Category: Faith

Why Use Tor?

Lorin Olsen

So why should you use Tor?
That’s a good question.  First, you need to know what Tor does.  I find that simple descriptions are often the best.  So here is my simple version of what Tor is: Tor is a means of tunneling specific messages (i.e., traffic) through an anonymous (and reasonably secure) network.  Wikipedia describes it here.
Many people look at Tor and ask why is such a thing needed?  Their questions presuppose that they trust the networks that they communicate across.  Most folks think Tor is just for copyright violators, organized criminals or other unsavory netizens.  But that is both too simplistic and too trusting.  Tor is for anyone who needs to ensure that their communications across the network remain anonymous and/or secured.
Let’s consider a real-world example.  There are many nations that do not allow for the Bible to even be carried .  Further, many countries routinely persecute and prosecute people that publicly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  But the gospel cannot be silenced by mere mortals.  There are men and women who have always been willing to share the Word of God regardless of the cost to themselves.
And throughout the world, tyrannical governments seek to squelch opposition by monitoring the communications of their citizens.  Indeed, you could easily argue that the majority of people in the world are being “watched” by the very governments that should defend their liberties.
Like the early Christians in ancient Rome, there will always be those who stand for truth and justice rather than simply obey corrupt civil authorities.  And in these nations, tools that help maintain the anonymity of persecuted citizens are very important tools indeed.
If you don’t believe that this was true for our nation, then ask yourself why so many of our founding fathers used pseudonyms for their writings.  Indeed, even the authors of the Federalist papers used pseudonyms – although not just for the sake of anonymity.
-Roo

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Still Prideful After All These Years

Lorin Olsen

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

It has been twenty-seven years since I took my last timed exam.  Since then, I’ve never had to get certified for a job that I have.  That is ending with my current job.  There are a couple of professional certifications that I need in order to meet some customer requirements.  So I and my team must all get a minimum set of certs in order to continue on the contract.
Consequently, I am in class this week.  I am taking five days of preparation before I take the test.  But I have had a really poor attitude throughout the class.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’ve paid attention.  I’ve engaged with the teacher and the class.  And I’ve tried to be light-hearted throughout the class.  But I have maintained an attitude of entitlement.  I was confident that my years of experience were all that was needed to meet this challenge.
In my personal arrogance, I decided to take a practice test after only two days of class (and no studying).  I had a few technical problems with the test (e.g., two questions didn’t even show up due to what appeared to be problems with an ActiveX control).  And I was interrupted during the practice exam when someone wanted to pull me off my test station (during a timed test) in order to discuss testing strategies for our group.  So I had a couple of strikes against me.  Technical difficulties + testing interruptions + incomplete class work (i.e., only 40% complete) + an attitude of entitlement = C+ on the exam.
One of my team members (who is a dear brother in Christ and a member of our Bible study group) told me that I should be happy with the score as it showed that I was on track.  [BTW, Bob didn’t do quite as well as I had done on the practice test.] Rather than be grateful [or help Bob find solace and focus for his journey], I just sulked in my own disappointment.  I was convinced that I could get a B+/A- without even going over the material.  I was in good shape but I had convinced myself that I should have done much better.  Rather than misinterpret the results and act small, I should have helped to buoy Bob’s spirits.  Instead, I lost the opportunity to lead.  Bob, I am so sorry.  Please forgive me for my selfishness.  And thank you so much for your positive heart.
When I got home, I was in a very sour mood.  Cindy and Dana went to the gym while I fumbled around and felt sorry for myself.  Fortunately, God reminded me that the best rmemdy to missing the mark is to try again with the right attitude.  So I gathered together my materials and assessed my “off the mark” assessment.  Actually, I had done rather well.  No, I didn’t meet my own selfish and prideful needs.  But I’m glad that I didn’t.  If I had scored higher, I am sure that I wouldn’t be paying attention for the next three days.  And I am sure that I wouldn’t prepare before the test.  And after reviewing my missed questions, I could easily see that the difference between achieving my goal and failing my goal was the sections of the material that we had not yet gone over in class.  Had I known the terms from those sections, I would have met my expectations.
After a few hours of stewing, I finally relaxed my jaw and let go of the bone that I was chewing.  And I let God speak to me.  His words were gentle – but firm.  Who are you?  Why do you think you “deserve” to be “top dog” amongst your peers?  Why aren’t you happy with knowing that you are almost ready?  And why are you chaffing under the authority system where I have placed you?
I was stunned and humbled by God’s directness.  And I thank Him for it.  These reminders will cause the following reactions: 1) I will focus during the remaining classes, 2) I will be excited to learn new terms and techniques, 3) I will take many more practice tests, 4) I will greedily embrace all of the test aids that I can find, and 5) I will have the right attitude about this venture.  I must remember that I am at this job for a few reasons: a) to provide for my family, b) to be a leader amongst my younger colleagues.  Lord, please help me be an attitude leader as well as a skills leader!
-Roo

