The Bumper Sticker that Doesn't Make Sense

This semester I decided to enroll in a philosophy class titled "Introduction to World Religion." Now, I can't quite say why I chose this class over others to fill my humanities requirement, but God did allow it to work in my class schedule and got me a slot despite how quickly the class was filling up. It would be an understatement to say that so far this class has made me do some deep thinking.

My professor is a quirky, good natured bald guy with a great sense of humor. I'll be honest, I really like this guy. He's really down to earth and does his best to present religion from an academic standpoint. However, there's really no way to teach religion without teaching your religion. So, every Friday night for the last couple of months, I've been attending a three-hour sermon preaching a very complex and confusing gospel. My professor was raised in an ultra-conservative Christian family and once even considered becoming a pastor. When he went off to college, he confessed, he discovered that he "liked other religions too" and his views shifted to a more liberal, "open-minded" opinion of God. Basically, he believes in God...but that there are many paths to him, not just Jesus Christ. He'd be the type to have a "Coexist" bumper sticker. He takes the bits and pieces of religions that agree with his own philosophy and creates for himself a sort of patchwork quilt of beliefs. He claims to pray to the Hebrew God, but also practices Buddhist meditation and has Hindu idols in his home.

I've found that these sorts of philisophical mushpot religions are actually becoming really popular in today's culture, especially within my generation. The idea of Buddhist zen is appealing to overwhelmed folks trapped in a world busy with work, school, hobbies, and the constant buzz of digital media. The Hindu Karma Sutra appeals to the sick human obsession with things that are (or rather, should be) X-rated. The Rastafarianism sacrament of ganja is appealing today because...well...people like to smoke weed. And of course, people like it when Jesus talks about love and acceptence. Why not take the best of all religions and make one super-religion? Rather than picking one belief system, they pick out the beliefs they like and omit the pieces they don't like (unpopular beliefs usually include those concerning sin, Hell, chasitity, and not eating bacon.) In an effort to choose all religions, they choose none.

Truth is, religions can't "coexist" because their core teachings contridict each other. Jesus taught "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father EXCEPT through me" while Islam teaches "There is no god but Allah and Mohammad is his prophet." To make things more complicated, atheism comes along and says that there are no gods at all. How can all of those teachings be true in the same plane of reality? As an incredibly brilliant old friend of mine once said regarding this kind of belief, "Two plus two can't equal four and five."

Yes, there are true elements in many religions. Those true elements don't automatically make the rest of the religion true, however. Buddhists teach kindness to others, but that doesn't mean we should start meditating and spending hours in front of a golden statue. I know that it sounds like I'm stating the obvious, but some people (even Christians!) actually fall into that line of thinking. Satan is sneaky. He's not going to feed people lies straight up; he's going to water them down, sweeten them up, and make them look appealing.

I'll be honest, there are a lot of topics that I've been struggling with lately (the class is partially to blame.) Despite my professor's beliefs, however, his class has absolutely confirmed one thing: the whole "coexist" thing is the stupidest concept ever. Besides, when that word is spelled out in religious symbols, the cross comes last. See?

Jesus doesn't belong at the end of that list. In many religions men sacrafice themselves for their gods. In Christianity, God sacraficed himself for men. In other religions, man earns Heaven. In Christianity, man can never earn Heaven, but gets to go anyway. Other religions give a long list of complicated to-do's, but Christianity takes anyone exactly the way they are regardless of what they've done in the past. The culture teaches that Christianity is an intolerent religion because we say that Jesus is only way. In reality, Christianity is the single most tolerent religion because Jesus takes in anybody and everybody. What could possibly be more tolerent than that?

Save the Humans

Of all humanity's problems, by far my least favorite is cruelty. Duh. It's the most blatant, hurtful, and universally evil. Let's face it, those who take pleasure in abusing their fellow humans are the scum of the Earth. The saddest thing is, so many people mistreat their peers everyday and get away with it. What's just as sad though, is that the number of people willing to stand up to bullies is virtually zero to none.
Bullies are portrayed in movies all the time. Nearly every movie villain is portrayed as some powerful person who, in their selfishness, take pleasure in the downfall of another person. However, I feel that movies tend to not give bullying justice. Real-life bullies aren't always puffed jocks like Biff from "Back to the Future" or glammed up snobs like the cast of "Mean Girls." Anyone can be a bully: fat girls, teachers, handsome boyfriends, your best friend...or you. Usually it's subtle; verbal abuse can be disguised as humor or teasing or just "stating a fact" and physical abuse can be disguised as accidental or blamed on the claim that the victim was "clumsy," "weak," or "dramatic." It doesn't matter what the excuse is. Anytime someone is hurt by your actions or by your words, you are the one to blame. I think the biggest step we can take to fight against bullying is to recognize the bullies within ourselves. Everyone has been a jerk to someone else at least once in his or her life...even if they don't feel like they have.

The reason I'm writing this today is because I have been seeing it everywhere lately. At Brittany's highschool (the school I just recently graduated from,) girls are ripping each other apart like ravenous jungle beasts. My old church is in ruins currently not because of controversial preaching, but because of gossip and judging in the church body. Even the dojo, my home-away-from-home, continues to be filled with snide remarks and negative criticism to the point where students (many of whom are close friends to my sister and I) are dropping like flies. Girls are changing schools, families are leaving the church, and kids are begging their parents to sign them up for dance class instead of karate. Why? It had nothing to do with my principal's standards or the church's doctrine and certainly no one could ever hate karate. It's simple; people are savages at heart and they're allowed to run rampant.

Whether intentional or not, it's never okay to demean people. Even if you're in a posititon of authority over someone, you should still try to limit your negative remarks. Know that everyone, no matter how confident they appear, struggles with self-worth issues to some degree. I don't believe in the whole "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" schpeal. Words can hurt waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse than getting pelted with a rock. Be aware of the things you say to people. If your negative comments (jokes and "just kidding" count) outweigh your positive, you are definitely doing something wrong.

