Introduction

Welcome to “Nothing New.” The goal of my blog in the past has been to stimulate discussion about all things related to CBC, the Christian life, and the world at large. But it has recently been hijacked by my cancer and treatment. This means I have to eat some crow (which I hate) because early on I boldly claimed I would not allow my condition to take center stage in my life.

But it is taking center stage on my blog – for a while. I am rather torn about this development. I am uncomfortable making this all about me – because it’s not. It is strangely therapeutic for me to blog about this, however, and I cannot express even a fraction of my appreciation for everyone who reads and leaves their funny, weird, and /or encouraging words in comments and emails.

So please join with me in dialogue. I always look forward to reading your comments. (If you'd like to follow my cancer journey from day 1, please go to my post on 6/25/08 - Life Takes Guts - in the archives and follow the posts upwards from there.)

Monday, July 28, 2008

Ink

Round 2 started today - all is good so far.

I've discovered that I have a odd but growing desire to get a tattoo after I kick this cancer.

Any suggestions? I'll take them under advisement until such time my wife vetos the whole matter.

23 comments:

david b mclaughlin said...

I Killed Cancer
or
Cancer Sucks
or
the Prince symbol
or
Craig's face
or
voyageradio.org

Anonymous said...

How about "I traded my wife for this tatoo"?

Consider yourself vetoed. (That didn't take long, and it forced me to comment on your blog for the first time ever.)

Heather said...

I am laughing so hard right now. First, about the image of you with a tattoo...(sorry, I just don't see it!) and secondly about Shanda commenting for the first time ever! You know she has "blog commentophobia!" This must be a serious veto!!!
Love you guys and praying without ceasing as you do Round 2.

Anonymous said...

Ahh... she's bluffing Aaron. Jen loves my tatoo. Consider her veto like the time you were in grade school and the girl that punched you did it because she liked you... I'm just sayin.

-sk

Anonymous said...

Two words... DO IT! And at the risk of incriminating myself, I have my design picked out, I'm just trying to find a place I like to do it! Mine is an abstract of Jesus with the crown of thorns. There are three streams of blood running down his face. Its awesome. But since your wife said no, maybe a rub on tat or some majic marker will work!
Andy Titus

Craig Smith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

When it comes to tatoos, it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.

-Zeb

Jenni said...

Shanda is definitely NOT bluffing on this one! Since she has never commented on the blog she means business.

I do NOT love your tattoo, Scott. You should take a hint that other people do not love it either because when people see it they say "OH, I didn't know you had a tattoo." If they loved it they would say "Cool tattoo, man."

Just remember this, Aaron.

Anonymous said...

Aaron,

You know me - I am definitely not against that. I think that a suitable tattoo would be the Hebrew "havva.?.?." I don't know how to spell it but it is just one little squiggle shy of the Hebrew Yahweh... Boldy stating - "To become" - It is one I have considered once or twice!

Let me know - I will get mine when you get yours!!! Sounds like a S.M.O.D. moment!

Matt can get an equation or somthing...

Thom - where you headed with this one?

Anonymous said...

I say get a colon with strong looking arms tattooed somewhere. Shanda will like it. It'll just take some time...

Anonymous said...

I have to say that I'm a little insulted by Craig's "rub the beads comment". Actually, I'm a lot insulted. I am a loyal reader but first time commenter.
I am inspired by Aaron's faith during this whole ordeal.
I will continue to pray for you Aaron and continue to lift you up during Mass.
God Bless You.

Craig Smith said...

Apologies all around.

I deleted the comment. Which is sad because there was a great joke in it about a guy Aaron and I went to college with. But I am willing to sacrifice for my art if it makes the world a happier place.

"There. Now we can be friends again." Doc Holliday from TOMBSTONE

Anonymous said...

No hard feelings Craig, thank you for being respectful! Sorry you had to sacrifice your joke...

david b mclaughlin said...

I traded my wife for this tatoo

Shanda,
Clearly the best and funniest comment in the history of this blog.

Unknown said...