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May Every Breath I Take Proclaim Your Majesty

Lorin Olsen

From the whisper of the lover to the lion’s roar
The command of the commander upon the field of war
The instruction of the father, the laughter of the friend
I’ve heard every utterance and I can’t comprehend
Just why I can’t decide, I can’t make the choice
Is it Your word that I’m in love with
Or the sound of Your voice?

Oh speak, speak to me
Oh speak, speak to me
I’m as quiet as I can be
So speak, speak to me

From the Spirit on the water to the splitting of the sea
The beauty of Your form upon a raging Galilee
The cloud that filled the temple, the fire on desert sand
I’ve seen every step and still don’t understand
Why I can’t render a decision, I can’t seem to choose
Is it Your journey I’m in love with
Or just the way You move?

Oh speak, speak to me
Oh speak, speak to me
I’m as quiet as I can be
So speak, speak to me

I love the way You speak
In what You say and what You do
Give me ears so I can hear You
I need to hear You

From the burning of the bush that refused to be consumed
To the Spirit on a shepherd boy that ran through every tune
The terror of the King who carries vengeance in His hand
The love of the Messiah dying quiet as a lamb.

Oh speak, speak to me
Oh speak, speak to me
I’m as quiet as I can be
So speak, speak to me

The Waiting,  “Speak”

