William Petruzzo

If you think through the list of basic emotional conditions people experience from day to day, pretty much every one has some level of enjoyment associated with them. Almost an entertainment factor.

People enjoy feeling happy when good things happen. People enjoy feeling scared during a scary movie. On some level, there’s even enjoyment in sadness and grief.

Sad movies? The whole genre of “emo” music?

But one emotion that I’m pretty convinced no one enjoys on any level is frustration! Well, maybe I speak to soon to speak for everyone, but I definitely don’t.

It’s almost like the only emotion that has no silver lining at all.

Happiness well, duh, is just an enjoyable emotional state to be in. Fear, in a weird way, appeals to people’s sense of adventure and wonder of the unknown; to be afraid of something we must acknowledge it exists. And grief, perhaps is the most interesting. It’s the only emotion that smacks of real absolute unquestionable truth, that life is fleeting.

But frustration? No no, no silver lining there. It’s like this mix of anger and anxiety that tumbles out of control until is barely even themselves.

Two days ago, my computer fried. I used an entire Sunday hoping to salvage the existing machine. Unfortunately to no avail. But certainly to the utmost frustration. Tonight, I helped my father set up his new home-theater system. It took us about four hours. Most of those hours were spent heated to say the least.

But of course the biggest problem in the emotion of frustration is how outside of godly character it causes a person to act. Saying, thinking, doing things that in a level frame of mind they’d think twice about. Have you ever heard an apology that included the line, “I was just frustrated"?

It brings out the worst in us. In me.

So the question is begged. There is a manner in which all things from God can, and should, be enjoyed to God. Including emotions. Happiness, fear, grief. But what about frustration?

I suppose that’s why believers are exhorted so often about self-control. Perhaps that’s what’s behind Paul’s command to be "anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6). Maybe the goal is to never feel the emotion of frustration.

Which begs the next question. Why’d we get it then?

Since I was about fifteen, I was building my own computers from self sought components. I’ve been the resident computer guy for my family and friends pretty much the whole time. I’ve always done my own upgrades and done a pretty good job of staying near the technology curve when it comes to computer parts.

In years past, Macintosh computers were only used by a weird niche crowd. The available software was slim at best and so their practical usefulness was very limited.

More recently, Apple entered the arena more openly as computers for professionals, and now, for home users who don’t know what they’re doing.

I’ve been an adamant defender of PC computers ever since Apple started to launch its attack on the average computer user. PC computers, toting similar specs, can be purchased for a fraction of the price of Apple computers. Their interface has long been more intuitive (the right mouse button? seriously, it’s a no brainer). And, with just a smidgen of education, they can stay clean and useful for a long time.

But today is the day. I am flipping my opinion. Mark it in your calendar.

Today, my PC computer failed. For the second time in six months. Not just failed. Died. Hardware, died. That doesn’t mean annoying software adjustments. It means shelling out actual money to repair the thing.

Now, let me make one thing abundantly clear: I know what I’m doing. I’m not the flippant savvy-less computer user that most often manage to blow up their computer. No, I’m a well experienced user and well educated in the realm of hardware and software issues.

My point? The problem is not the user.

You see, I’m a photographer and only half of my job happens behind the lens. The rest happens in front of a computer screen. So, I can’t afford to have equipment I can’t trust. That makes today an important day.

Today is the day I give up defending PC computers.

I used to equate Apple computers to Volkswagen cars. Vehicles that are over-priced and under-perform but look so cool. I used to consider PC computers more like Hondas. Not as cool, but affordable and practical. I realize now that I had it wrong. PC’s are really more like American cars. Practical, but the built in obsolescence will get you eventually.

So what now?

Mark my words, as soon as business finances are freed up, all PC equipment and software will be upgraded to Apple computers and I will say farewell to PC’s reign of terror forever.

I know I only sporadically do reviews on movies, which makes this seem a bit silly. But the truth is, I’d really like my limited audience to know this: every one of you ought to go and see this movie.

[rating:5/5]

In my personal opinion, Pixar is on this whole other level of visual story-telling. They take movie animation to this brand new level where people can feel a real kindred with fish, or find real compassion for their old toys they’ve neglected, or even, yes even, find real empathy for a couple of unlikely robots in love.

Of course, Pixar hasn’t always hit the mark. Cars and A Bugs Life weren’t the best. But they also certainly weren’t the worst. But none of them are the point here in this post. The point is that Pixar did hit the mark on Wall-E. Seriously hit the mark.

