my cute cousin

Of Baseball and Heaven

I just watched quite an amazing baseball game. Watching Paul Konerko smash a grand slam to put the White Sox up two runs only to watch it brought back to a tie and then... the most unlikeliest of heroes, Mr Scott Podsednik comes to bat. This man didn't hit a homerun all year and had his first in the playoff series against Boston. He steps up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth against one of the best closers in baseball, Brad Lidge, and smashes a walk-off homerun into the right center stands. UNBELIEVABLE!! I shouted, I leapt for joy, I hugged my fiancee, I hugged my roomate. I was overjoyed. It was a wonderful night. And yet, I sit here at my computer listening to a praise and worship album called "Hymns Ancient and Modern" where older hymns are set to comtemporary music and I'm pondering the joy that will come into being at the coming of Christ and the ushering in of His eternal kingdom. UNBELIEVABLE! And it will be! I long to live my life in expectation and in joyous hope of Christ's victory being proclaimed across all the world and in every language and by every people young and old. To see the old world pass away and the new Heaven and new Earth descend from the clouds with trumpets blaring and angels straining their voices in praise will greatly and infinitely surpass the passing joy of a baseball victory. Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ!

p.s. Go White Sox! ;-)

Of Hypocrites and Me

I never was good at managing money. When I got my first checking account as a high schooler, I think I overdrafted at least 10 times in the first four months. The simple fact is, I spend more than I make. This is very troubling for me to come to grips with right now. I have a tendency to get into arguments with middle and upper middle class friends of mine over the disparity between the rich and the poor. I lament at the fact that we in the upper strata are able to have so much stuff and yet still seem so unsatisfied. I'll rant and rave over the fact that we don't give to our hurting brothers and sisters and instead will spend our money on the latest fashion fad, the newest gadget, or on overpriced restaurants. But when I look at myself, at what I spend my money on, on what i've done to help my poor brother or sister, I should be slow to speak. I am undeniably one of the largest hypocrites I have yet to meet and know. This is very troubling. So as I find myself falling more deeply into debt, seeing my once significant surplus of money dwindle to mere cents, I must stop to pause and reflect on the state of my heart. Am I serving our Lord with my usage of money? Or am I serving my own selfish desires? I think one glance at my last checking statement will show the answer. I have been humbled, I only pray this will lead to change.

Why Alethia?

Many people outside of biblical studies or language studies probably do not know what one who is seeking Alethia is, in fact, seeking. For these people I give you a definition. Alethia is the Koine Greek word for 'truth'. Koine Greek is the language the New Testament was originially written in. The word 'alethia' is used both in the factual sense ie. "Bobby did not tell the truth about not doing his homework and thus was punished" as well as a title ascribed to Jesus ie "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life". I chose this name for my blog because this is what I do everyday, in everything. In my studies, I seek truth. In my relationships, I seek truth. In my journey through this life, I seek truth. And most importantly, I will always seek The Truth.