crank…crank…crank
I suck in air as I climb a rising hill on my way to the office.  It is so quiet.  All I can hear is the creaking of my pedals as I roll them over.  When the road lifts, I press on harder.  I lift my cadence and I get into a better gear.  And all I hear is the low whir of wheels on pavement.  It is quite cold out this morning.  Yes, it’s been colder.  But 25F is still cold.  And I see the evidence of my existence through the frosty breath I exhale.
And in that quiet and still time this morning, I saw a glimpse of His majesty.  Oh, my heart can’t express the joy and serenity God has shared with me over the last twenty-four hours.  We are doing a fabulous Bible study here at work.  We are reading and discussing John Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life.” We talk and then we pray for one another.  Then we pray for the people we can touch while at work.  As we are nearing the end of this study, we have started planning for the next study.  So my heart has been drawn to read Francis Chan’s book entitled “Crazy Love.” Of course, there are so many good books to read and study – including the word itself.  But I was drawn to this book for a reason.
So I started to do a little research.  I used Google to see what others thought about the book.  And so I ran across a lot of amazing reviews.  And I saw some great links to videos.  One of the coolest was a link to images and video set to Chris Tomlin’s song “Indescribable.” That started a night full of God’s awesome presence.
And I woke to the same kind of joy.  At first, I was challenged not to ride today.  I was a little late in the shower.  And I just wasn’t moving very quickly.  So I was sorely tempted to ride with my wife and get a cup of coffee with her this morning.  Please know that such a trip would have been awesome as well.  But it was not what God had planned for this morning.  It was clear that the enemy didn’t want me to ride.  So he filled my heart with dread and fear about getting hit by some inattentive motorist.  OK, maybe I am just a little paranoid.  But you know something awesome is going to happen when the enemy tries to flip the fear trigger.  So I reminded myself that the God who can move mountains can also move cars.  And it was clear that God wanted me to ride.  So I strapped on my ankle lights, laced up my shoes and headed into the darkness.
My ride is about sixty-five minutes long – when I ride in the dark.  And every pedal stroke of the ride was a reminder of God’s grace.  I have two legs and the strength to pedal.  Thank you, Lord.  I was reminded of the blood clot in my leg that the doctors found in August.  Through His grace, the doctor’s skills and the miracles of aspirin and antibiotics, the clot dissolved in a matter of days.  And I am riding more now than I have been riding in the past two years.  Thank you, Lord.
I have lungs and the strength to inflate and deflate them.  Thank you, Lord.  I was reminded of my physical troubles this past spring.  I had horrible trouble when I developed pneumonia (after a sinus infection).  It was so very hard to breath.  So I am thankful to Him for every breath I take – especially when I ride my bicycle.
And I have eyes to see with.  Folks, sometimes it is hard to be thankful when you are legally blind.  I don’t think I’ve ever been ungrateful for my lack of eyesight.  But I am often not thankful for what I can see.  I can see to ride my bike.  I can see the smile on my precious grand-daughter’s face.  I can see the jubilation, the consternation and the sexy curves of my wonderful wife.  I can read the words of God written in a Bible.  And I can ride my bike.  I am so incredibly thankful for each image I see.  Each is a precious gift from my Creator.  Thank you, Lord.
And I have a mission while I am here on this world.  I am called to channel God’s blessings to my family.  I am called to represent God’s unfailing love to my wife.  And I am called to share God’s steadfast love to my neighbors and to all of my colleagues at work.  God trusts me with this mission.  I don’t always share His confidence in me.  But if He trusts me, who am I that I shouldn’t trust myself.  Thank you, Lord.
Lord, in this holiday season, I pray that I can be totally transparent.  I pray that people will see You when they see me.  I want everyone to know the same love that I know.  You are so awesome.  And I love you so very much.  Thank you, Lord.
-Roo

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I Really Love Technology

Lorin Olsen

This isn’t the first time you will hear me say that “I Really Love Technology.”  But it’s true.  In March of this year, I got a chance to remember how technology has saved my life.  I had my first defibrillator replaced at that time.  I got a shiny new Medtronic Virtuoso II unit.  And things were fine for over six months.
And then I got a new bike.  OK, it isn’t the bike’s fault.  But it always seems that I find out more about these units when I’m cycling.  And here is where the story begins…
Eight years ago, I was riding my bike when I learned that there was a problem with the lead that was inserted into my left ventricle.  That problem resulted in a total of eight (8) unnecessary shocks.  And the resolution was a surgery to have the leads replaced.
Last week, I was riding home from work when my new ICD proved its existence by nudging me with a 300V shock.  OK, it wasn’t a nudge.  It was more like a really big th-wack in the middle of my chest.  But it only happened once.  After making it home, I sent the digital data via modem to my cardiologist.  And the EP tech told me I had experienced another inappropriate shock due to t-wave over-sensing by the ICD.
If you take a look at the EKG strip (above), you will see what happened.  My heart was beating at about 130 bpm.  But my device thought that my heart was beating at over 200 bpm.  So in the first row, you will see where the device tried to pace my heart back down to a “normal” rhythm.  And in the second row, you see what happens when your heart get a 300V shock.
So I went to the cardiologist today.  The EP tech and a kindly Medtronic tech sat with me and re-programmed my ICD.  It was no big deal.  It took about five minutes of real work and about fifteen minutes of discussing everything with the overly curious patient.  The device was reprogrammed to ensure that my t-wave won’t be mis-identified as a QRS-wave.  I then asked for a printout of the strip so I could post it for your review.
Two dozen years ago, I would have died – on numerous occasions.  A dozen years ago, I might have gotten an ICD; but I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my active lifestyle.  Now I have a next-generation device.  And this technology will someday save my life.  It is quite cool.  It can communicate wirelessly.  It can be reprogrammed while I’m awake and sitting in a chair wearing my normal clothes.  And I can be part of the entire process.  Couple that with the computer technology in my house and I can share part of the experience with you.
But despite all of the advances found in this device, I still live with the product of man’s ever-increasing knowledge.  It’s not perfect.  But it does save lives.  And with each generation, we know more and more.  But as I think about the Creator who designed and built us, I realize just how far we’ve come – and just how far we have to go to approach the healing power that is in His hands.  I really like my doctor.  But I really love my Creator, my Savior and my Lord.
Last week, I got a tangible reminder of how fragile and how temporary my current life is.  Tomorrow, I am on my bike again.  And I will be reminded of what a blessing every day truly is.
I want to thank each and every one of you for the prayers you’ve raised before our Lord.  He has heard them.  And He has answered your prayers through technology, through doctors and through His unparalleled mercy and grace.
-Roo