As a former bullying victim, I have compassion for those who have to deal with bullies. I think it's sick when kids get up the courage to try a new school or hobby and are met with mockery and exclusion. If you have someone in your life who is making you miserable, I have the utmost empathy for you. Some of the most wonderful people were hated and treated like crap. In John 15:8, Jesus says "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." Bullies may tell you that you're a nobody or a loser but know that the reason they're saying that is because you threaten them. You have something (looks, brains, confidence, a kind personality, a healthy home life, etc.) that they are jealous of. In a way, you should treat bullying like a compliment. If someone is singling you out as a bully victim, you probably give off some kind of vibe that the bully is afraid of and wants to squash. They want to drag you down because they think you are better than them.

Is it really that hard to encourage others instead of demean them? It seems like kindness should be the most basic core values, but it's something that's so rare. Remember the Golden Rule? Well, that's something Jesus coined first and nearly every single other religion adapted. Let's face it, it's the most basic life principle of all time and hardly anyone makes an effort to live by it. Let's be the few who actually do live by it. Let's start changing people's lives by simply changing the way we talk to people.

DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO TO YOU. Luke 6:31 (NLT)

The Many Woes of Texting

omg this kinda talking is soooooooo anoying right? can u feel ur brain cells dying??? lol :) rotflol ;) omg  :P <3

Unlike most members of my generation, I can survive more than a few minutes without my cell phone. There are even a select number of humans whom I enjoy regularly texting. Don't get me wrong, texting in essence is incredibly practical; instantly alert someone without having to place a call, organize group events in just a few clicks, etc. However, it's without saying that texting (especially in teens and young adults) has gotten way out of hand and created an array of problems and severe annoyances.

• Eye-Contact is 4 Noobz I imagine that in the years before texting, if you sat down in class next to someone you've never met, and you're both just sitting in silence, one of you would eventually start up a conversation and BOOM you've made a new friend. Texting allows awkward situations to become less awkward, so no need to branch out and meet people. Now, everyone's anti-social and phone-obsessed. LAME.
• Speling is 4 Noobz Lol I've noticed that the more frequent the texter, the more atrocious the spelling and vocabulary. Not only is texting casual and quick, but some phones even come with spell-check. There's a reason most people don't know when to use "your" and when to use "you're." They're used to typing "ur." I think the worst case of text misspelling was one friend of mine who consistently spelled the word "busy" as "bissy."
• Ima Gonna Stalk U It used to be that if you gave some your number, they would have to work up the courage to call you. Now, all they have to do is punch in some letters and they can talk to you about anything, anytime. There's no face-to-face contact, no vocal contact, not even contact with the other person's handwriting. There's nothing to fear. It's also hard to get new acquaintances to stop texting you, I've noticed. For example; last week, I met a new friend at church. We had the same friends, he seemed nice, so we became friends. Shortly afterwards, he asked for my number. Thinking there would be no harm in that, I gave it to him. Shortly afterwards, he started texting me hourly - more frequently than even my best friends. It got to the point where I basically had to flat-out tell him to stop, since he wouldn't take hints. Curse you, vile texting...cuuuuuuuurrrrse you.
• TROLLOLOLOL Just as texting makes it easy to be extra friendly, texting allows also makes it easier to be a jerk. While I've been fortunate enough to never experience this, texting and online instant messaging are the perfect tools for bullies. Anyone can have the courage to insult someone when they can do it completely anonymously and without having to look them in the eye. Think about how easy it would be to get someone's cell number, change your own number, and bombard that person with discouraging texts. You could pretend to be anyone and say anything.
• Omg Im @ Work LOL One of my biggest text-related pet peeves is when co-workers text on the job. It's so easy to slip into the back by the freezer and text away while others pick up the slack. A few of my co-workers abuse this to the umpteenth degree.
• LOL Mannerz R LAME Ever been in a regular conversation with someone, then all of a sudden they start texting someone else instead of talking to you? I can't think of anything ruder to do during a conversation...except maybe randomly stabbing the person you're talking to.
• Texting Out LOUD Probably the easiest way to lose my respect for someone is when they use texting lingo out loud in everyday conversation. Is it really that hard to say "Just Kidding" instead of "JK??"

As annoying as texting can be, however, it still triumphs over bluetooth. Nothing will EVER be as annoying people walking around town on bluetooth. I'd blog about that, but my fingers would probably bleed from the excessive typing.

Shannon's School "Survial" Guide

While cleaning out a closet, my family recently discovered a very interesting notebook from years ago. It was a plain spiral notebook that 11-year-old me had taken and filled with "tips" on how to survive school. It's pretty funny...so I've decided to post some of the best tips (most profound or hilarious) typed out exactly as they were....spelling errors in all! After all, it is the beginning of the school. To tell the difference, white regular font is 11-year-old me writing and the orange italic font is 18-year-old me commenting.

Shannon's School Survial Guide First spelling error!!

#2 Be nice to all your teachers. Even if you don't like your teacher, don't let her know it. You DON'T want to get on a teacher's bad side.

#3 The teacher rules all. I know, it stinks but it's true. When getting into mischief, make SURE they don't see you. How is that good advice?!? They have the power to punish and protect. Be warned. Wow...I make school sound like a war-zone...


#5 Teachers HATE complainers. No matter how bad it is, don't complain. If your teacher is beating you, don't complain. If your teacher is feeding you poison, don't complain. If your teacher burning kids at stake, DON'T COMPLAIN.

#8 If you dissagree with a teacher, stay cool. Just because you don't believe in evolution, doesn't mean you get excused from science homework. For example: If a question asks: How did the earth form? You can say "Charles Darwin believed that the earth exploded" That way you don't have to lie. Apparently, most science teachers accept "The Earth formed via explosion" as a correct answer. Also, did you notice my obsessive use of the colon? Someone needs a grammar lesson!

#9 There will ALWAYS be popular kids, try to live with it. Just leave them alone and you'll be fine. We must treat popular kids like venomous spiders...just leave them alone and you'll be fine...

