A New Name

While searching for a fun activity to do with my students as a reward for their hard work during the first grading period, I came across a site that will figure out your Jedi Name. Here's mine.

Cast off your old name! Your Jedi name is GUTMA FOHAR of the planet lexapro! Find your Jedi Name!

Click the link in the above box to find your own.

New names are really important. Many women still choose the traditional custom of taking the husband's name when they are married, and they are very excited about doing so. For some people, their name may not change, but their title might. They might become "Dr. So & So", "Vice President of Marketing" or "Shift Manager". An increase in rank is not always the desired change either. I have a friend whose title changed from "Managing Director of North America" within his firm to "Director of Tools and Practices". It was not a decrease in pay or position, but it did remove all people management out of his responsibilities. This was a welcomed change for him.

When you begin your faith journey with Christ, you get a name change and a new identity. You become one of God's children and we are called by his name. We even become new people with a new internal make up. It's not always easy and it does come with responsibility. But it's worth it. That's the exciting part of the journey. You ARE different. You are continually being improved and kept different. The problems come when we forget who we are and try to live under the old name the way the old person did.

So my thoughts tonight are not anything profoundly deep, just a weak connection to something silly I found on the web. Nonetheless, I'm glad I have a new name and that I'm a new man.

I want one of those!

I've been away from my blog for a while 'cause I've been working a real job as well as filling in an empty pulpit for a while. For those of you who have really missed my weekly updates, I'm sorry your life has deteriorated to that. Anyhow, I saw the coolest thing I've seen in a long time today and I want one! A coworker was showing off her iPhone today. She then admitted to being a Star Wars geek, which proves that I only hang out with good people. After her confession, she showed me her phone saber. The video that the link takes you to does not do justice to how absolutely kewl that app is. I was very impressed with the realistic sounds the app produced. If I had closed my eyes, I would have sworn that Obi Wan was battling the forces of evil in the room there with me.

The iPhone has been out for a while. It's a neat little gadget and I would love to have one. Two things keep me from buying one - the price and it's only compatible with one wireless carrier, one I am not subscribed to. I figure I already have an iPod and a phone and I really don't need a lot of the cool features an iPhone boasts. That is until today. After seeing the phone saber, I surfed the internet for almost 45 minutes, researching prices on iPhones and I also began seriously contemplating switching my wireless carrier just so I could own a phone saber. I came home and excitedly told my family about it.

I was almost converted. When the day was done, I did not buy an iPhone nor did I switch carriers. I probably won't anytime soon. I did think a lot about how my desires and opinions were almost changed by a simple app on a little techno gadget. I thought about the night I decided to change my desires and opinions and desires on how I would live my life. That was the night I decided to follow Jesus on my faith journey. A lot of little things built up, mainly watching the lives of my friends around me, that led me to my "Christian conversion".

Most of us think we need to develop winning debates and convincing arguments so that we sway people into making such conversions on their own. For me, and for many others I talk to, it was something about just how cool other people's lives were compared to their own that led them to "convert". I don't own a phone saber (yet), but I have THE kewlest app ever developed in my heart. That's one I don't want to fail to share with everyone around me.

Rooting for the bad guy

The other day a friend and I were reminiscing about the good ol' days when we were younger and saw Star Wars for the first time. I'll never forget sitting on the first row of the theater as a third grader when "A long, long, time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . ." flashed across the screen. I remember that my friends and I all looked at each other and said, "Is this a true story?" I relived the same excitement and adrenaline rush when Lucas began to make the prequels of epsiodes 1, 2, and 3. When my wife and I went to see Star Wars: The Phantom Menace at a midweek matinee, I got chill bumps of excitement. I experienced the same excitement when I introduced my boys to this greatest set of movies ever made. But enough about my geekness.

As my friend and I relived our magical childhood, the subject of Darth Vader came up. Growing up, before we knew how Darth Vader became so evil, everyone hated him. No one wanted to be Darth Vader. You may have bought the Darth Vader figure and his tie fighter, but only so someone else could pretend to be him while you saved the day. That's not the case today. Kids like to be Darth Vader today all because they know he used to be Anakin Skywalker, who until he finally crossed the line to join the dark side, was a pretty good guy. I must admit, even I look differently at Darth Vader now, although I don't find myself necessarily liking him.

