One person's world is tearing apart
One person's life is about to start
In the life of the great and fallen
Lord God, You alone are sovereign
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Do you ever write something, forget that you wrote it, read it later and then feel like a genius?
Well I wrote something down and I can't figure out if this is my thought or a quote from someone else...I googled it and nothing came up so maybe I did...anyhow...here it is:
It seems to me that other than Jesus, there is nothing like pain that brings us closer to the Father, and flowers compassion in our hearts.
regardless of the writer, in my experience, I have found this to be true.
-James
Well I wrote something down and I can't figure out if this is my thought or a quote from someone else...I googled it and nothing came up so maybe I did...anyhow...here it is:
It seems to me that other than Jesus, there is nothing like pain that brings us closer to the Father, and flowers compassion in our hearts.
regardless of the writer, in my experience, I have found this to be true.
-James
Friday, January 29, 2010
Twilight
Twilight…there is obviously something explosive about it. There are scores of of statistics that I could post, but I think the more powerful testament to it's infection of our culture is probably someone you know...or maybe even you. We all know someone who has at least read, if not obsessed over, the book and the characters. However, the fans are not what I'm pondering here so much as the first book and it's substance. (was that the word "substance" in reference to Twilight? *gasp*)
Ever since the book came about (I was actually aware of and familiar with the story about a year before it exploded) I have often wondered what qualities the book possessed to captivate not only younger teens, but grown women as well. Over the years I have had discussions with fans, read reviews, and yes, even read portions of the book. The following are themes that I have picked up during this time. My goal in this post is to highlight a few things from the book and then talk about it. Nothing extravagant.
Of the many enigmas I stumbled across in the Twilight franchise, perhaps the most surprising to me was that it not only has appealed to younger ladies, but older ones as well. One of the series' most avid fan sites is twilightmoms.com. It was created by and for grown women, many with families of their own. Here's a quote from one of the "twilight moms"
"Twilight makes me feel like there may be a perfect world where a perfect man does exist. Where love can overcome everything. Where we can live forever with the person we love."
This brings me to the most intriguing (for me at least) part of the Twilight saga. Edward.
Just mentioning his name makes boyfriends across the nation groan. This glittery 106 year old teenager has been every dudes bane since the proliferation of Twilight. Yet I don't think it was his sparkles or very old age that captured the heart of so many readers. Edward is described in the book as being charming, polite, determined, and…very good looking. He loves Bella and considers her safety and well being his top priority in life. Bella, who has a few family issues, is welcomed not only by Edward but his family as well…oh…and he's a vampire…the vegetarian type.
Stephanie Meyers (author) often details Edward's qualities, and doesn't seem to mind bringing them up multiple times. Instead of growing or expanding the world around Bella, Meyers seems to retract into a single point: the experience of being loved by Edward Cullen. Yet for all the hypnotic repetition the story gives Edward and his faaaabulous ssskin, He is not the primary character…that position belongs to Bella.
The whole story is told from the view of Bella Swan. She's our "point of view" character, the one with whom readers have gone on the emotional journey which they described with words like "obsession" and "addiction".
So the question becomes: is this purely a feminine fantasy or is something else being imaged here? As much as I dislike Twilight it asks vital questions like does a perfect love exist? Do we need someone who intervenes and saves us from death? Do we as a people find ourselves enamored with stories where we are chosen, loved unconditionally, adopted into a family, loved into eternal life? Do we often need to find our identity in something greater than ourselves? These concepts aren't just fantasy, for the Christian, but reality in our relationship with God. These ideas: being more than human, never leaving (nor forsaking) and a wild, untamed love are constructs of a Christ-like allegory. There is of course one problem. Edward is a fictional character that can ultimately do nothing for the reader.
After reading the book, one Twilight fan comments, "I have no desires to be part of the real world now. Nothing I was doing before holds any interest to me. I do what I have to do, what I need to do to
get by and that's it. Someone please tell me it will ease up - even if just a little. My entire world is consumed and in a tail spin."