#10 If you ever happen to spot a bully coming near you, run. You'll be judged by your friends. If you choose mean friends...people will think that you are mean. This applies to people of all ages, by the way.

#11 Don't judge people by their looks. People actually get sued for judging people by their gender, race, and looks. "That person called me ugly...SUE THEM!!!"

#13 A wise man can resist peer presure. Peer presure is all-around-yuck. Whenever someone's friends or peers talk them into doing something that is wrong or that they don't what to do...peer presure is taking place. I find that wording hilarious. If people try and convince you to do something wrong...be strong and say "NO." It's hard, but say it. If they're pressuring you to do something you don't want to do...say "No thank you." Never give into peer presure and NEVER presure your peers.

#17 If you have trouble with your HW (homework) ask mom or dad or your big sis. But certainly not your big brother...then all your answers will be wrong.

#22 Do your HW before TV or PS2. If you do TV or PS2 first, you won't want to stop. Next thing you know, Mom shouts "Bed time!" and you don't have your HW done. I used to play PlayStation2 from the time I got home until the time I went to bed?!? Dang, I must have been a fat kid before I joined karate...

#26 Share your feelings. If a recess game gets boring, let the group know. We don't want you to have a boring time. "Share your feelings" is just a good tip for life. :)

#35 Tell your folks if you DON'T want to on a FT (field trip) or else you'll end up going to Farmer Bob's Worm Circus. Farmer Bob's Worm Circus?!?! Seriously?

#36 Don't whine if your folks say you can't go on a field trip. That'll just make them say NO even more. Kid:"Can I go?"  Parent:"No."  Kid:"Awwww..."  Parent:"MEGA NO!!"

#38 Never go "EWWW!" if a kid pukes from car sickness. It makes 'em feel bad. This one's my favorite.

#44 Don't brag.  If you are suprised in a good way at your your grades...hold it in. Don't go: "Yippie! Straight A's!" That'll hurt people's feelings. Try not to ask people what their grades are and only tell people if they ask. Okay? Okay. Got it.

#46 Be an example. Who are what are you representing? If you are a Christian, than you are an example of Christianity. When people see a Christian, they are judged as such. If you are mean and a bully, yet say you are a Christian, you are representing Christ in a poor manner. The non-Christians will look at you and say "She's a Christian? Boy, she's mean. I don't want to be like HER so I won't EVER be a Christian" Be a good example: of your God, of your family, and of an American. Represent what you stand for as a good example. This one is interesting because it was jerk-Christians that made me have doubts about Christianity as a young teenager.

#47 Let your true colors shine through. Great, now I have that song stuck in my head. There should never be a line between the "Home-You", the "School-You", the "Church-You", etc. What I mean is" don't act a certain way around some people, and act differently around others. Be the true, real you ALL the time. Don't act all "Praise the Lord!" at church and no where else. If you are a "Praise the Lord!" type person, act that way every where. If you are nerdy, don't hide it! Be the true you ALL the time, EVERYwhere, with EVERYbody. Show your true colors and NEVER be someone you're not.

Have a great new school year, everyone!!

How Not To Let Your Enemy Win

Over the course of my young life, I've learned a good deal about enemies. As a Christian, I'm supposed to love my enemies. As a martial artist, I've been taught to bow to my opponents and show them respect. As a social nobody in high-school, however, I've learned that enemies are very very very easy to loathe.

Let's face some facts. People can be mean. Enemies can be as mild as a snooty rich snob in the 5th grade telling a fellow classmate that she dresses like a baby or as brutally mean as a martial arts "partner" who purposely throws punches out of anger. Of course, there are enemies out there who are far less easy to love. If you've been watching the news in the last couple years, you may have heard of a man named Phillip Garrido. If not, allow me to tell the story of one of my heroes, Jaycee Lee Dugard.

When Jaycee was 11 years old walking to school one day, a stranger drove up beside her, stun-gunned her, bound her, and shoved her into the trunk of his car. After driving her two hours away from her hometown, it soon became known that this man wasn't looking for ransom.

Phillip Garrido was a pedophile. He locked her up in a shed in his backyard where he physically, verbally, sexually and mentally abused her for 18 years. She gave birth to two of his children without any medical attention while still in her early teens. He even forbade her from speaking her own name. If that's not an enemy, I don't what is.

A little while ago, Jaycee gave her first interview on ABC. When asked about her feelings toward Garrido, she gave an answer that absolutely baffled me. She wasn't filled with angry hatred towards the man who stole her childhood and adolescence, nor did she defend him like someone with Stockholm Syndrome. She very plainly stated that he was an evil man, but she felt no anger towards him because that would be "letting him win." Her viewpoint was that she was the victor, having survived and that holding onto anger towards him would only be letting him continue to have a grip on her life. Wow. Now that's a strong woman.

As sinful humans, we get some kind of sick pleasure out of being mad at someone. To let go of a grudge requires rebellion against one's own nature, strength of heart, and self-discipline. It's the most unnatural thing a person can do, because it's the sort of thing God does all the time. We have all slandered his name, rejected His love and done things He considers perverse. He still is willing to forgive us. He won't let sin win.

Having said that, forgiveness isn't always a "Get Out of Jail Free" card. Just because Jaycee isn't angry at Garrido anymore, doesn't mean she's game to invite him over to play with her kids. Jesus forgave the Pharisees (his hatuh's,) but He didn't make them his BFF's. God loves the world, but not everyone's going to Heaven. Why? Forgiveness can be one-sided. Reconciliation has to be mutual.

I'm writing about this because out of all the fruits of the Spirit, forgiveness is the hardest for me. I've had rumors spread about me and had some friends stolen. I've been teased and made fun of and left out and ditched. I've been verbally attacked and even physically attacked a couple times. I've gone through some not-so-great times and made my share of enemies. I used to think the entire world was against me...but it turns out that everyone else's lives suck too and I actually have it pretty good. Jaycee's story helped me gain a little perspective. All the crud I've put up with barely amounts to one moment of her agony. Beyond that, all of the abuse dealt by Phillip Garrido is nothing compared to the cruelty that humanity has shown to God. All things considered, who am I to hold a grudge...who am I to even complain.

