The Golden Compass

Greetings. I'm sure we've all been hit by the forwarded email before about The Golden Compass movie coming out soon. I've blogged my thoughts, please enjoy:

The Email
>> Do not see the movie, "The Golden Compass."
>>
>> The movie "The Golden Compass" starring Nicole Kidman is coming to
>> theaters December 7th. It is based on the trilogy of books by atheist
>> Phillip Pullman, of England , and is geared towards kids. He wants
>> kids to denounce God and Heaven but he does it in a very subtle way
>> that parents may not pick up on what his true intentions are. In a
>> 2003 interview, Pullman said, "My books are about killing God."
>>
>> Please don't take your kids to see this movie!! Send this to EVERYONE
>> you know!!! We need to get the word out about this movie and make sure
>> that no one supports it!!!
>>
>> This link gives more information about the movie and Pullman .
>> http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp You'll be
>> shocked, I'm sure.
>>
>> His beliefs are "dumbed-down" in such a way that even adults might not
>> realize the deception before them. Pullman has said that he wrote his
>> trilogy as an antithesis to C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia."
>> Pullman has been called the most dangerous author in Britain .
>>
>> Please give this email wide distribution.
>>

My response:

ARE WE SERIOUS HERE?!?

I've seen this "protest bandwagon" all over the place and frankly I think it is ridiculous.

1. We are so quick to jump on anything promoting Christianity in the media according to our beliefs in freedom of speech. Yet when an author attempts to express his opposing views in an artistic manner, we are just as quick to jump to attack him, as if freedom of speech did not exist for him. That's pretty hypocritical if you ask me. Have we become a Theocracy? Did I miss something?

2. Have we lost our hope in humanity?

"His beliefs are "dumbed-down" in such a way that even adults might not realize the deception before them."

are you serious here? So in a sense, we should treat this movie like the parental block features on cable televisions. Because it might corrupt us we should avoid it at all costs. If we actually had any faith in humanity at all we would be able to trust that people would have the basic knowledge to understand and decide for themselves!

The same goes for kids! Have we lost our trust in parents to teach their kids what is out there and help them understand what this book series/movie is trying to say? I get the feeling this guy isn't out there to destroy homes and destroy religion and churches as we know it. Like any artist/author, he is presenting his work as it is his objective truth, and he hopes that we will read/watch with our MINDS. He's not trying to brainwash anyone, I guarantee it.

3. This source, are you kidding me? "Urban Legend Reference Pages?" Our valid sources have become Urband Legend websites?!? Question the source my friends. Find the truth yourself.

4. Think of all the people that will actually read these books or watch the movie, then decide what they believe regarding it. Does this not make them stronger? Why is our first instinct to run from things that are controversial? Heck, I'm a seminary student here and I'm actually kind of intrigued by this movie and think it'll be worth watching!

If anything, this movie, like many before it (DaVinci Code, Dogma, The Last Temptation of Christ) has gotten us talking about important issues. Therefore I praise Pullman for getting us out of our comfort zones to talk about these things.

God is dead

*this is cross-posted in www.ruachretreat.com, a blog between a few of us PC friends*

While preparing for teaching high school sunday school using the revered "Christian Doctrine" book by Shirley Guthrie, I stumbled across a section reminding me of our 'God is Dead' discussions. This quote is on pages 97-98 for those of you who have the book, in the section about the attributes of God. We talked about the world after God dies in the novel we read (God is dead by Ron Currie, Jr.) and how there are still small instances of hope and love in the broken world. Perhaps one could go along with Guthrie's view that perhaps God didn't die, but rather, our misled human conceptions of God died.

