I'm a Tent Maker

Things I'm wrestling with:

• Christology - Who is Jesus? Who did people think he was? Who did he think he was?
• Global Trends - A new mind for India, Iran, Europe, other parts of the world.
• Fall Break - Girls are dumb. (Just kidding, but really.)
• Backpacking Retreat - If (Girls are dumb) then {Screw it; Leave the country;}
• Missions Conference - There really is a place for me.

This semester has probably been the most difficult in terms of new ideas and challenging concepts that affect how I live. I'll focus on a few that I've wrestled with lately.


I had a lot of time to think over fall break.  I went from holding out for some relationship to develop, to becoming excited at the idea of graduating single. Break was quiet, but not restful.

The guy's RA backpacking retreat on the Appalachian Trail was my rest. While physically exhausting, the steady silent trek gradually allowed my mind to become cleared. Clear of the distress, distractions, and demands that have muddied up my thoughts.

For about as long as I can remember, missions has had a place in my life. Looking to the future, I don't think my calling is being a missionary. What is a missionary? Lets put it in these terms. What would a missionary look like in the US, doing what a missionary does? You'd probably call them a church planter, or a pastor; maybe an evangelist. Yes, all Christians are called to be evangelists, but I don't see that being my full time occupation.
I write software. There is a healthy job market, a stable demand, great compensation, and plenty of opportunities for software development. I've been trained, I feel that I'm gifted, and I enjoy it.

Packing all this together, what is my place? I don't want to just take part in hit-or-miss short term mission trips and be limited to writing checks. I want to be there. What is my solution? Do my work, abroad. I can do my type of work anywhere, so why limit myself to the US? I could work for a multi-national corporation and still do what I enjoy, while being active in a church. Its not at very different from what  living and working in the states would look like, but I'll be "making tents" in another part of the world.

5 Year plan:
• Graduate
• Pay off school
• Move abroad

Well, that's a great conclusion but now the question is where? Where do I get my first job and pay off my schooling?  Where do I go? These I do not yet know. It is freeing that I don't have to know yet. I'll figure that out. God has provided me with so many opportunities and options, and my task is to remain faithful and find out God's will in my life. 

Realizations

I will probably not be in Michigan for much more than a week again.

I would rather be with someone then be alone.

I graduate college in just under 7 months.

I should be studying for Christology.

I am supposed to be responsible.

I have a great job.

I am forgiven.

Wow.

Personal Convictions

I've been musing a lot lately about a number of issues, and I have not been sure where I really stand on them. I have a feeling that outlining them here would help to bring some organization to my thoughts and maybe even help lead to some conclusions.

I'll also say that my purpose is not to condemn or belittle anyone, or to promote myself. I really want to not only know what is right, but to do it. (See James 2:20) I want to have an informed position, one that I am confident is building up my Christian witness, and one that honors Christ.

I have really been avoiding the application of the 8th commandment to my life.

"You shall not steal." (Ex 20:15)

This may be surprising, but this it is much more applicable then one might first think. I think the ease, ubiquity, and acceptance of online piracy has made people (by people, I mean Micah Hausler) numb to the application of this commandment. I'll admit, I have frequently downloaded, "acquired", and "borrowed" software, music, and video that I have not paid anything for. Is this a sin? Is this wrong?

I first will say that I've never heard an argument or position that I feel holds water on the the side of using torrent sites, personal music copying (Mojo), or any other form copying copyrighted electronic data.

A frequent position is "Its there! (for the taking)" or "I don't want to pay for it", but that clearly doesn't stand up any more then trying to walk out of WalMart without paying for DVDs would.

Another position I've heard goes something like, "the artist/company makes so much money, what does me copying music over Mojo really do?" Well since you ask, lets add up the numbers. Often when you look at someone's library over Mojo, they'll have anywhere between 1,000 - 5,000 songs in their iTunes library, maybe more. Even if you were to buy all those tracks on the iTunes store, which is typically cheaper then buying the CD, that would probably cost you nearly $5000. That is $5000 that somebody is not making. I don't know about you, but if somebody took $5K from me, I'd be pretty upset. And does taking (COUGH... stealing) from someone who has lots of money make it right?

I have also heard, "I can't get this movie anywhere else!" I believe there is always another way. It may be hard to find, it may not be cheap, but there is a term for that. "Cost prohibitive." You can't always get what you want. Yea, I love watching obscure cartoons from my childhood, but does my desire to indulge nostalgia make it right?

My justification to myself has really been none of these. I have just not wanted to think about it. It has been a lot easier to float along without thinking about what I'm doing, and just focus on my own enjoyment.

Ok, so its wrong. What now?

I think the first step for myself is to stop sinning. (John 8:11) This means no more downloading. No more torrents.

The next step is even harder. Check out Luke 19 and what Zacchaeus's reaction to the gospel on his life was. I don't think his five-fold return reaction is mandated, but it shows the state of his heart. I have to give up what I've taken. This will hit my 100GB of video on my external drive, and my nearly 12GB iTunes library including 10 out of my 15 most listend to songs.

I realize I haven't even touched on the legal ramifications of all this, and I am really not even positive what they exactly are so I won't comment, but I know they are quite serious.

I will say, this is not the end of the world. There is always Hulu, Grooveshark, Pandora, OpenOffice, and Google Docs. I'll still listen to my favorite songs, watch movies, and open .doc files, but it will be a little different.

May Christ be honored in my life.

I finally caved, and I don't mean spelunked

Believe it or not, this is my first blog post. Ever. I'm a software nerd and I've never had a blog. I seem to be saying, "We'll see how it goes." about so many things these days, so we'll add this to the list.

I'll kick off this with saying that I am blessed beyond reason. There are so many things in my life that I pleaded with God about, and I've been given everything I've asked for and more.

• I have a car. Actually a truck, and its a huge blessing to have freedom of transportation.

• I have made some great new friends just this semester.

• I am going to be an RA. I've toyed with the idea of applying, but mostly like how you think about being a teacher when you are in middle school. You know exactly what you would do better then your teacher was doing, but you're not sure if you would really teach. Well, I really applied, and really got it. I feel that I'm about prepared as I can be at this point, and the flood will hit in August.

• I have an internship. I was so doubtful that I would have a job, and then I have 4 well-paying opportunities fall into my lap. Why should I be the one of all my friends that has a choice of all-good options? I have seen so many of my close friends struggle to find work and struggle to pay expenses, yet I've been given so much.

I titled this blog after a line out of Chris Tomlin's "I Will Rise" and the song holds a pretty special place and represents a lot of memories. Ask me about it sometime.

I'll close with saying that I love being home with my family, but I'm looking forward to life; this summer, next school year, and beyond.

The victory is ours,

Micah