"Loving your enemies" is one of those very unnatural quirks unique to Christianity. What sort of madness would cause a person to want to love the most hateable people in their life? Yet, that is why it is so important. Loving your enemies isn't natural for sinful people like us because it's a God-thing, not a human-thing. It's such a hard thing for us to do...but that just makes it all the more neccessary. Sometimes we have to do hard things, unnatural things, things we don't want to do, because doing those things make us strong, courageous, Christ-like Christians.

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Ed (Jesus and T.V. - Part 3

"But outside the door to our Spanish class, leaning against the wall — looking more like a Greek god than anyone had a right to — Edward was waiting for me." --Bella Swan, Twilight

 If you think you might need a barf-bucket while reading this post, I suggest you go grab one...just in case. I'll also warn you younger folks that there is a tad bit of mature content in this one.

Twilight: You love it, you hate it, you fell asleep during the first two minutes of the movie. Whatever your feelings, you have to admit that Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight Saga" has become a massive phenomena. Of course, whenever a story reaches the mass popularity of "Twilight," people start to wonder about what kind of effect it is having on its fans. People don't just obsess over a book or movie franchise without it somehow shaping their self-image, worldview, expectations, or beliefs. One can only pray that "Twilight" is good for the minds of millions of teen fangirls...and mom fangirls...and the occasion weird fanguy...

I've only read the first book and movie. The rest of my sources have been from online reviews and girls at school telling me "Oh mai gawsh! You haven't read New Moon? Are you crazy?! It's all about how when Bella and Edward blah blah blah..." However, I've read enough to know this: Twilight is not about vampires. It's about the ultimate female fantasy.

The entire story is told in first-person narrative by the main character, Bella. Bella is an awkward, clumsy, high-school girl...that's it. Her personality is completely neutral, her appearance isn't described other than mention of her "pale skin" and brownish-reddish hair (which could fit almost any Caucasian or Asian girl) and there is very little about her life that makes her unique at all. This is one of the reason's Meyer was so successful. Bella wasn't supposed to be a character, she's supposed to be you. Every female has felt awkward, clumsy and self-conscious at some point in her life. When a girl reads Twilight, she automatically finds her self relating to Bella..to the point where the reader finds herself taking Bella's place.

Soon enough, foxy-pale-dude enters the picture (grab that bucket I mentioned) and confesses that he is completely obsessed with her because she is the one human whose mind he can't read (Hey! I didn't know vampires had that power!) and her blood is the most ferociously sweet-smelling thing he had ever come across in his hundred-year-old existence. My guess is that Meyer had to include this creep-factor to explain why a seemingly perfect man would be attracted to some stupid high school chick...and by perfect, I mean disgustingly perfect. Here are some of Eddie's magical traits:

• Aww...he's a nice vampire.  Cannibalism is generally considered unattractive in most cultures. So, to appeal to more readers, Edward is a "vegetarian" vampire, meaning he and his family only drink animal blood. They also have vowed not to kill humans, despite their natural urges to do so. Not only does this paint Eddie as a kindly monster, but it also gives him inner-struggles...which some women find mysterious and attractive somehow...
• He's disgustingly romantic. Edward has no problem sharing his feelings and expressing his "love" for Bella. While some of the things Edward says are just cheesy, like "I’ll be back so soon you won’t have time to miss me. Look after my heart — I’ve left it with you." most of the time he says things that simply would never pass from a normal man's lips, like "I was distracted all weekend, worrying about you."
• He has Elijah Wood's face, Sylvester Stallone's body, and the breath of a Mint Fairy. Outrageous descriptions of Edward's physical appearance make up most of book. The only way to comprehend this properly is to read some yourself:

"It was hard to believe that someone so beautiful could be real. I was afraid that he might disappear in a sudden puff of smoke, and I would wake up."

"His voice was like melting honey. I could imagine how much more overwhelming his eyes would be." "He stared into my eyes, and I saw how light his eyes were, lighter than I’d ever seen them, golden butterscotch."

[Warning: this next quotation may cause acid-reflex] "His face startled me — his expression was torn, almost pained, and so fiercely beautiful that the ache to touch him flared as strong as before. My goodbye stuck in my throat. He raised his hand, hesitant, conflict raging in his eyes, and then swiftly brushed the length of my cheekbone with his fingertips. His skin was as icy as ever, but the trail his fingers left on my skin was alarmingly warm — like I’d been burned, but didn’t feel the pain of it yet."

After reading the novel, I surfed the web for Christian reviews of the book and movie to see if others wanted to barf at what so many teenage girls were going stark-raving-mad about. In the non-Christian community, I found plenty that agreed with me when it came to the book's actual quality (lots of people are gagged-out by Edward, too!) Surprisingly, what I found written by Christians was mostly positive. They liked the fact that the Cullens didn't eat people, and commended Edward for (this is the adult content part, you guys) demanding abstinence in Bella's and his relationship, even though his reason for doing so is because Edward believes he would be unable to control the urge to kill and eat Bella if they were to have...ya know. And even though they never go "all the way" until marriage in the last book, Bella and Edward push some limits. Before Edward confesses to even liking Bella, he sneaks around her house at night and sits outside her window to watch her sleep, using his super-speed to slip away whenever she would start to wake up. Bella discovers this habit of his once they start dating, and rather then getting freaked out, she allows him to come into her bed and hold her while she sleeps. Then, of course, there's the painfully detailed descriptions of their kisses and touches that fill the pages not consumed by descriptions of Edward's beauty (Barf-bucket, NOW!!)

