The Sin Pathology

I want to first apologize for a long absence from blogging. We just finished midterm exams a couple of weeks ago. One of the classes I am taking is pathology, which is studying the mechanism of disease. As I was preparing for the midterm exam I was reminded how horrible our sin really is. All of the diseases I was studying  are a result of sin. My mind quickly went to Romans 8 where it talks about the creation being subjected to futility. God allows disease and suffering to take place in this world in order that we might see how truly heinous sin is. Let me be clear that the disease and suffering is not a result of any particular sin of the one carrying the disease or dealing with the suffering, but as a general view of sin in general. People are rarely broken over their sin, so God must get our attention by allowing disease and suffering to take place around the world. As you view suffering that is taking place around the world, wether it is natural disasters, terrorist attacks, disease, or any other type of suffering may it bring us to our knees in brokenness over our sin. Also, may it also lead us to put our trust in Jesus who suffered fully for those who would believe. 

And The Winner Is...

Sorry it has taken awhile to post the results. I have been extremely busy with school. So anyway here are the results of the 2008 Oscars and you can compare the winners to my predictions. If I counted right I predicted 7 out of 12 winners. Not too bad for an amateur. 

Best Picture: No Country For Old Men

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Barhem - No Country For Old Men

Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

Best Director: Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men

Best Animated Feature: Ratatouille

Best Cinematography: There Will Be Blood

Best Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters

Best Documentary Feature: Taxi To The Dark Side

Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody - Juno

Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men

2008 Oscar Predictions

It's the time of the year when I make my predictions for the Oscars. This year marks 80 years of the Oscar. The Academy always seems to give us a few surprises so I will try my best to out smart them this year.

Best Picture:

Atonement

Juno

Michael Clayton

No Country For Old Men

There Will Be Blood

Best Actor:

George Clooney - Michael Clayton

Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood

Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tommy Lee Jones - In The Valley Of Elah

Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

Best Actress :

Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Julie Christie - Away From Her

Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose

Laura Linney - The Savages

Ellen Page - Juno

Best Supporting Actor:

Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Javier Bardem - No Country For Old Men

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War

Hal Holbrook - Into The Wild

Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actress:

Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There

Ruby Dee - American Gangster

Saoirse Ronan - Atonement

Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone

Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

Best Director:

Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

Jason Reitman - Juno

Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton

Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men

Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Best Animated Feature:

Persepolis

Ratatouille

Surf's Up

Best Cinematography:

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Atonement

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

No Country For Old Men

There Will Be Blood

Best Foreign Language Film:

Beaufort

The Counterfeiters

Katyn

Mongol

12

Best Documentary Feature:

No End In Sight

Operation Homecoming: Writing The Wartime Experience

Sicko

Taxi To The Dark Side

War/Dance

Best Original Screenplay:

Diablo Cody - Juno

Nancy Oliver - Lars And The Real Girl

Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton

Brad Bird - Ratatouille

Tamara Jenkins - The Savages

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Christopher Hampton - Atonement

Sarah Polley - Away From Her

Ronald Harwood - The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country For Old Men

Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Christian Socialism!

Last night as I was reading C.S. Lewis'  Mere Christianity, and I was struck by a particular chapter. It was entitled "Social Morality". In it Lewis says, "If there were such a [Christian] society in existence and you or I visited it, I think we should come away with a curious impression. We should feel that its economic life was very socialistic and, in that sense, 'advanced', but that its family life and its code of manners were rather old fashioned---perhaps even ceremonious and aristocratic." These words would seem rather provocative in a good many of our churches today. Over the past few years I have tended to lean in the socialism direction as it has seemed to be the most consistent with Christian beliefs so these words did not strike me as odd. However, I began to ponder Lewis' words and was wondering what the Bible had to say on this topic. Before we see what the Bible says,  I want to make clear that when I say socialism I don't mean communism. They are very different and if you want to know the difference you can find an answer online. This turn to some scripture now. In Matthew 26:35-36 we see Jesus' words. He says, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Here we hear Jesus commending these rather socialistic actions. In Romans 12:20 we see a similar passage with Paul quoting Proverbs 25:21-22. He says, "... if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty give him something to drink..." Here we have more social justice even extended to our enemies. In Acts 2:42-47 we see Luke praising the fellowship of believers in the early church. In verse 45 he says, "And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." This is the most explicitly socialistic passages in the Bible. As we have seen the Bible has much to say in regards to socialism. It is very clear that it is something the church should embrace. The church has, however, become enamored with the same things as the world. We seek high paying jobs to buy more and more things. There is nothing wrong with high paying jobs or things. However, it becomes a problem when we accumulate so much or work so much that they we have no time or money to give to the things of the kingdom. God does not give us wealth in order to spend it on our selves. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Paul says, "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up in his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." Here we see that God blesses us when we are generous in order that we will be able to be more generous not so we need bigger barns. I hope these words spur you on to seek social justice in this world wether it is universal health coverage, a rescue mission, or speaking up against genocide. I leave you the way I started with words from Lewis. He says, "Do as you would be done by". 

Get Out and Vote!

The image should say it all. Where ever you are in the great nation of the USA get out and vote in the Super Tuesday primaries. Join West Virginia in voting for Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee On Leno

The following videos from last night on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno show why Huckabee makes such a connection with people around the country. He is the kind of guy that we need running the country. We have had too much divisiveness in our politics. It is time we rally around someone who can unite our country once again. Get out and vote no matter who you plan on voting for. 

Part One

Part Two

God's Faithfulness

It has been a while since my last post. My dorm this term did not have internet so I was unable to keep up with my blog, but for my first post back I wanted to post a picture I took from my dorm. When I took this picture of the rainbow it reminded me of God's faithfulness. After God flooded the earth in Noah's day, He gave Noah the sign of the rainbow to show that he would not destroy the earth in this manner again. God is always faithful even when we are not. His love never fails. Seeing this rainbow and his countless other creative splendors I am reminded of this faithfulness.