Maids: “Ludwig, you must eat! You must eat!”
Beethoven: “Good morning, nice to see you!”
Maids: “Och!”

That was part of a hilarious skit featuring John Belushi from Saturday Night Live back in the 70′s. Of course, that was a bit before my time, so thank goodness for video tape. And with that little opening, I do welcome you to the humble beginnings of my brand new blog. It is a good morning here on the Left Coast of this strange and mystifying country known as the United States of America, and it is very nice to see you. Although I can’t actually see you, but you get the idea.

What was I rambling about? Oh yes, my new blog. I’ve been blogging on tech topics on and off for years (see my now discontinued blog The Idea Basket for more history), but a number of events transpired in 2006 to alter the course of my life, and recently I began to feel a calling to try something new. I’m also calling out to a higher Power that has sustained me throughout the past year in ways I never would have dreamed. Thus the name of my blog: Finite Calls Infinite. I’m a finite being, limited by my faulty senses and my faulty knowledge and my oft-misleading emotions. But I believe in God, who is infinite and not limited by anything we can understand about ourselves, our world, and our place in it. A finite being communing with an infinite being seems like an impossible feat, but the truly amazing feat is that an infinite being became a finite being in the Person known to us as Jesus. If that miracle could become reality, then anything is possible.

One of my goals for 2007 is to join the global conversation that is raging across the globe about the place of supernatural belief in our societies. A side aspect of that conversation which is less well known is the fundamental differences between religion and relational faith. This has been stated many times by many people, and it’s true: Christianity is at heart a relationship, not a religion. Religion is tradition, ritual, and process. Relationship is communication, intimacy, and love. And that growing and changing relationship I have with my savior Jesus is what I hope to share with you in 2007, and I hope you can share what Jesus means for you as well (whether you believe in Him or not).

My particular goal with this blog is to post something everyday. It will most often be something simple — rarely something profound. I’m not old enough or wise enough to say anything very original. I just hope I can say something authentic. We have enough fake, pious religious people in our midst. It’s time to Get Real. I think God is most pleased with people who are crazy in love with their Maker, who are passionate and wildly creative about the ways they express their love, and I for one can hardly wait to see where this awesome journey will take me.

Thanks for coming to my new blog! I hope you stick around! Blessings on you for 2007!