Here's the Next Item Up for Bids...
I think that the discussion on sleep has run its course. I waited for a couple of extra days after the last comment to make sure that no one had anything else to contribute, and alas I was right, we have to move on. A big "thank you" to everyone who read these postings and took time to think about the idea and how it could be applied to life, a bigger "thank you" to those who contributed to the process.
After synthesizing all the comments, I have come to the conclusion that since we all sleep, we might benefit from thinking about it (at least a little bit) and that there is definitely some things that we should be doing for others and for ourselves in our everyday life to enhance the way we live. I also learned a few things, such becoming more aware of the various ways in which sleep (too much, too little and just enough) can affect the way in which we live - even in the long term. I also appreciated the fact that there were people willing to look at the "bigger picture" of sleep in areas like stewardship, ministry and community.
Without you guys, I would not have been able to see these connections and I hope that others benefited as well.
However, do not necessarily consider the topic of sleep closed permanently; if you wish to leave any further comments or musings on the subject that you think would be beneficial, then feel free to post them on the appropriate link. If there is sufficient additional comments, I will draw attention to them at a later time.
And moving right along...
After a discussion with a friend, I came to the realization that another topic in the Christian life that might be worth looking at is the concept of reconciliation and restoration.
Let me explain.
The need for restoration and reconciliation, in my understanding, comes from the idea that people are not perfect and therefore there may be consequences for the actions of people that affect a church community as a whole. In some churches, leaders (which can include pastors, elders, teachers, board members among others) have disciplined church members or have been disciplined by their fellowship for conduct that was deemed to be unbecoming for a believer, especially one that has some position of influence.
occasionally, this results in these people leaving the church, sometimes under their own initiative and sometimes being tossed out of the fellowship. Sometimes this is explicit in that a person is told to leave (whether public or not, it doesn't matter) or it is implicit in that people consistently "drop hints" until the person "decides to leave".
This discussion will not be about how the person leaves the church (or a discussion on whether or not it should happen in the first place), but let us assume that it has happened to a given person and you attend the same fellowship that they did at one time and you were an active member (you are not necessarily the reason why they left, but in that you are aware of the situation) in the church when they left.
How should the reconciliation and restoration take place?- Does the person's previous position in the church have anything to do with how they are restored?
- Does the nature of the act (whether alleged or confirmed) affect things?
- Does the nature in which they left affect it? (ie. Their own initiative vs. pressure from the church)
- Should a person be welcomed back into a church at all, or should they have to be accepted elsewhere?
- Is there a minimum time period involved?
- Is there any practices or Biblical references that can apply to a situation like this universally (for the purposes of laying groundwork)?
That's my initial contribution to the discussion; now it's your turn. If you are new to this format, please read the "comment rules" at the bottom of the post entitled "A Call to Worship". I'd like to encourage people to post more than once; state your initial position the first time and then feel free to comment on other people's ideas (just respect one another...) and let's see what comes up!
Onward and upward! Looking forward to seeing the comments.
The Relentless Pursuit of Sleep Continues...
Just an update on the status of the discussion on sleep.
First of all, I would like to say thanks to everyone who has posted comments thus far. It has been probably the most interesting set of comments that I have ever had on any one of my entries. It's neat to know that people out there are reading what I am saying.
But I also acknowledge with that, there is great responsibility and this has probably been the greatest reminder of that so far. There is definitely power in the written (or typed) word.
Secondly, I also acknowledge the fact that I am still a student that is away from it all in the middle of nowhere. Some people have affectionately called this place "the bubble" and maybe the ideas behind practical Christian living is where the bubble is "thicker" than it is in other areas.
However, it doesn't have to stay that way.
Finally, the idea that I have posted here is not something that is "cool" at the college or me trying to make a statement. It was merely an idea/inspiration that I had and I decided that I wanted to run with it. Sure, it may seem like a silly discussion, but discussion is where some really amazing ideas (and their applications) come from. Since we all sleep, it has become one of those subconcsious parts of our culture.
For some examples of this, take a look at these links.
Sleep: An Evidence of Divine Design"Sleep Therapy"Take a NapIf you guys think that I'm off my rocker, then so be it. If it is an open and shut case, that's fine too. I just thought that I'd reach out to the community and see what we can dig up. And digging we have done. Some great suggestions/ideas/rabbit trails have come out of this (if you haven't checked the comments on my last post in a while, I highly suggest it).
I think that we might be going somewhere with this, so bear with me and if all this does fall flat or the conversation stops...then we'll switch topics.
Thanks for being there.
