Kyle Gebhart

 A Question of Conscience.

I’ve got a comment and I’ve got a question. Comment first.

The comment: In our poetry writer’s group tonight we looked at a poet, by a poet who is definitely not a Christian – yet my conscience is clear reading her work. Her themes aren’t explicitly anti-God (yes…theologians…I know that unredeemed people and ideas are all anti-God…but track with me for a minute). I mostly brought the poem to look at a few techniques, the general literary strength of the poem, and to examine the fact that her theme (introspective and personal) was something to actually be avoided in our poetry.

That said: My position is that the form of writing is such that it makes it easy to filter through falsehoods and resist ideas that are contrary to our established values. If we are aware of our values we can spit out the bones. Whether I read something depends upon my personal conscience. I feel that this is a secure, biblical stance. I would not approve all of the aforementioned author’s poetry b/c I haven’t read it all – but don’t feel conviction in reading it, nor examining it for learning practicals of construction related to form in poetry.

The question: It is a question “literally” of conscience – meaning:  If I could speak to that general thing referred to as conscience in the Bible, to whom would I be speaking? The key verse, one which is both well-beloved and much misused is Paul’s famous remark that: all things are acceptable but not all are beneficial. My understanding is that conscience is that power of reason within our soul, in agreement with the Spirit that determines whether something is acceptable and beneficial.

A key premise: I think music and film are in a different category than writing related to the conscience. Music and film are experientially immersive, writing is not. The mediums of film and music require that you submit to the entire product – you cannot sample ‘bites’ and be said to have ‘listened to’ or ‘watched’ a song or movie. You can sample writing.

Another supposition: We all know that it easy to disagree with a writer. We can comment on their blog, write in the margin, or simply skip a section or take our handy Sharpie and do a little ‘edit.’ We filter writing, we cannot (easily) filter film or music.

My question to you: Does my stance on writing and definition of conscience fit within Paul’s biblical framework of acceptable and beneficial? I believe it does. I believe to resist (in an absolute sense) non-Christian writing would be akin to refusing to receive healthcare from an non-Christian doctor or enter a building designed by a non-Christian architect, or eat food prepared a non-Christian chef, etc, etc. I believe it is the ideas of the author which threaten to corrupt, not the poem, article, or screenplay. When examined critically we can learn about the skill of writing from non-Christian sources.

A framework for disagreement: If you disagree, please comment; but I’d like you to do so acknowledging two key premises. 1) Not all literature labeled as Christian, sold at Christian bookstores, or marketed as Christian is edifying, biblical, or beneficial. 2) If we apply a high-degree of intensity to ‘sorting out’ which writing is acceptable and beneficial we must not limit it to certain formats (i.e. poetry or fiction) but apply it any form of writing which transmits ideas (periodicals, non-fiction, news, and commentaries).

Bret was bugging me - in the best sense of that word - and asked why I don’t post.

 I don’t know the answer to that question, but I said something about it not being my preferred format…blah…blah.

 Then I logged in last night and discovered that people still look at my blog - and that jenny powell did a whole schpeel (sp?) on how I’m cool and people should check out my blog. So…

 A quick announcement: I am starting a second ‘writer’s group’ dedicated to prose. The Friday night group will continue and be poetry only/(mostly). Details will soon follow on meeting time/place for the mid-week prose group. If the word prose is tripping you up, click on the link.

 Peace.

I’m currently sitting in Mike and Tina Wurschmidt’s house, we are cooking out and things are getting a little surreal.  I’ve been awake for over 28 hours and counting.

 The beginnings of a support raising trip, starting with switching over to a daytime schedule so I can have meetings.  Did I mention things are surreal right now?  I’m in the middle of the Shepherd’s Heart Community and I just shared the excitement of the Borgious Pig….

 (TWO DAYS LATER)

I finally got to bed at 8PM that day. It’s now Sunday and the Wurschmidt clan (the folks who lead Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship) are all in town for Joel Wurschmidt’s graduation later today. Earlier in the week Tina indicated that since Joel is a “W” in a class of over 200 it could be a very LOOOONG graduation ceremony. I’m thrilled to be here to celebrate Joel but do not relish the idea of watching a slow procession of hundreds of unknown names and faces across the stage.

I’ll keep everyone updated on my continued journeys here in Pittsburgh over the next week.

