Over the month of December, I read the five books that have been written thus far in the Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin. I hesitated to start the series due to it's size (about 4800 pages), it's genre (fantasy is not my favorite), and some lewdness. But there are few better ways to maintain your spirits on a deployment than by reading engrossing fiction. And, aside from the accolades lavished on the HBO series based on the books, they had garnered attention from South Park, which provides the most sophisticated political and social satire in pop culture today, and careful dissection within the pages of Modern Reformation, which is perhaps the greatest organ of confessional Reformed thought.
As an initial caveat, this book is not appropriate for teenagers, or perhaps even unmarried young adults. There are enough explicit scenes to prove mentally/morally/spiritually unhealthy for those who have yet to cradle their love and desires within the safe confines of marriage.
This series is certainly one the best fiction series of the past decade. Martin has the unique ability, like Tolkein, Lewis, Rowling, Collins, etc. to create a believable and compelling imaginative world and populate it with relatable and developing characters. My wife has reminded me to not compare these modern writers to Tokien and Lewis without adding the obvious qualifier that the actual quality of the writing is far inferior, but I would argue that could describe most any artist endeavor today.
I would argue the most important feature of great fiction is the ability to construct a world that the reader can live in. In this respect, Martin lacks the sophistication and comprehension of Tolkien, and the compelling storytelling of Rowling. But he exceeds them both in his development of characters. I think Tolkien's brilliance likes more in the whole, while his characters can tend to be a bit vanilla. Rowling is somewhat better in this respect. Martin's characters, in good postmodern fashion, are incredibly complex. "Good" characters make disappointing decisions; "Bad" characters sometime make noble decisions and evoke empathy.
Rather that digging deep on any particular topic within this massive series, I will simply highlight a few pertinent themes are worth thinking over during the course of your reading.
Portrait of God and spirituality. As with the real world, Martin's world is dominated by a diverse array of religions with pious adherents as well as skeptics. He does not mock the supernatural--there clearly is power exhibited by these "gods." And he draws from Christian categories to compose many of these gods. One religion is vigorously monotheistic, insisting that there are no other gods but the "God of light," and believes power comes with the sacrifice of those with royal blood. But there is a dark, murderous edge to this religion. Another religion centers around "the Seven"--the father, mother, maiden, warrior, etc. The language here parallels much of Trinitarian language, but unlike the Trinity, devolves into polytheism. Another group, holds to the "old gods," which is reminiscent of traditional Christianity's stability, but is also blatantly pantheistic (the gods tend to exist in all things, including the trees). At the end of the day, the valuation of each of these religions lends itself to universalism, in which no religion is either right or wrong. This brand of theology goes hand in hand with the present spirit of the age.
Love, marriage, and sexuality. There is a sharp bifurcation between each of these concepts. Marriage is a matter of duty and must often be borne as a yoke more than enjoyed. Sexuality is most often displayed in jaunts of illicit lust and taking hold of the forbidden fruit. Somewhere, in the vast fogginess between love and sexuality, one finds love. At times, this vague, ambiguous concept is attached firmly to the commitment and loyalty of marriage; At other times, it tackily-tied to the whims of brute sexuality. Rarely is love attached to marriage and sexuality. Even more rarely does it draw the two together as they are meant to be. Love unites marriage and sexuality, placing the exotic adventures of the latter upon the solid terrain of the former. But the dissolution of these bonds are again endemic of the age, with a resulting vacuity in meaning in relationships.
Despair and hope. One of my quirky criteria for a great story is that a key, beloved character must die. The lack of this element proved to be one of the few flaws in the masterful finale of the Harry Potter series. In the real world, the bad guys aren't the only ones who die, nor is it simply the middling characters of considerable moral stature. Instead, heroes die, often through seemingly meaningless circumstances, with no opportunity for valor. This reality pervades Game of Thrones. I have heard it said that it is a good thing that there so many beloved characters, because so many of them die. And many of the deaths are not noble, nor is it relegated to the men fighting the wars, but to the women and children as well. While the sheer amount of treachery seems a bit too much, this series rightly handles war in all of its ugliness.
But brokenness is not the only mark of reality, nor is it final. In the soil of the most unimaginable chaos and evil in human history, one often finds buds of civilization, love, and life. When war is over, soldiers lay down their weapons and fight with love (hence, the baby boom). They know there is more power in creating and sustaining life than in taking it. In Game of Thrones, the brokenness vastly outweighs the hope, moral courage is often regarded as naivete, and the pinpricks of light are quickly swallowed again by darkness. This again reflects the postmodern milieu that we currently live within. People are less illuminated by a hollow utopianism, but left disillusioned by the brokenness left in it's wake. And instead of reaching out for hope and meaning beyond themselves, they go inward, and consequently, find the same brokenness of the world within their own hearts.