Is this a dangerous trend, excusing evil, even looking up to it, on the basis of the good that may have been done in the past or the knowledge that the evil doer will turn from his wicked ways? Or is it a lesson in grace, seeing the good in people? After all, Luke Skywalker says of his father repeatedly, "There's still good in him, I know." What do you think?

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Some of you may have been wondering where I've been, although that's highly unlikely. It's been three weeks since I last posted. I haven't been on vacation that long, although that would be nice. I've just been busy doing other things like teaching my boys how to skin and gut a squirrel, doing some offline writing for a change, trying to earn all 99 gold bricks on Lego Star Wars II, and just thinking about important things like purpose. I've been pondering the state of the church today and how to make it most effective at fulfilling its purpose. I've been thinking about my own purpose in life as a husband and father, and as a pastor.

I also been thinking about the Bible. The title of this post has double meaning. It asks the question that only my mother cares about. It's also the title of the George Clooney film released in December 2000. I love that movie and everything about it. The soundtrack is great and has some wonderful bluegrass music. I love how it is the most creative interpretation of Homer's Odyssey I have ever encountered. This is a great contemporary representation that stays true to the original story. I think that speaks volumes about the timelessness of the themes in the original epic.

The Bible is like that. Many people in my church are trying to read through the entire Bible this year. Some have shared with me how much better they understand its parts as they read it as a whole. Others have shared how amazing it is that stories and sermons written two to four thousand years ago can be so applicable to today's life.

During my fight with insomnia last night, I began to think about how I never tire of reading the same stuff in the Bible. Right now I'm studying a couple of different books in the Bible that I have pretty thoroughly studied several times before. I am amazed that I am seeing new things this time around. I am also struck by the fact that I never get bored with reading these same stories over and over again. I can probably count on one hand (maybe two hands) the number of other books besides the Bible for which I feel the same way.

I've got some thoughts as to why that paragraph is true. I promise I won't wait three weeks to post them. Before I do, I'd like to hear from you what things you never tire of and why. I'd like to hear why you think the Bible's that way for me.

And just in case you are wondering, I have 60 of the gold bricks. If I'm unable to sleep tonight, I'm going to turn on the PS2 and earn another one!

Christmas gift thoughts

It's the day after Christmas and I love everything I received. Among the many gifts I received, two stand out for very different reasons. The first notable gift is Optimash Prime. Now Darth Tater has a companion on the shelf. The second gift worthy of comment, and by far my favorite (but not for the reasons you expect), is my Obi-Wan Kenobi light sabre. The gift of the light sabre actually has a few spiritual applications. In order to understand those, you'll have to read the whole story.

Earlier in the fall as my family began making Christmas lists, the one thing I put on my list was the aforementioned weapon of choice by one of the greatest known Jedi knights. They only cost about seven or eight dollars, so I figured this would be a shoe-in. My wife knows I like to get toys and she also knows how Star Wars seems to dominate our family's life at times.

My hopes of getting this light sabre disappeared when a local sporting goods store began clearancing out its camping gear. We had the opportunity to buy a nice family sized tent for only 40% of the original cost. We gave our boys a choice. We could a) spend our entire alloted Christmas budget for Mommy & Daddy gifts on the tent or b) give the boys the money to buy individual gifts for us so they could have the opportunity to go shopping. They chose A, so my wife and I received our Christmas gift in early November. We bought a tent that is literally the size of our bedroom.

Now, it must be added that we reminded the boys they had their own money they could choose to spend on Mommy and Daddy if they wanted. Of course, we did not expect them to. In the meantime, I had been planning to buy a light sabre with my own money after Christmas so that the boys and I could have some Jedi fun whenever we needed to burn off some energy.

On Christmas morning I was surprised to receive the very thing I wanted most - my very own Obi-Wan Kenobi light sabre. It was a gift from my boys and it warmed my heart so. Not only was I surprised at the gift itself, but I was surprised they had managed to keep it a secret, especially my youngest.