There is a thoughtful (if i do say so myself) series coming on what it means to be ‘in the club.’ Ask Jared about the club. He’ll know what your talking about - and if he doesn’t tell him I told you to ask. And if not then, well, tell him we talked about it at the House of Pancakes one day.

there’s just something about a man who loves a cat.

my dad is a cat person - really my whole family - we owned one dog growing up (a rather sad little terrier named maggie who obsessively licked ‘hot spots’ on her butt until they were raw). we owned between twelve and fifteen cats. I can’t even remember their names, but this isn’t about all of our cats growing up - its about a man.

seeing a man enjoy and care for a cat reveals much about their nature. it is not the sort of thing that happens in public. this is because cats (all creatures in fact) respond positively to kindness and gentleness. these traits are in short abundance on the earth.

seeing my father, for example, care for little tiggy (one of the best loved and eldest of our house cats over the years) gives me a window into his desire to serve and love. when tiggy was put to sleep several months ago, he lost a faithful friend. the reason he had a faithful friend was simple: he earned the friendship by serving the creature.

i’ve often heard people describe their distaste for cats. i respect that. some like pepsi, some like coke, etc. preference is part of what makes us human. people say cats are selfish, uncontrollable, you can’t teach them tricks, they are independant. these are all true statements about cats. what i rarely hear people note is that each of these traits (except maybe teaching tricks) is also true of humans.

that’s why a man loving a cat tells me something. it means he’s capable of patiently tending to the needs of a creature that is inconsistant, independant, self-serving, etc. having a cat at home takes character, time, long-suffering, servanthood. i’ll say it again:

there’s just something about a man who loves a cat.

Intercession is real.  It is more real than voting, politics, or public policy. 

Recently, I’ve been reading up on a lot of foreign policy books (mostly related to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the last 50 years or so).  What I’ve realized is that though people spend their entire lives trying to figure out nations, government, and ways of acheiving peace and safety - the people in charge are really just guessing.

 You can’t predict the rise of al-Queda - you can’t forsee 9/11 - you can only ‘push and pull’ other nations back and forth with economic sanctions, covert ops, and the threat of military invasion.  Every situation is ‘win-lose’.  The strong prevail over the weak.  There is no justice in international affairs.

So, who is really calling the shots?  People like Daniel - those who stare into eternity.  Those like the apostle John who are invited into the counsel of the Lord.

I’m learning to pray for my enemies:  Mahmoud Ahmidinajad and Kim Jong-il.  I’m asking that God would raise up prophets who would speak the word that would break the back of the strongholds destroying their people and blinding them to truth.

I’m also praying for the leaders in this nation.  We need grace.

But the good news is that we can shift nations.  We can bring (in a limited sense)  justice to bear and haste the coming of the one who will finally rule with true justice.  We are doing the most significant work in the earth.  Prayer is the center.  We are changing nations.

Go to his site and plunder him with comments!

Got into a lively debate/conversation with a dear (female) friend of mine yesterday over questions of dating in our sphere around here. Basically, I mentioned that I feel many people (usually on the female side of things) get a little too intense about dating a little too quickly - and that ‘lightening’ up a little would make life a more enjoyable for all.

She begged to differ on several of my points, but I feel we came to some consensus on a few things that may be helpful for the singles out there reading this. Though I’m intensely opposed to imposing ‘rules’ for relationships and dating (never a helpful solution when dealing with the mystery of a man and a maiden, see Proverbs 30:18-19) here are our conclusions.

• Burn your lists: Whatever little ‘list’ you have of the perfect mate - yeah, that one tucked away in a journal, scrawled somewhere away from prying eyes - pull it out and burn it…or shred it…why? Because it is fantasy. It’s birthed outside of reality and far afield from the bumps and bruises of actual relationships. I’m not saying you can’t have a few qualities you prefer (I’d say…two outside of them being saved and fiery for God).

• Let Friendship Lead You: Put yourself in contexts where friendship can emerge - ways to serve so you get to know that special someone. Instead of building a ‘romantic fantasy’ apart from community, create a friendship within the community. Pray together, work together, serve together. Have a relationship that can weather the mundane and isn’t an attempt to replay some lame romantic comedy.

• Men- GET CREATIVE: C’mon dudes. Yes, you asked like, six girls out for ‘coffee’ and they all said no. Maybe that’s because coffee is kind of…well, BORING! Try thinking outside the box. Have a barbecue at the park and invite 15 people (including the only one you really care if they show up). Plan a day trip to St. Louis with yourself and three or four of your ‘friends’. Create a fun, safe, context where you can get to know her.

• Women - CHILL OUT: You don’t really need to know if he is the “one” after the first time you hang out with him. Get your friends opinions, give him a second chance if he was bumbling and awkward before the stunning beauty that stood before him. And hey, every now and then - go out for coffee with someone.

That’s my story. Thoughts?

Should I Switch to WordPress? Convince Me.

My only reasons for not switching were 1) it involves a slight amount of work 2) Randy was on blogger…alas, now that he’s not blogging anymore - that reason is lost.

So - I’ll leave it up to my adoring public.

My fate is in your hands.

Chinese scientists, those tricky guys have made it possible to control pigeons flight via remote control.  Check it out.

More and more I’m convinced, the end is near.

How long until these are available for Christmas on the black market?