Beyond the great wall that preserves his world in Game of Thrones, Martin finds zombie-like creatures that in a state of undead limbo, wreak havoc upon the living. Beyond the seas, Martin finds dragons who will subdue mankind with their fire. Within the citadels, he finds naught but conspiracy and intrigue.
When I look beyond the walls of comfort, I see a God who is able and willing to save. When I look beyond the seas of fallen human comprehension, I see a Savior who came not to subdue but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. When I look within the citadel of my own heart, I find intrigue and treachery within my own fallen nature, but look to a Lord not only enthroned over this world but in my heart as well, guiding me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Game of Thrones is aptly titled because truth and moral conviction seems but a means to acquiring the throne and power to rule, and the competition of these truths and convictions becomes but a game in which the "little people" are but helpless, victimized pawns. While we don't know the end game of Martin's series, we do know the end game for human history, when Christ will formally take His throne and takes the "little people," who by grace through faith in Him counted all things rubbish for the sake of knowing Him, and will draw them into His everlasting glory.
(3)
7.1.14
Three Reasons To Be a Soldier
CPT Dave Lyon's body arrived home today: http://www.nataliekirchhoff.com/1/post/2014/01/a-heros-welcome.html.
Remembering the caliber of the man and the soldier that he was--from my own brief memories and from the myriad testimonials of others, I would like to offer a few reasons for one to take the leap and become a soldier:
1) To grow intellectually. Since the military draws disproportionately from the urban and rural poor, people get the perception that most soldiers are all brawn and no brain. There have been numerous studies showing that, educationally, this just isn't true. The reason why many soldiers join the military is for the sake of education, and a result, they combine a budding intellect with a well-honed work ethic.
But this about more than education. As much as our society deifies education, true learning does not start on the blackboard but in channeling intellectual curiosity through the ravines of the real world. While Ivy League academics will wall themselves off in fluorescent-illuminated rooms for years to theorize about whether evil truly exists, the soldiers learns through inescapable realities that it does, and seeks to understand why.
2) To grow mentally. It's sad to say, but Millenials (a generation of which I'm a part) are remarkably soft. Many grow up in broken families and as a result, tend to abide by more of a social Darwinist-survivalist impulse than striving for great and noble causes beyond themselves. For the hippie generation, this selfish mentality was cool and counter-cultural--now it is simple conformity. Coinciding with the survivalist impulse is a general obsession with self-esteem. Many parents become best friends rather than authority figures, condone bad behavior and neglect discipline, and convey the myth that if you pursue your dreams, you can achieve anything.
The military serves as a conduit back to reality. There are rules and discipline. There are higher causes worth fighting forth, values worth pursuing, and battle buddies worth dying for. Failure in these respects is not an option. These things captivate you and make your resilient--unwilling to accept defeat and always persevering. In the end, you have a more fully developed character--less soft and more steel.
3) To grow morally. This seems ironic, seeing that soldiers are at least as promiscuous and noncommittal in their relationships as their peers in regular society. But in many respects, certain moral virtues are so deeply impressed upon the soldier that he has no choice but to live by them.
A soldier learns patience through a variety of unexpected obstacles. The bureaucracy and administrative mayhem that comes with a government agency means that soldiers might have to wait an extra couple of months for a paycheck or get passed over for a promotion due to a superior forgetting to submit a form. There is also the patience required in the months leading up to a deployment, or the hours leading up to a particularly dangerous convoy, or in the minutes that slowly tick away until you finally grieve at home, away from the constant missions.
A soldier learns discipline. You want it? You might not get it. If a higher-ranking soldier you don't like tells you to get in the front-learning rest position (for push-ups), you get into position and get ready to push. If a commanding officer tells you to charge a hill under fire, you run forward and try to be the first one there. Civilization persists, from a human point of view, because people exercise the discipline to abide by moral norms, rules, and authority. The soldier gets that.
A soldier learns sacrifice. Greater love hath no man than this... To paraphrase Calvin, it is a sad thing when man's obsession with life outweighs his purpose in life. There are things so great and meaningful, that they are worth dying for. These things include one's wife, children, the helpless, and if rooted in noble ideals, one's country. A soldier learns to leave behind the survivalist impulses in favor of sacrifice. A man will rescue his injured battle buddy under fire. He will jump on a grenade tossed into his vehicle. He remembers, even at the last, that his life is wasted on him alone.
In the vein of that last point, there is no sacrifice that can remotely approximately that of Christ. He didn't die for good people, though they are helpless. He died for the enemy. He died for those who not only murdered Him, but did so with malice forethought and intentionality throughout. At just the right time, Christ died for sinners. Not only did He die for the enemy, but His death and resurrection did more than simply preserve life. It brought forth eternal life for all those who believe in His name. A soldier's life and death may grip our hearts and minds for a time, but King Jesus saves and secures them for eternity, by faith in Him and in His atoning work.
