Thoughts
An Editorial Page From Mark
2-18-99
So I am sitting in my missions class here at Lincoln Christian College, when suddenly I here someone speak and my brain pauses. Ok, some context: There is a guest lecturer in class who specializes in evangelism to Muslims. He asks the class what we think of when we hear the word "Muslim." He was looking to make the point that we as Americans have and incorrect stereotypical view of Muslims. That didn't bother me. It was the first response that still bugs me. A woman in the front row raised her hand after the class had been silent. When called upon she simply said, "uugh." Typed letters can't explain it but it was a grunt that I can still hear. It didn't hit me right then, it had to sink in for a day or two. The absolute ingnorance of that statement. At the mention of a member of another religion, this woman emitted a groan of disgust. WHAT!?!?! How could a person (a Christian) be so ignorant as to have a sense of digust for a member of the Islam religion. It still boggles my mind. It litterally hurts to think about sometimes. I want anyone's responses to this situation if you feel so inclined to email them to me, or post them on the message board, I don't really care. I need to see if other feel the same way, and when my thoughts clear I may post more on this subject.
2-25-00
I was debating whether to put this on this page, or the quotes page because it is actually taken from someone else. It is the world's shortest three point sermon as given by Tony Campoulo (I may have mispelled his last name, I am not sure). It goes something like this...
Point A-There are 3.4 billion lost people in the world.
Point B-Most of you don't give a damn.
Point C-There are more people upset about me just saying "damn," than there are about 3.4 billion lost people.
2-29-00
So I was standing back and taking a good look at my own page and I noticed just how much violence is on it. Sooo much violence. This was somewhat brought about by a post made on my message board by good friend of mine. So I got to thinking about just how violent a society I was bred in. I grew up romanticizing violence through G. I. Joes (American propaganda at it's finest) and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (characters most obviously created by a couple of guys on crack). Now the fact that I have noticed the violent society I was raised in doesn't mean I am going to shun it. I am usually the type of person to do that. I have accepted my heritage of violence, and I embrace it whole-heartedly. Violence is just as big a part of my make up as is good old American capitalism. By accepting my violent upbringing I am in no way condoning the upbringing of another generation in such a way. On the other hand the lazy, American, work for me side has about zero motivation to do anything about it. This is the paradox of my existance; constantly noticing things that need to change, but not having the individual will power and motivation to truly try and do anything about it. Now, again, do not think that I blame everything on the system that raised me (though it has a large part to do with it), I accept equal blame for the downfall of my social motivation mindset. I am a lazy person. I could have done a lot better in school if I really wanted to, but I was fine with whatever I could get without trying very hard. The object of school was to get through it right. Again this brings up another paradox in my life. I am not happy with being happy with mediocrity. Sound crazy...it probably is, cuz I am absolutely insane.
5-4-00
I wrote this awhile ago......actually is was in January.
Blue Hair & Bondage Pants,
Abercrombie & Fitch
Why does it matter?
The things that we see
The things we judge
Why is sight the first
we use?
The clothes we wear,
The color we are!
Neither matter
What's in your heart?
What do you think?
What do you feel?
Wear what you want.
Appearence matters!?!
Not to God...Not to me!!
Appearence matters?
Let me be!!