Good vs. Evil

I am in the middle of a chapter (whose reading is long overdue, ah, the life of a college student) of my sociology book about politics. There is a section on War and Dehumanization. It has discussed how a man can torture another and has brought it down to a level of good vs. evil.

"As sociologist Tamotsu Shibutani (1970) stressed, dehumanization is aided by the tendency for prolonged conflicts to be transformed into a struggle between good and evil. The enemy, of course, represents evil in the equation. [. . .] The thinking goes like this: To defeat absolute evil requires the suspension of moral standards--for we are fighting for the precarious survival of good."

I was struck by the idea of the "survival of good" as if it could be destroyed. Of course, I, without realizing, equate good with the ultimate good that is God. I think our thinking has been tainted by this in some way. It's weird to think about this idea because it has such implications. Is good a position or is it state of being or is it a being? What is good? Evil has been purported to be easily defined as the absence of good. I think until an adequate understanding of good is established we cannot define evil. This is where I have run out of smart words and am simply questioning...thinking...pursuing the truth that I know with all of my being has its source in my God. Perhaps in the months or years to come I'll have a few more words on this rather important question...

Stewardship

I think I know up here (points to head) what stewardship means and how it includes not just finances but also intellect and emotions and dreams and plans and whatever else we usually consider ours. I am looking down a path wanting wear that seems to lead to the understanding of what it means here (hand over heart), with these (opens hands), and with these (points to feet and thinks how they symbolize all his dreams of where they will take him as they follow his Dreamweaver). I really think I am walking in the right direction. This whole college thing was a drag in the dreams of my high school days (thinks yep, Zach Davy helped perpetuate those, but not in a bad way), but now....I wouldn't trade the hope I have for the future for anything. I am in the top nth percent of people in the entire world when it comes to opportunity and potential. I have almost everything going for me. My dad used to tell me that I could become whatever I wanted (thinks: ironically the next thing he said was always "doctor"). I believe God created me with the abilities to do almost anything; however, I think He didn't create me to do just anything or everything. He created me with specific things in mind I think. I believe that my being the best steward that I know how to be with these gifts as I follow Him is the best way to allow Him to fulfill His purposes in creating me and find..well..fulfilment. The best part is being able to do all of this WITH the creator of the Universe. I mean He named all of the stinkin stars! He created the amazing ways in which matter interacts that Chemistry explains in part. His passion is unequaled even in the killing field of Rwanda. I guess I'm just excited about what lies ahead.

On Faith and Love

I am convinced of only one thing when it comes to what is commonly referred to as love: I am ignorant. How it intermingles and dances with our faith and relationship with Christ, I seem to be totally oblivious. I once thought I knew what it meant and how it was supposed to be tied to my life. I now only wish to understand to the fullest extent the lies that I myself have built up as truth in my heart. In reality this is much more about understanding who I am and what I really believe. At least, it is at this point in time. This is the first step. Perhaps one day, I will look back and see a path that God led me down that leads to the place of understanding and wisdom that I am looking for in my present. For now, Jesus must be my guide to understanding Him and me in clarity, honesty, and truth.

Well now, let us see where to begin.

I have no idea what it means to be a blogger. I have, however, have been having an overflow of God-thoughts and dreams. I guess, time will tell if I am able to transfer them from the conversations of my life to the pages of this blog.