To me, what matters more in a fiction novel isn't the fantasy elements themselves (magic, wizards, fairies, vampires, elves, whatever) but rather the message the author is trying to convey with them. Lord of the Rings is more about friendship and courage than it is about hobbits and orcs. The Chronicles of Narnia isn't a story about some kids and a magical lion, it was written so that readers would think of Jesus as a loving savior that they could have a relationship with. So if it's not about vampires, what is Twilight about? Well, when we strip away all the magical elements, we're left with a high school couple who obsess over each other, defy what they believe to be right in order to be together, lie to parents, and go mad when separated.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Entertainment is an easy way to be pulled away from staying focused on what is right and true. While I firmly believe that Christians need to decide for themselves what is and isn't appropriate when it comes to books and television (God didn't give us a list of "bad books," but rather gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us in our decisions,) the "Twilight Saga" is one that needs to be handled with a little extra discernment.

Bob and Larry (Jesus and T.V. - Part 2)

I remember stand (Stand up, stand up)
For what you believe in, believe in,
Believe in God (He's the one to back you up)
We'll stand with you!

--From the song "Stand Up!" written by Phil Vischer

Slushies. Bible Verses. Singing Cucumbers.

What could these thing possibly have in common? They're all a part of the ever-popular Christian video series known as "VeggieTales." I love VeggieTales...I grew up on Bob's humourous takes on Bible stories and Larry's adorable Silly Songs. However, this post isn't a rant on how wonderful VeggieTales is...

A while back, I was babysitting my baby cousins. As I was channel-surfing for something toddler-friendly, I spotted VeggieTales...on cable television! I quickly hit "select" and was pleasantly surprised to find an old episode I had seen multiple times before on VHS. As the program continued, I began to notice a few changes. First of all, Qwerty (the Bible verse-quoting, pong-playing desktop computer) was missing. Then, Bob failed to end the episode with "God made you special, and He loves you very much!" As another episode began, it hit me: VeggieTales had been completely stripped of its Christian messages in order to be on secular television.

Now, there was nothing inappropriate about this new rendition of VeggieTales: "Silly Songs with Larry" hadn't been replaced with "Satanic Songs with Ozzy Osbourn" or anything like that...it was just void of any mention of Jesus, God, Heaven or the Bible. I couldn't believe it - VeggieTales had given up it's Chrisian message in order to be on television.

Before writing this, I decided to do my homework. I didn't want to slam Phil Vischer (the creator of Big Idea Productions) if NBC censored VeggieTales without his knowledge or behind his back. Then I found this quote which made me almost want to cry: "VeggieTales is religious. NBC is not. I want to focus people more on 'Isn't it cool that Bob and Larry are on television.'"

God blessed Phil Vischer with so much success and he thanks Him with compromise and hypocrisy? Vischer made millions on a franchise that pointed children to God. Now that he's made those millions, he's willing to cover up God's name like Peter denying Christ. Maybe Phil should watch "Rack, Shack & Benny" again and listen to the lyrics of "Stand Up!"  Christians in the entertainment business need to be bold and unwilling to compromise their beliefs in order please others. As long as we have the right to free speech, there should be shows like VeggieTales...the old VeggieTales.

I suppose the point of these posts is "looks are decieving when it comes to entertainment." I'm sure if we were to do a survey asking "Which children's television program features characters who quote Bible verses: A) VeggieTales or B) X-Men?" we'd get a load of wrong guesses. I'll end this article encouraging all of you to do two things. First, we need to pray for Phil Vischer. He's a Christian man being tempted by worldly success. Second, don't ever idolize a Christian book, movie or franchise. VeggieTales has been given a lot of praise over the years for being such a great Christian show for kids. Rightfully so, but that doesn't mean the franchise (or it's producer, Phil Vischer) is perfect.

Kurt (Jesus and T.V. - Part 1)

You don't have to spend very much time with children to discover that one of the strongest influences on them is their entertainment. It is far more likely to see kids running out of a movie theater screaming "Let's play Kung Fu Panda!" then it is to see kids come out of a classroom screaming "Let's play Constitutional Convention!" And it doesn't stop with play...children imitate characters in their speech, mannerisms, food choices, and even their thought process. Clearly, parents need to be extremely careful when it comes to what their children are exposed to. Of course, adults simply being children in grown-up bodies, we teens and adults need to be discerning about what our own eyes see as well.

Now, I'm not about to make a list of movies that are "wrong" to see or "right" to see, because that changes with the viewer's age and spiritual maturity. Also, I believe everyone has to make their own decisions on this topic and it would be wrong of me to condemn anyone's movie choices as evil. After all, the Bible doesn't say "Thou shalt never watch Twilight or else be sentenced to eternity in Hell. However, I am going to give my fiery, blunt opinion on three very different franchises and the Biblical messages in them (which I consider pretty obvious, but may not be to some.) If you are easily offended, or have deep emotional attachment to any of the characters I am about to mention, it may be in your best interest to read a different blog post instead (I suggest "Sister Paintings"...it's less controversial.)


Let's start with my personal favorite: X-Men. Unfortunately, most Christians take one look at the movies (or comics, cartoons, video games, etc.) and immediately label them with a big fat "NO." It's easy to see why. The main premise of the X-Men storyline is a group of superheroes form after obtaining their powers through human evolution. Add that to the fact that the super villain, Mystique, runs around (almost) naked in the movies, and it's amazing such a story could have any inkling of Christian philosophy. It does...and it's more than just an inkling.

Kurt Wagner (or "Nightcrawler" as he's more often referred to) is one of the most devout Christians in all of fiction and my favorite superhero of all-time. He is seen praying before missions, reading his Bible while hanging around the X-Mansion and even quoting scripture to the enemies he encounters. In one episode of the 1990's cartoon (which still re-runs unedited on Disney Channel) Kurt explains his Christian faith to his fellow X-Man, Rogue and hands her a Bible. Later in the same episode, Kurt discovers that his mother tried to drown him as a child because of his mutant appearance. Rather than plot revenge (as far too many "superheroes" do) he tells her "I forgive you...and I will pray that God will give you the peace you need to forgive yourself." Shocked, his mother weeps "I don't deserve your prayers" and leaps in front of a missile to save to him. She falls into a river and disappears. As Kurt and Rogue leave the scene, Kurt asks her "What would cause her to do such a thing for me?" Rogue responds with "Maybe that faith of yours got to her" and Kurt's mother is shown climbing out of the river, eyes full of tears as she looks toward the Heavens. It's that intense. There's countless other examples of these kinds of messages in the X-Men franchise. If there's one lesson to learn from the scaled, furry, mutated X-Men, it's the message they promote more than any other: don't judge by appearances alone.