(P.S. Post new comments on sleep as well as your responses to this post, as it is the most visible.)
A Call to Worship
All right, ladies and gentlemen! I have a brilliant idea!
After taking a look at the one of the current articles posted by Boundless.org called
"Loving Christ While I Cheer for the Yankees" (you should read it!), I came across one of the statements at the bottom of the article that looked something like this:
A theologian recently wrote that what the church needs desperately is a theology of things such as sleep, eating, working, and leisure [footnote removed]. I would add sports to the list. As Christians we need to cultivate an attitude of theological reflection about those very things that fill up most of our daily hours. Very often it is the mundane, everyday things that most persistently — and subtly — affect us in our Christian walk, for good or ill.
I says to myself, "That's a brilliant idea!" If we are a part of the body of Christ, we are all capable of thinking reflectively and trying to come up with some ideas on how this should all work. I've heard theology on work and some on leisure, and Alexander Schmemann (sp?) had something to do with food...so that leaves us with one thing...
Sleep.
What should our stance on sleep be as Christians? Do we have one? Should we have one? What would it entail? Here are some things that we could think of, though it is not restricted to these ones at all...
- Length of time sleeping
- Reasons why we sleep
- When we sleep
- Consistency in sleeping habits
- Why we sleep in the first place (the origins of sleep)
- Things we should/not be doing before we sleep (the mind takes a lot into our sleep)
- Can we honor God by sleeping?
That's just the beginning.
So, here's the deal. Give it some thought and then take the plunge! Comment on this post and lets see some creative thinking and interaction. I would also suggest that the "lurkers" that are out there (those who read and not comment) to take a stab at it as well. If you don't comment, that's fine - follow this post - some interesting stuff could come out of it.
All I ask is that you follow these simple rules:
1. Respect one another - I don't think that the church has a formalized position on sleep (hey, through the course of this discussion, we may not come to a definitive answer), so no one can really be "wrong" or "right". Remember that we're doing this to honor God and the church, so don't go around insulting each other.
2. Be goofy, not silly - I really don't want this to degenerate into 20 comments that all say "I like to sleep..." Use humor if that's part of who you are, but put some thought into it, some of the best ideas can come from that!
3. Think outside my guidelines - I've just got the conversation started, it's up to you to see how far the rabbit hole goes...
4. Feel free to post multiple comments as the discussion wears on; I know that some people think as they talk - I do it all the time.
Any posts that I deem inappropriate or violating these rules (or common sense that I didn't cover) will be erased.
Now, get going!
Ranch Reflections
*I am writing this warning after I have penned the following...this is all original stuff from today, even if some of you recognize it from other sources or my previous work.*Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
I was sittin' around the other day and I realized that I've left all of my faithful readers (although there's probably only about two or twenty of them) high and dry with absolutely no content to consider or be amazed at.
And as I stood up, I said to those that were within earshot, "That's going to change" (or something like that).
So here I am, sitting at the keyboard, pecking away, not having anything in particular to write about except for the fact that I know that I have to write something and I just can't quite figure out what.
Thinking...please wait...
I just don't get it, how is it possible that I can go on so long about the fact that I can go on so long and say absolutely nothing at all? I mean seriously, what is all of this coming to? I guess I've just lost my groove, fell out of my jive.
I'm stuck!
I mean, who can honestly fill up space and say so much about nothing? The only people that I can think of that have ever done that are Canadian politicians and William Shakespeare.
Ah yes, good ol' Willie...
If you're not quite sure about what I'm getting at when I say that William Shakespeare (who is regarded by many to be one of, if not
the, greatest English writers ever...and don't give me the malarky that they're trying to dig up now of trying to say that William Shakespeare didn't actually write that stuff! I don't quite buy all that and they haven't given me any horribly compelling proof yet. I'm more than willing to accept the idea that we may never have a really good idea of who the guy was) has said a lot about nothing, he wrote a play about it called
Much Ado About Nothing. I've never really read the play, nor seen it, but I have it on my list of things to do eventually. Apparently, according to the person that is sitting beside me, recalling some of the facts for herself and looking for some of the details on the Internet, the play is "really good" and yet another love story that the Bard has written to pass the time for all those who were willing to watch.
That's an amazing way to make something out of nothing.
Or is nothing really something? What can we honestly call nothing if not for the fact that there is obviously something to it? Is nothing something or is everything that we have around us nothing at all? Is the vicious road between nothing and something a one way street, or is it simply a one-way trip that will end in a massive existential oxymoron than will result in the mental and philisophical equivalent of a 10 megaton bomb?
My friends, we may never know.