It seems to me that ladies across the nation have found a fictional outline of what their soul is longing for, but despair because they know not of any corresponding individual in reality. As old as the human race is and for all the advances we've made with feminism, there is this core in the readers that want to be the object of affection and to be loved by someone who is perfect. They want a love that can last forever and overcome everything. I think there's something in women irregardless of creed or belief that actually responds to the undercurrent of this narrative because it rings with a Truth. The Truth that Jesus Christ is the immortal, supernatural, unending, ever present, lover and guardian of our souls.
-James
p.s.
I couldn't resist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFSn5rs70Rc&feature=player_embedded
Ever since the book came about (I was actually aware of and familiar with the story about a year before it exploded) I have often wondered what qualities the book possessed to captivate not only younger teens, but grown women as well. Over the years I have had discussions with fans, read reviews, and yes, even read portions of the book. The following are themes that I have picked up during this time. My goal in this post is to highlight a few things from the book and then talk about it. Nothing extravagant.
Of the many enigmas I stumbled across in the Twilight franchise, perhaps the most surprising to me was that it not only has appealed to younger ladies, but older ones as well. One of the series' most avid fan sites is twilightmoms.com. It was created by and for grown women, many with families of their own. Here's a quote from one of the "twilight moms"
"Twilight makes me feel like there may be a perfect world where a perfect man does exist. Where love can overcome everything. Where we can live forever with the person we love."
This brings me to the most intriguing (for me at least) part of the Twilight saga. Edward.
Just mentioning his name makes boyfriends across the nation groan. This glittery 106 year old teenager has been every dudes bane since the proliferation of Twilight. Yet I don't think it was his sparkles or very old age that captured the heart of so many readers. Edward is described in the book as being charming, polite, determined, and…very good looking. He loves Bella and considers her safety and well being his top priority in life. Bella, who has a few family issues, is welcomed not only by Edward but his family as well…oh…and he's a vampire…the vegetarian type.
Stephanie Meyers (author) often details Edward's qualities, and doesn't seem to mind bringing them up multiple times. Instead of growing or expanding the world around Bella, Meyers seems to retract into a single point: the experience of being loved by Edward Cullen. Yet for all the hypnotic repetition the story gives Edward and his faaaabulous ssskin, He is not the primary character…that position belongs to Bella.
The whole story is told from the view of Bella Swan. She's our "point of view" character, the one with whom readers have gone on the emotional journey which they described with words like "obsession" and "addiction".
So the question becomes: is this purely a feminine fantasy or is something else being imaged here? As much as I dislike Twilight it asks vital questions like does a perfect love exist? Do we need someone who intervenes and saves us from death? Do we as a people find ourselves enamored with stories where we are chosen, loved unconditionally, adopted into a family, loved into eternal life? Do we often need to find our identity in something greater than ourselves? These concepts aren't just fantasy, for the Christian, but reality in our relationship with God. These ideas: being more than human, never leaving (nor forsaking) and a wild, untamed love are constructs of a Christ-like allegory. There is of course one problem. Edward is a fictional character that can ultimately do nothing for the reader.
After reading the book, one Twilight fan comments, "I have no desires to be part of the real world now. Nothing I was doing before holds any interest to me. I do what I have to do, what I need to do to
get by and that's it. Someone please tell me it will ease up - even if just a little. My entire world is consumed and in a tail spin."
It seems to me that ladies across the nation have found a fictional outline of what their soul is longing for, but despair because they know not of any corresponding individual in reality. As old as the human race is and for all the advances we've made with feminism, there is this core in the readers that want to be the object of affection and to be loved by someone who is perfect. They want a love that can last forever and overcome everything. I think there's something in women irregardless of creed or belief that actually responds to the undercurrent of this narrative because it rings with a Truth. The Truth that Jesus Christ is the immortal, supernatural, unending, ever present, lover and guardian of our souls.
-James
p.s.
I couldn't resist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFSn5rs70Rc&feature=player_embedded
Monday, December 28, 2009
We cultivate what we celebrate.
