Jesus Freaks

So, DC Talk was never a great band in my mind, but their song "Jesus Freak" seems to be a fitting title for this latest entry. Since I do go to a Christian school, and spend a good deal of time at a big Christian camp, I see many people who express their faith and beliefs differently. Some I agree with, others not so much. Yet I have noticed something that[s probably going to tick some people off.

I hope you take the term "Super Christian" as an insult.

Oh no, I bet I've crossed the line with some of my readers. How could I think anything like being a Super Christian is bad? I must have lost my mind or become an existentialist or something. Unlikely inner monologue aside, some of you might know what I'm talking about. When you hear "Super Christian," you probably have a certain image in your head, whether a generic idea, or someone you know. Let me describe what I see.

A Super Christian in my mind is something along he lines of a Bible-thumper. Everything they talk about has to do with God, or Jesus, what they learned or how they were blessed. There people are incredibly vocal about what they think God has been doing in their lives. Ask them how they're doing, and they'll fed you a line like, "God has given me a great day to enjoy."

All of this sounds pretty legitimate right? I understand what it is like to be excited by God's greatness and what He does for us. My problem is not with their excitement. I take issue with their consistency. I know a few Super Christian, and a common trend in them is that they talk their big game, but live like me. I am not perfect, I have some anger issues, I know when I sin, and I realize that I don't always put God first. That's what being human means. Super Christian are just like that, but they try to veneer their faults by slathering on the Christian buzz words. It seems like if they talk about God enough, people will ignore their shortcomings.

What really bothers me, is that the Super Christians believe that they are "above" me. I have been criticized by Super Christians for different short comings, and had various Bible verses vomited at me to prove me wrong. It's really amusing to see that the idea of quoting Bible verses for your own purpose is used by come Christians. Here's a verse for the Super Christian, " You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Mathhew 7:5.)"


Not all people who always seem to revel in God are Super Christians. I know some who are indeed people who are connected to God and want to share their joy. Two men that I will name up at Camp-of-the-Woods are Cody Allen Rushing and Christien Jackson. These two men are knowledgeable in the Word, and dedicated to God. The reason they are different, to me, is because of how they live. Both men are full of love for those that they meet, and both can admit their failures. I have spent nights talking to Christien about my faults and his, and I always feel like I grow when we're finished.

How we live is who we are. Super Christian live like everyone else and sound like hypocrites when they speak. Real men and women of God live in him, and inspire when they speak. So many Christians, it seems, fail to recognize their own faults and failings. I believe that God saved us and has forgiven our sins, but that doesn't make us perfect. No amount of pretty Christian vocabulary can hide the truth of who you are.

And if someone says they'll pray that I change my mind one more time, I'm going to defenestrate them.

Just something to chew on.

Christ and the Dating Game

I love going into bookstores and seeing books that I have reviewed sitting on the shelves. It's cool to think that my review might cause someone to buy it, then have their lives changed. Today I was in the Camp bookstore, looking through the numerous lifestyle books. At the bottom of one shelf was a whole section on christian singles. I browsed the books, not finding anything interesting. I did, however, think of something odd while looking at the content of so many.

Do christian guys not need to know how to date?

While examining the books, I saw a good number of them for girls about how to date in a christian manner. There were things like not seeking "Mr. Right" but being "Ms. Right," others on being independent, but also dedicated to another, and more. It's definitely a good idea to offer this kind of advice, christian dating is a murky thing, and the words of some "experts" can always help out.

Now, when looking at the books targeted to men, I saw, mainly, one trend in all of them. Most of the books were about remaining pure until God's appointed time. I realize that remaining pure is a wonderful goal to strive for, and something that requires learning and dedication. However, is that the only thing that a single man's life is about?

I wish there were more books about being christian, single men in a world where dating is so confusing. I admit that I have never actually dated anyone. There have been the odd situation once or twice, but not what I would consider actual dating. I think that I would be more inclined to pursue a dating relationship if I could get some insight before plunging into that tumultuous sea.

I know that a book can't teach everything, and may only offer some very small part of a grander puzzle. However, I believe it is better to go with some preparation, than totally blind. Life experience is one of the only ways to learn how to act in a dating relationship. Let's be honest, life experience can be painful, sometimes earth shattering.

The main reason I would like some kind of book on the subject, is because I would like to know how a christian mindset deals with life issues. There are enough secular books about dating and hooking-up to fill a trashy library, but I have not found too many books that deal with how to deal in a Christ like manner with a girlfriend, or how to follow God's will in a deeper relationship. Practical "skills" are one thing, but knowing how to be godly in your dealings with the sensitive feelings that we hold deep.