Wall-E tells the story of the world somewhere around the year 2700. Mankind has abandoned the earth they’ve wrecked to a team of clean-up robots. Unfortunately, all of the robots broke down, except for the one quirky little guy who’s glitch gave him a personality. The one little robot, Wall-E, continues to do his job attempting to clean up the earth to little avail. One day a probe robot looking for life shows up on the scene and steals Wall-E’s heart. The rest of the film we follow Wall-E’s adventure of self sacrificial love and persistence to be with “Eva” his robot opposite.

First of all, I’d like to preface by saying, I’m not going to say much else about Wall-E. The movie really will speak for itself (figuratively speaking).

I love Wall-E. This release from Pixar is, hands down, their strongest most compelling movie. The story-telling is masterful. The relationships are genuine and moving. The plot powerful and poignant. On all fronts Wall-E is a winner.

The first 30 minutes have no dialogue at all. The rest of the film, and none of the plot, rest on dialogue. It’s all communicated in “body” language and “facial” expression and the occasional computer tone emitted from Wall-E and Eva. Yet somehow, the two express more than most films express with a full gamut of dialogue.

There are obvious environmental themes to the film. But unlike other movie’s with the same message, Wall-E doesn’t come across as preachy. In fact, in a weird way it did a great deal more to cause reflection on environmental issues than any other movie has.

As a kid’s movie, Wall-E might be lost on the much younger crowd. But you know what? It was a worth while sacrifice.

On a brief final note. Wall-E made me choke up. Twice. It was worth every penny I spent, and it’s going to be worth every penny I spend to see it again.

I highly recommend you see it.

What of the day
when a basket gave no attention to its weaver.
What of the day
when painting honored not its painter.
What of the day
when a song didn’t consider its singer.
What of that day?

What on earth is laughter? What is the science or psychology behind things being funny.

Why is it some things will make one person laugh and the same thing will have absolutely no effect on another person?

Earlier today, my six month old nephew and my eight year old niece were playing. My nephew, Stephen, has just started to figure out the whole laughing thing. My niece, Meg, has just started to figure out babies. The two were playing a game where Meg would jolt to one side and make a funny noise and Stephen would in turn belt out the loudest belly laugh a six month old baby can.

This went on for a good five or ten minutes.

Perhaps then and there, Stephen was somehow learning what’s going to be funny to him. Maybe he’ll be a sucker for Jim Carey comedies.

Whatever it was, he thought it was hilarious. I obviously didn’t. Although, I admit I greatly enjoyed hearing some of Stephen’s earliest laughter. But my point is, I don’t get it. Especially when we fast foreword five or ten or twenty years and consider the things that are pretty consistently considered funny.

The things we’re not supposed to talk about.

It’s always the funniest. Charlie Chapman was gut wrenchingly funny back when his antics were improper and polite. Today, Superbad is funny because the only thing left not-okay to talk about is graphic oral-sex fantasies.

Of course, there’s exceptions to these rules. Sometimes things fall into some weird crevice of humor where this person or that person thinks it’s funny. But boundary pushers seem to be the most, and perhaps only, universally funny form of comedy. What gives?

I’m someone who loves to laugh. I think I enjoy indulging in humor more than any other experience. Whether it be a movie, a comedian or just mindless banter with friends, I get myself into trouble that way.

Tonight I and some friends engaged in less than wholesome conversation. We enjoyed humorous exchange at the expense of wholesome talk.

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)

I hate it, and love it, when a verse reverberates in my head. I’d just like to hear it ringing before I’m in so deep.

Let’s pray for the will and ability to tame the tongue.

(Romans 8:35-39)

Will tribulation,
or distress?
Will persecution,
or famine?
Will nakedness,
peril, or sword?
Will life,
or death?
Will angels,
or rulers?
Will today,
and tomorrow,
and all the powers therein?
Will height,
or depth or any of creation?

Will my persistence in failure?

Thank God.
They will not.

Thank God.
They cannot.

I was reading in Philippians 3 recently and some of Paul’s words struck me when I read them all together.

Paul has just gone on “boasting in the flesh”. Basically, talking about his qualifications as a Jew. Some think they would find righteousness for themselves outside of Christ because of their works or good deeds or whatever. Paul explains the foolishness of that by boasting about his, rarely matched, works-righteousness.

Paul, however, quickly shuts down his own boasting.

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Paul says that whatever it was that made him “righteous” according to his works, he consider’s “loss”. Not only that he considers everything loss, when it’s compared to the worth of knowing Christ.

The “worth” of knowing Christ?

