My last cigarette...

I think I like when Christians are Christian instead of church-people. "Church is for people who like church, just like a moose or elk lodge is for people who like lodges"
I also like when people aren't extreme with their use of profanity, but don't talk in the completely sheltered vocabulary range of goody-Christians.

So if you aren't going to be at New Harvest (or weren't at New Harvest) on Sunday June 7th, then I'll just tell you that the guy who we videoed is cool because he says cuss words. Not that he was any good at it, but it was way funny and very down-to-earth. He told a story about this man (if you know the name of the man, please remind me: we stopped recording when this story was told) who went to a foreign country and was approached by two very young (12-13 years old) girls who offered to do anything he wanted all night long for $10. He almost walked away, but instead clarified, "Anything?" to which they affirmed. He invited them to his room, and gave them $10, and sat them down on the sofa to watch Disney movies all night. The man (while personally telling the story) said something like, "What the fuck am I doing?" and then stopped, having made this exclamation in a crowd of.. ahem.. 'holy people'.. and made this second statement, "You are more concerned with the fact that I used profanity in my story telling than you are for the two girls who will, for many years if not the rest of their lives, live on money received from prostitution."

Another instance where that kind of point was made was at a youth conference (probably Acquire the Fire) in which a very fun black lady told us all about different sexual things. When she inevitably told a statistic about how many men get and STD on their penis, she stopped and made the same statement about how we care more about what word she used than the outrageous amount of STD trafficking.

There are some things that are more important in the world than being a perfect saint. Its one thing to abstain from immoral actions, but when it makes relating to people who don't share the same qualities an awkward thing, it's time to adapt. I may not cuss, drink, smoke, dope up, sleep around, etc.. but I won't make my interactions with those who DO be negative. It's just not worth a bad example of Jesus to obnoxiously follow rules.
What I'm saying is this: Don't wince when someone blasts vulgarity; Don't scowl when people confess to 'naughty' things; Don't judge others. It's not your place

OMGWTFBBQZ

I was looking at the books on the shelf at the Center the other day and spied one titled "The Revolution | A Field Manual for Changing Your World". Curious, I opened to see what it was about, synchronously asking Jason what it was about. He had never read it, and I proceeded to discover that it is a collection of several essay-like stories and articles about controversial issues the world over. By controversial, I mean that the chapters are titled,
"1) Clean Water
2) Gang Violence
3) Women's Rights
4) Fair Trade
5) Hunger
6) HIV/AIDS
7) Capital Punishment
8) War and Peace
9) Torture
10) The Environment
11) Human Trafficking and
12) Poverty".
So, as I was flipping through this book, I saw a quote placed at the beginning of the first chapter.

A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; An optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty" - G. Donald Gale

I would like to add that a giving person has already found a thirsty person before happening upon said glass.

Something from this morning at the Center:
"As I write, I see Bruce walking away from the Center, with his own special beat that drives his steps and posture. He is going to take care of some business and will be back soon. I love him. He entered this morning in a very subtle voice and pose, exclaiming a 'good morning' as he took a seat on the couch opposite me. An up-beat song serenaded the room, adding to his pep. He asked about my book, and listened intently as I described it. From that point until his harbinger of leave, he sat in content and joy, smiling and bouncing in time to the music. A quick look in the mirror, as is custom for him, showed his hat, a new white brim, correctly centered on his head. His upper raiment, a royal blue T-shirt, read 'COLLEGE' in box-like text. Enigma consumes the need and desire to be with and encourage Bruce. 'Love. For that is the greatest'"