Even though I consider myself an aspiring writer, to whom nothing is off limits, I don't think that I am the person to write this kind of book, at least not at this, or any foreseeable, period of life. I do think, however, that there are enough strong christians out there, single and married, who can help teach the young and the restless like myself. I'm willing to take the plunge someday, but I have no idea when that will be.

And no (mother) I'm not ruling out any possibilities God might throw at me.

Just something to chew on.

By Any Other Name

Anyone who has been through a high school English class should recognize the title as the tail end of one of Romeo's lines in Romeo and Juliet. In it, he is describing Juliet and ask if "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It is supposed to mean that the name of anything doesn't matter, only what it is. This seems a little messed up in my mind. If I were the rose and he called me a tulip, I think I'd be pretty ticked (not counting in the fact that a rose isn't sentient.) To me, names are important, and that is why I speak how I do.

I always try to call people by name.

A few years back, someone once told me that your name is the sweetest thing that someone can say to you. We put a lot of value on our names, attaching honor and history to last names, and individual identity to our first. In many cultures, a family with a dishonored name is ostracized from their community. Calling someone by the wrong first name is one of the most embarrassing social interactions that we know of.

I always try to know someones' name before I really start to know them. A name is the most important starting point. Just greeting someone you work with by name in when you see them is a good start. After that, addressing them by name and asking questions just help solidify your friendship. This isn't Todd's guide to making friends, but it does show the importance of names among friends.

Names and identity go hand in hand. I believe everyone out there takes pride in their name. I know that I do. One thing that I love about the name "Todd" is that I almost never meet anyone with my same name. In most places, I am the only Todd, making me unique. The meaning of the name is also something that I like. One definition for it is "Seeker of Wisdom." I am one who peruses knowledge and common sense. Sounds accurate. The other definition is "Fox."I'm talking about the animal mind you, not the adjective (though I'm not against being described like that either.) Why do you think the fox from Fox and the Hound was named Todd? A fox is a cunning and intelligent creature, and I have always felt like these traits reflect well in me.

My last name is also something that I am proud of. Naevestad is a Norwegian name, shortened from its original form which was some twenty letters long (and which I don't know how to spell.) The original name meant "place of the lower fjord (river)" and denotes an actually place in Norway. There are maybe twenty people in the world with this last name, as far as I know. I am one of the lucky ones to hang onto that name. That also means that I am given the responsibility of passing it on (however unlikely that might be.) Naevestad isn't just a name, it is an entire family identity.

I mentioned how I feel unique with my name, but there are many times when I have friends with the same name. My dorm floor had four people on it named Nathan, three people named John, and three people named Andrew (Drew). It always seemed like there would be one person to retain the name, one would get a nickname, and others would be called by their last name. This seems only to happen to guys, however. The girls that I know with the same name, I call them by their name. I don't usually do anything to it.

There is also the subject of nicknames. I have some close friends that I have given nicknames. It isn't because I have trouble with their name, but because I have a special affection for them. I call my friend Catherine Sundheim "Sunshine" and my surrogate little sisters, Morgan and Cassie Miller, "The Little Blonde People." I know that I said above that I try to call people by name, but nicknames are different. Nicknames are about a personal bond. The name is usually between the two of you, your own special connection.

Romeo may have been trying to be elegant and deep, but the guy really didn't know what he was talking about (I'll get into my hatred for Romeo and Juliet another time.) True, just because a name changes, doesn't mean the object changes, but the identity does. Names are an important part of our lives. They are the earliest definers of who we are.

To the future parents out there, don't give kids stupid names, they'll hate you.

Just something to chew on.

Bat-wuss

Recently, DC announced that they were rebooting their continuity. Every series is starting over from number one. That means that there are new origin stories and hopefully a more coherent storyline. It's interesting to see where they go with this, the younger Superman is an interesting development. This reboot is also a smart time to change the story of one famous character. I've come to a rather controversial conclusion.

Batman is a wuss.

Now, let me be clear, the Batman we all know and love is hardcore. He's the dark knight, skulking through Gotham, beating down the villains, and instilling fear in the criminal underworld. Batman as a hero is pretty sick, but his origin is so pathetic. He doesn't have that real heroic beginning.

Let's look at this real fast. When Bruce was a kid, his parent's were murdered. Simple start right? Bruce trains and gets strong and agile, then dawns the famous cowl and becomes Batman. This seems pretty solid, but what about some other superheroes? Hal Jordan becomes the Green Lantern because of a sense of duty. Aquaman is out to protect his kingdom. Spider-man wants to honor his uncle's memory and atone for his selfish mistakes. Captain America is dedicated to his country. And Batman is a kid with some serious issues.