Let’s Proclaim the Unknown God

Lorin Olsen

To Terry Jones (Dove World Outreach, Gainesville, Florida), Bob Old (Springfield, Tennessee),  and Fred Phelps (Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas):

I am a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  And I believe that everyone must accept His sacrifice in order to obtain God’s forgiveness.  I am also an ardent Christian apologist.  So I understand that even the most pacific of Muslims will not enter into heaven.  That’s not because they are MORE evil (in man’s eyes) than Christians are.  Their fate is the same as our fate: it is totally dependent upon whether or not they accept the unmerited gift of forgiveness offered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The only real difference between Muslims and Christians is where we are on our walk towards God.

  • Authentic Christians have accepted the fact that they have sinned.
  • Authentic Christians realize that those sins have separated them from God.
  • Authentic Christians recognize that there is nothing that they can do to bridge that separation.
  • Finally, authentic Christians have accepted the simple fact that God offered Himself to become the bridge between our fallen nature and God’s perfect nature.

A child raised in a “Muslim” nation is no different than a child raised in a “Christian” nation: both need to take the same path through the same four basic steps if they want to know God.  On these facts, Ithink we are in agreement.

But I cannot comprehend why you believe that antagonism and hatred are a means of drawing people into the loving and compassionate arms of Christ.  When Paul visited Athens (in Acts 17), I don’t see any evidence of the kind of exhortation that you are practicing.

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

If you want to draw people to Christ, act as Paul acted.  Find common ground and exploit that common ground as a means of demonstrating our unity as God’s creations – and our unfortunate unity as fallen creatures.  Don’t let your anger, frustration and zeal be your weapons.  These are weapons forged by your own hands.  Instead, let the Word of God be your two-edged sword.  God is just.  And God will judge both the righteous and the unrighteous (including ourselves).  Let that be God’s job.  Your job is to proclaim the unfailing love of Jesus Christ.

May the peace of our Lord and Savior be with you.  And may God open the ears of all men so that we can proclaim His Word with His Spirit.

-Roo

Let's Proclaim the Unknown God

Lorin Olsen


To Terry Jones (Dove World Outreach, Gainesville, Florida), Bob Old (Springfield, Tennessee),  and Fred Phelps (Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas):
I am a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  And I believe that everyone must accept His sacrifice in order to obtain God’s forgiveness.  I am also an ardent Christian apologist.  So I understand that even the most pacific of Muslims will not enter into heaven.  That’s not because they are MORE evil (in man’s eyes) than Christians are.  Their fate is the same as our fate: it is totally dependent upon whether or not they accept the unmerited gift of forgiveness offered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The only real difference between Muslims and Christians is where we are on our walk towards God.

  • Authentic Christians have accepted the fact that they have sinned.
  • Authentic Christians realize that those sins have separated them from God.
  • Authentic Christians recognize that there is nothing that they can do to bridge that separation.
  • Finally, authentic Christians have accepted the simple fact that God offered Himself to become the bridge between our fallen nature and God’s perfect nature.

