WHAT IS THIS BLOG FOR, anyway

At the moment, it is "Dual use"
1. Personal reflections, and
2. a discussion board for Newton Covenant Church.  The discussion board idea never caught on, for some reason. I had difficulty moderating the second response for technical reasons.  My bad...
Please ignore or comment as you wish!
A quick summary of two sermons, including yesterday's.  The intro was great: Rev. Smith, our Jewish preaching pastor(technically, his title is "Directer of Spiritual Formation and Outreach;-) said this:
Often, when people come to a difficult passage in the Bible, they just skip it.  The reason is that they've become accustomed to skipping or ignoring passages like today’s text from Colossians, which APPEARS to simply tell slaves and women to accept their lot as weak and inferior.  Today’s reader expects a paean to equality and the denunciation of slavery and patriarchy.  Given that Paul wrote this while a literal prisoner of the Roman government (he was eventually executed), such language would’ve been anachronistic, futile, and likely only to speed up his punishment. Instead, he knocked the props from under the entire system by proclaiming equality in Christ: we are all sinners, for sure, but also greatly beloved, and called to respond to God’s grace in Christ.  Instead of announcing, he demonstrated: The letter to the Colossian churches was sent together with a letter to Paul’s friend Philemon concerning Philemon’s escaped slave, Onesimus. Instead of commanding the release of the slave, Paul simply reminded Philemon that he and his slave were brothers!  This was an astonishing statement for the time; indeed, for all time.  We don’t have a written record of the outcome, but there is an inscription elsewhere concerning Bishop Onesimus.  It seems quite possible that the lowly slave, brother of Onesimus and Paul, became a Bishop: a position of humble service and authority in the church hierarchy.  Another example of undermining the system is an earlier sermon preached by Samuel Caraballo, about Jesus’ response to the question “should I pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Jesus asked for a coin, and then asked about its inscription.  A typical coin of the period would’ve proclaimed “Caesar is god.” But Jesus’s quiet yet utterly contradictory response (to the assertion on the coin) was “Give to Caesar [only] what is Caesar’s.  Give to God what is God’s”

Four ways of framing the LGBT issue within church and society

1. Natural law “Nature tells us”

 2. Jesus’ definition, quoting OT word for word “The Bible tells us”

3. “Culture tells us” This is where PC(USA) and the rest of "Mainline Protestants" live.  The resolution I voted against at a meeting of the Presbytery of Boston [the local council of my denominations's churches] in Easton, Mass about a year ago even encoded culture’s inevitable shift, by saying PC(USA) ministers could perform same sex ceremonies where permitted by law.  The law has changed since that meeting!

I suppose position #4 might be personal revulsion “My gut tells me it’s wrong”  Where does the revulsion come from?  Natural Law?  Or from cultural attitudes, gutter-slurs, and fear of the other?  If the latter, then #4 is more similar to #3.  That’s why I reject #3 and #4, while recognizing the wisdom and usefulness of the other two, primarily #2.

Another perspective on the decision facing NPC

  Our church has been having a largely intellectual discussion about the background of our Session's recent decision to enter the process of moving from PC(USA) to ECO

http://eco-pres.org/who-we-are/

Instead of denominations and labels, what if our two choices were represented by these words and emotions:
   #1“Stability” comfort. . . The way I remember things. . . “The church of my mother, my father, my grandparents”  Christmas eve services. . . Stained Glass. . . Peace. . . . . Openness. . .Harmony. . .security

   #2 : Change. . Hurry . .compulsion anger strife disagreement Doctrine “The church I left in sadness or anger years ago” Danger. . . risk “Doctrines I disagree with or don’t understand—that can’t be good” “Certainty of danger for an uncertain result” Fear. . .clamor. . .disquiet

When I hear the discussion, and when I feel my own emotions and imagine those of people in the room (including facial expressions), it seems like that’s what we are up against.  #1 vs #2. . . . . stability vs. the unknown or the unwanted.

For some, PC(USA) represents security and a defense against change.  PC(USA is the “way things have been” and/or “the way they ought to be”

This positive, historical image of PC(USA) may explain our division more clearly than philosophy.

