First, a warm welcome and thankyou to all of my new readers. You've pushed me over the 200 hit mark!! (whoopdeedo)
Second, I am leaving on Saturday to go visit a college in Minnesota. Please pray that it would be fruitful and productive, and that I would never veer or stray from God's will. We also will get to visit John Piper's church, which I am so excited about! Although J. Piper is not currently there, I'm still thankful for this opportunity and for the fact that God has provided an amazing church where I might be going this fall.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Another Great Sermon
Well, another Sunday has passed and with it another excellent sermon. ( I know that they are availible online, but I'm not sure how.)
Today's passage was on John 13.
The main point of the passage and of the sermon was this:
Today's passage was on John 13.
The main point of the passage and of the sermon was this:
Love for the brethren is one of the key distinguishing marks of true faith.
Jesus gives us the greatest example by washing the disciples' feet. Wow.
I came away from the sermon pondering my own view of myself. Do I put myself above servanthood? How can I serve Christ's body more? It is so powerful to think of the church as Christ's body, as an aside.
Anyway, I think I put myself way too much before others, as is my sinful nature. My prayer is that I would be reducing in pride and increasing in Christ--including in His behaviors and spotlessness. I have a feeling that the upcoming Katrina trip will offer a gazillion opportunities to practice this love.
I came away from the sermon pondering my own view of myself. Do I put myself above servanthood? How can I serve Christ's body more? It is so powerful to think of the church as Christ's body, as an aside.
Anyway, I think I put myself way too much before others, as is my sinful nature. My prayer is that I would be reducing in pride and increasing in Christ--including in His behaviors and spotlessness. I have a feeling that the upcoming Katrina trip will offer a gazillion opportunities to practice this love.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Shakespearian Inspiration
Lush, verdant
The albatross became bodacious…
Oh beauteous verse to mine ear dost lend, but,
What purpose dost the albatross serve?
Does it represent a regal scoundrel, a prince amongst the gulls
Or perhaps just a glimpse of white amongst the green?
And how came it be bodacious?
Art thou bold, oh bird, to make thine artist describe thee as such?
Dost thou steal and pilfer, to earn ye such a name?
Thy mysterious ways have caused no little confusion to thine observers.
And what have ye to say to such accusations?
Louder, my bird, louder!
What?! Doest thou naught but squawk? Come bird, do thy kind better.
I knowest not how thou came to be called bodacious.
Thou, who canst neither speak nor be clever,
Thou who is but a dumb bird and used for naught.
Thee I do banish from this verse
Thee who only dost mars it and wrecks thy country’s beauty.
Farewell young bird, who canst do good, I leave thee forever by the sea.
Lush, verdant
The elephant…
Aie! When will the injustice given this poor pen end?
O.k., I'm due for an update, but the problem is that my mind is running dry of ideas.
Again.
Oh well, woe is me. (Just kidding!)
I just read one of the most amazingly bitter-sweet stories that I have seen in a long time. It was heart wrenching but Christ-centered. It left me in tears to see how powerful and full of love is Christ yet how He reveals it in different and sometimes sorrowful (to us) ways.
Read it here. (It is Erin's story.)
Again.
Oh well, woe is me. (Just kidding!)
I just read one of the most amazingly bitter-sweet stories that I have seen in a long time. It was heart wrenching but Christ-centered. It left me in tears to see how powerful and full of love is Christ yet how He reveals it in different and sometimes sorrowful (to us) ways.
Read it here. (It is Erin's story.)
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Musings
I've been reading First and Second Kings lately, and have seen some very interesting points that are tossing around in my mind right now. I just wanted to spill them here.
After David became king, Israel and Judah split. Kings talks about the next forty kings of these two kingdoms. The interesting part is that out of these 40 kings, 30 of them were "evil in the eyes of the Lord." Only 8 of them did what was right and therefore honored the Lord. The other two were not given the evil or right stamp but their actions did not look too favorable.
WOW. Out of 40 Kings, only 8 were right.
Also, there was a distinct "very evil" king (Ahab) and a distinct "very right" king (Josiah).
And again, all of the "right" kings were of the kingdom of Judah, which is where Jesus descended from (right??).
I've been thinking about this a lot and trying to figure out how it fits with the rest of the Bible. It fits in an obvious way, but I'm wondering if I'm missing anything.
After David became king, Israel and Judah split. Kings talks about the next forty kings of these two kingdoms. The interesting part is that out of these 40 kings, 30 of them were "evil in the eyes of the Lord." Only 8 of them did what was right and therefore honored the Lord. The other two were not given the evil or right stamp but their actions did not look too favorable.