The value. The extreme value. Knowing Christ means salvation. Knowing Christ means inexpressible joy. Knowing Christ is incomparably valuable. So to seek righteousness apart from him, is not only worthless, it’s actually bad and easily considered “loss” when you compare it to knowing Christ.

In fact, compared to the value of knowing Christ, everything is loss.

Paul has just explained that because of Christ, he has a righteousness that is not his own, but of Christ.

He goes on to explain that in the power of Christ he will do anything “by any means” to remain in Christ. That he would “attain the resurrection from the dead”. In other words, that he would “finish the race” (1 Corinthians 9:24, Hebrews 12:1).

But Paul sets the record straight. He reminds us that while he is still alive, he “[has] not already obtained this or [is] already perfect”. While he still lives, he still must fight the good fight. Stand firm. Mortify the flesh. So that by “any means”(philippians. 3:9) he might be found in Christ Jesus.”

After that sentiment and reminder (which each of us needs to be remembering constantly), he says something that keeps replaying in my mind. I’ll share the verses in their entirety.

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." (Philippians 3:12-16)

You know what Paul just did? He just told us one of the means by which he continues to persevere. He "forgets" what has already happened, and focus on the things to come.

That’s such an encouraging statement to me.

Have you ever been sidelined by sin? I mean, not sidelined by God because of your sin, but sidelined by you because of your sin? Like, maybe you sinned, felt ashamed and then couldn’t bring yourself to pray or pick up your bible.

I know that I have. Sometimes, I sideline myself and I always suffer more for it.

I think that part of what Paul is encouraging us with here is that we should never do that. Even in the face of personal, spiritual emotional opposition, we should let go of the things we have done, whether to qualify us or disqualify us, and look foreword to the future. And by "any means" seek to be found in Christ Jesus.

In the book of Numbers, the Israelites are wandering around the desert. As usual, they’ve started to look at their immediate circumstances, forgetting the incredible things God has already done for them.

They start complaining and cursing God and Moses, saying “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food [the manna].” (Numbers 21:5).

Of course, God is able to provide for them and up until this point, he consistently used Moses to do so. He’s proven it time and time again.

So, God, in his wrath sends “fiery serpents” which come in and start to bite all the Israelites, who then quickly die from the poison. The people quickly interpret God’s wrath in the disaster and come to Moses repenting for their sin. Moses responds to the people with compassion by interceding on their behalf.

God gives Moses the solution. He commands him to fashion a serpent and place it on a stand. When anyone who has been bitten looks at the fashioned serpent, he’ll survive the serpent’s bite. So, Moses does what God commands, and makes a serpent out of bronze and put in on a stand.

Of course, just like God said, it worked. Anyone who was bitten recovered after looking at the serpent.

Fast foreword about 800 years.

Hezekiah takes the reigns in Judah and becomes king. He does what’s right in the sight of the Lord and removes a whole bunch of the people’s stumbling blocks and offenses toward God. Among those stumbling blocks was an incredibly interesting idol.

“…and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it” (2 Kings 18:4)

What? The Israelites, for eight hundred years, sporadically, had been worshipping this bronze serpent that God had commanded Moses to make. In it’s original day, God produced it, mercifully, to save his people. But it was just a thing. God used it, clearly. But still just a thing. It wasn’t God and didn’t deserve worship. But an inattentive people confused something God used for something deserving worship due to God.

The bad habit is repeated later in Acts 14.

Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra and Paul heals a guy who can’t walk. The crowd there are amazed and conclude that “The gods have become like men and have come down”. Of course, Paul and Barnabas (rightly) freak out and rush to clear up the misunderstanding. It doesn’t go especially well for them; but that’s going off topic.

I thought it was interesting. These two (of several) occasions in scripture when we see God do something good and the good thing get the praise.

This habit hasn’t gone extinct. We still fall into it. We still turn our eyes to the incredible works of God in us and through us and around us, instead of allowing those things to direct our eyes to God himself. It’s a daily battle to remember that God is the treasure, not the gifts that he gives.

The bronze serpent in the desert was a gift from God. But eight hundred years later, it was just an idol. It did nothing and provided nothing. Paul and Barnabas were just men and through them, God gave a great gift. The those men died and no their not healing anyone now.

The same is true of the gifts we now enjoy. Our money, our time, our friends, our churches, our entertainment, our comfort. All of it. While good gifts today, they will one day lose their value.

Jesus, however, will not. I’d like to remember that he’s not just the giver. He’s also the gift.