ECO is different and seems strange: there are few ECO churches in our area, and the closest, in Quincy, MA, is not a church we have worked and fellowshipped with in the recent past.

So, are we presented with a choice between stability and the unknown? People may sincerely feel this way, but this does not describe the real world in which finite humans must live.  Stability is not an option.  We don’t have a pastor.  We don’t have a low-maintenance, new, energy efficient building.  We don’t have a long list (or even a short list)of experienced, excited, educated pastoral candidates, eager to affiliate or remain with PC(USA).  We DO have uncertain prospects of raising the millions needed to return our building to its original condition, plus millions more to make it energy efficient.  In sum, we already have the emotions I’ve assigned to choice #2.  Wherever we go, denominationally, even if we choose to stay with PC(USA), Choice #2 is already our reality, and Choice #1 is simply not an option.  We can imagine stability, but we can’t manufacture it.  The only choices in a real world are between different paths of change that define the sort of future for which we are willing to sacrifice even more of our time and treasure. 

What do YOU think?  Are there any emotions involved, or is this purely an intellectual and financial calculation?  Let's talk--I will respond, and I will do my best to be fair.  Darrell

Starting the Conversation

In light of today’s sermon, I’d like us to pray for unity in our church.  As Pastor Al said, diversity, although it has its own challenges, it's a lot easier to notice.  But my prayer is for greater awareness of the importance of unity, not taking it for granted, but earnestly making the effort that was preached about, with humility, gentleness and patience.  This would glorify the one God and Father of us all: one body and one Spirit. . . . ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all!

Also, please pray for the last week of the 9am discussions in the Carlston Room.  Weeks 1 and 2 have been well attended and very productive. Give thanks for the weekly community connection, and the discussions and fellowship made possible during that time.  For those interested in written discussions, online, feel free to use this blog www.joyfulreality.blogspot.com, (moderated by Darrell; I will be fair to all)  

Today we celebrate the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Please use this blog to post your thoughts about: church politics, national politics as it affects religion, and anything else that's on your mind. Please feel free to ignore older posts.  If they become distracting, I can hide them.
Please refrain from personal attacks.  Sadly, not only is this disclaimer necessary, but it is also difficult to comply with.  If one can't separate their self from the opinions they currently hold, any criticism of ideas can be inevitably seen as a personal assault.  Or, more informally, taken WAAY too personally.  I hope this doesn't happen.
For my part, I believe each individual is created in the image of God, and is of inestimable value.  God demonstrated the value He, Himself places on each person by sending Jesus, God the Son, to draw us back into relationship with God. This is God's free and gracious gift.  Though we do not deserve His grace, we can, and should respond in gratitude, seeking reconciliation and peace with all of God's Creation.
A reflection on this day of honor:
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I believe in the Christian doctrines concerning sin, but what if sin doesn't exist? If there is no sin, why should I feel bad about racism or homophobia? Without recognition of sin, without timeless truths that are accessible to humans, it just becomes a power struggle.  Sexual minorities [I read this term first in Bay Windows; it seems more personal the LGBTQ and whatever other letters we must append] have become a powerful group.  Blacks, Hispanics, and immigrants, not so powerful.  But what if, instead of arguing about who has the most power, we responded with compassion and repentance? King David, have committed adultery and murder, responded by first admitting that he had sinned against GOD. "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done what is iniquitous in thy sight" Psalm 51

Please share your thoughts.  I have more to say, soon!

No posts for two years!?!? I guess I've been on FB.  See Darrell Hart, esp. under The 4,000 Footer Club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/16316918492/?pnref=lhc

The background for my blog is Pack Monadnock, viewed from the Spellman Trail on Grand Monadnock.  Taken around 2009 when I began my frequent assaults on my favorite mountain. One hundreth hike 12/16/2015

Criticizing politicians is so easy it's almost not worth the time.  But since Googling this phrase produced no hits, let me be the first to say this about Sen. Ted Cruz and his Obamacare filibuster:
"Cruz missile drones on"

Adapted from Dietrich Bonhoeffer

1.

