in the midst: thoughts on Luke 8

Luke 8:42b-48
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
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In the midst of a story about Jesus raising a dead girl, Jesus heals a woman. It is a short passage, only about six verses. Yet it is a significant story. This woman might have come up to many healers in her day asking to be healed. The passage states she was bleeding for twelve years. In those twelve years I am sure she asked someone for help. Yet, on this day she was healed by Jesus. Ultimately, she was healed because of her faith (verse 48). What is Jesus’ role?
She was obviously an outcast. She was an outcast in two manners, she was a woman and second she could not stop bleeding. She was unclean. She was also seen by the disciples. As the author states the disciples denied anything happened when Jesus asked “Who touched me?”. It does not take long for the woman to then be the center of attention as Jesus confronts her (verse 47). Jesus then has the option to turn his head, as others have done to her in the past, or to love her.
I often find it easier than not to judge others: to condemn them, to look the other way, and not accept and love them. I am often not like Jesus. Jesus accepted this women when others would not.

the el, a green river, and a giant leprechaun

I went downtown on March 15th to see the Chicago River dyed green and to see the St. Patrick’s Day parade. It was quite an experience. Nothing too crazy, just another day in Chicago. On the way downtown we took the brown line. After a couple of stops the train was beginning to become full of people heading downtown for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. For the next forty minutes we got to listen to ‘buzzed’ college students sing ‘Irish’ jigs. We were ready to get off the train when it was our stop.
After walking the rest of the way to the river we got to see the river dyed. It is quite an experience and I recommend it if you have never seen it before. The green really pops out! When we first got to the river there was a family behind us that kept wondering if the river had been dyed yet as the river is naturally green. They were notably amazed when they finally started the dyeing.
After seeing the river green, we walked across one of the bridges to go see the parade. It was packed - so packed that it took us at least fifteen minutes to cross the bridge. The parade was okay. It had a couple bagpipe bands which were really cool. And they had a couple cool floats. And of course they had the Celtic dancers. The only problem was that they had like thirty different groups with dancers, including their parents walking (and talking on their cell phones) behind them. Besides that it was this politician and that representative and tons of people just walking in the parade with no seemingly connection to the parade or St. Patrick’s Day. After a while the parade just kept going and going. We decided that it was time to go. The only problem there were so many people it took us another thirty minutes just to leave the main street.
Next time I think we will skip the parade and just watch the dyeing of the river.

let the madness begin

It’s that time of year when a dance is not a dance, men are cheering for (a) cinderella, and the sweet 16 is not a birthday party for an over excited teenager girl. It’s NCAA basketball. The NCAA tournament begins today (officially started Tuesday when Mt. Saint Mary beat Coppin State). Sixty-four teams get a chance at winning it all. Even the little teams like Mississippi Valley or UT-Arlington. Even though the little teams don’t have much of a chance it is always exciting to see a little team bust into the sweet sixteen or even the elite eight.
Of course there are always the big, the bad, and ugly teams. The teams that have been so dominating and win so much that they are hated. Fan favorites always seem to be the smaller teams like Gonzaga, George Mason, or Butler. They are good teams that don’t have the history to be hated.
There are some looming questions. Will the 17-16 Georgia Bulldogs be able to win a game after winning the SEC tournament? Which freshman phenom will win in a duo of USC and Kansas State? Can Arizona have a good tournament after an up and down season? Will Kentucky do anything? Can Memphis go to the final four? And many more.
My picks. I think UCLA and Kansas are going to the final four. Duke or Xavier could be a problem for UCLA. I think Kansas is a lock, unless a Clemson or Vanderbilt can take charge. Georgetown could also stand a chance. In the East and West regions I think North Carolina and Texas. If Tennessee plays well I can see them going far as well. In the South I can see numerous teams going to the final four including: Texas, Memphis, Marquette, or Pitt. It should be another good year to the final four.

in ann arbor... spring is here

Spring practice starts today for Michigan. Go Blue!

it's official

It’s official. I’m an Illinois resident. Last Saturday I rode out to Libertyville to go get a new Illinois title, registration and an Illinois driver’s license and license plate. I got the title, registration, and plates within ten minutes of being there. I thought the plates would be mailed to me, but after signing a couple papers two seconds later I am being handed plates for my car. After another hour and fifteen minutes I filled out the paperwork for the license, passed the written drivers test, got my picture taken, and got my new Illinois driver’s license. I also am now an Illinois voter! Yes!

