Just A Little Conan Genius

I don't know who's been following The Tonight Show's new host Conan O'Brien. I've been a long-time fan of Conan, and he's freaking hilarious.

Anyway, he's talked a lot about paparazzi in Los Angeles as opposed to in New York and how weird it is. Which is true. How do we even get used to that?

So he has this segment called "Conan's Tabloid Moment" where he essentially makes fun of himself and gets a scandalous photo so that he can sell it to the tabloids and keep the money. I guess I just admire anyone who makes fun of celebrity popularity and what not.

Here's his submission:

You should watch The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien. It's funny.

Done!

I'm actually done.

I finished Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy!

I really did it. It only took me about a year.

Now if you'll excuse me, my brain will be exploding shortly.

Some Quotes

Some quotes I found.

"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom." - Bertrand Russell

"What worries you masters you." - Haddon W. Robinson

"Oh do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be strong men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work will be no miracle; but you shall be the miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God." - Phillips Brooks

Secret's Out

So I've actually begun to start a new blog.

I'll probably continue to use both. But I wanted to try out Wordpress and see how I liked it.

Warning: it's edgy. Well, sort of.

Click.

Let me know what you think.

Coincidence?

So I may or may not have started the thunder storm today.

Okay. I probably didn't.

I was watching this video called The Book of Mormon Vs. the Bible. You can guess what it's about. I'm no spoiler.

Anyway, I'm watching the video, and right at the end, they're summarizing everything and begin talking about how the Book of Mormon could be the most deceptive piece of literature in human history (you know, with big scary language), and all of a sudden, this storm comes from out of nowhere.

And I'm not talking some lame rainfall. I'm talking crazy, loud, wild thunder and lightning. The loudest thunder I've heard in quite a while.

I'm not saying I caused the thunder. I'm just sayin'...

House Genius

Good quote from House (the tv show):

Almost dying changes nothing. Dying changes everything

Think about it.

James - Day 6

Know this, my beloved brothers: let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger...

This is where James starts in. We've seen the return to Eden. We know where this is going. We're learning how to be the firstfruits of God's creatures.

This passage (ch. 1, vv. 19-27) was really hard for me to put together at first. But then I made the connection. He refers to each of these three areas (hear, speak, anger) but in a strange order. To be honest, I don't know what the reason is. Maybe we'll find out later. Anyway, he first discusses anger, then hearing, and then speaking.

...for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul.

Okay. So anger isn't helpful in learning to be the firstfruits of God's creatures. Specifically, it doesn't help produce dikaiosune. Dallas Willard describes this "righteousness" as "true inner goodness." God wants this goodness for us. And anger doesn't help us get there. So James makes a suggestion: do away with anger. But not just anger: all the wickedness and filth that goes along with it. And as you remove that... stuff, receive the word. Logos.

But he calls it the implanted word. Implanted? As if it belonged to someone else and it was given to us in order to save us? Sure enough - to save our soul. This word can save us. This truth can save us. And the Greek suggests that it will in fact save us from our sin. Another important observation is that if the word is implanted, that means that we didn't have it before. In other words, someone gave us this truth so that we may live. Powerful stuff. Anger moves us away from that life. Slow to anger is the key.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Off to hearing. Quick to hearing is the advice James gives us. Why? Well, the key is more than just hearing. You guessed it: doing. But obviously, you have to hear before you can ever do. Luckily, these verses are straightforward. It's stupid to listen and not do. So do truth. Hear it. Learn it. Do it. You'll be blessed.

By the way, law of liberty? Gotta love that phrase! So perfect. The truth was implanted so we can live. The law was given so we can have liberty.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Slow to speak. The last part James goes into.

The word for religious (threskos) has one and only one appearance in the entire Bible: here. That's not the point. It's just interesting.

The point is this. James is telling his audience: you want good, outward, ceremonial, religious appearance, watch your tongue. Think about what you say.

James adds one last bit on this "religious" topic. And it may or may not come up again. But it closes up chapter one, and I think it's just an interesting statement to conclude with.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

I don't think James is telling his audience that they should do this. I actually think it is closer to being advice for the Pharisees who were all about appearances. Interesting. I like James more and more each verse.