By loving power silently surrounded

. . .Comforted, protected by Your grace.

We choose to live these newest days together:

With You to enter in the coming years. (Refrain)

2.

Since by Your will today You make us joyful

Into this world Your brightest sunlight shines.

We think of former times and now we're certain:

You hold our future in Your loving hands. (Refrain)

3.

Profoundest silence still around us gathers

From it emerges God's almighty song.

His world, His vision now to us are open;

His children shout their hymn of highest praise! (Refrain)

Ref.

By loving power won-derf'l-ly surrounded

Awaiting fearlessly, whatever comes.

God is with us in the evening and the morning

He's here, for sure, in every dawning day

On his first visit to the German church where Carmen was baptized & confirmed,

Darrell was moved by this hymn by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He has translated and adapted three of the verses, and dedicates them, with deepest love, to Carmen on their wedding day, July 6, 2013

“Christmas in Newtown”

 The link below says too many words are being spoken, and much too quickly, on the Newtown tragedy.  So I’ll respond here, on a blog that few if any read. . .

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/december-web-only/media-and-massacre.html?utm_source=ctdirect-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=9457670&utm_content=146431871&utm_campaign=2012

Why did this event happen at Christmas?  Because Christmas happened for events like this.  This is a sinful world.  Smaller tragedies happen every day.  God, who is infinite, is present among all those who suffer even now—not just because he is big, and therefore  “has to be” everywhere—but because he chooses to be present, in inscrutable wisdom and mysterious majesty.  And he is present as an innocent, helpless Child.  The Christ Child entered this world, and took on the suffering, AND TOOK ON THE SIN! Christmas isn’t about nice feelings, it’s about the pain: the slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem AND Newtown.  It isn’t about denying reality and feeling good for a short while.  God embraced reality, and ushered in the reign of Christ, the King, so that sin may be banished.  One day there will be no more weeping, anywhere!  Tears will be turned to dancing, sin will be gone, and a little child will lead them.  And it has begun, even now.  In the last days GOD HAS SPOKEN THROUGH HIS SON.

”Christmas is here, best time of year”

A Lesson in Latin and Theology

(Theologica) a deo docetur. deum docet. ad deum ducet

 Erick Liddell, 1924 Olympian, famously said:

"I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure."

Well, God didn't make me very fast at all, but I LOVE to hike.  So may I make my own paraphrase, and put it into practice later today:

. . . .  when I hike, I feel His pleasure

Every rock that supports my steps obeys God's laws.  

Every budding tree and flower shouts his glory!  Amen.

Thought for the Day

Those who speak most of progress measure it by quantity and not by quality.
George Santayana

Another gradual route down Monadnock

In my LOOONG post "How to climb Monadnock if you're over 50" (and not a retired Olympian), I mentioned routes down the west side of the mountain. Several times I"ve also descended a SE route, which may be better if you like to park at the HQ lot.
From the summit, take the Pumpelly to the Red Spot. Take this to the Cascade Link(Beautiful!), and then take the Harling Trail east. The park map makes it look like you have to go all the way to Hinckley and backtrack, but there is a blue diamond marked CC ski trial that turns right and takes you to the paved campground roads. A level walk through the woods. This whole route, except for the steep parts, is far less rocky than the lower section of the White Dot, my least favorite section of the park.

Monadnock - see next post

So, I'm trying to figure why I get SOOO much advice about having too much stuff from people with WAAY more stuff than I have. But that's a minor mystery. All I need to know is: I don't want to solve my problems with materialism by taking up OTHER people's problems with materialism! (Which, sadly, is one likely result of taking their advice.) Instead, I want to treasure my heavenly possessions so much that my worldly ones become not fewer, not less significant, but simply not significant at all! I count them as refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes through the law (better management of my possessions) but that which is through faith in Christ!!! The righteousness that comes from law and is by faith. . .

Let me think about that on tomorrow's hike.

