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.