Chances are I will be writing in my blogger a whole lot in the next few months. This is becuase I am a part of the remain behind element of our field exercise. Right now, I am a part of a field artillery unit. That translated into normal language is, really big guns! Personally, I am a switchboard operator that is the reason I am here at the CP "command post" and not doing the whole "shoot, move, comunicate" thing. The Marine Corps has systematically blocked almost every internet site that I enjoy. Well, Yahoo email and www.homestarrunner.com I love strongbad emails. BUT, They have completely missed the blogging domain and right now I am on night shift, which means just me, good books, and a computer all night.
So far since coming to 29 palms I have read Leo Tolstoy "The Death Of Ivan Ilych, Family Happiness, The Kreutzer Sonata, Master and Man" you guessed it short stories. I have not read War and Peace or Anna Karenina yet, although I have made a few futile attempts. I made it through the "The Kingdom Of God Is Within You" in which he states his stance on non-resistence, Tolstoyian philosophy, or theology if you will. Other books I have been able to read at my leisure here are; Pearl S. Buck, "the Good Earth" I found three of her books for 6 dollars at a used bookstore. I spend about 60 dollars a month on books, needless to say I am amassing a large library. I really enjoy wandering though bookstores seeking after treasures hidden amidst the mundane. My normal companion's in these ventures are Justin, Eric, Willy, or Russ. I digress, Shusaku Endo, "The Samurai" The story is very powerful, I discovered the book in a J-town mall in Los Angeles. He is the only Japanese Christian Novelist I have ever heard of and I would recommend him to anyone. The way he spoke to my heart through the ambitious Franciscian Monk Velasco in his battle against personal conquest and God's will is meaningful to me. In the end through Martyrdom he found peace with God, sometimes I feel this is the only sacrifice that will suffice for someone as hardhearted as myself. Next, on the list is Harry Conn, "Four Trojan Horses" The four Trojan horses are Sociological, Political, Psychological, and Theological. In this book he concisely states how Humanism has made so much headway in our society and under what guises. His contention is that the root of our philosophical despair today lies in the subject/object debate that came from the Eurpoean Philosophers. He actual traces the root back further than Francis Shaeffer who takes it back to Hegel's Dialectic and the abandonment of the antithesis/thesis thinking. Finally, John Stott's "Between Two Worlds" I am amazed at how Scholastic the book is in it's coverage of the history of Preaching, as well as the Preeminence of the word of of God. If you read this please don't hassle me about the whole "Annihilationism" debate concerning John Stott much of which is most likely a misunderstanding, for the most part, the guy is solid I think?
Arrgh.... So I have done it again, I was trying to make my blogger a little more like other people's. By saying things like: I am at such and such place, had a good day, family is doing well,etc. than possibly throwing in a funny story from work, or something that my freinds and I have done or plan to do, to boot. As you can see from the gross spectacle of who knows what above; I have failed. Seriously, I have reread my post from last night and now ask myself. "Come on James, you are not serious are you?" Ouitside of the blogger domain I am still serious about learning, but, more importantly I am a fairly big dork, I play hacky-sack, chess and ping-pong. I have an overbearing form of sarcasm that becomes apparent in the form of tall-tales I like to tell in the hopes of insighting laughter. I am an overtly animated person when it comes to story telling, I love using a loud boisterous voice as well as to much facial expression and body language. I can spend whole nights just hanging out singing praise songs or buckling down for some serious God talk. I really do not like to watch TV at all, although ocassionally I will watch a movie or two.
I really think my freinds are being courteous when putting up with my regular antics, which I affectionately call from Seinfeld "unbridled enthusiasm". I enjoy sitting in coffee shops, but do not like the whole college age group who find it necesary to wax intellectually refined and voice an opinion on every pop subject, by quoting one liner truisms seemingly straight from Dr. Phil. I am anti-MTV as well as anti-reality TV, which is an area of disagreement between many of my peers who do not see the harm in such stuff. I do not go around condemning people who do watch such things though, but if asked I will tell them what I think. Basically, I do not make my personal preferences a requirement for others you know the law of Moses, law of Christ debate.
Being a man I battle with pride, lust, lonliness, and depression, from my own sin, lack of compassion and lack of witnessing to my brothers in the Marines. I am very worried about my family coming to know the Lord and have constant concern for what the future holds. I desire to live passionately and unashamed for the Gospel of Christ, but daily fail to even act like a Christian. I am horrible at keeping in touch with freinds and family and procrastinate horribly when it comes to reading the word and praying. I need you Lord! so much, Lord you are so merciful, I thank you Jesus for the cross. Lord let me serve you sincerely I set all of these my sins before you and ask you to take them from me... the weight of my own sin has destroyed me, without you in my life I am lost... I desire you more than riches or fame, help me to live for you I ask all of this in your almightly name, In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen