want to not have class Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, which I am pretty close to having. That time that I'll have free on those days will be great for iLife work, reaching out in the dorms, work interview trips, and anything else I can think of. Anyway, college ending...etc :)

Cooperation with Grace

I'm taking a Religious Studies course here at the U of I called Intro to Christianity. What a fascinating course this is. We've spent the semester talking about what Christians have done. Just as simply as that. it is taught from an objective perspective and I'm pretty sure the professor himself has no religious affiliation. So while I must protect against slander to the church and things that would be wrong, I welcome the challenge to my faith, and I am getting a chance to see some of the great moments in the 2000 year history of Christianity. A very small number of the things I've learned or had confirmed include...

• The Catholic church was not always the Catholic church by name
• It was however the strong force for Christianity during the years up to the Reformation
• Christianity DID exist in the Middle Ages (that sounds like a stab, but I'm ok with it)
• The Papacy in Avignon was legit...for a while
• Aristotle plays a pretty large role in Christian thought
• The East-West Schism was caused by celibacy, unleavened bread, and "the son"...plus other things, but it seems so trivial to think that these things divide God's Church
• The Church hierarchy took a lot of liberty to anathematize people left and write
• The formation of the Canon of Scripture is far more complex than Protestants would believe...wow I sound SUPER Catholic today
  
• Christian theologians are fantastically deep people

That last point is my point of focus today. We've had to read documents of the Christian Church and a few of these have been from some of the greatest thinkers in the history of the faith. They include Augustine of Hippo, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, and soon, Martin Luther.

To read the very thoughts of these great men and to see how much their interpretations of Scripture influence the modern church fascinates me. I really look forward to someday taking classes, maybe at a seminary, to better understand these writings from a Christian perspective. To read Aquinas' writings on the Eucharist fascinates me and helps to flesh out the thoughts of the church at that time and what my Catholic background teaches.

My thoughts tonight focus on Augustine and his discussions with his contemporary, Pelagius, laid the groundwork for thinkers like Aquinas, Anselm of Canterbury, and John Calvin.

These two men discussed predestination and Grace's role in salvation. Pelagius has been ascribed with thougths that humanity must work for their salvation, while Augustine presents the opposite extreme speaking of man's inability to earn salvation and it was dependent on Grace completely and he even spoke of predestination.

So, I find myself falling into moderation. I think I am pretty semi-Pelagian at this point in my life. (ICK, I hate labels. And if I totally butcher this, let me know). This concept came as a middle ground between the claimed extremes of the two thinkers. The Synod of Arles, c. 473 lays this out fairly well and says

Mans effort and endeavor is to be united with God's grace; man's freedom of will is not extinct but attenuated and weakened, he that is saved is in danger, and he that has perished could have been saved.

This feels like it still doesn't completely describe how Grace works, and I wouldn't expect it to. However, I think I agree with it. God makes the first move towards us. He draws us in, sometimes even when we don't want it, but he still lets us decide. He allows us to cooperate with him and buy into his plans for the world. I'm also pretty convinced that if we completely set ourselves apart from Him, he will step out of our lives for a while until he comes to draw us to him again, ala in the book of Hosea. So, once Grace presents itself, we must live our lives in cooperation with it. This has definitely become a life verse to challenge me and I'll use it again and again.

James 2:14-17 (The Message)
Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

So, that's a lot of writing and complicated thought. I know it isn't even complete, but it is a working model so to speak. Does it completely address salvation? Not really, and I think it is better that way. We must continue to live worthy, turn to God, and know that The King will bless us. I look forward to continuing to be baffled by God and his ways...

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Oh, and lots of new pics on flickr

Sledding Photos

Well, this could potentially be my last Facebook photo upload...maybe. I just got a Flickr Pro account for my birthday, so I'm uber-excited. But, until that is officially active, here are my pictures from my Facebook album of a glorious afternoon spent sledding.

Album Link

Practical Atheism

I am a practical atheist. I live my life as if God didn't actually exist. Doesn't that sound pretty bad? Why would I claim that God existed, write about it, read about it, speak up for it, but not live like it? Seems pretty silly...

This past week at SNG, Todd Daly from Urbana Theological Seminary came and gave us a sermon that truly met me in a fantastic place. He spoke on the topic of, "Does God Exist?" (I'll post a link when it gets put up on the website) which of course is super easy... Yea, anyway, he brought up specifically the idea of practical atheism. This concept sits in the realm of believers of the message of Jesus of Nazareth not living like his message is real or affecting their lives. Now, I think I can see myself 'living' like it matters. I lead a small group, I go to church, am involved with a Home Fellowship, and heck, I even read my Bible sometimes. But what does that matter? What about all the times my speech is unseasoned with Grace, or when I gossip, or belittle people? What about the times I ignore those in need because I've got such a busy agenda that includes going to play video games at home? Where are the times I need to rely on God?

Now this might seem kind of awkward, because I think it is. What is the critical mass that my life looks like one that trusts God, and anywhere below that, I look like it doesn't matter to me?
That quantification doesn't seem important. What does matter is how I live. It means living set apart. Unfortunately, there are so many walks of life and cultures that it is difficult to say what exactly that means. Is it evil for us to enjoy the culture of our world? I don't think so. I think it is a gift from God and many times the culture enriches my understanding of Him and His creation. However, there are some parts that we must distance ourselves from.

I also think this means social justice. I've really had that idea in my head for a long time, and I wish I could know how better to act on it. As a student, it seems like my top priority should be my classes so that I can get a job and start to serve when I've graduated. But that doesn't negate that I should be taking time aside and serving I think too many times we make excuses of our own busyness to get out there and love other people. That isn't set apart.

So, when we wake up, what is on our mind? How do we live our day? What follows us to our beds at night?



Micah 6:8 And this is what He requires of you: To do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Quad Cam

Ok, so this is definitely my third post of today, but I just can't help but show you all this wonderful item. This is the Quad Cam. The University of Illinois has a camera placed atop Foellinger Auditorium that you...YES, YOU...have the opportunity to control. It can pan and zoom very accurately. You can even snap a picture. Creepy...