HOW TO CLIMB MOUNT MONADNOCK WHEN YOU'RE OVER 50

HOW TO CLIMB MOUNT MONADNOCK WHEN YOU'RE 50-Plus

Suggestions:

1. ALWAYS TAKE THE OLD TOLL ROAD DOWN!

2. Any combination of trails that includes the Old Toll Rd. is likely to spare your knees. The trail up is not as important. I like the Spellman Trail. It fits all the hard climbing into half a mile.

3. NEVER, EVER TAKE THE SPELLMAN TRAIL Descending. You will complete your trip in an ambulance, and hobble around or crutches for weeks, if you ever recover from your head injury, that is. (I don't know this from experience, thankfully, and I never intend to find out.) This warning applies to any age, especially if you are in a hurry.

4. Cascade Link to the Red Spot Trail is slightly shorter, and almost as pretty for ascent. Cascade Link all the way to Pumpelly is worth the distance.

5. The best views descending, far and away, are from the Smith Summit Trail. You will have daylight even if you get a late start, since it descends the west side. And, since most times I meet NO ONE on this trail, you'll have all the blueberries to yourself. The views are spectacular, and it passes close to Monte Rosa, which is great for solitude. Has a photogenic weathervane, too.

6. Smith Summit, like most other trails, is not difficult to follow IF you always look for round white paint blazes and/or cairns. Expect to walk toward the edges of a lot of cliffs, and not see the way down until you peer carefully over!

Rules, no particular order:

1. Wear boots with ankle support, and synthetic, wicking fabrics, at least for your t-shirt. Wear long pants, to save the skin on your knees. Bring 4 or more pints of water.

2. Use one or two hiking sticks, or a CC ski pole. Even a tree branch is better than nothing. There are plenty of fallen trees along the Cascade Link, but, get this, none above the tree line;-)

3. Avoid any trail that begins with “White,” especially when descending. These are the trails that were rebuilt with tons of rocks, many many tons, to combat erosion. They are death to knees, and dangerous if you fall. Leave these trails to 20 somethings in sneakers. They are in a hurry. You are not.

4. STAY ON THE TRAIL. ALWAYS. There are dozens of trails. Do not make your own. You do NOT want to be rescued, you don't even want to hobble home in the dark. STAY ON THE TRAIL.

5. Never hop. Hopping is for frogs, and 20 year olds. You are neither, and want to be inches from any hard surface before you shift your weight towards it. Hard landings, and imbalance resulting from a hard landing, leads to the breaking of your bones.

6. Bring bug spray. Unless it has been very dry, you will need it. I was even attacked, once, on the Pumpelly Trail by one of the new Asian, day-biting mosquitoes. Yes, these pests with a striped abdomen have even found the paradise that is Monadnock Mountain.

Misc. comments on trails:

Sidefoot: a great alternative to White Arrow. Hard to find the beginning, then it's easy. It's a trail on earth, with grass and plants! Hardly any rocks! I've descended it once; never gone up because: a. it is not the Spellman Trail, and b. if I'm on that side of the mountain I go to Bald Rock, which it bypasses. Unless you want to take a crazy, up and down, zigzag sort of hike, which is fine.

The Spellman Trail is beautiful. My blog background is a view of North and South Pack Monadnock from about halfway up, looking toward Boston. Bring binoculars and you may see The John Hancock, Prudential, New England Life and perhaps downtown, on a clear day. These can also be seen from the summit, and the Pumpelly Trail. You do NOT need to brave the rigors of the Spellman Trail to enjoy a good view!

MY PERFECT HIKE:

Cascade Link/Spellman up

Smith Summit&Old Toll Road down.

The best views, and the best sunlight, and lots of time above the tree line.

No crowds except at the Summit.

3 miles each way, or about 6 hours on the trails, if you take long breaks and lots of pictures.

Details:

White Dot Trail to Falcon Spring (refill one water bottle here; I keep this for emergencies since AMC says don't drink any of the water. Falcon Spring comes from a pipe installed in 1995 and is far less likely to be contaminated than a stream. According to the park rangers(8/30/11), they drink from Falcon Spring all the time, but from NO OTHER source out on the trails.)

