Moody Thinking

For some reason, USA Network has decided that NCIS is a better show in reruns than House (boo!), which has made me even more excited for the new season of House beginning in September. So, while my wife was watching So You Think You can Dance and I was waiting for commercials so she would flip to the Braves game, I saw the first promotion for the fall season.

House is in a psychiatric ward, trying to determine if his hallucinations are caused from the Vicodin use or paranoid schizophrenia. I cannot wait.

Hugh Laurie plays Dr. Gregory House.

Why is a medical drama with an egomaniacal genius so captivating? This show has a number of characters, all of whom have significant issues. Even though the great majority of us do not understand most of the words these characters say, we can all relate to their struggles.

On the same note, these are people live in a dark world without a ton of hope. There is something greatly depressing about House and his addiction and his on again, off again relationship with Cuddy, whose own struggles with self esteem are very apparent.

Thirteen has Huntingdon’s and is trying her best to make the most of life when facing a certain early death. Taub is still reeling from an affair that cost him his plastic surgery practice and is trying to deal with House’s demands and his own insecurities. Foreman is trying his best not to be house but grows more like him with every episode. The one guy who seemed to be able to maintain his positive outlook unexplainably committed suicide in the last season.

(Side Note: Okay, so it is a little explainable. Kal Penn joined the Obama administration and requested out of his contract. Needless to say, the writers are working a nice story out of the situation).

Wilson is… well, Wilson. I am very interested to see what he does without his constant companion House. He may carry the most insecurity out of all the characters and yet has the most compassion on his patients and others around him.

Chase (dead dad issues) and Cameron are now married… and she still has physical rememberances of her dead husband. This show really is a myriad of personal problems playing out in a hospital.

Yet with all of these issues, these people still solve one in a million type medical problems. Production aside, this show is so great because all of the characters are horribly flawed.

Really, aren’t we all?

While their view may be darker than mine, I grow tired of the “My life is so perfect, look at me” picture that a lot of people try to paint, especially Christians. The reality is that life can be difficult and we would all be better if we were simply ourselves instead of always trying to be perfect to everyone around us.

What’s the word? Authentic? Yes, that is what we appreciate most in others when we see it in them. I have been reading a lot in the Gospels and Jesus’ harshest words are for those who masked their own pride in their outward deeds. The ones who are blessed are the ones who come as they are.

We should be authentic; not perfect, not what everyone wants us to be. Just us. You and me. We could learn a lot from each other’s flaws and successes if we are willing to be authentic.

I read this in the Montgomery Advertiser blog’s today and I am interested in your thoughts. I will post the blog in full and the comments.

I really wish I could take credit for the following, but I received it in an email.  I don’t even know to whom to attribute it, since there was no link or author named.  But, anyway, it just seemed too good not to share. . . .

Ten Signs You Are an Unquestioning Christian

10.   You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged and threatened when someone denies the existence of your god.

9.  You feel insulted and dehumanized when scientists say that people evolved from lesser life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

8.  You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Trinity God.

7.  Your face turns purple when you hear of the atrocities attributed to Allah, but you don’t even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in “Exodus” and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in “Joshua” — including women, children, and animals!

6.  You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god, who was killed, came back to life, and then ascended into the sky.

5.  You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of the earth (4.55 billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by prehistoric tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that the earth is a couple of generations old!

4.  You believe that the entire population of this planet, with the exception of those who share your beliefs (though excluding those in all rival sects) will spend eternity in an infinite hell of suffering.  Yet, you consider your religion to be the most tolerant and loving.

3.  While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor “speaking in tongues” may be all the evidence you need.

2.  You define 0.01% as a “high success rate” when it comes to answered prayers.  You consider that to be evidence that prayer works.  And, you think that the remaining 99.99% failure rate was simply the will of God.

1.  You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and religious history in general  –  but yet you still proudly call yourself a Christian.

Kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it?

You’re welcome!        . . . UknowIknowU

UknowIknowU is the author of the blog. These questions are not new, they have been made by atheists and skeptics for years. What should a Christian’s response be?

As UknowIknowU points out, the response most have made has been to go on the defensive as soon as possible, arguing for creation, etc. Our response should be filled with grace and understanding, appreciation for this perspective, and reasonable answers based on the truth of Christ.

Nothing is gained from hostile debate. I took the same atheist philosophy professor in college four times and appreciated the way he made me think. He actually worked to get me in a class that was already full in graduate school.

So, what should the Christian’s response be? The crux of the matter is this point: Jesus. Only two of these points reference Jesus. A person can believe in every historical aspect of Christianity and still not know Jesus.

How would you respond to this article?

Promotion will begin soon for Montgomery’s Half Marathon.

Here’s what I know so far:

Saturday, October 3. The course will begin near Riverwalk Stadium and finish in the newly opened alleyway just outside the stadium.

Jim N Nicks will provide postrace food.

Keep your eyes posted for more information. I will post more as soon as I have it.