The Magic We Tend to Ignore

People love the idea of exotic adventures. We dream of exciting travels to far away countries or even far away planets. We fantasize about having fantastic powers or abilities or being specially chosen for a dangerous mission that will require a great amount of courage or heroism. I always have, at least. There's something about science fiction and fantasy that appeals to human nature. Some of us crave a dangerous adventure and wish we could escape to a far-away planet that needs us. We want to be called to do something bigger than simply survive in a cushy little suburbia.

But unfortunately elaborate, super-powered, multi-world adventures are limited to the world of fiction...right? Well, to be honest, I believe we're living in one right now.

Two thousand years ago, a hero from a different dimension came down to Earth. He was not the hero anyone expected; blunt, rebellious and from lowly origins, but he was exactly the hero they needed. His super-human powers were nearly endless. He could bend weather to his will, heal the wounded and the sick, raise the dead, transfigure the elements, see the future and possessed increased strength and endurance that allowed him to go weeks without food. Although he gained the public's love and respect, he made more than a few enemies...just like any superhero.

With great power comes great responsibility, however. This hero's responsibility was to save all of humanity and he did so by offering himself up in self-sacrifice. Like Aslan, Gandalf, Jean Grey, Spock and the Silver Surfer, he willingly allowed himself to be killed so that others may live. However, he was far too powerful to stay dead for long and travelled back to our dimension to set up a new alliance of warriors. These elect soldiers would be hand-selected to carry on his legacy until he returned to our world for the final time...this time, as its king.

Of course, this is the story of Jesus Christ. When you think about it, the Bible is nothing but one big real-life fantasy adventure. It just doesn't seem magical because we've grown used to it. I'm sure Legolas and Aragorn think their world is perfectly normal and boring, while we few Middle Earth to be some fantastic magical world. In the same way, we most of us look at our own world as simple and boring, but if a Mirkwood elf were to go Sacramento, he'd think he was in a magical kingdom out of a fantasy novel. Our reality is just as fantastic as any world of fiction. Christians have blessing of being the heroes. We are Christ's individually selected warriors chosen to light up the world. Spiritual gifts are like super-powers and Satan is our Dr. Doom.

I hate it when Christianity is treated like any other religion. It's not. What I hate even more, however, is when Christianity is treated like a trend. I hate it when kids act like wearing a "Team Jesus" t-shirt makes them a Christian in the same way wearing eye-liner and gages would make them an emo. Christianity should be treated like a mission...and not a make-believe one. Bible Studies shouldn't be cutesy little social gatherings, they should be team meetings. The Bible isn't a religious text, it's a secret agent manual. Christians aren't a political party like democrats, or a trend like goths, or a religious group like Muslims...they're super-powered mutant heroes like the X-Men.

If you happen to be a sci-fi/fantasy geek like me, stop dreaming and start living. There's a real-life mission that you're being called for. There are powers to unlock, people to save and enemies to fight. There's a battle going on right now, and whether or not you're aware of it you are already involved. Make sure you're on the right side.

12 Quirks of Teaching Karate to Tiny People

The Tiny Tot Instructor is sort of the dark horse of the instructors at the dojo. A lot of karate students don't realize this, but the Tiny Tots is probably the hardest class to teach because of its unique little quirks. Not to say the other classes aren't hard (I've taught quite a few and they make for a tough job as well,) but the "Tots" class is a little extra...special. Most of the time, it's sweet, fun and adorable. Then, there's the times when I silently resist the urge to dragon-kick the brats in their pudgy little faces (don't tell Shihan I wrote that.) Anyway, here are some little facts about my job that explain why the Tiny Tots class is unique from any other class at the dojo.

1. Only having to remember yellow belt curriculum. As a brown belt, I have over 117 basic techniques to remember. When teaching the Tiny Tots class, I only have to remember 17. Much easier on the brain.
2. Games. I am the only teacher at the dojo that gets to play duck-duck-goose with my students during class. It's awesome.
3. Having to stay on my toes. Every teacher at the dojo has a awkward moment in their class once in a while. The Tiny Tots class, however,  has issues that would make other classes look like a walk in the park. In fact, weird stuff goes on so often that nothing surprises me anymore. For example, the other day, while cleaning up after class, I spied a pair of little girls panties in a pile of hula hoops. I pointed out the hilarious discovery to my friend and fellow instructor, Ni-Kyu Katlin who just laughed and said "Congradulations, you're the Tiny Tot Instructor..."
4. Acting like a goof-ball. Something I've noticed about teaching little kids is that the more nerdy/goofy/enthusiastic I act, the more fun the kids have. I don't have to be all solemn and serious like I would have to for older kids and adults. I can yell "Okay, guys. I wanna see your very best, super ferocious, lightning speed bear-crawls AAAAALLLLLLL the way across the room. GO BEARS GO!!!" in the dorkiest, most enthusiastic voice, and somehow they still have respect for me. It's awesome.
5. "Teach-uh. I drew this for yooooou." My bedroom door is plastered with little kid drawings given to my sister and I by the Tots.
6. Belt Testing. I do 100% of the stripe and belt testing for my kids. While it's a lot of extra work, I always get to know exactly where each students is in their training, learn their individual strengths and weakness, and give them each the personalized teaching that will help them the most. This also allows me to work the classes around what the kids need at the time as well as get to know my kids better personally, which leads us to point number 7...
7. Tiny Tot Wuv. I only have a little over ten students at a time and get to really know them all. I get to be a friend as well as a teacher. This is also a quirk that qualifies as awesome.
8. Belt Frenzy. For some reason, belts fly off three year olds like cinnamon rolls off a tray at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Most tots lack any ability to tie, adjust, or tighten a karate belt themselves, so after two seconds of running around, the mat is covered in a mess of belts. Rather then constantly be re-tying them, we usually just make a big pile and re-distribute them at the end of class.
9. Owies. Little "owies" are always either one of two things: heartbreaking or dang annoying. Sometimes kids get genuinely hurt and whimper and cry. I don't mind taking time to comfort and care for them. Then, there's the kids that get barely bopped in head and start screaming bloody murder. Three words to describe these incidents: NOT GOOD TIMES.
10. "Did you remember to wash your hands?" It's important to ask every kid this before they return from a potty-break. It's also important to learn how to detect liars.
11. General Little Kid Awesomeness. Kids do and say lots of crazy random cute stuff. Here's an example:

Me: Do we use our karate on our brother or sister if they're making us mad?
Tots In Unison: NO!!
Me: Do we use our karate on a stranger that grabs you?
Tots: YES!!
Me: Do we use our karate on our friends at school?
Tots: NO!!
Me: Do we use our karate when a grown-up touches us in a way we don't want to be touched?
Tots: YES!
Me: Do we use our karate to show-off so our friends think we're soooo cool?
Tots: NO!!
Jesse: YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

12.   Dumbing stuff down. No kid under six is going to understand "Use a full-pivot, ball of the foot roundhouse kick to the floating rib. A shard from a shattered floating rib can puncture a lung and is a devastating attack." Better to ask them to "Do a really big high kick!!" Earlier this week, I forget my bag gloves and broke the skin on my knuckles during kickboxing class. Andrew asked me what was wrong with my hands. Rather than going into a long explanation with lots of detail (Andrew's an inquisitive little guy with lots of questions,) I responded with "This is what happens when you do karate way too hard."

Why Sweat is Both :p and :)

"To call running 'fun' would be a misuse of the word.  Running can be 'enjoyable.'  Running can be 'rejuvenating.'  But in a pure sense of the word, running is not fun."

--Dean Karnazes, author of Ultra Marathon Man

Every once in a while, one will encounter an individual who claims to "love working out." Now I'm not talking about sports, or karate, or fun athletic activities...I'm talking about working out just to be working out. People who claim to "love" working out can only be one of two things: aliens or liars.

Think about it: working out involves doing physical labor that accomplishes no actual task. People run, but not for transportation. People lift heavy weights, but not because they are objects that need to be moved. People jump over obstacles that weren't necessarily in their way, punch objects that don't need to be tenderized, and pedal like maniacs on bicycles that never leave one spot in the gym. Not to mention the pain, the heat, the odors, and that disgusting salty wet stuff that gets all over your body. At face value, working out is somewhat...shall I say...stupid.

So what's the point? I often ask myself that right in the middle of a cardio kickboxing class or while running up a very large hill or during marathon forms. Even today, I was talking with a good friend (and workout-aholic) before our kickboxing class about this same topic. We came to the conclusion that one is seldom in the mood to start working out, and even more rare is the desire to continue working out once the workout has started getting hard. What's so enjoyable, however, is how you feel after the workout is over.

Today it hit me. Your body doesn't grow stronger during your workout..it's after you finish that your body starts to repair itself and grow stronger. That's also the time that feels all tingly and awesome (a.k.a the "Runner's High.") Without that gross painful workout, however, that awesome feeling can never happen. So here's my epiphany for the day:

Dude...life is just like a workout.

Sometimes God makes us do some painful, not-so-fun stuff. He'll send you to a school where you have no friends, introduce you to a boy that'll break your heart, allow you to be fired from your job, etc. He's like a karate instructor forcing you to do thousands upon thousands of roundhouse kicks. That's why a lot of people get ticked off at God...they see only the pain of the moment. The thing is, however, God knows that the only way to get that tingly-good feeling and a nice set of abs is to go through a little pain. He's not trying to punish you, he wants to give you something amazing that can only be achieved through pain; whether that be wisdom, peace, contentment, inner-strength, or some wild blessing beyond anything you've ever imagined.

Do I think working out is "fun?" NO WAY!! Am I thankful for every single workout? Heck YES.

A Rant on "Rankism"

Don't you hate when people think they're better than you? It seems like in every group of people there's always some sort of clique that has this problem. Sergeants think they're better than privates and corporals, cheerleaders think they're better than band geeks, CEO's think they're better than all the lowly corporate underlings below them, etc. Some people just have an inner craving to be superior, and will use any excuse to feel that way. This is especially easy to spot in martial arts because of our rank system. There's a special term a friend and I invented for this special kind of arrogance: "rankism."

The qualifications for a rankist are as follows:

• Especially proud of their belt rank or title
• Bossy towards lower ranks
• An attitude of superiority
• Being a jerk to lower ranks or only wanting to socialize with people of a particular belt color

Basically, these people are the KKK of the dojo.

I know, we're supposed to have a special sort of respect for those who out-rank us. But what some people forget is that there's a special sort of respect for lower ranks too. That's why instructors bow back to students at the beginning and end of every class: respect is supposed to be mutual. It's a rank system...not a caste system. Unfortunately, I've seen my share of brown belts who act like aristocracy. They strut around, telling people what to do all while doing nothing themselves. Shouldn't the highest ranks be working the hardest to set a good example? Shouldn't they be the most disciplined, most respectful, most encouraging and most enthusiastic? While it's important that brown belts lead and instruct, their number one priority should still be self-improvement.

Of course, it's not just brown belts. I've seen rankism at every level...even Tiny Tots. It's a personal issue of the heart; no belt is to blame. I've seen yellow-belted rankists boss around white belts just as I've seen students soar all the way to black belt with enough humility to never be rankist at all. Some just want the feeling of superiority...and any sort of belt advancement will give them an excuse. It's a sinful human desire. Look at Eve: everything about her was perfect, but she was tempted by the possibility of being better. It was arrogance that made her eat that forbidden fruit. That's why martial artists need to be constantly checking their own hearts. With each new belt, the temptation to be vain grows a little stronger.