Christmas 09 was a little different for my family. For a variety of reasons we decided to have our family Christmas one day late. This is actually not uncommon in the Legg household. We did the same thing with Thanksgiving this year and Christmas last year. We don't care so much about the date, just as long as the family is together.
As some of you may know My Grandmother past away this past Saturday (26th). There are many details to the story that I could go into, but I think it sufficient to say that the day did not turn out as we had expected. Since then, many different people in various ways have commented about the timing of her passing (being so close to Christmas). These are my thoughts on the matter:
Yes, the timing was inconvenient, but a loved one's passing always is. For me, it has actually not ruined Christmas in the slightest. Do not get me wrong, it is NOT because I didn't love my Grandmother. She lived in our house for all of my childhood and much of my high school years. I have many precious memories of her. I AM grieving the loss. The reason why Christmas has not been affected is because of what I celebrate at Christmas.
If I celebrate comfort at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because life is been incredibly hectic the past few days.
If I celebrate gifts at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because the gift of a loved one was snatched away Christmas day.
If I celebrate the family coming together at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because my family is now one member less.
Yet if I celebrate God becoming a man to save a broken world and give us eternal life with Him, then Christmas is NOT ruined because the reality of the gospel is STILL TRUE! If anything the death in the family fuels the intensity with which I celebrate Christmas. Weeping, yes, but still thankful for a God that is WITH us in our time of trouble. Thankful for a God that saved my grandmother, who gave His spirit to my grandmother, who comforted my grandmother, and has now brought my grandmother home. All of which would have been IMPOSSIBLE had Jesus not come as a man and died on a cross! Without Christmas there would be no hope for my grandmother, but because of Christmas we have hope, joy, love, salvation, eternal security! Grieving...yes, but not grieving as those who do not have hope.
So you see Christmas is not ruined because we don't celebrate gifts, rest, or family. We celebrate Jesus...and Jesus was, is, and always will be...here with us...Emmanuel.
-James
As some of you may know My Grandmother past away this past Saturday (26th). There are many details to the story that I could go into, but I think it sufficient to say that the day did not turn out as we had expected. Since then, many different people in various ways have commented about the timing of her passing (being so close to Christmas). These are my thoughts on the matter:
Yes, the timing was inconvenient, but a loved one's passing always is. For me, it has actually not ruined Christmas in the slightest. Do not get me wrong, it is NOT because I didn't love my Grandmother. She lived in our house for all of my childhood and much of my high school years. I have many precious memories of her. I AM grieving the loss. The reason why Christmas has not been affected is because of what I celebrate at Christmas.
If I celebrate comfort at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because life is been incredibly hectic the past few days.
If I celebrate gifts at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because the gift of a loved one was snatched away Christmas day.
If I celebrate the family coming together at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because my family is now one member less.
Yet if I celebrate God becoming a man to save a broken world and give us eternal life with Him, then Christmas is NOT ruined because the reality of the gospel is STILL TRUE! If anything the death in the family fuels the intensity with which I celebrate Christmas. Weeping, yes, but still thankful for a God that is WITH us in our time of trouble. Thankful for a God that saved my grandmother, who gave His spirit to my grandmother, who comforted my grandmother, and has now brought my grandmother home. All of which would have been IMPOSSIBLE had Jesus not come as a man and died on a cross! Without Christmas there would be no hope for my grandmother, but because of Christmas we have hope, joy, love, salvation, eternal security! Grieving...yes, but not grieving as those who do not have hope.
So you see Christmas is not ruined because we don't celebrate gifts, rest, or family. We celebrate Jesus...and Jesus was, is, and always will be...here with us...Emmanuel.
-James
Friday, November 13, 2009
Father
I made the terrible discovery that most men make about their fathers sooner or later...that the man before him was not an aging father but a boy, a boy much like himself, a boy who grew up and had a child of his own and, as best he could, out of a sense of duty and love, adopted a role called being a father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a protector who would keep a lid on all the chaotic and catastrophic possibilities of life. A champion. -Tom Wolfe
Needless to say...I love my father.
-James
Needless to say...I love my father.
-James
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
"...His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you ma...y be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the depravity that is in the world through lust."
-James
-James
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