A child raised in a “Muslim” nation is no different than a child raised in a “Christian” nation: both need to take the same path through the same four basic steps if they want to know God.  On these facts, Ithink we are in agreement.
But I cannot comprehend why you believe that antagonism and hatred are a means of drawing people into the loving and compassionate arms of Christ.  When Paul visited Athens (in Acts 17), I don’t see any evidence of the kind of exhortation that you are practicing.

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

If you want to draw people to Christ, act as Paul acted.  Find common ground and exploit that common ground as a means of demonstrating our unity as God’s creations – and our unfortunate unity as fallen creatures.  Don’t let your anger, frustration and zeal be your weapons.  These are weapons forged by your own hands.  Instead, let the Word of God be your two-edged sword.  God is just.  And God will judge both the righteous and the unrighteous (including ourselves).  Let that be God’s job.  Your job is to proclaim the unfailing love of Jesus Christ.
May the peace of our Lord and Savior be with you.  And may God open the ears of all men so that we can proclaim His Word with His Spirit.
-Roo

I Am Because You Are I Am

Lorin Olsen

I Am – The Waiting
Walking out alone
The night fits like a stone inside a boot heel
Hot and cold winds blow
And no one’s here to know the way that I feel
The corner I once knew brings me in to view again
So I could stay out late, find new bones to break
But then I’d be dragging home admitting
I am because You are I am
I recognize clearly I see
I am because You are I am
I am in You and You are in me
Spent too many days
Devising many ways
Trying to escape you
Played too many roles
Dug too many holes
Just big enough to fall in to
And I could linger here,
Hoping to disappear in excuses
Come morning’s shining face
I’d be crawling to the place I call home
Where first you cut me loose and
I am because You are I am
I recognize clearly I see
I am because You are I am
I am in You and You are in me
I am because You are I am
I recognize clearly I see
I am because You are I am
I am in You and You are in me
The places that I’ve carried You,
I wouldn’t take a dog
Stop and calmly think of that
Tear this church down to it’s cornerstone
And build it up again, build me up again.
I am because You are I am
I recognize clearly I see
I am because You are I am
I am in You and You are in me
© 1999 Sparrow

Dear Lord,
Please allow these words to communicate just how inadequate I am and just how fully sufficient You are. May I be reminded of these simple facts as I go out into the world this week.  May my meager words and deeds give avenue for your Spirit to work in the hearts of everyone I meet this week.
-Lorin

Saturday: Sabbath or Siesta?

