A quote:
If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.

If you are going to walk on thin ice you might as well dance

The Road to Enlightenment

This is the personal website of Matthew Dellinger. I use it speak my mind on the continuing work of God in my life, our culture, the the church, and anything else that comes to mind.

I'm currently trying to move into a more serious realm. I want to use this space primarily to address the second and third topics I mentioned: culture and the church. I'm always looking for something to write about, so if ya'll think of anything, just ask and I'll talk about it.

Enjoy, or at least think about what I post.

6 Posts in 60 Seconds (a work in progress)

Here you go; to make up for my lack of posting, and for the fact that I probably won't be putting anything up while I'm at Passion. Enjoy...

1.



2. I was looking at some verses about friendship today, and bumped into this on the internet. Bible Friends and I have a question; Is he right? This is what a lot of us have been told. Are we really called to "stay on our side of the fence, and to stay away from all of the bad apples?" Heck no! Christ hung out with corrupt politicians, whores, beggars, thieves, and, to make current lepers, we'll say folks with STDs. However the important point is that these weren't his closest friends. He had other, closer, more intimate friends in his disciples. These were the folks that he hung out with the most.

What does this mean for us? It means that we should be in the world and not of it. It means that we should be willing to associate with anyone, but should only allow our lifestyles to be influenced by our fellow believers. Essentially, we are to be constantly changing up both unbelievers and believers toward Christ, but are only to allow ourselves to be changed by those whom are our brothers in the Lord.

3. I seem to remember that Albert Einstein once said that "for every problem there is a simple solution, and it's wrong." This generally holds true in the physical world; when looking at chemistry, there are fairly simple models of how things work, and they are normally functionally correct. However if one desires to be perfectly correct, they're completely inaccurate. No matter how far one digs down through the physical world, he always finds a smaller, more intricate level, which is harder to model and quantify. Yet there is one incredibly complex problem which defies the rest of the universe. Reconciling human sin and divine Glory is the single most complex problem ever to face the universe. Yet the solution is actually rather straightforward. God takes the punishment in order to satisfy his own justice. In other words, because the problem is impossible for us to solve, we don't have to. However God still decided to follow the pattern he had set in motion here; no matter how deep one looks at the cross, he'll never find the end of it.

4. I had a unique experience during our trip back from NJ. I've never really had cause to think about how I feel returning from a trip before, but this time I did. I was so excited the night before we got to come back that I could barely sleep. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I am sure of why it is. I love this town, and I love my friends that live here. It's not that I don't love my uncle or anything; I enjoy being up there, but after a couple of days, I start missing my friends. For you who feel sad coming back here after a trip, know that every time you take a trip, I pray for you that God will give you joy in coming home.

5. The comics in the first post are an example of what is know as redemptive art. This is one of my favorite ideas which, while not revolutionary, is not much in line with the standard practices of the modern art world. The idea is that art is a medium to communicate, and it can be used to communicate almost anything. Therefore, since it has the potential to communicate high morals and redemptive themes, any other use of it is, to varying degrees a waste. Redemptive art also conveys the idea that all art is designed to communicate to the regular world, and therefore that if it is not understandable by the regular world, it is not art.

(12/29/06)

I Love The Debil

Alright, so not really... but I think you knew that. Anyway, I found this the other day, and was ROFLMAO. When I recovered, I sent them an email explaining some stuff like how they were completely wrong in their usage of Ephesians 5:11. Not unsurprisingly, they never emailed back. My original intent was to write a concise response about why I'd love to "hang" with the two of them, but that's not going to happen, as I'm having trouble keeping a straight face while typing this. Instead I'll let one of my many readers do it. Those many readers will, of course, take note that I have added a mailer form into the "[Respond] to a [Launcher]" page. Oh, by the way, they are one of those KJV-only groups. Well, we'll just pity them in their linguistical n00bness. I guess I'll go burn myself at the stake as a heretic, since I listen to dc Talk, Nirvana, and the Beatles.

On a completely different tact, I'm wondering how many people besides me agree with the Netherlands that prostitution is a legitimate occupation and that America is a rather backwards country in this regard? I'm not saying that I think it's a a great job, I just can't figure out why "porn star" is a legitimate occupation, but "whore" isn't? Anyway...

[Launcher]
Can anyone explain why the article linked to above is totally wrong? To be more precise, why it would be glorifying to God for Kevin to hang out with MM. Also, if you feel like it, go on to explain why its not a bad idea to cover something done by one of those "secular" bands? Maybe mention how Christian music is perceived by the world as religious lyrics with bad music and how we as Christians have a call to excelence? Eh, I'll probably wind up doing one of these posts later this month.

(12/19/06)

Christ In The Media

You know, for possibly the first time in my life, the media has pleasantly surprised me. Newsweek published a pair of articles about Christmas that, of all things, are solely about Christ. Not only that, they're actually good (for who they come from). Check it out.
How Jewish Family Values Shaped Christianity
Nativity of the Jews

And while it's slightly off-subject...Whitewashing Jesus

(12/11/06)

I'm Not Serious

Some folks have been complaining that they don't like to post on their blogs, because they don't have anything "smart and serious" to say like I do. Whatever. I've talked to these people. They have both smart and serious things to say. They just don't say them.
I have however, decided to dispel any myth that I post serious things. For your viewing pleasure, some highly copyrighted comic strips.



Heh-heh, she said "wastrel."
I'm going to go hurt myself for saying that...

(12/7/06)

Ya'll Be Killing Me

I don't post so that the post with the launcher will stay at the top... and no one responds anyway. Wastrels.

Anyway, here is the first post of December.

THE NEWS:
Liz is now 18! Happy birthday, Sollsken!

As of last Friday, I officially became a history major. woot!

And a quote:
"I know nothing but what everyone knows, that if there when Grace dances, I should dance." - Auden

(12/4/06)