Cascade Link to Spellman Trail

Turn left at Pumpelly Trail, and walk for what seems like forever in Heaven (actually 0.7mi) surrounded by SPECTACULAR above the tree line views. Sneak up on the vultures at the pool halfway between the Sarcophagus and the Summit(I've never managed to do this)

At the cross marking the entry of the Red Spot from the left, just keep on hiking. You will see the cross on the horizon, and you will pass it on the left, after skirting the left side of a pool rimmed by cotton sedge.

(Use a map to navigate, not my rambling thoughts, of course)

The trail zigzags, and markers are fewer, near the top. Look carefully for cairns.

Bathroom breaks: use the woods. When above the tree line, on Pumpelly, there is a small valley with trees just before the final ascent. It is easy to get a hundred feet from the trail here and still find your way back.

From the Summit, turn right, looking carefully for cairns and signs for Smith Summit or "SS." You will be on the D/M trail for only a few yards. Keep looking for the SS white circles to the left or you'll end up hiking towards Mt. Washington in the far north. Take the Smith Summit, past many blueberry bushes (ripe from mid July and peaking in mid-August) toward Mt. Rosa. Climb it, or take a left at "The Tooth" for a shortcut to the Fairy Spring Trail. The Tooth is a VERY large glacial erratic, perhaps 15 ft. high, with a weird overhang. Another place where I flushed a large bird. Next time, I had my camera ready, but no bird:-(

The Smith Bypass is a shortcut to the Fairy Spring Trail; it goes left, under the overhang. Monte Rosa is straight ahead, to the right of The Tooth. Where the trails rejoin is easy to miss (no wooden sign; you may notice paint on a rock). The Fairy Spring Trail passes, get this, The Fairy Spring! And the walls of an early house by Fassett Brook. This trail, or the parallel Monte Rosa trail, which are the same length, brings you to a short, level stretch of the White Arrow Trail (an exception to my rule against Whites;-), and the site of the 1860-1952 Halfway House. This spot is peaceful, and also the next-to-the-last scenic place. If the sun is setting when you get here, you will not have time to reach the parking lot before dark; bring at least 2 flashlights just in case. A lightweight headlamp is an even better idea; it's also good for camping and cabin use. I follow the Old Toll Rd. down; I'm able to move rather quickly here; so quickly that I fear missing the well marked Parker Trail intersection to the left. The Parker Trail is slightly downhill or level, and leads to another beautiful view, both of a waterfall over the dam impounding the Poole Reservoir (aka Jaffrey Reservoir), and your last view of the mountain, perhaps with a reflection on the water. But if you are with someone, they may be in a hurry, so don't count on too many more pictures.

Speaking of hiking companions--know them well! Know their endurance especially. If there is any chance they will want or need to turn back, plan for this. (There is no good place to turn back on the Spellman Trail!) I suggest starting along the Parker Trail, then take either the Old Farm Trail or the Cliff Walk to Bald Rock. There is a spectacular view at the Old Farm/Cliff Walk intersection, and from Bald Rock itself. By this time you will know if a first timer is ready to go to the top. Don't force them, or yourself, for that matter. On Fathers Day, with my adorable daughters (both soccer players, one in average shape, one in "I jog 3 times a week" shape), we did the following from Bald Rock: Smith Connecting to Amphitheater (which has BLUEBERRIES in July/Aug.), a quick trip up Monte Rosa, then Fairy Spring to the Old Halfway House site, Old Toll Rd and Parker back to the parking lot. A slightly shorter trip would be to start 200 feet higher, from the western parking lot (no bathrooms) and take the Old Toll Road or the Halfway House Trail to the Halfway House Site. Then, you could either take Sidefoot/Amphitheater/Smith Summit or Fairy Spring to Smith Summit. This has the drawback of taking Smith Summit both up and down, which I've never done in 30plus hikes! The White Arrow is very difficult at the top. I wouldn't necessarily rule it out for "up" but as I said before, it is uncomfortable and slightly dangerous to take it down.

.

