i've been reading some cool stuff this term. stuff from MLK, jr. and stuff on christology.

there's been a obsession within xianity with the idea of martyrdom and suffering for one's faith. there's the expectation in the words of jesus x that xians wil suffer. so why don't we in america suffer for the kingdom? that's actually a question that was raised in class the other week. the lack of suffering for the faith in the u.s.a. leads the church to press a view of suffering that glorifies the those missionaries 'out there' and pre-supposes a spiritual hierarchy of those who suffer are more 'holy.'

after reading mlk, i'm starting to understand suffering not merely for the faith. but our suffering should be 'for the kingdom.' our suffering should not be based on what we believe to true, but it should be reflective of how the kingdom should be. in other words, we, the american church, does not suffer for the sake of the gospel because we have not allied ourselves with the true issues of social justice and an establishing of the reign of god. our suffering will come when we choose to remove our priorities and investments from the systems that perpetuate injustice (which is almost every system) and begin to live simply.

this should be our suffering: the world thinking we're crazy for giving away so much to help those in need. being ostracized for criticising a government and economy that continually oppress. facing rejection from the power networks because of our association with the unmentionables.

the world will persecute the american christian when the challenges to live out a life based on the sermon on the mount. they will laugh at our 'stupidity' in making poor investments and they will respond dramatically when we refused to play a game that continually rewards those who cheat.

okay, just needed to get that off my chest.

i've been hearing this song "I'm Still Here" quite frequently on the radio and i can already see it coming. some post-modern ministry guru guy at my school will use this to talk about the real desire for experience in the post-modern person. s/he will probably have charts with one column expressing the characteristics of the modern human and the other highlighting the post-modern. and then, s/he will play this song and express how this song is a perfect representation of the journey of a post-modern soul. it'll probably happen in chapel tomorrow...

why can't we just turn the page. we've got other things to deal with. if you still need to be informed as to what the post-modern dilemma is, try reading a book published in last ten years. or just watch or listen to the news. not local news (you'll just learn about strip clubs and what your teen is doing at night). watch and listen to real news. bbc, jim lehrer, new york times, npr, the daily show with john stewart...

just heard a great show last week KCRW: Left, Right & Center on the bush tax cuts. the liberal democrat of the this panel was calling out g.w.bush on his tax cuts. though w claims to be a xian, he doesn't seem to be driven by the same ethics that caused jesus to overturn the moneychangers' tables in the temple.

how have we let the market determine our morals? why do we let the market determine our morals? how do we prevent the market from destroying our morals?

another thought: in 1996, zaire spent fives times more money per capita in paying back loans than in health care.

godspeed, bono vox. jubilee

i'm back on track here.

took some time off for holidays and whatnot. i hate xmas.

i read three novels over the break. that was incredibly lovely. it's been a while since i've had the chance to read something without footnotes...

school's back on track and i'm sure i'll have more stuff to throw out there in the next couple of days.

oh yeah, i decided the last few weeks to try to bring back the common usage of the phrase, "whoop! there it is!"