He states, "The church may talk about a God who is at work in our individual lives and in the world around us. But many people experience only the distance, silence, and absence of God--like Jesus himself who cried, 'My God my God, why have you forsaken me?' Why does God seem so far away, even dead, in our time? Is it because we live in a scientific and technological age that no longer needs 'God' to explain everything--or anything--that happens to us? It is because God seems to do nothing about all the misery, suffering, and injustice in the world? Perhaps these are partial explanations. But could it be that instead of blaming science or God, we ought to ask if the fault is not in ourselves? Could it be that we have some wrong ideas about who God is and that they must die if we are to know and experience the reality of God in our lives? Could it be that we ought to welcome the announcement that 'God' is dead, because only as our false conceptions of God die can we learn to know what the living and true God is really like?" (97-98)

Again I know this might be a stretch from the book, but it seems for the most part, was it not these general perceptions of God that "died" in this book? More than likely it may have been the opposite. Perhaps the "loving and preserving" picture of God died in this book, giving way for people to live like they are described in this book.

Although I keep coming back to one of the middle chapters, "Grace," when a drunk pastor is found with a sign saying, "God is alive." This must be a significant point.

I'll conclude with more from Guthrie:
"Which god is dead? All the gods that were really nothing but a projection of our own fears, wishes, insecurity, greed, or speculation. All the gods made in our own image. If talk about the death of God in our own time exposes our idols and their inadequacy, we may welcome it. The quicker we bury and forget the gods we make for ourselves, the quicker we can learn who God really is." (98)

Regardless of if this fits with the God is dead book or not, I still really liked this quote. Especially after hearing more news about Fred Phelps

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/31/funeral.protest/index.html?iref=newssearch

the video interviews they have with him are purely frightening. I think this truly speaks to a conception of God we make that must "die." The man who won the lawsuit said it best at one point when he described how the God he knows is a loving God. In the message Phelps and company are promoting, there is nothing "good" about it. It is completely a message of hate. I know there's a lot more to this story regarding freedom of speech and the fact that we're just giving him the attention he wants, but I think this is what we need to do to "kill" these bad misconceptions of God!

Ok went on a rant there.

back to planning for sunday school.

Feel free to comment!
-Mike Watson

Tables and Chairs

ok, I've been wanting to include THIS SONG for a while now. And tonight I believe was my moment to include it. The song is "Tables and Chairs" by Andrew Bird. Please check out the lyrics via the link above. I saw him in concert a week ago and he BLEW MY MIND. The man is a one person Orchestra plus whistling and a drummer who throws down some crazy drum beats. Their timing is impeccable and the wall of sound they produce takes you to another world. This song was the closer, and was quite fitting for the night. The song has overtones of a "new heaven and a new earth" where we are all feasting and living together in peace. Here are the last few lines to put things into context:

"i know we're going to meet some day
in the crumbled financial institutions of this land
there will be tables and chairs
there'll be pony rides and dancing bears
there'll even be a band
cause listen, after the fall there will be no more countries
no currencies at all, we're gonna live on our wits
we're gonna throw away survival kits,
trade butterfly-knives for adderal
and that's not all
ooh-ooh, there will be snacks there will
there will be snacks, there will be snacks."

Tables and chairs, no more countries or currencies, there will be snacks. This beautiful imagery paints quite a picture in your mind.

For some reason this came to my mind after having dinner tonight. I was invited to a "birthday dinner" with a Korean student here who goes by "Yoon." Our dinner entourage included 3 Ghanaians (Wilberforce, Gabriel, Eric), a student from India (Sani), and a student from Myanmar/Burma (Victor). And by Yoon's request, we dined at the fine international cuisine known as Golden Corral! We had a great time. And that's just it, we ate, laughed, shared. We have all been living together for a little over a month, yet we had yet to do something where we all just sit, chat, and eat! I really felt this to be a powerful moment of what the universal church is.

Amongst the stress of the looming Old Testament midterm, and basically upon realizing that all I really do around here is read, I had been recently thinking about/missing my opportunities for spending a year in travel and world experience. Yet, tonight I realized that not only will this time come, but I can have it here among the students around me!

Ok back to studying for the midterm on an extremely full belly.

Free Burma (click the picture)

Dig

I was frightened today. By an old woman asking me for money. Does that sound ridiculous? Should it sound ridiculous?

I've got a long way to go to get out of my naivety.

