Fate or Free Will?

I haven't seen the movie yet, but The Adjustment Bureau explores the concept of Fate vs. Free Will. Which controls our lives? We make our decisions every day, don't we?  Paper or plastic? Decaf or high test? Medium or supersize? Did we really make our own decision or was it decided for us? If decided for us, then by whom or what? Is our path predetermined for us, or do we truly - really - make our own destiny?

I am pretty sure the movie will have the hero exercise his own free will and defy Fate (the 'Adjustment Bureau') and get the girl and live happily ever after. Kind of a David vs. Goliath thing. I found an interesting statistic at the movie's website though: 55% of the people surveyed at the site (as of today, 3-17-11) believe that Fate decides what happens to them every day. 55%!  I confess to being a little surprised. I really thought people would overwhelmingly say that they, themselves have their own free will and that nothing can get in their will's way. "I make my decisions and live by them. Nothing controls me. Gosh darn it, I'm an American!" End of story.

All of that leads me to this: why then do people object so much to an infinite, personal, Sovereign God providentially and lovingly, directing their lives?

Just sayin.' I'm curious.

Music: For The Soul

The little electronic voice that emanates from this little blue dog toy, called a "Talking Babble Ball" is nothing like a real voice. The closest it comes is to make recognizable sounds that emulate a voice that sort of pronounces syllables to make you think you heard it a say words. Words like, "Good Doggy!" or, "Oh, you got me!" or "I'm gonna get you!" Kind of like the fake voice on the "pull the string" dolls my little sister used to have. Nothing like a real voice, right?

Admit it: you're a shower singer. Or a car singer. Or a living room conductor. We love music. We kind of need music, don't we? Can you imagine life without music? It's like trying to imagine life without trees. Picture the entire earth with no trees. Like the moon. Life without music would be airless and dry and suffocating.

Rant: What's Wrong With This Picture: Part II

What's wrong with the picture? What's wrong with the picture? I'll tell you what's wrong with the picture: how the heck old is that guy? He has got to be at least thirty years old, right?  What in the world is a thirty year old man - or a twenty year old man for that matter - doing playing a Nintendo DS?  What's wrong with that picture - that full page magazine advertisement - is that Nintendo clearly sees a viable sales demographic for their video games in the over-thirty male crowd. 

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I am irked. The problem is just not going away.

I don't very often ask for direct interaction on this blog, though sometimes some of you cool people out there add your comments, which I love.

But this time, at the risk of looking silly for asking and getting no responses, I'm asking for your feedback: what's wrong with this picture? Hint: there's nothing wrong photographically with the image.

My answer / rant in the next post........

Still, My Soul Be Still

Gospel Vs. Social Justice Smackdown?

Which should be the primary concern of Christians? Should our primary concern be to "proclaim the gospel" or to "promote social justice?" 

I think the answer is, "yes!" Actually, I'm not really sure why there has to be a tension between the two, like somehow we are expected to

Happy To Get The Bible

I saw a girl at youth group kick her bible. Not a Beckham-like drop-kick across the room or anything, but she did give it a firm 'skootch' across the floor a little ways. What bugged me was that she touched a Bible with her feet. Scripture. God-breathed. The very words of God. With her feet.

Contrast that to these people:

Every Thought Captive

Janie sent this email back in 2006. If you are struggling with panic in whatever your battle is, let Janie's email sink in and help you!


----- Original Message -----
From: chris booth
 
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 1:57 PM
Subject: Here's the latest. . .
Hey y'all!  I'm sure you've been waiting with bated breath for the next installment in my medical journal.  I shall try to spare you ALL the gory details but here goes.

I finished radiation last Friday and have noticed