While pondering this wonderful gift, two important lessons came to mind. First, the boys bought this with their own money. It was something they really wanted to do because they knew how much I wanted it. They actually demonstrated some level of selflessness and thinking beyond themselves for a change. For those of you who have wondered if your children will ever get there, take this as hope that they will. My boys aren't completely selfless, but this was a step.

In order to appreciate the second lesson, you must hear the rest of the story. My boys sent their mother out shopping for the light sabre. All she knew was it had to be a blue light sabre. Much to her dismay upon bringing it home, she was told very quickly that she had bought the wrong one. She had bought the Anakin Skywalker light sabre. As you can see from the picture above, they are vey different (Obi-Wan is on top, Anakin on the bottom). She was not aware that such a distinction existed. She was able to return the wrong one and exchange it for the proper replica.

Here's the lesson, and despite all premises, it's a deep and important one. Lots of people "buy" what they think is real Christianity. They find something that resembles what little they know about it. Sometimes that's not a risky choice; sometimes it is. Some people don't even know that light sabres come in different colors, let alone may have different handles. Some people don't know that Christianity is not just like all the other religions. All religions do not lead to the same place.

So what do you do if you are one of these people that knows very little about faith in general but you are searching for authentic Christianity? At some point you have to become familiar with the product. As I always say here, never do it alone. Go to the Bible to find out the details on the story. Begin your search with another group of people. Make sure there are people like yourself AND people who already have the answers in that group. Keep yourself open to the direction of the Holy Spirit. If you get off track and bring home the wrong model, the Holy Spirit will redirect you.

The most important thing to do is to do something. You'll never be a real Jedi by wishing you had a light sabre. You'll never know more about God or have a real relationship with him by just thinking it would be a good thing. And if you get the wrong color or the wrong handle, keep looking and keep open - he'll make sure you get it right.

Confessions of a Geek

DISCLAIMER: If you came looking for something to encourage you on your faith journey, this post probably won't be it. If you came looking for someone to laugh it, this is your lucky day. I'm taking a break from the usual today in order to love life.

Last night, I confirmed to myself what I have known all along. I AM A GEEK! My wife gave me two of the coolest toys ever. The first was a Darth Tater (Mr. Potato Head dressed as Darth Vader). The second was a Jedi light sabre training game. It has a little camera/sensor you mount on top of the tv and a play sabre you hold while fighting bad guys and going thru training exercises on the screen. I waited all day Christmas to get a chance to play it while my kids played with their new video game or I set up all their other toys. Honestly, I was hoping to get them involved in something else so I wouldn't have to share.

I finally got to play. And I did terrible. Couldn't get past stage 1 of my training. To add insult to injury, I finally let my oldest son play and he cruised right along to stage 2. Then I let my six-year old play and it was really quite funny to watch him jump all over the living room. BUT, he too cruised right along to stage 2. Humility is too mild a word to describe what I was feeling. This must be how it feels when you realize your teenage son could kick your butt in a fight and he knows it too. He just doesn't out of respect.

I resisted the urge to play. I nursed my ego all evening. "I think I need to recalibrate the settings for my player" was my excuse. I finally gave in. Once the boys were in bed and asleep, I gave it one more try. For the record, recalibration actually helped. I finished the evening just a hair's breadth from completing stage two. I can now proudly say I am once again better than my 8 1/2 year old and my 6 year old sons. If only my father could see me now.

But that's not what makes me a geek. As I was playing, I found myself speaking to myself as if Master Yoda was coaching me. At one point, I found myself slipping into scenes from the movies. Before I realized what was happening, I was fighting with the light sabre in my right hand while holding up my left, using the force to knock back my enemies. During this display of geekness, my wife sat on the couch, watching, wishing she was video taping the whole affair, and generally making fun of me. That's ok. She can laugh if she wants to. She'll thank me the next time we are attacked by battle drones or some punk gang of Sith wannabe's.

BTW, my kids wanted to watch Episode I the other night. That gave me an excuse to watch the other five when we were done. I managed to get II & III in over the weekend. Maybe I can get Episode IV in tonight.

Gotta go now. I have a training date with Anakin.