I realize more and more every day how sheltered of a life I've come from. I also realize some who read this will either think of how they agree, or smirk realizing they are quite used to being around homeless and people begging for money. Many of us who have not spent a considerable amount of time among the poor and homeless really only encounter the occasional homeless beggar. Union-PSCE may seem like it's a safe theological haven, and in many cases it is. However, we border one of the roughest neighborhoods in Richmond and thus are somewhat engaged, or at least should be somewhat engaged, in the life right nearby.

Well today, with my lunch in hand I just grabbed from the dining hall, I hopped in my car and upon looking up from fastening my seatbelt I saw an old woman standing at my passenger window signaling me to put down my window. The surprise value of the situation had me a little shocked. I complied and she pretty much leaned in my window and said "I'm hungry can I have some money?" My philosophy in these situations is to counter their question by asking them what they need and if I can get that for them instead of just giving money. I realize there are those who disagree, but after spending a few days in a rescue mission in downtown Boston, I realized how horrible feeding a possible addiction can be, as well as how much these type of people actually need. SO, I initially offered taking her to the cafeteria to get her some food. She declined, so I then offered the plate of food I had sitting there in my passenger seat. Again she declined saying she wanted money to buy a hamburger. I told her I really couldn't giver her any cash, despite her requests for me to keep looking in my car for some. Finally she gave up and we said our goodbyes.

What a disheartening experience. Again, I know we all encounter these situations all the time, and I'd be interested to know how you all usually react. I know giving money can sometimes be used for good and they will actually go through with buying something they need. However, just the thought of supporting a possible life-destroying habit really inclines me to search for other means of dealing with these situations.

Regardless of all of this, I want to encourage everyone to one blatantly obvious fact, which I believe every one of us forgets: they are human, they are 100% just like us human. They have their good days and their bad days. I bring this up because as soon as I drove off today, the radio started playing "Dig" by Incubus. Now I'm guilty of doing the cheesy act of making a particular song heard at a particular time a significant moment. Deal with it. This song today reminded me of this fact of human nature, and despite our flaws, our lies, our ego, our "sicknesses", the thing that "digs" at us, we have each other. We must learn to "Dig" at one another. Which I believe goes to say that through deepening relationships with one another we can truly know one another. I should not have been frightened by this woman approaching my window today. I should have seen a person in need and felt a knee jerk feeling of compassion rather than fear.

lyrics for "Dig" by Incubus

Indeed this is what Christ would call us to. Deep authentic relationships, no matter what. It's pretty obvious actually. I like to think I'm preaching to the choir on this one.

been a while...

Well hello blog world. Mike Watson is back after about 3 months of silence! Being how everyone's supporting me in seminary and the like, I figure I might as well get back to blogging as if I have something to say. Well I do have a thing or two to say and in today's world this is the best way to get it out there. More details to come soon but just so everyone knows what I'm up to:

I have just begun my first year of seminary at Union-PSCE in Richmond, VA. I finished up a thrilling 6.5 weeks of Hebrew School July-August. Currently I'm taking Old Testament I, Theology I, The Teaching Ministry of the Church, and Spiritual Formation. So far so good too! I absolutely love the process of exegesis, which is basically taking a part of scripture and learning ALL you can about it. For example, translating every word into all possible Hebrew/Greek meanings, the origin of the text, literary and historical context, etc. I am also working at Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA as Youth Director. They are such an amazing group of youth! I think they'll teach me a thing or two over the next few years.

So basically I stay extremely busy. All the time. When I'm not reading or in class I'm doing something regarding my youth director job. Or I'm at a concert (we've got some good ones up here this year!). I think this is good for me. I need to stay busy doing things I love and reading things I love. Speaking of, I know there's a lot of hype about Shane Claiborne speaking at Collegiate Montreat. Seriously, read his book the Irrisitible Revolution. It'll change your life. Go buy it right now. I'll help you out: CLICK HERE! I'll discuss it on a blog at a later time. For now I must sleep, school tomorrow!

oh yeah, and please if you can give me some love in the form of comments. I'll do my best to do the same to your blog, I promise!

To close, here's the opening convocation speech given by our new president, Brian Blount. He's a phenomenal person and will do wonders for this school and the ministers that are being trained. He's brought a lot of energy to this campus and his preaching is incredible.

alright.
peace.