I went to church with a friend this morning. After a long time of worship, it was followed by an (extremely) long set of announcements and then a guest speaker taught from Romans 8:15-30 on the necessity of hope in a life of suffering.

He was careful to explain suffering, so that his hearers would understand that suffering is promised, this side of death. Not just righteous-persecution type suffering, but really all afflictions that come forth as a direct or indirect result of sin. We all experience suffering, almost all the time.

He was also careful not to trivialize the profound sufferings of many Christians, persecuted and martyred for Christ.

The gist of the sermon was that the sufferings this life perpetually serves up calls for a constant and steadfast hope in the work of Christ. Not only that, but hope is not something we have to work to muster, but hope, even hope, is a gift given to us from God as a direct result of Christ’s finished work on the cross. He sure, complete, perfect and sufficient work on the cross.

The speaker ended with a quote from The Heidelberg Catechism:

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

“That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ…” Dang. Seriously, dang.

I immediately thought of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:19-20:

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Dang. Dang. Super dang.

Paul’s word’s are, in one sense abrasive. Something like, “don’t you get it? You belong to God. He bought you. You were very costly; Quit sinning! Do your job and honor him!” But when we look at Paul’s other words, namely those in Romans 8, he clearly has another tone which I often fail to recognize:

God made a very expensive purchase, and besides my own regular failure to protect his purchase He intends full well to do so.

This is the theme of Romans 8. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)… For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)”

Hope is an absolute necessity in finishing this “race”. But the good news is, God will be protecting his investments and proving all the hope necessary.

UPDATE: Thanks to a helpful reader the iCal link and public google calendar are both now up to date. Unfortunately though, the Microsoft Scheduler link is dead now. So, it’s been removed. Happy studying folks!

A few days back, a friend of mind posted a blog talking about the value of using a bible reading plan. It’s correct to assess that this generation does not embrace the bible reading plan quite like some of the older generation. It’s true that many, if not most, look on the idea of a bible reading plan with distaste. We tend to see it as inorganic (oh, God forbid) or unauthentic.

As if the only value of God’s word is found when you spontaneously come across some incredible revelation amongst candles and finger-paints.

How do I know this? Because I’m less than a year out of those waters.

I see now the great potential value of a plan for reading the bible. God’s word is God’s word and it behooves us to listen to it regularly. Among the most important lessons I’ve learned so far as a Christian is that consistent bible reading is an absolute must. Even if it’s only one chapter a day. It’s absolutely imperative that a believe be daily in the word.

A bible reading plan can either be a great stumbling block or an incredible encouragement and source of motivation and accountability. Unfortunately, most bible reading plans fall, for the average person, into the former category.

A reading plan for the rest of us

Where most bible reading plans err is in the failure to acknowledge people as inconsistent creatures. We have times of great devotion and consistency and other times of utter failure. In the right conditions any bible reading plan can provide excellent structure to keep a believer organized and on track. But in most hands, folks get discouraged when they miss a day and fall behind then the sheer size of the bible scares them away from picking it back up right away.

The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan takes that into consideration.

DJBRP (whew; long acronym) is an standard reading plan, with readings each day from the Old Testament, poetry, Gospels and Epistles and gets you through the whole bible in one year.

What makes it different though is that each month only has scripture assigned to 25 days. The rest of the days are left blank in order to encourage people not to walk away. If you find that you’ve fallen behind, Didn’t have time for some reason, or by chance, were taken hostage, there are several extra days so you don’t fall any more behind.

For many (including me), that’s just the little extra nudge of encouragement they might need to stick with it.

I started using the plan a short while back and it’s been an excellent mix of scripture. I find that the assigned reading ends up being right around 20 minutes. What’s also nice is the Gospel and Epistle readings are granular in size, but contain much more in a small space than you’d imagine when you slow down and take it bite by bite.

Some extras make DJ ultra convenient and easy to use

DJ is available in a few different ways making it very easy to keep track of where you are and where you’re supposed to be. Here are five.

PDF Format
Designed to be printed on two sides of one sheet of paper. Stick it in your notebook.

Online
Keep track of where you are on this website.

iCal File
Load your calendar into you iCal or Mozilla Thunderbird.

Public Google Calendar
This one here is my handy work. If you use google calendar or gmail, you can susbcribe to the calendar and get daily notifications on what the daily reading is. It’s pretty sweet.

So get on with it!

This an excellent plan that I (and apparently John Piper) are using. Through it, the Word of God stands to transform you. So get on with it; lets see what God will say to us when we listen!