looking back on some old blogs i realize something...

my typing is atrocious.

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the other day i went to go see this movie, I can't really tell you what it was called. Everyone here just calls it "black Jesus" as in,
"hey, come watch black Jesus with us!" It was an ok flick, but it got me thinking...

Why do we always think of Jesus as white?


according to the first century Jewish historian Josephus the real Jesus looked much more like a black man then a modern Jewish one. In fact, according to Dr. Mosha, an anthropologist here who specializes in middle eastern culture, the whole of the middle east would have looked much more african then.

When did the traditional western picture of the Jesus become a white dude with flowing hair? This we can chalk on up to good ol' Constantine, the man responsible for taking christianity off the Roman most wanted list the throwing it into the political ring. Then this happened he also decided that he needed a pretty Jesus image to lead his armies into battle. The easy answer, just take the already make image the greek god Apolos and throw Jesus' name on it.
WA LA! you have ready made white Jesus.

How different would it have been if we would have left him a dark skinned Jew?


What else are we just throwing Jesus' name on and using his image for?

How much of our culture have we allowed to bleed into our gospel?



The more I read that more I'm convinced...a whole hell of a lot.

This was thanks giving dinner this year. A far cry from the solo cups, paper plates, video games and and screaming kids that normally make the day. I went to michigan to spend it with of sister and we went over to one of her friends places to eat. It was amazing food and you have not lived untill you eat peach stuffing. Plus they all turned out to be amazingly kind and entertaining folk. Despite the fact that i had to play my nemesis of hands...apples toe apples. Ugh.

Proof that there is no higher archy at this school. The man putting up those lights is the university chanselor. A man with multiple doctorits.

The buildings at school are pretty old and so there are these little doors scattered all around, hiden here and there. Everytime i see one i feel the compulsion to open it. imagining amazing suprises on the other side. Perhaps its full of candy and toys. or a doorway to a miny, poorly hidden narnia. or, and i only dare dream this on special days, the living courters for the race of little people that secretly live on campus. Sadly though, i have only discovered pipes and storage spaces so far. but i'm keeping hope alive.

Voices in my head

hey mike, hey buddy, look I know you've been having a hard time these last couple of days. mainly due to the fact that yesterday you turned 25 and find yourself working at a friendly's and taking collage courses with 17 year old and not having any friends in a new city.

I know buddy...it's a rough day in here (gestures to slightly chaotic head space)but hey, I have something that will hopefully cheer you up and convince you your life is just totally behind.

A list, you'll figure out what it's for:
-BORN!!
-watched parents fight eating disorders and win
-traveled to 39 states by bus, building sets and doing plays the whole way with 40 of your friends and class mates.
-shook President Clinton's hand
-Got "asked to leave" school.
-Decided this Jesus thing was the real deal and i'm in
-Graduated high school
-went to Vancouver Canada for 6 month DTS
-Worked in Mother Theresa Home of the Dieing
-Spent Easter in Himalayas and helped build a church there
-At grasshoppers, beetles, frogs, maggots,
-Got a tattoo
-Got heart broken
-Was on Swedish T.V.
-Was on CNN
-Moved to South African Townships
-started after school program
-Loved dieing people and wept a lot for them
-Got mugged...multiple times
-Led a team in Namibia for 3 months
-bought, Killed, Skinned and cooked a goat for 20
-Lived among traditional tribesmen for 3 weeks
-Ran from the police
-Got caught in a riot and gassed
-Got stuck in Ethiopia and left behind
-Got bit by a Hyena
-prayed all night on Mt. Sinai
-Learned to Scuba Dive in malawi and the Red sea.
-met old friends in London and realized you like them even more.
-Learned to care for people other's don't
-Learned that God was bigger then I expected by reading books and meeting people who showed me
-Ran a high school youth group
-Traveled around Ireland for 2 weeks with old friends
-taught children with Autism
-betrayed trusts
-broke someone's heart
-Moved to a new city and started school where I wanted

see, despite where you are now, you’ve lived to the best of your ability. Don’t worry about it…dummy.

Monday is my birthday...I'll be 25.

The truth is my major birthdays have been kind of a bust. 20 was good, I don't really remember what I did, but I'm sure it was exciting and meaningful. Full of exciting misadventure and deep realizations of the existential nature of self and man.

But since then They have been kind of a bust:
18: I was in school and very angsty. This wasn't special for my 18th birthday, i was angsty all the time. But still...it carried over.
21: I was stuck in the township. Sure i was in south africa but i couldn't go out of the base walls and i was really busy being melodramatic about a girl...girls, psh.

And now it's time for my 25th. I have school durring the day but refuse to sit at home doing homework and feeling sorry for myself...

So what should i do? suggestions?