Camp Buc Week 2: all things go, all things go

Adventure and excitement seems to follow me!

If you happened to read my post from week 1, camp has been very hectic and busy so far! Last week I had 3 very difficult campers to deal with, keeping me occupied constantly. Coming into week 2 I was seriously hoping for a break. Well I got one...sorta...

My kids we're COMPLETE opposites from last week. I had 5 boys, once again ages 12-14, who were extremely laid-back. Day 1 went by swimmingly. There were no serious problems and everyone got along. Things actually went so well that I assumed my campers could handle "the loop," which is the seldom used extended version of our usual mountain hike to "rockface." I would soon come to realize that my campers could handle the loop fine...it would be me that would have the problems!

First off, you know how when a guy is looking for a location he is often so consumed by finding it that he tends to just shrug off all suggestions no matter how useful they may be? "Maybe you should turn here?" "Why don't we stop and ask for directions!" You get the point. Basically that was me on this trip. I was in complete control and I was completely responsible.

Up we hike to Rockface, leg 1 of the journey. Things go fine, we have lunch and then proceed on to the loop trail. After about an hour of hiking, I get to a point where I'm not exactly sure which way the trail goes. I make a guess, once again acting like I am in complete control. What starts as us making our way through a somewhat cleared area of woods soon becomes thick forest with no trail in sight. I get the idea that if we keep going straight we will eventually meet up with the trail that cuts to the left. We must have trudged through thick forest, steep hills, and thorny bushes for an hour with nothing in sight. My campers are exhausted and worried. We reach a point where climbing down would be extremely dangerous, yet its our only way forward. Instinct leads me on but my reason finally gets the better of me and finally I break. My confidence is gone and everyone realizes we are extremely lost...in comes Daniel.

Let me tell you about Daniel real quick. Daniel is a Chaplain up here at Camp Buc with us. He is 50 years old. He has lived in Ghana his entire life. He just graduated from Princeton Seminary, his only 3 years in the United States. Daniel is amazing. Ok back to the story...

At my point of breakdown Daniel says, "Mike I think I saw a trail going off to our right before we had descended down this path. Maybe we should backtrack and give it a try!" This sounds like the best idea I have ever heard, and my first instinct is of course to think "why didn't you say that EARLIER!" In comes the "guy" thing. I realized that even if he mentioned it earlier, there's a good chance I wouldn't have even listened to him. We start backtracking, and when we are almost back to where we split off I just drop down and sit. Everyone else follow suit and soon we're just sitting there in silence. I begin to realize the drop in morale of the group and ask Daniel to pray for us. He compares our journey to that of the Israelites in the wilderness and their need to trust God. Daniel's prayer is like spinach to Popeye, and we all hop up and head back to where I initially led us astray. Sure enough, the trail had taken a sharp right turn! We were back on track! Smooth sailing down the mountain right?...Maybe?...

After a little ways down the trail we stop at the Cliffs landmark - a beautiful view. About a minute after our arrival there we all witness a lightning bolt strike down in the valley followed by the shriek of all the campers. "LET'S GO!" I scream, being a little fearful of thunderstorms myself. We take off down the trail as a thunderstorm brews up right over us. Daniel, calm and composed, is leading the campers quickly down the path. I am doing my best to make sure everyone is on their way safely, all the while freaking out that we're at a high elevation, surrounded by trees, during a thunderstorm. The fact that we constantly run across trees previously split by lightning doesn't help either. At one point I look back to see that my co-counselor and her camper are nowhere in sight. Freaking out again I start running up the mountain SCREAMING their names. Finally I run across a crying camper with a hurt ankle and a counselor doing her best to help her down the mountain. I have the camper hop on my back and with all the strength left in my body, run her down the trail. This entire strategy seems to work well as we make great progress down the mountain. I finally get a chance to look around me as the thunderstorm clears up, only to see sun streaking through the trees, light rain keeping us cool, and even a rainbow at one point! Immediately all my fears, my anxiety, my worry, is gone.