Aaron,
I see that the tattoo post has triggered much ink from your fans. I thought of a very sarcastic response ("Why don't you tattoo, Leviticus 19:28?) to leave annonymously. However, I guess the sensitivity of the cancer diagnosis and the Christian nature of your blog prevailed on my better judgment. So let me say that before I knew that this verse was in scripture, I didn't struggle with believers having tattoos. In the recent past, I wrestled with the verse and with my baptist legalistic tendencies. Not that being a Baptist should lead toward legalism but that it did for me. Now, the issue of having the tat as a victory statement over cancer should be fine at first blush and in fact could be glorifying to God if it credits Him, but then how does one rectify that with the prohibition in Leviticus 19:28? Of course, we should visit other Biblical prohibitions such as braided hair in worship in light of their cultural context and determine if the same interpretation rules apply to the Leviticus passage.
The goal is to uphold scripture, and my goal is to introduce a passage to wrestle with as you make your decision.
Whichever way you proceed, you have my prayers for the recovery from cancer and for an extraordinary experience of God during this trial.
For His Glory,
David

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhh, the old Leviticus 19 argument! Many struggle with that. I was waiting for that one to pop up. But I can identify with the Legalistic Baptist tendencies, that is part of my old nature that I try to Crucify often. LOL! That is hard for a life long Baptist.
AT

david b mclaughlin said...

There is an outstanding and extremely scholarly breakdown of the Leviticus prohibition in Christian Research Journal.

Bottom line, the prohibition in Lev 19 was related to acts in conjunction with pagan idol worship. If a modern tattoo is not in conjunction with pagan idol worship you are probably just fine. (Shanda notwithstanding) I would add that the folks at CRI who put out CRJ aren;t exactly abunch of raging liberals.

I might also add that it is an OT prohibition directed at the Jews. Aaron, you are neither a Jew nor under the Law. So imhowigr, if Shanda gives you the go ahead, ink it up.

Personally, I would never have one. Would you put a bumper sticker on a Mercedes?

Craig Smith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Davidbmclaughlin Excellent argument. I found that out a few months ago when researching my own Tat desires.
Craig, Crackin me up man! I must confess (James 5:16) that today I wore a coton poly blended shirt,and have been doing so on many occasions for the majority of my life. I feel that I must also confess that I like my Steaks Medium Rare with the juice in them and eat them regularly! Lastly I got a hair cut last Sunday and I had the barber cut the hair on the side of my head!
There I feel better! LOL
andy

Unknown said...

Brothers, the tone of the interaction here burdens me. I see it as cavalier. To disagree with an interpretation of scripture is appropriate, but to mock and demean the law of the Lord as if it has no relevance in our walk displays a contentious, arrogant or immature and unloving heart. I considered leaving this alone after reading the responses to my post above, which was not even an assertion of a stance held with certainty but merely a suggestion referring to the specific scripture which had not yet been brought to the table.
Then this morning I grabbed a different devotional than normal that took me to Matthew 5:17:
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I read this in context of our exchange and through the lens of Acts 15 which I had been studying this week where I had been reminded of the word “adiaphora,*” referring to doctrines seen as the “non-essentials.” Now please don’t think I am insinuating that circumcision brings salvation. However, my point is to dig into scripture (including the old testament written to Israel to which we are now grafted – see Romans 11:17-19) and to see the Law as David saw it in Psalms 119 not because of any merit that we could obtain but because it will expand our love for the God who wrote the law.
The nature of blogging may lend itself to energetic interchanges and sarcasm (see my struggle in the first post) but we’re called to a higher standard especially when dealing with scripture. I understand that I invited myself into this exchange, that you are friends, that the topic of cancer makes folks uncomfortable, and that joking around helps bond the body together. Please also understand that I am mostly aware of my own shortcomings – pride, lust, sharp tongue. Nevertheless, I am unable to remain silent on this for some reason and therefore this reply. May it be for our edification.

*Adiaphora
Adiaphora is a Greek word [adiaphora] literally, [a] meaning not, and [diaphora] meaning different. It implies an indifference by not really being against whatever is in view. In a theological debate or discussion, it means a matter of moral indifference, or that which has neither moral merit, nor which lacks moral merit. i.e., that regarded as something which is tolerable. For example, doctrines which are neither explicitly condemned by scripture, nor explicity stipulated. Often used in connection with religious tolorance of what is sometimes called, 'the non-essentials.'
[back] http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/faq/glossary.html#adiaphora

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiaphora

For His Glory,
David

PS Aaron, I would like to hear back from you if I have offended you by overstepping the nature of your blog or my welcome here.

Aaron New said...

Brevity is probably best here...

(1) I rely on passsages like I Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23 when it comes to tattos and meat.

(2) There are far weightier issues for me to address in my life (pride and self-righteousness just to name two) than to get worked up over to tat or not to tat.

(3) I'm not getting tattooed. Probably. I'd never find anyone to replace my wife.

Aaron New said...

....tattoos and meat...

Craig Smith said...

Aaron

I deleted ANOTHER comment. I hope that solves all of your problems.

It must be me.