Batman is running off a messed up childhood and a desire for revenge. There is little that is noble about him. Most people probably would have moved on had they had some counseling. But here Batman is, bringing a crusade against crime to the streets of Gotham. Here's something to think about, Batman's parent's were killed and he swore revenge, Superman's entire planet was destroyed, and he's done his best to adapt and protect earth. Batman is the dark, brooding, anti-social, and Superman is a man of the people. Could you imagine what it would be like if Superman was that dark and brooding, scouring the galaxy for revenge? I don't think anyone would go for that.

I like Batman, I just think that they could do more with him. One of the main reasons I like Batman is because of the colorful cast of villains that he has. Villains like the Joker, Scarecrow, and Poison Ivy add a nice contrast to Batman that make both characters seem more in depth. But alone, Batman is very one sided, and compared to the other characters in the DC multiverse (had to get that word in somewhere) he's pretty boring. This reboot is a chance for Batman to be more than just a dark monolith of the night, he can have a depth and personality that is compelling and unique. Batman will never die in our minds, but this new age can bring him to amazing new heights.

On a related note, let's ditch the grown man in a rubber suit and little boy sidekick dynamic, that opens some serious questions that no one wants to get into.

Just something to chew on.

The Frenzy

Wikipedia (the source of all knowledge) defines a feeding frenzy as a situation where over-saturation of a supply of food leads to rapid feeding by predatory animals. A group of piranha might consider the wounded wildebeest as a meal and proceed to have a feeding frenzy on it's still struggling body. I figure that watching this would be a real gruesome sight. It's uncontrollable, nature just takes over and the feast commences.

Any college's freshman frenzy is just as terrifying of a sight.

It  probably seems odd (to the few of you who read this) that I am covering this the summer after my freshman year. After all, shouldn't my commentary about it come from having just witnessed some sickeningly sweet exchange between a newly formed couple? Probably, but  this has come about from a book had to read for my writing professor. It got me thinking, and since I had nothing better to write about this week, I wanted to make it my topic.

I guess this frenzy comes from having so much freedom as you enter college. There are no parents breathing down your neck, judging who you hang out with and who you're attracted to. Frankly, as long as they're human and of the opposite sex, your parents probably stay out of your business (aside from the expected badgering over the phone). It actually seems fairly natural. You're in a new environment, these people are stuck in the same place as you, you share many of the same beliefs, and in some dorms, you "live" together.

So if all this seems expected, what is bugging me you might ask? Here's a starter: Taylor has a reputation for hooking people up. A college like Taylor has a high rate for students meeting their spouses. Heck, it's practically printed in their pamphlets. What bothers me is the idea that the frenzy should overlap with this idea. Should the person you start dating a few months into your freshman year be your destined mate? I feel that is a pretty unrealistic idea to have going into any relationship that young.

Another thing that bothers me is what happens if things don't work out. Say you were dating Mr. Right or Ms. Wonderful for a year, then, come sophomore year, one of you goes abroad and you just can't hack it, the relationship ends. In many places, I think that it would be a growing experience and then you both would move on. Simple and clean right? Yet, mixing the Taylor mentality with the frenzy could have some nasty side effects. I could see someone getting severely depressed because things didn't work out. They might be thinking that there is no one else; they'll be single forever. You can see why I'm so critical of this right?

Something I've learned in my family, form my dad specifically, is that you need to be someone's friend, a real friend, before you can be anything more. Just hanging with a person for a few months then getting serious isn't a smart idea. When you're friends with someone, you see them at their best and their worst. You know the person, their character, not just how they portray themselves in public circles. I don't think that any relationship can be built strongly in only a few months. Without that deep friendship, I believe there is a weak foundation for the following relationship.

Now, I'm not condemning all my friends who did start relationships in their freshman year. I believe that whatever is going on is in God's plan, one way or another. I'm also not saying I am above this natural occurrence. If things had been different, I might have been a part of the frenzy as well. Right now, I'm just looking back at the last year and making some observations and guesses. I wish the bet of luck to my friends in relationships, but I also want to admit that I'm not usually shocked when some relationships come to and end. Maybe that's just my pessimism, or maybe I see where some troubles are creeping in. Either way, it's a part of life, and we can all deal with whatever comes are way.

By the way, a "DTR" (Define The Relationship ti those non-Taylor people) is really not suitable for public places.  Let's put a new connotation to "get a room" and send them to the private hang outs in the library.

Just something to chew on.