Once again, THE SPELLMAN TRAIL IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND DANGEROUS DESCENDING, and you lose the advantage of the views because you spend all your time dragging your chin over rock. It cannot be descended facing away from the mountain (unlike the Smith Summit).

.

. Follow a few simple rules, plan ahead, and you'll spend your time glorifying the God of all creation instead of worrying about your aching, painful knees. The saddest thing I ever heard while hiking (White Dot Trail), was one woman saying to another "I'll never ask you to do this again." It brings tears to my eyes even now. The one for her willingness to please her friend& go way beyond her comfort zone, the other for her guilt and disappointment. Monadnock Mountain is a beautiful, emotional place.

To end on a happier note, listen for kids at the summit announcing "I made it to the TOP"

May all your mountaintop experiences be so joyful.

Marriage: Tearing down a false definition

A sojourners discussion, after one poster belittled marriage as depending on the good intentions of the nearest male:

http://blog.sojo.net/2011/08/11/im-not-that-kind-of-feminist/

The definition of marriage that has been attacked by self-styled “feminists” for decades, and which is still under attack, is not marriage as established by God. Marriage, like all of God's Law, is not designed to promote one sex over the other, or even one human religion as “the best.” It is part of God's loving design to bless all of His good creation. Abraham was promised that His seed would bless all the earth. This promise has come true exactly to the extent the blessing has been accepted. But our society has substituted a secular religion (or religion-equivalent, if you insist). The practice of this dominant religion obviously isn't working, yet the blame falls on Christianity, unjustly, and Christians, occasionally with good cause. All of the world's major religions have surprisingly similar definitions of what marriage is and isn't. Those who believe in common grace aren't surprised, but they are saddened that our culture, almost alone across the globe, has such open scorn for what a loving God created and pronounced "very good"

Wisdom from Bonhoeffer on the unsolved questions of life

"It is simply not true to say that only Christianity has the answers to them" . . . "He [Jesus]is the centre of life, and he certainly didn’t ‘come’ to answer our unsolved problems. From the centre of life certain questions, and their answers, are seen to be wholly irrelevant (I’m thinking of the judgment pronounced on Job’s friends). In Christ there are not ‘Christian problems’. – Enough of this; I’ve just been disturbed again.”

I ask:

Are these quotes (see context below) a condemnation of evangelical theology? Of course not. They are a condemnation of our oh-so-human-human rationalism: wanting to win arguments, and needing to have it all figured out so we look good(like Job's comforters). In fact, if we are following Jesus, our desire to look good will diminish. We will think of, and point to, Jesus. That doesn't mean we will never engage in debate, or be careless of our image before the world. But the concerns of self will surely fade into the background of a life centered on Jesus. Raised in a rational, self-justifying background, it took me a long time to figure out Job, even a little bit. I think I'm getting there. But there I go again, thinkin' about myself;-)

“It has again brought home to me quite clearly how wrong it is to use God as a stop-gap for the incompleteness of our knowledge. If in fact the frontiers of knowledge are being pushed further and further back (and that is bound to be the case), then God is being pushed back with them, and is therefore continually in retreat. We are to find God in what we know, not in what we don’t know; God wants us to realize his presence, not in unsolved problems but in those that are solved. That is true of the relationship between God and scientific knowledge, but it is also true of the wider human problems of death, suffering, and guilt. It is now possible to find, even for these questions, human answers that take no account whatever of God. In point of fact, people deal with these questions without God (it has always been so), and it is simply not true to say that only Christianity has the answers to them. As to the idea of ‘solving’ problems, it may be that the Christian answers are just as unconvincing – or convincing – as any others. Here again, God is no stop-gap; he must be recognized as the centre of life, not when we are at the end of our resources; it is his will to be recognized in life, and not only when death comes; in health and vigour, and not only in suffering; in our activities, and not only in sin. The ground for this lies in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. He is the centre of life, and he certainly didn’t ‘come’ to answer our unsolved problems. From the centre of life certain questions, and their answers, are seen to be wholly irrelevant (I’m thinking of the judgment pronounced on Job’s friends). In Christ there are not ‘Christian problems’. – Enough of this; I’ve just been disturbed again.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Letters and Papers from Prison

Lost and Found Dept.