Ultimately, I am His soldier, by His grace and for His glory alone.
(4)
Last Trip Out
Just spent one final night with our most at-risk team, out in the mountains. I choppered out to them, weaving through towering, snow-peaked mountains of brown (and unable to take pictures) and came back on their convoy. The mountains surrounding this FOB (Forward Operation Base) are beautiful, though they'd be more captivating if they weren't hiding some of the enemy!
6.1.14
Gone For Two Days
Looks like I'll be making my last trip to visit some of my soldiers. I'll try to remember a snap a few pics from the chopper so that you all can see a few of the sights through my eyes.
I had coffee with a chaplain buddy from the 82nd Airborne today, and he gave me a lot of good counsel on ways to continue progressing the chaplaincy (since he shares many of the same passions and gifts). Please keep this chaplain in prayer, as he will constantly be circulating around the country to visit his soldiers and will likely not get rest through most of his deployment. He has a wife, two little kids, and a baby on the way back at home.
My commander put me in contact with a reserve Civil Affairs unit and I recently put in my military resume. God-willing, this will be the next step. As much as I love my current unit, chaplains are not meant to stay in one place and it is time to move on. Civil Affairs would be a great option for me as I know the political and journalistic fields quite well, annual training is often done in Africa, which is my home away from homeland, and spots are much more readily available in jump school and other advancement opportunities. Such a unit would still be within driving distance of home as well.
Maybe some day I'll be assigned with a Special Forces unit to the Malawi-region, where I can also moonlight as a seminary professor and itinerant preacher and free up the wifey to pursue a funded project/advanced degree dealing with that region of the world.
Just another crazy dream, which is not unusual for me. Thankfully, I have the wifey to keep me grounded to reality and attentive to the everyday details and responsibilities that come with life in a real world!
Frankly, I'm just happy not to be whittling away the days until I die. Even when--especially when--one understands the brokenness of this world, they can still find joy in their work, relationships, and lives. Ultimately, when I hand the flag to the newly-widowed or put my hand on a shoulder and pray with someone who is grieving, I feel gratitude. If this broken world is not the ultimately reality, and it is not, then it is a pleasure to work, love, and serve. Christ brings meaning and healing to the brokenness, and in His saving work and present reign, points us forward to the day when all that Adam did in his rebellion against God, and us in Adam, will be undone by the Christ who reigns forever and ever, with His people in Him.
5.1.14
Chaplain's Library
Update: My lost soldier has been found! Praise God for that great news. Also, there are several more good posts on Dave Lyon at Dana's website: http://daveanddana.weebly.com/.
Review-in-brief of Dangerous Calling, by Paul David Tripp. I worked through part of this book with a mentor at home and went through most all of it with the brother I was mentoring out here. This book is of immense help in assisting the pastor to examine his heart. Sin is already deceptive--in the life of a pastor, it can prove deadly. As helpful as the book is, it is far too long for the simple points that the author attempts to make. His examples of failure grow stale, his lists and key points grow repetitive, and it seems like entire pages are lists of questions/characteristics that are meant to provoke introspection, but because there is twenty of them at one time, and there are over twenty such lists in the book, they become easy to ignore. This book is a welcome addition to the library of any pastor or congregation seeking to care for the pastor. If it was edited more ruthlessly and cut down to about sixty pages, it would become indispensable and an immediate pastoral classic.
Currently reading:
Bad Religion by Ross Douthat. I have enjoyed reading articles by this author for years. He is a former editor at The Atlantic, is the refreshingly philosophical movie reviewer for The National Review, and is one of the two dissident conservative opinion writers for The New York Times. Like most of the other writers for TNR, he is incredibly witty and verbose. The central and provocative contention of this books is that America has not become more secular, but more heretical. With a thesis likely to catch flack from all sides, he argues that most Americans are still vaguely spiritual, but have largely discarded orthodox Christianity (as defined by the ancient creeds). He tends to view the 1950s as a time of spiritual renewal, before the broadly caused crash of the 60s and 70s. I know much of the history of this crash in Protestant circles (which I would date back to way before this time), but was fascinated with the story of a similar collapse in American Roman Catholicism. If you are not offended by some portion of this book, then you are probably not actually reading it. I look forward to finishing it!
And it begins...
(5)
Review-in-brief of Dangerous Calling, by Paul David Tripp. I worked through part of this book with a mentor at home and went through most all of it with the brother I was mentoring out here. This book is of immense help in assisting the pastor to examine his heart. Sin is already deceptive--in the life of a pastor, it can prove deadly. As helpful as the book is, it is far too long for the simple points that the author attempts to make. His examples of failure grow stale, his lists and key points grow repetitive, and it seems like entire pages are lists of questions/characteristics that are meant to provoke introspection, but because there is twenty of them at one time, and there are over twenty such lists in the book, they become easy to ignore. This book is a welcome addition to the library of any pastor or congregation seeking to care for the pastor. If it was edited more ruthlessly and cut down to about sixty pages, it would become indispensable and an immediate pastoral classic.
Currently reading:
Bad Religion by Ross Douthat. I have enjoyed reading articles by this author for years. He is a former editor at The Atlantic, is the refreshingly philosophical movie reviewer for The National Review, and is one of the two dissident conservative opinion writers for The New York Times. Like most of the other writers for TNR, he is incredibly witty and verbose. The central and provocative contention of this books is that America has not become more secular, but more heretical. With a thesis likely to catch flack from all sides, he argues that most Americans are still vaguely spiritual, but have largely discarded orthodox Christianity (as defined by the ancient creeds). He tends to view the 1950s as a time of spiritual renewal, before the broadly caused crash of the 60s and 70s. I know much of the history of this crash in Protestant circles (which I would date back to way before this time), but was fascinated with the story of a similar collapse in American Roman Catholicism. If you are not offended by some portion of this book, then you are probably not actually reading it. I look forward to finishing it!
And it begins...
(5)
Excerpt from Officer Evaluation Report for Deployment
PART VII -SENIOR RATER
a. EVALUATE THE RATED OFFICER'S PROMOTION POTENTIAL TO THE NEXT HIGHER GRADE
BEST QUALIFIED
FULLY QUALIFIED
DO NOT PROMOTE
OTHER (Explain below)
b. POTENTIAL COMPARED WITH OFFICERS SENIOR RATED IN SAME GRADE
ABOVE CENTER OF MASS (Less than 50% in top box; Center of Mass if 50% or more in top box)
CENTER OF MASS
BELOW CENTER OF MASS RETAIN
BELOW CENTER OF MASS DO NOT RETAIN
c. COMMENT ON PERFORMANCE/POTENTIAL
Chaplain Robert's performance this rating period has been outstanding. His natural zeal, infectious enthusiasm, and compassionate care for soldiers is clearly evident in his weekly counseling sessions, bible studies and morale-building activities. Chaplain Roberts takes great initiative in finding creative ways to care for soldiers and executing my guidance. I relied upon his counseling insights in determining the level of morale within DCOM-SPO. I have been impressed, but not surprised, by his constant ability to get involved in the social life of the brigade, even the installation, and improve morale across-the-board. CPT Robert's possesses unlimited potential for promotion! Chaplain Roberts served as a force multiplier for DCOM-SPO. Groom him with the most challenging assignments. Promote Chaplain Roberts to Major ahead of peers.
d. LIST THREE FUTURE ASSIGNMENTS FOR WHICH THIS OFFICER IS BEST SUITED.
Brigade Chaplain, Special Forces Chaplain, Family Life Chaplain
(6)
Have You Seen My Soldier?
What a waste!
I found out two items of bad news this morning:
First, one of my former soldiers back home earned his green beret. Great news, right? Well, he subsequently partied and got alcohol poisoning and died. This kid was one of two soldiers representing our unit in the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition when I first arrived. He was well on his way to having an illustrious Army career.
Moderation in drinking isn't only a matter of biblical principle of Christians, it is also a point of wisdom for all people. Ad campaigns generally only touch drinking and driving and don't touch upon the irresponsibility of getting drunk, period. It's all fun and games until someone wakes up in a bed with a stranger, finds a couple of teeth missing from a fight, awakes in a hospital after getting their stomach pumped, or dies.
This kid could have been a hero. He lost it all without even firing his weapon.
Second, one of my soldiers who redeployed in November is missing: http://www.capitalgazette.com/
I hope and pray that this soldier is safe and well. I have done a couple of dozen funerals and picked him up/dropped him off at his home in Annapolis for one of them. God willing, his funeral will not be my next.
I found out two items of bad news this morning:
First, one of my former soldiers back home earned his green beret. Great news, right? Well, he subsequently partied and got alcohol poisoning and died. This kid was one of two soldiers representing our unit in the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition when I first arrived. He was well on his way to having an illustrious Army career.
Moderation in drinking isn't only a matter of biblical principle of Christians, it is also a point of wisdom for all people. Ad campaigns generally only touch drinking and driving and don't touch upon the irresponsibility of getting drunk, period. It's all fun and games until someone wakes up in a bed with a stranger, finds a couple of teeth missing from a fight, awakes in a hospital after getting their stomach pumped, or dies.
This kid could have been a hero. He lost it all without even firing his weapon.
Second, one of my soldiers who redeployed in November is missing: http://www.capitalgazette.com/
I hope and pray that this soldier is safe and well. I have done a couple of dozen funerals and picked him up/dropped him off at his home in Annapolis for one of them. God willing, his funeral will not be my next.
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