Reality

Something to chew on...

From C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity

"Besides being complicated, reality, in my experience, is usually odd. It is not neat, not obvious, not what you expect."

"Reality, in fact, is usually something you could not have guessed"

Motiva...

Innovation

"Here's the thing: you can't stand out if you fit in all the way, and thus the act of deciding which part isn't going to match is the important innovation."
Seth

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/sethsmainblog/~3/OP3fNJbqLho/tropes.html

Novelas

"You know a novel is good when its words creep into your rare, sacred moments and shape the way you see them."
Sarah Clarkson
http://www.rabbitroom.com/?p=10651

Perspective

This is from a blog by Sarah Clarkson

"What if God left me to the vagaries of my own sinful self? Judgment is what happens when tenderness and tears are not enough. If we will not have the personal God, the Lover, then we shall be left with the elemental God, the Maker of the the mighty heavens and the pathless earth. And every force of his holy, creative power will run through us as a purging fire.

But the fire, the pain, is mercy. It is destruction with the goal of redemption. Over and over throughout the prophets, God states the goal of his judgment: a people who no longer need law or rod because goodness is etched on their very hearts, formed in their very souls. The goal of judgment is annihilation only of our sin. We, ourselves, come through cleansed. We may be broken apart, but it is only so that the dirt drops off and God can craft us beautiful again.

The miracle is that God sticks around to see it through. Any other god would just zap the sinful lot of us and be done. To bring nations and peoples through the process of a judgment that leads to full redemption is a true, everlasting love. It is a faithful love that is not willing to leave us in sin, nor finish us in anger. Love is the only force I know that works throughout every change to bring about the goodness, restore the beauty of the beloved. I used to be afraid of the prophets in all their bluster. Now, I know, they are just expressing the storm of God’s grand and many-faced mercy."

http://www.rabbitroom.com/?p=10688

What are your thoughts?

A thought

I came across this interesting quote when I was reading Donald Miller's blog (author of blue like jazz. Article at http://donmilleris.com/2010/11/13/i-know-how-old-you-are/).
"When we are young or immature, right theology makes us feel superior, but when we are older and more mature, a study of theology makes us feel inferior and unworthy, undeserved, and grateful."

I write like
Arthur Conan Doyle

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Hows that for you? ...and I believe there should be a sir in there too

God's
Redemption
At
Christ's
Expense

The Work of God

One of the places that i am reading is in the book of Isaiah (specifically chapter 37 recently). In this chapter Isaiah is telling king Hezekiah about Assyria (an enemy which he prayed deliverance from). In this chapter Isaiah points out that Assyria was pretty much saying that they were the coolest. They whooped lots of enemies, conquered their lands, and made them their home.

The Lord counters in v26 that he had planned this long ago. That that plan was to be the tool to conquer fortified cities. I think this set up Assyria to be a nation that was feared, a nation that struck terror at the sound of it's name. I think that this was just where God wanted them, to be high up, so that when they were defeated in their prime that His Glory would be acknowledged.

It also brings me to another story of glory.

John 9 and the story of the blind man whom Jesus healed..."but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

God works in a different mindset and time frame than we do...thank goodness. We might not know all that has gone on or is going to go on, but trust that ultimately God will receive all the glory.

The shape of things to come

I figured that I hadn't used this in a while so I would get started again. Since we got married we wen....not that far back. Y'all can read at larichard82.blogspot.com on our life from marriage to move to Kentucky to present day. I figured that I would start this again but in a different fashion this time. My idea/goal is to keep a blog of my biblical readings to keep me learning and accountable of sorts. Granted I am no theologian but I want to examine the word of God and find the truth within instead of trying to fit it to my "truth". Through this I hope to grow with Christ and if it so happens you are along for the journey, the more the merrier.