The Tide Began to Rise

I learned a few things today. I also was greatly inspired. We met with Mike Toupin (he works with all these different companies to translate the text in the Bible into an understandable written language in places where there is either A) no written language B) has no copy of a Bible, period) I think some of the things that have happened to him and around him are absolutely amazing. He told a story about being adopted into the family of the oldest man in the village. He was literally the oldest man in the whole ethnic group. Something like 30,000 people. He had 6 wives (polygamists, there) and 25 children, over 100 grand children. He was too old to have any more kids, and so he named Mike "God loves me" (in his native language) and therefore adopted Mike and his wife and three kids to be his own. They all received special names, which he was able to use (the names) to explain the concept of Christ and God [the gospel of Christ] to many many people there. See, the interesting thing is that in most ethnic (or diverse language sects) groups, they have no actual concept of some things we validate easily (such as 'faith' or 'priest' - they had to create whole new ideas for them) However, most of these peoples have slight adaptations of Christ-like attributes in their histories and cultures. So in a way, one can relate Christ to a concept that they already understand, but he also warned against blindly teaching things (in one place, the closest word for 'priest' was the word that Islamic people use, and therefore would have caused a misunderstanding if used to describe Christ, or another of Christianity's priests - so they used what they knew from their version of priests [who intercede and sacrifice to ancestors] by saying that a 'priest' sacrifices to God himself on our behalf)

This talk made it easier to relate my desire to go to Japan, etc.. and how there are many more obstacles than I perceived; none of which are impossible to overcome. He mentioned that it take about 3 years to completely learn a language and culture (by 'completely' I mean 'speak it well enough that they don't smile and think "He's trying..."') I find it really hard to express the excitement I have when thinking about being involved with other cultures. The unity is off the charts, and the experiences are immeasurable.

To take something from this, he said you must be on two pillars: 1) flexibility and 2) being a learner.
You have to be flexible, bend from your norm (because other cultures are not always similar to yours)
Learn the culture / language: it's the biggest, most effective way to say I LOVE YOU

Music: Makes the people: Come together: Yeah

I've been working on my drum skyls lately. Its funny how much muscle you build from playing drums. We went to the Wiedel's house after the Steam and Gas Engine worship, and ate FOOD and played in the river. I'm finding it to be more and more enjoyable to be with people. While on the beach, someone kicked a soccer ball out in the water, and from then on it was a 'monkey-in-the-middle' style game of running and shoving and grabbing at the ball, while in the water. Then the men had wrestling competitions, which uses way more muscles than you knew existed. Joel took the sailboat out, which was pretty fun (and for the official record, we flipped the boat on purpose). I expect to wake up sore from all these ventures, but I never do. I'm not complaining. However, I do notice the sluggy responses from my arms, and when I try to do fast rolls on the drums it hurts, if not is impossible. So what do we learn from this? Repetition.

Jason and I are going to interview a man from Williamsburg about being a missionary. It has to do with a coming Sunday morning in which we'll be interviewing some local people about Christianity and such. But this guy can't make a live interview on Sunday, so we go to him.

I picked some strawberries at Sarah's house last night. I got 7 of them, and they were all very small, save one that could pass as a decent strawberry. I like walking out there in the open field. It's interesting how much of that property is hidden away and peaceful. I find it to be a blessing to be located in a town that has the option of being peaceful. So if you ever want to go for a walk in the woods, I'm in.

"Oh, voiceless; wasted: You've soaked your heart in gasoline, now light it up and burn"

"The scene is begging for a prayer tonight, it always will"

I've been thinking about 'begging' lately. I'm not sure why. It seems a concept we aren't used to in America. I mean, the idea of being on your knees and asking for something isn't too hard to fathom, but the thought of actually doing it is kinda cheesy. So what exactly would you be willing to get down low and cry, rage over? In places less fortunate, begging for life, mercy, release, justice, etc.. isn't a rare thing: it's a daily thing. So to me, begging reminds of a point of poverty, failure, captivity, slavery, etc.. NOTHING good. I think it would be good to experience a time where begging is necessary.

One other thought lately is about unity, or community. Socialism.
I LOVE (remember about how I only use love when referring to intimacy) getting with other people to eat, play music, play games, talk, socialize. It drives me (similarly to the way music drives me)

One final thought is about suicide. I find it amazing how the rate of suicide went up since the 'stock market doom of 09' - Japan is now at 100 a day. I can't even imagine why one would loathe anything so much as to take the aggression out on himself. I am not (or have not, rather) been immune to the ideas of committing suicide, but never to the point of acting on it (I weigh all options anyway, but rarely act on any of them; I like to know every angle of every thing) So for those of you plotting, please don't, cause it makes me sad.

