love for ewoks

Okay, I just recently finished watching all six Star Wars movies in chronological order for the first time (I kind of had a lot of disappoint with the prequels and was reluctant to ever attached them to the originals). It was way better than I thought and definitely made the classics have a richer meta story. Some dialogue really takes on a whole new twist with the prequels (thinking about Ben and Luke's first conversation).

Anyways, enough about that. I came across this video and almost wet myself. This was ridiculously funny. The cameo is awesome!

where is god?

This is a recurring question from my two (almost three) year old. We have taken quite a journey in these conversations. We tackle one question at a time, starting with, "Where is God?" Each time we talk we repeat the conversation from the beginning, and every few times, a new question arises . . .

Ashlyn: Where's he (God)?

Dad: God is all around us.

Ashlyn: I can't see him.

Dad: He is Spirit. He is all around us. God is very big. God will never leave us.

Ashlyn: Why will he never leave?

Dad: God loves us. God loves Ashlyn more than Mommy and Daddy do.

Ashlyn: Where's his home?

Dad: God lives in heaven. He lives in Mommy and Daddy. And God wants to live in you.

Ashlyn: God's house is next to ours?

Dad: God lives in heaven.

Ashlyn: What is heaven?

Dad: It's where what God wants is done all the time.

Ashlyn: Where's his people?

(I don't know how that question follows . . . but it's kind of cool that it did.)

Dad: His people are everywhere. Mommy and Daddy are his people. People at church are his people. People all over the world are his people. Do you want to be one of his people?

Ashlyn: Yes. What's Spirit?

Dad: Uhhh . . . spirit is personal power . . .

(Dad is stuck on Dallas Willard's "unbodily personal power" definition . . . not real helpful for a two-year-old.)

Ashlyn: What's personal power?

(This from the girl who thinks she is not big enough to say "allergies.")

Dad: It's what tells Ashlyn's arm to move when she wants.

(Ashlyn waves her arm in the air smiling.)

Dad: God is just Spirit. God is REALLY powerful. He is very strong. That's why he can make everything. Trees. Grass. Ashlyn.

. . . For now the conversation ends . . . We'll begin again I am sure . . . This has been quite the journey, and there are some seriously hard questions that I am discovering I am not always real satisfied with the answers, or am only able to repeat philosophical answers which haven't sunk in to me enough to be really understood and expressed clearly. I love that sometimes Ashlyn isn't satisfied with my answers either. The mystery of faith.

is our pain god's problem?

I commend to you this blog debate by N.T. Wright and Bart Ehrman. I love N.T. Wright's final response. The titles of the posts alone are beautiful and challenging. Good times!