saturday at the green mill

I went to the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge on Saturday night with a few friends. It was one of those great Chicago experiences that I’ll remember forever. There is a $12 cover, but it does have a free parking lot. The Cocktail Lounge opened in 1907 and has quite a history. Much of the famed history of the Green Mill happened in the 20s when the lounge was part owned by a mobster. You can learn more about the history here.
The lounge itself is really cool. When you walk in it is like stepping back into the 1920s. The décor, color, and set-up are all from a different era. There are all these great paintings all along the walls and half-circle seating lounges that seat out to see the band playing on the stage. The man who introduced the band (who was probably the owner) has this great Chicago accent. When the band began to play and everyone hushed as it was announced not to talk while the band was playing. The music was great. It got to be standing room only, but eventually we got a few bar stools. Everyone seemed to be happy even though it was exceptionally crowded. While the band was playing you could see people getting out of their seats to see the band and people dancing to the jazz. Things to remember: bring cash or an AE card. The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge is located at 4802 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago, IL 60640.

dw: a new law

derek webb: a new law

don’t teach me about politics and government

just tell me who to vote for

don’t teach me about truth and beauty

just label my music

don’t teach me how to live like a free man

just give me a new law

i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy

so just bring it down from the mountain to me

i want a new law

i want a new law

gimme that new law

don’t teach me about moderation and liberty

i prefer a shot of grape juice

don’t teach me about loving my enemies

don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit

just give me a new law

what’s the use in trading a law you can never keep

for one you can that cannot get you anything

do not be afraid

do not be afraid

do not be afraid

I’ve never actually seen anyone walk out of a Christian concert before. Of course I have heard of people walking out before. In a class I had in undergrad, an esteemed atheist decided to proclaim to the whole class one day that one of her friends brought her to a concert. The girl went on to say that her friend had the audacity to bring her to a lame Christian concert without telling her it was a Christian concert. (The friend probably should have mentioned that.) The concert was so lame in her opinion that she walked out. I’ve also heard of people walking out on Derek Webb. Not because his music was lame, but that his lyrics were to honest that the group could not take it and walked out. Derek Webb didn’t always have people walking out in his concerts. He is a former member of Caedmon’s Call [now on tour with them]. If you do not know who Caedmon’s Call is, they are a popular Christian band. They consider themselves folk-pop. This is probably a proper description. Their songs are sung in churches and youth groups all over the U.S. I’ve been recently listening to Derek Webb and his album “Mockingbird”. The album is from 2005. It is a few years old and he has newer music out. (I haven’t listened to it yet.) The music and lyrics are really good. The music is different from the praise-song music that Cademon’s Call is known for. The lyrics bring about thinking, imaginings, wonder, and change. His songs may even be a little facetious. Take for example the song “A New Law”.
“A New Law” is a great song because it brings out the hypercritical, prideful, damaging, and enslaving attitudes that Christians sometimes have. Jesus is the new law, yet we continue to disregard him and continue to make up new laws. This song isn’t the most controversial song Derek has. This song talks about rigid legalism and blinded views. I like this song however because it proclaims [in a song] what is not proclaimed often. We are to seek out truth and beauty. We are to know about politics and the world and to not just follow it blindly. God created and loves every person (enemies included) and creation of this world. Should we not seek out what God seeks? The best part about the song to me is the line: “I don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy so just bring it down from the mountain to me.” Sometimes it is just easier to add a new rule instead of taking the hard answer and many times we do. Webb makes a prophetic statement for a people who desperately need to hear it.
Many people that review Webb’s music say he provides the music to “jive” to and words to converse. I hope his music continues to make people think and brings about awareness.

wooo! t-shirts!!

Hey hey! It’s getting down to the wire with these primaries. On the day of Texas and Ohio there’s no better way then to buy a t-shirt and show your support. Woooo!

Here’s my recommend place to buy:
Obama of Dreams (You can no longer buy t-shirts here.)
And because I like to fight fair:
Clinton
And well…like I said above:
McCain

dang it FL and MI

Tomorrow is the biggest primary day since Super Tuesday. There are four states involved: Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. If either candidate comes out with a decisive win in either Ohio or Texas they could pull enough momentum to win the Democratic primary. Obama is riding high after winning every state since Super Tuesday. Clinton, for whatever reason, seems to be confident in her ability to win.
What about Florida and Michigan? Because both states decided to move up their primaries, Michigan lost half of their delegates and Florida lost all of their delegates. Clinton won both states. She will not receive any delegates from Florida and Michigan, and therefore can barely be called a win. Could these two states have made a difference in the count if they didn’t move up the primary day? Florida knows all too well about botching close ballots.
I just hope someone comes out on top so Obama and Clinton can stop battling each other and to move on to the race for the November election.