Something we were talking about a while back was the way we relate to people. One of those ways is through failures. So I encourage you to express said failures, for 2 results are becoming of release: Connectivity and Relaxation.

Refreshing

I had a neat time with my grand mother this morning. We had talked a bit on Sunday night about writing music together, something I have been trying to work out since the end of the semester. We talked a lot about music and differences in generations. And I got to eat lots of Swedish Pancakes.
-I'll make a note now that I anticipated an unspoken understanding, and that was a bad assumption. I want to write music that is NOT worship; NOT for Christian people. I think people take that as "Sam doesn't want to be a safe, good Christian and stick to the safe places" and thats almost it exactly. Art made a comment the other day that almost sounded like an excuse to not be involved with the *sinners* of the world, something to the effect of "if you hang out with bad people, you will turn into a bad person." In a way, he's right. But he is also way wrong. He did redeem himself after that by saying that we have to be anchored to Christ before being involved with others. Meh, I say. I'll also note that I hate "Christian Phrases" and therefore go to great lengths to keep from saying them.
So I don't like getting stuck in the "Christian Book Store" and using the "Christian Dictionary" as a guide for my vocabulary.-

I began reading the book "Wild Goose Chase" by Mark Batterson. I found my purpose in life: Nomad! I don't want to stay in one place too long.

I want to live dangerously. I want to be in the fray. I want to have hard times and work through them. I want to have a purpose beyond being part of a club and getting more people to join said club.

I will make people feel uncomfortable. It's time things were shaken.

Wound in Bailing Wire

Hirohito, the emperor of Japan up till 1989, had an amazing childhood. Literally groomed, day in and day out, to be an emperor. I feel lazy to have accomplished so little in my life in comparison to him.

Something amazing struck me while reading the book 'Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan' by Herbert P. Bix. Most Asian countries support, from a governmental angle (almost forming the country religion) the concepts of Confucianism. Japan is not exempt from this leading, and has applied many aspects of Confucian principles. A teacher of his, Sigiura, had taught him of ways to guide his behavior. "To Sigiura these were embodied in the three imperial regalia of sword, jewel, and bronze mirror... they denoted the three virtues every monarch should possess: courage, intelligence, and benevolence." (63) Benevolence wasn't in my vocabulary until this real-world usage. Now the concept this nation-wide benevolence was in reference to obedience to the emperor.

"Thus Sigiura taught that in foreign countries the relationship between ruler and ruled was determined by power and limited to submission, whereas in Japan, 'the emperor rules the people without power. Benevolence has been planted so deeply in the minds of the people that the sovereign/subject relationship has become indestructible. Therefore the people joyfully submit themselves to the emperor.'" (64-65)

I saw a movie this week called "Faith Like Potatoes", which takes place in South Africa, somewhat modern-time. There were a couple instances where a severe circumstance occurred. In one, a fire had jumped across the road way. The main character then drove to get help, while the other workers stayed and fought the fire with branch beating. As the intensity rose, the main character had returned to help, and called out to his South African friend, saying they need to pray for rain. The friend replied (in Zuni) that it isn't rain season and it won't rain. This banter went for a while, until the main character prayed himself out loud. Rain came immediately. Another situation presented was a young girl getting struck by lightning. She was killed instantly, and the relatives took her inside. The main character (same as before) was there, and, having just read in the Bible about people rising from the dead, proceeded to pray for God to bring her life back. She regained life.
I make these references to show something: The benevolence inculcated in the Japanese meant that they would do service for causes beyond themselves. The man in this movie acted on truths presented in the Christian's holy book.
In the American Christian church, we see some lacking of both of those qualities. In followers of Christ, those should be the defining qualities. Self-sacrifice. Faith in the power of God. Unconditional love.