Lorin Olsen


It’s been a rather peculiar week.  It’s been full of work and “vacation” time: work at home, work from home, worry for those not at home and all sorts of stuff in between.
I started the week by burying myself in a few matters at the office.  While I’m between a couple of large projects, I thought that I’d catch up on a few miscellaneous matters that have fallen between the cracks.  Specifically, I was asked by the messaging team to pull together some better application monitoring protocols for our instant messaging system.  Two years ago, I deployed a Jabber-based system for about three thousand folks across the country.  And we’ve done some pretty rudimentary monit0ring of the system since then.  Currently we measure the basics: processor utilization, hard drive utilization and task monitoring.  But we’ve always needed some real application monitoring.
So last Friday, I decided to invest some time in some Perl-based app monitoring.  Lo and behold, I was able to find some Perl libraries that were perfect for what I needed.  Specifically, I found the Net::XMPP libraries over at Sourceforge.  These libraries  were perfect for developing a connection, session and messaging monitoring framework I desired.
The basic programming took about two hours.  Of course, getting this stuff put into production took the most time as I needed to get the simple script past the relevant guard dogs in the process.  But by the middle of the week, I had everything put in place and we are now using some fairly nice system monitoring for the Jabber application.  And it was so very nice to take something off the list of “things o do” that I had previously deferred.
By the middle of the week, it was time to switch gears.  Dana was heading off to SoCal to talk to a collegiate basketball coach about completing her basketball career at yet another school.  But someone needed to watch Jayden (my grand-daughter).  So it was my turn in the barrel.  I took off the last few days of the week so that I could watch Jayden while Dana was out of town.
And I had a wonderful time with her.  We talked and learned animal noises together.  And she truly terrorized our meek and unsuspecting dogs.  While I was quite tired by the end of the week, I can honestly say that I had a a lot of fun.
But no day was complete without some investment in technology.  On Wednesday, I got a chance to  finally upgrade my Kindle to the latest firmware: i.e., v2.5.2.  And I really like all of the new features.  I was so excited to tell Cindy about all the cool new social media capabilities.  But while I was probably boring her beyond belief, she suddenly lit up with excitement.  Indeed, she was like a kid pulling on my arm.  She let me know that she had screwed up my Kindle order last December.  And as a result, she had an extra Kindle that she had forgotten to send back to Amazon.  So she wanted me to configure it for her own use.
So Thursday was dedicated to Jayden… and to preparing Cindy’s Kindle for its first use.  Strangely enough, she has a global Kindle while I have a US Kindle.  So I had to do a little different firmware prep.  But it was all fairly simple.  Within a few hours, she was all configured and ready to go.  So far, she loves the device.  And I wouldn’t ever consider trading one of these for the vaunted Apple iPad.  The Kindle is a purpose-built machine that is a fantastic e-book reader.  I’d much prefer to have this device than any tablet PC that can’t make up its mind what it wants to be when it grows up.
By the end of Thursday, I had gotten my tech fix and I had given my wife a new toy to play with.  Success was mine; muhaha.
And Friday found me doing a few more tech projects.  But on this day, it was a few things I didn’t expect.  I had seen all the hoopla regarding the latest WordPress release.  And while I really don’t currently need to run in MU mode, I’m so very glad that this upgrade was finally available.  I did a little research and then flung myself headlong into the upgrade.  [FYI, it’s not much of a fling/plunge as the upgrade is tremendously simple to implement.  And it is well worth the few minutes it will take to get it done.  Btw, I’m typing this post into the new v3 WordPress site I run at home.]
But after that brief technical respite, it was time to re-focus on family matters.  My eldest daughter and her fiancé came by for the day/evening.  And my two younger daughters were coming home: one from the west coast and one from the east coast.
So now it’s Saturday.  And it is the Sabbath for many people.   Cindy is off at one of her classes for grad school.  Dana and Jayden are in Pittsburg, Kansas.  Meredith and Josh are throwing a going away potluck – and it looks like it’s going to rain.  Adam is somewhere in Oklahoma – feeding his inner caveman.  But even amidst this daspora, I’m not alone.  I’m here with Bailey and the dogs.
I spent a few minutes this morning upgrading my router’s firmware.  And I’ve even been introduced to Grooveshark.  I am so excited that there are still so many things to learn.  Everyday, there are new and fascinating things that can tickle my technical fancy.  And Bailey showed me Grooveshark this morning.  It’s a very cool music streaming and sharing site that is really trying to honor the intellectual property concerns of musicians and the music industry.  So I started listening to some cool new worship music.
So it’s a rainy Saturday morning. At this very moment, I’m listening to Keith Green, I’m typing this post and I’m talking with my youngest daughter Bailey.  She is an amazing young woman.  She is so intensely focused on the most important love affair of her life; she is investing her time and her energy into developing her love affair with her Savior.  Right now, it is the most important thing to her.  And that is so appropriate.  In the words of Keith Green, my daughter is “bananas for Jesus.”  She reminds me of the kind of excitement that I had when finished my second year at college.  I pray that I can truly be challenged by the headlong intensity that she now demonstrates.
So as Saturday continues its headlong plunge towards Sunday, I’m finally starting to slow down myself.  It’s been so busy this week.  Dare I think of a siesta?  Lord, please touch every member of my family this day.  And please help me to be the kind of husband and the kind of father that my family needs.  And please help me to be the kind of man that you have called me to be.
-Roo

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Lorin Olsen

stormbow
I love the holidays.  I love the joyful time with my family.  I love the good cheer in everyone’s heart. But my cheerful heart is troubled this holiday season. The litany of challenges need not be fully itemized.  But here are a couple of the things that leave me apprehensive:

  • Our economy is in one of the greatest upheavals that it has ever experienced – at least, during my lifetime.
  • Families across the nation are struggling to survive this upheaval.  Thousands of hardworking and dedicated people now find themsleves without jobs.  And it is horrifying to realize that you can no longer meet the needs of your family – especially during this overly-commercialized time of year.
  • We have seen desperate people take desperate steps just to overcome their economic bondage.  In Africa, these people have seized ships on the high seas – after all, they’re pirates.  But they live amongst the normal fishing villagers of Somalia.  And the fishing villagers seem willing to protect and defend them.  They have felt econimic despair for generations. And that despair has been transformed into anger and hatred.
  • We are still mired in international conflicts against a shadowy foe who seeks to extinguish our very existence.
  • We have seen that foe kill almost 300 people in an orgy of hate and despair during the past week.

As I write and read this list, I am very frightened for the future that may await us.  I see how legitimate concerns and fundamental inequalities can be transformed into irredeemable despair.  Indeed, it is despair that has transformed a number of Afghans, Pakistanis, Somalis and Palestinians into the agents of terror which the West so easily demonizes.
These and many other challenges now face this world and the peoples of the world.  In the last generation, many nations of the world turned to communism as the means of righting these wrongs.  Indeed, even today, nations like Venezuela have turned to agrarian “communism” in a vain effort to transform their circumstances.
And a generation before that, we saw the Nazis exploit the fear and despair of Europe in a murderous effort to seize control of the world.  A horrific economic tsunami led to the collapse of Germany and the rise of Nazi Germany.  In the warm confines of our comfortable houses, we wondered why the German people would ever despair and turn to such evil.  But we are now faced with an economic tsunami that may well challenge every one of us.
But amidst the chaos, fear and mounting pressure of despair, I also see the transformational power of hope.  In the United States, the people have voted to “hope” and work for a better future.  Don’t misunderstand these words.  I did not (and do not) support the politics of Barack Obama.  But President-elect Obama has revealed one of the most fundamental truths about America: we are a hopeful and a decent people. I certainly pray that his message of hope will be the start of an amazing resurgence of America’s good will.
Yes, there are inequalities in our nation.  And there are some indecencies which boggle the mind.  But at our very core, we are a people that rise to challenges rather than shirk them.  We embrace a fair challenge.  And we will fight against indecencies that we see around us.  As a people, we are uniquely willing to look in the mirror, recognize our own shortcomings, and strive to overcome them.
But while we can change much, the fundamentals of this world have never changed.  There have always been inequalities.  And every one of us can be counted upon to live down to our lowest impulses.  Despite the grand and noble gains that America has represented, we are only a representation of the best that can be achieved by fallen man.
And thus enters the infant.  At this time of year, we are reminded that one infant can transform the world.  And this is such an upliting message: one child CAN transform the world.  But if we leave this as a story of hope triumphing over despair, we miss the real point of the story.  There was something extraordinary and special about this child.  This is not the story of ANY child making a differnce; it is the story of one special child making the difference.  If the story of the virgin conception wasn’t enough to proclaim the uniqueness of this child, then the host of angels proclaiming His birth might remind us of the fact that this was not any ordinary child.  This child was unique and unrivaled in the history of the world.
While the world of Israel was under siege from the cruelty of Rome, God delivered His own solution.  He did not rely upon the warm-hearted good cheer of the dozens of messiahs that arose throughout Israel.  Instead, God chose to enter a world that had willingly and intentionally spat into His face.  His children had abandoned Him – and then cried out to Him when their despair became too great.
Are we not in the very same situation?  For generations, God has blessed us.  And God has used us to help others.  But we have come to rely upon ourselves and not rely upon Him.  We see our own greatness and fail to remember that God is the only truly great one.  Whatever we have achieved is because we have trusted Him to guide us.  God led people to this nation.  God cared for those people.  Indeed, the Thanksgiving holiday is a testament to trusting God for our daily bread.
But now we are at a crossroads.  God is asking us to trust Him (and not ourselves).  God is asking us to care for one aother.  God is asking us to set aside our own selfish sense of accomplishment.  We need to let our glory pass and remember the glory of the Child.  We must remember that this child came to die on our behalf.  The birth of this child is hope.  But the death of the Christ is victory.  If we want to become all that God has in store for us, we cannot stop at hope.  We must be prepared to sacrifice ourselves – and we must accept the sacrifices of others.  And we must accept the most important of all sacrifices: the substitutionary death of the Christ.
Every time you hear the bells ringing this holiday season, remember the promise of hope – and remember the responisbility of the Christmas child.
-Roo