So if you're a martial artist like me, ask yourself if your rank and skills give you confidence or vanity. There's a difference. If you're confident, you should be selfless: striving to do your personal best while leading and encouraging others. If you're vain, you see no room for improvement in your own training so you spend all your time correcting everyone else. There is nothing more obnoxious than a vain, rankist martial artist.

Last month, I earned my San-Kyu brown belt. As soon as I stepped off that mat as a new brown belt, I swore to myself I'd never be a "brown supremacist." I would treat my purple and green-belted friends exactly the same as I always had, I would teach people the same as I always had, I would be the same exact person in a different color belt. If anything, I would push myself harder to be a better martial artist, instructor, friend, and person. That's my goal, anyway. I'm not very good with self-discipline so I'll end this blog post with one last request; if you EVER see me acting like a rankist...hit me over the head with a nunchuck.

Fairwell, Ben. Enjoy Yellow Land.

Few people know this, but a yellow-belt is a big deal.

Really, every new belt achievement is a big deal, but there's something about a yellow belt that is extra special. Usually it's the first new belt you ever actually earn (white belts are kinda free...you get them for signing up for class,) but for my Tiny Tots, the yellow belt is huge achievement because it means they get to graduate out into the "Big Kid" class.

We have a special rank system just for our 3-6 year old "Tiny Tots" that is basically all the white belt material broken up into four different belts, with some added coordination drills (like balance beam and suction-cup ninja stars.) Depending on the kid, it could take anywhere from a year to three years to go through the entire Tiny Tot system and make it to yellow belt. Some take even longer and end up graduating the class because of age, rather than rank. Needless to say, our yellow belts are just a little extra special.

Yesterday, I awarded a yellow belt to a kid named Ben. This kid wasn't especially athletic or coordinated, but he was one of the best students in my class. He was sweet, obedient, quiet and tough. He did what he was told, listened quietly, didn't play rough and never got upset when things weren't going his way. Just a really great kid. He was also my very first yellow belt. So, while I'm so excited for him to get his belt, move up to Shihan's class, make all new friends and experience "Yellow Land" (as my first instructor, Ik-Kyu Mike always called it,) I'm also sad because he won't be my student anymore. Bittersweet.

My sister (who also teaches alongside me) and I decided to start a new tradition. Everytime a Tiny Tot of ours graduates our class with a yellow belt (rather than graduating because of age) we throw them a little party. We bake a big batch of cinnamon karate cookies for all the kids and give the new yellow belt a homemade card and bag of the cookies to bring home. Nothing huge, just something a little extra special. The kids loved it...and it even inspired some of the other kids to work hard so they could earn their yellow belts too.

I am so lucky to have been chosen to teach this class. I see my other brown-belted friends interact with their mixed-aged students and it's a completely different relationship. They have to be stricter, they don't have to help them as much, and they have to stick to the curriculum. Not me. I get to give piggy-back rides, play dodgeball, build obstacle courses, give hugs, fix owies: the whole sha-bang. Yes, Shihan's absolutely right when he said that the Tiny Tots class is the hardest class to teach. What he failed to tell me, however, is that the hardest part is watching them go.

Drink the Flippin' Milk, Dang it!

  You don't have to be alive very long on this earth to realize that teenagers are the group of humans with the most emotional problems. Despite how incredibly awesome my sister and I get along, we do occasionally have our issues with each other. Unfortunately, this morning was pretty bad. My sister is a perfectionist...and obsessive when it comes to food (she refuses to eat deformed m&m's and picks the nubs off her peanuts.) I, on the other hand, would rather eat something that fell on the floor than waste food. The milk in our fridge was one day expired, leading us into a heated debate over whether it was safe to drink or not (scandalous, I know.)

What I love about our family, however, is that no one holds a grudge for over an hour or so. We both snapped at each other a little, hurt each other's feelings a little, and went into separate rooms for a while. As I stood in my room imagining how long it would take me to move out of the house, it hit me that it would be far cheaper to continuing mooching off my parents for a few more years, and so I should go and apologize to my sister to create a peaceful household again. As soon as I opened the door, there she was, ready to apologize to me. Dang it...she beat me to it. Now she's the good one. To put the icing on the make-up cake, we decided to go out to coffee, just the two of us plus Koti, our mini Australian shepherd. It was amazing how quick we went from snapping at each other to singing along to Justin Bieber (don't judge me) and goofing off in my car. I think God rewards humility. It's so much easier to stay mad, hold grudges, and cling to pride. It always feels awkward being the one to apologize when deep down you feel like it's not your fault. Truth is, everyone's at fault...and when we recognize it's our fault too, God rewards us with peace in our relationships. And coffee...He rewards us with that too.

People say my sister and I never fight. That's not true. All siblings fight...we've just learned the right way to deal with our fights. My sister is an amazingly mature 14-year old...she deserves way more than just a free latte once in a while. It's kinda ironic, now that I think about it...what began with expired milk ended with delicious milky coffee drinks. Wow...God does have a sense of humor.

Hello, New Blog

Okay...so I've never blogged before in my life, but here goes.

I'm an 18 year old San-Kyu brown belt whose life consists of training in martial arts, teaching martial arts, performing martial arts, competing in martial arts, and sleeping.

Alrighty...let's do this. Confession time.

If martial arts has taught me anything, it's this: strength of heart is infinitely more valuable than skill alone. Determination and drive will, in time, lead to an increase of skill, but skill without passion goes nowhere. I've seen so many karate demonstrations where the performers had excellent technique, but looked horrible and boring because they weren't fired up about what they were doing. Why do anything if you're not going to be fired up about it!? Martial arts is liberating and freeing and a way to release all your bottled up emotions...why not kiai at the top of your lungs? I feel the same way about Christianity. Jesus Christ died to save your SOUL. If your life is completely transformed, why limit your expression of your new life to a stupid "I love Jesus" t-shirt and continue acting like your regular old self? I believe in doing things full-hearted. If you're going to climb a mountain, get to the top. If you're going to run a race, reach the finish line. If you're going to be a Christian, be TRANSFORMED into a new creation. If you're going to do karate, scream so the whole world will hear you.