My campers, my co-counselor, and Daniel, taught me so much that day. My quiet, laid-back campers had helped each other down that mountain, and wouldn't have made it without each other. Daniel had quietly taught me how a leader should act, by praying with and comforting all of my campers as soon as he noticed they were scared or exhausted. My co-counselor had quietly, humbly, and cheerfully held up the back of the line with an injured camper throughout the entire ordeal. Finally, our whole group remarked on how, despite all of this, they loved the experience of getting "lost in the wilderness."

I've got a lot to learn.

So...despite that how was the rest of the week? Oh, you know, know big deal.

1. The night of our mountain adventure our traumatized campers got caught in another huge thunderstorm while camping out
2. The next night we were hit with another huge thunderstorm during vespers and had to run to the dining hall
3. The next day our lifeguard cut her ear, needing stitches, during our hike to Trinity waterfall

Yet, my campers still had one of the greatest weeks of their lives.
amazing.

you came to take us
all things go, all things go
to recreate us
all things grow, all things grow
we had our mindset
all things know, all things know
you had to find it
all things go, all things go

Camp Buc Week 1: everyone is a burning sun

It was said once that Philosophy begins and ends in awe and wonder...

Every time I drive up to the lake and mountains of Camp Buc, I get this feeling of awe and wonder of stark beauty. This feeling can be easily forgotten during a stressful week with those campers that drive you to your breaking point. However, somehow when Friday rolls around, you just can't stop the tears of pure joy from a life-changing week.

My first week of camp: June 1-6th was easily the most challenging week I have ever had as a camp counselor. I had lost my voice completely from yelling at my 12-14 year old kids all week. One in particular (to go by "x" in this journal to protect his identity) was the source of all of the stress. From day 1 I vowed he would be too much to handle and thought about trying to send him home. What I learned was that X had Aspergers Syndrome, a milder form of Autism. This means he is a very bright kid, yet he struggles with his attention span and with social interaction. These symptoms were only made worse by his 2 cousins, my other 2 campers, who constantly picked fights with him and vocalized their dislike. This worked its way out in the worst possible way. I was with X constantly..."don't hit people with sticks!" "stop shining your flashlight in people's eyes!" "stop fighting!" I hit rock bottom Thursday night after returning from a rafting trip and having to settle my boys down. I needed a day long break...

How did I survive? Spending all this time with X made me realize that he was a good kid with a lot of talent and creativity. Tuesday, while at a waterfall near our camp, I sat and watched him build an entire city out of mud, sticks, and rocks. He told me that people tell him that he should be an artchitect someday. Later that day he asked me for a pencil because he is writing a book! I have no idea what it is about, yet this was such an amazing venture for a 13 year old. Wednesday night after having to sit with him at campfire to keep him toned down I watched him help carry a hurt friend all the way up to the dining hall for snack time. That day he had also asked if he could borrow my Bible. I found out later that he had actually been reading a few random pages. Another moment was when I accidentaly watched him writing a "warm fuzzy" to a girl (warm fuzzies are nice notes we leave for each other, campers and counselors alike, throughout the week). He complemented her in the nicest way possible. Thursday night while we had our final nightly devotion on the dock with our family group, I broke down in tears. I asked if someone wanted to pray and he volunteered, to my great suprise. What followed was probably the most beautiful prayer I have ever heard. I was so blown away I don't remember much beyond something about asking God to light up the hearts of people of the world like the stars we were looking up at.

Awe. Wonder.

When camp was finished and the kids were gone, I looked in my warm fuzzy bag to find a note from X. The note said "I hope you don't think I am mean, I am just aggrivated sometimes." As weird as this sounded, I found this to be the most meaningful and revealing thing he could have said to me. Right then I realized what it must be like to be X. He constantly struggles with his Aspergers Syndrome and can hardly express this to people. When people meet him they assume he is a bad kid that needs constant punishment and reform. His peers can't accept him because they immediately label him as rude and immature. For X, however, he wants nothing more than what every other kid wants: love and acceptance. This is what all kids want and need at all times. This is ultimately the goal of Christian camp.

X taught me how all of the creativity and talent kids possess must never go wasted. He taught me how much some kids need love and acceptance.

everyone is a burning sun.