Homecoming for the Holiday

Lorin Olsen

thanksgivingfeast1
What’s missing from this picture?  My second daughter would say that the green bean casserole is missing – even though there are fresh green beans in plain sight.  My son would argue for a different pie configuration (with more whipped cream).  I would wonder where the pearl onions and pork sausage were.  But everyone sees the most important thing missing from this table: the people.
When the Pilgrim’s were in the new land, they had one another. They didn’t have their family.  Nor did they have the things that they were accustomed to from their homeland.  But they had one another – and they had new friends.  And for me, those are the most important things to remember as the holiday approaches.  I will probably post some sappy and maudlin missive on Thursday.  But for now, I’m thinking about one thing: how we’ll get the family assembled for this week.
Meredith is coming home today.  She lives about ninety minutes east of here.  But she is headed home for the week.  She’s had a great year – so far.  She is doing well in her graduate program.  And she has a good job on campus that is paying for most of her education.  What little is left is being paid for by a student loan.  And I am so grateful that there are people (beyond Mom and Dad) that are willing to invest in her future.  Their investment will be repaid with interest – of course.  But it is nice to remember that others believe in the importance of education – and the transformational effect it can have on our culture.
Dana is headed of to Clemson today.  She will be playing a game against the lady Tigers.  It will be her first game against an ACC school.  I guess I’m going to have to root for her rather than the home conference.  We’re praying that she has a great game.  Once the game is over, she will be spending the holidays with a friend of hers in Georgia.   We’ve told her that she needs to bring food.  So I’m guessing that she will make her favorite: green bean casserole.  For her, green beans come from a can and go well with mushroom soup and fried onions.  And she does a fantastic job of this.  Truly green bean casserole is her comfort food.  It’s always great to have a little comfort in your life.  And it is so ironic that core comforts can be assembled from parts you get “off the shelf.”  Joy is found in the little things – not just the elaborate things.
Bailey will be coming home from KU as well.  At this point, Meredith is probably going to meet her at KU and they will both come home together.  Then Bailey will be off to see her high school friends perform in the “Sweeney Todd” musical.  In many ways, she has her feet in different worlds.  I’m loving to watch as she gingerly moves both feet to her new world.  And I am so proud of her as she continues to make some very tough decisions.  It’s important to know that while most decisions are minor, some decisions actually impact other folks.  And some decision can even hurt.  But she is still making these decisions.  And as long as she keeps Jesus as her wing man, I’m trusting that she will grow into the person that God has envisioned.
And at this time, Adam will be home – as much as a teenage boy is wont to be.  Like most young men, he doesn’t think very far beyond the end of his nose.  But he has had a unique set of circumstances that have helped him to realize that there are consequences for the good and bad decisions that he makes.  And not every consequence is as desirable as the “choice” that you made.  While I can prattle on and preach about this ad nauseum, I’ll summarize: Adam is learning the lessons he needs to learn in order to become a good man.  And while I wouldn’t have chosen the path he is pursuing, I am glad hat he is beginning to understand that choices and consequences are part of the eternal dance that comes with free will.  Most people avoid the consequences of free will.  But people who are truly alive relish the reality that life is complex and uncertain.  And we must learn to always take others along with us on our voyage through life
So the kids are assembling.  And Mom and Dad are so very grateful for this.  And I will list all the “thanks” on Thursday.  But in the meantime, we are setting the table.  And everyone knows that a good Thanksgiving feast requires a lot of preparation.  So we are preparing a feast even as we have been preparing as the feasters.
-Roo