Rated R

I was on a walk this morning, in between summer storms, and found something white on the sidewalk(the R part begins here). Without investigating, even with the toe of my sneaker, I assumed from its size, shape, color&location that it was girls underwear tossed out the window of a car the night before. (Yes, this could be a puerile male fantasy, but read on as I think my reflections are worthwhile beyond any relation to the actual physical evidence.)

SOMEBODY LOST SOMETHING last night. Perhaps her virginity (if the first time) or her self respect (if the 5^th or 50^th). It matters a lot less than you think whether or not she “asked for it,” as that only determines whether it is rape or not. Maybe this guy was her dream date, maybe not. In any such transaction, the girl loses something important, and the boy gets something for nothing. Maybe he paid for dinner, maybe he just paid. That hardly matters either; it only determines if it is prostitution or not.

While I have no desire to trivialize the ugly violence of rape, the importance of sex goes far beyond its current legal or political status, and far, far, far beyond what two 15 year olds, or 50 year olds, give it on a certain night in a certain place. (At least that was the conclusion back when people actually studied these things.) Occasionally, as in Mary Pipher's frequently excellent “Reviving Ophelia” people still “get it” and actually write about how demeaning sex is for teen girls. The religion taught in public middle schools says that sex is OK if you've thought about it enough. I disagree, unless by "thought about it" your thinking leads you to realize that sex belongs exclusively within marriage, as previously taught by all cultures, even those that wink or even celebrate violations of this heretofore obvious fact.

In the 19^th century, Leo Tolstoy found meaning in the simple faith of the peasants. Today, Dallas Willard tells us, “there are no more peasants.” We convince ourselves that even the most obvious truths are just “lifestyle choices” and think we are sophisticated. Instead of just stupid.

A friend told me a story; hopefully it's not true. Year after year, a certain parent would tell their young child, as they went outside to play: “Have fun, and if things get too hot, put your panties back on and come home!” They thought they were being supremely clever, especially when, as a teen, the child finally got the “joke.” It's not a joke; it's immature parenting at best. And, yes, it would be of some comfort to learn that the parent made up this sick story to demonstrate their “cleverness” to an adult, and never actually spoke to a child this way. But in the end, perhaps it doesn't matter:

We trivialize sex, and then wonder why it doesn't satisfy us. The same lawgiver that governed the rising of the sun this beautiful summer day also said “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” The celestial bodies have no choice in their obedience; human bodies do have choice, we abuse it sorely, and feign surprise when teen girls and many others suffer consequences. . .

Christ and Culture, or "To Go or not To Go"

How the Christian engages culture and particularly pop culture are interesting questions. There are two bad answers: “We can avoid sinful influences by simply avoiding it or condemning it” and “I can do anything I please”

The former thinks of sin as contamination (usually); but sin starts in our hearts before it exists in something discrete and external that can be “consumed”

The latter is willful and ignorant, and not freedom at all: it is bondage to self will and to what others may think of us for consuming, or not consuming, a particular aspect of culture. We DO have the power to choose, but the people that talk about choice all the time are nearly always those that are bound by sin. There really is NO freedom except in Christ. Non-believers have widely varying degrees of overt sinfulness, obviously, but none of them, not even one, is free at all.

(Pop culture is merely a large, and obvious, part of the overall culture: business, ideas, politics. When one shops, one is either cheap, or indulgent, or occasionally thoughtful and purposeful, but you are always engaging the culture.)

While the “don't go to movies” crowd is right that much of what depicted is sinful, it can't be avoided simply by staying home. The other extreme is right in the sense that it may be OK to attend, but is often naïve about how much they are influenced by something simply because it is well done, or because it contains one good idea. Avatar, for example, contained the idea that systemic evil should be resisted, but it also promoted pantheism in a big way that was doubtless overlooked by a lot of admirers.

Our pastor had a whole series on engaging pop culture a few years ago: sports one week; I should look up the other topics. He and his wife are huge movie fans, but they are conscious about their Christian worldview.