Walls

     Trust is a major issue with most people (me included.) Some trust more easily than others. The less we trust someone, the more walls we put up.

     In returning to the purpose of this blog, let me pose this question. What would it look like if our walls were visible constructs? I have to admit that I might, at times, look like a walking mountain. I have been burned too many times in the past.

     The problem is that those walls we put up make it hard for people to get to know us. Thanks to my walls, most people can expect common courtesy and small talk. If you've burned me, it's even harder to reach me.

      What we need is a reset button. I think that is what forgiveness is supposed to achieve. If someone hurts you, forgive them and start over. I know, it's easier said than done. Just remember, we rebelled against God and he made the ultimate sacrifice to help us find forgiveness.

My Five: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

     Mozart is perhaps the most human of the five men in this series. He possessed a capacity for crude humor. His genius often made him arrogant and unforgiving. His father's influence might have led to a somewhat spoiled nature.

     Still, the Catholic faith of his family remained strong in him even until death. The world of the Enlightenment ran counter to those beliefs. He could have abandoned his faith and given himself fully to the "rational" skepticism that was popular. He could have chosen to stubbornly hold to the Catholic traditions. Instead, he chose to search for a happy medium.

     The Enlightenment was begun in answer to the corruption inherent both in the aristocracy and the church. The Napoleonic Wars was the messy result. While Mozart's family shared a distrust for the corrupt officials, they still held to the truths of the scriptures. Mozart's dalliance with Freemasonry was the result of this dichotomy.

     There are two conversations I would like to have with him. One would entail his opinion on the evolution of music since his death. The other would involve his actual beliefs. I'm quite sure that Paul would be a large part of that little talk.

     Those are my five. I welcome feedback on this series.

My Five: Coach Thomas Wade Landry

     Tom Landry was known for his hat and his cool demeanor on the field. It was his faith, however, that drove him. While he suffered occasional setbacks in his career, he never let them get the best of him. Like many in his generation, he believed in the importance of discipline. He also believed that the quality of ones life should be measured by ones pursuit of excellence. His faith in Jesus only enhanced these beliefs.

     I will confess that his commitment is very humbling for me. My pride and occasional arrogance weigh me down in the race that the Apostle Paul talks about. Coach Landry had the discipline to drop those kind of burdens. I pray that God will help me overcome my weakness in the area of discipline.

     I love watching football. I think it would be an absolute joy to watch a football game from today with Coach and get his take on things.

     My last post in this series will be about the greatest composer that ever lived.

My Five: President Ronald Reagan

     "All the way to the hangar." This quote by Reagan pretty much sums up his approach to every situation he faced in his life. His efforts to be a standout on the football team at his alma mater reflect this. As do his later efforts in the radio and film industries. Of course, his political career was the ultimate example of his stubborn resolve.

     His political beliefs were shaped by the lessons he learned along the way. He and his family learned a lot about survival during hard times. Especially during the Great Depression. The most important lesson he learned was the power of the human spirit. Individuals need the freedom to forge their own destiny through their own ingenuity. Freedom from bureaucratic restrictions.

     He also gained a heightened appreciation for democracy while he was in Hollywood. There was an attempt by Communists to gain control of Hollywood. It frightened everyone and even set off a witch hunt that ruined many innocent reputations. As a result, Reagan had a lifelong hatred for Communism and other similar forms of government (Islamic extremism).

     Reagan's two greatest assets were his communication skills and his optimism. Despite opposition from Democrats, Extreme right-wingers, unscrupulous media, and unfriendly countries, Reagan managed to turn our country around in his eight years as president. His efforts led to the eventual improvement of our economy and the end of the Cold War.

     I am of the opinion that our current political system is broken. I would love to hear his views about where we are and how we could dig ourselves out.

     Watch for my next blog about Tom Landry!

My Five: Clive Staples Lewis

     Clive Staples Lewis was a man shaped by tragic experience, vivid imagination, and influential loved ones. In his mind, life was a series of moments that either produced a kind of pain or a kind of joy. His imaginary experiences usually produced joy and were deemed a necessary part of life.

     Though he was a professor by occupation, he regarded himself as a lifelong student. He learned as much from his pupils and fellow teachers as they learned from him. While he had clearly defined convictions and prejudices, he always attempted to maintain an open mind. Argument was the true teacher.

     Of course, he is mainly known for his books. Writing for him was therapeutic and even spiritually transformative. The three main themes in his body of work are literary criticism, myth, and Christianity. The books that involve literary criticism are highly regarded to this day. As for the Christian themes, they show a remarkable grasp for apologetics.

     I would let Paul deal with Lewis in the area of theology. I’d be more interested in picking his brain about writing. I think it would be both enjoyable and instructive.

    Watch for my next blog about Ronald Reagan!

My Five: The Apostle Paul

     He was born with the Jewish name of Saul in the city of Tarsus. His father had been granted Roman citizenship and passed that along to his family. Thus, Saul was given the Roman name of Paulus as well. Despite this, Saul was raised by extremely devout parents. He learned the trade of tentmaking, but was sent to learn at the feet of the famous rabbi and Pharisee, Gamaliel. Saul would go to complete his education and become a member of the Sanhedrin. When the "false doctrine" known as "The Way" began to spread, Saul immediately set out to stamp it from existence. Thgis persecution was halted by a life-altering appearance by Jesus. Having been blinded and chastised, Saul somehow made his way to Damascus where he was told to wait for a man named Ananias. Reluctant, at first, Ananias followed the instructions of Jesus. Saul was healed and fully converted to "The Way". He would go on to spread the good news of this doctrine which would eventually be called Christianity. He used his Roman name to gain introductions to Gentile cities and to petition roman authorities when he was arrested. He was even more zealous for Jesus than he had been for Judaism. He endured imprisonment, slander, beatings, stonings, and eventually was martyred.
      I choose Paul because he is probably the greatest Christian who has ever lived. I would like to pick his brain about some of the more obscure points of theology. He wrote most of the New Testament and worked with most of the authors. He knew and understood the Old Testament about as well as anyone. As for what little of the New Testament he was unfamiliar with, I should think he'd still have valuable insights.
      I expect that his interest in me and the other guests would consist of two parts. What do we believe and why.
      My next post will be on author, philosopher, and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis.

My Five: The Preface

     There are five people from history (recent or long past) that each of us would like to share dinner. the next few posts will cover my five people. I wanted to start off by saying why Jesus is not one of my five.
     First of all, God's word says that when two or more are gathered in my (Jesus) name I will be there also. Each of my five counts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. So Jesus is effectively there already.
     My other point is that if Jesus was one of the five the other four would be unnecessary. The whole dinner would be focused on our worship of Jesus. There's nothing wrong with that, but it does supercede the original purpose of the dinner.
     Make no mistake. Our faith would be an important topic at the table. It just wouldn't be the only one we covered. That said, I hope you will continue to read these next few posts and consider who your five would be.