WOW. Out of 40 Kings, only 8 were right.
Also, there was a distinct "very evil" king (Ahab) and a distinct "very right" king (Josiah).
And again, all of the "right" kings were of the kingdom of Judah, which is where Jesus descended from (right??).
I've been thinking about this a lot and trying to figure out how it fits with the rest of the Bible. It fits in an obvious way, but I'm wondering if I'm missing anything.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Responsibility
We have been having really weird, unpredictable weather. Hmmm, that would make sense, since this is VT. Last week we had 18 inches of snow in one night and yesterday there was "torrential" rain storms and lots of fog. We lost all of our snow in less than a week!
Oh well.
On Sunday I attended a Cross Training meeting. The discussion varied, but we talked a lot about taking responsibility for our actions under the narrower topic of homosexuality. The Bible is very clear about how we have sinned and are responsible for it, but, praise God, it is also very clear about salvation and hope in Christ. Anyway, as an example of not taking responsibilty, the Stella Awards were mentioned. While these are funny to a certain extent, they are also kind of sad. I mean, when someone starts sueing magicians because he thinks he is "god" and his powers are being taken away, the matter becomes pretty grave. I am tempted to say "how stupid," but it makes me think about how I view responsibility in my life.
Do I take responsibility for the right things and the right reasons? Do I follow through with responsibility? Do I fully admit, in my heart, that my sins are my fault, not the fault of another? Do I take responsibility for my actions seriously?
While I haven't gone around sueing companies and such for very silly things, I know that I am guilty of blameshifting. Responsibility for my actions doesn't always come first. This provides food for thought, especially since most of my actions affect others and have the ability to cause others to stumble.
Oh well.
On Sunday I attended a Cross Training meeting. The discussion varied, but we talked a lot about taking responsibility for our actions under the narrower topic of homosexuality. The Bible is very clear about how we have sinned and are responsible for it, but, praise God, it is also very clear about salvation and hope in Christ. Anyway, as an example of not taking responsibilty, the Stella Awards were mentioned. While these are funny to a certain extent, they are also kind of sad. I mean, when someone starts sueing magicians because he thinks he is "god" and his powers are being taken away, the matter becomes pretty grave. I am tempted to say "how stupid," but it makes me think about how I view responsibility in my life.
Do I take responsibility for the right things and the right reasons? Do I follow through with responsibility? Do I fully admit, in my heart, that my sins are my fault, not the fault of another? Do I take responsibility for my actions seriously?
While I haven't gone around sueing companies and such for very silly things, I know that I am guilty of blameshifting. Responsibility for my actions doesn't always come first. This provides food for thought, especially since most of my actions affect others and have the ability to cause others to stumble.
Friday, March 10, 2006
John 11
Lately our church has been studying John and most recently John 11. (The dead and resurrection of Lazarus.)
This passage is so encouraging to me because it shows how Jesus comes and meets us, we don't have to rise up to some unreachable level to meet Him. He responded to Martha and Mary in the way that each of them needed most. That's really cool.
This passage is so encouraging to me because it shows how Jesus comes and meets us, we don't have to rise up to some unreachable level to meet Him. He responded to Martha and Mary in the way that each of them needed most. That's really cool.
This has never happened to me before...
O.K, so the other night, I was reading this book The Princess and the Goblins. It's kind of an odd book and I'm not sure I would recommend it, but I haven't finished it, so I can't give a yay or nay.
Anyway...
I had just gotten to the part where the young lad was in the mines at night and was trying to figure out what the goblins were after and why they were pursuing him more than usual. Then I went to sleep.
That night, I dreamed the whole rest of the story. No joke. I knew exactly what the goblins wanted, how they were going to get it, and every other detail. It was perfectly complex, and yet my mind made it all up. I have never read the book before. Now I only remember some of it, but it was intense. That has never happened to me before.
I know that sounds kind of dumb, but it was so vivid and so real and it made sense, which never happens. Amazing.
I'm sure you really wanted to know all of this.
Blogging is so much fun!
Anyway...
I had just gotten to the part where the young lad was in the mines at night and was trying to figure out what the goblins were after and why they were pursuing him more than usual. Then I went to sleep.
That night, I dreamed the whole rest of the story. No joke. I knew exactly what the goblins wanted, how they were going to get it, and every other detail. It was perfectly complex, and yet my mind made it all up. I have never read the book before. Now I only remember some of it, but it was intense. That has never happened to me before.
I know that sounds kind of dumb, but it was so vivid and so real and it made sense, which never happens. Amazing.
I'm sure you really wanted to know all of this.
Blogging is so much fun!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
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