Geography of Redemption

Again, falling upon words that are not my own...but wow, good.

"There is a geography to redemption, a way in which the ideals of
grace and renewal make themselves real in this world. All of creation
is groaning for its redemption, and we join in that chorus. We are
surrounded on all sides by the forest of our failures, our dirty feet
fighting the thorny underbrush. Or we wander the used-up cities of
cement dreams and strip-mall seductions. This is where we live. But to
us who are weary and broken, the God of redemption gives the plains,
and a view of the land we have yet to claim, yet to sow, yet to reap.
Here, there is space, and a chance, to make all things new...The land
of redemption, where signs of promise abound, where the reptiles
witness, where the rocks cry out, and where hope stretches as far as
the lazy eye can see. This is where we, with trembling hands, toil and
subdue. and where the rain of grace pounds the dirt until life breaks
through the mud and reaches for the sun..."-Caedmon's Call

I'm not sure how this happened

...but I've turned from the sour, pseudo-depressed and confused man of high school and college into someone who is legitimately happy.

Thanks, God

"Setting your mind on the things of God"

I was reading in Mark where Jesus famously rebukes Peter with the famous "Get behind me Satan!" line. However, it's the second part of this sentence that hit me: For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.

Why have I never noticed this before? I think there's a tendency to equate Satan only to the really, really capital-e Evil things of the world. Fact of the matter is, whenever we're setting our mind on the things of men, we're listening to Satan.

(Sidenote: does anyone else feel weird capitalizing the S in Satan?)

Every day I pray to be a better man. What that probably means is setting my eyes on the things of God. One of the best things I've done this year was to fast on Good Friday this year. It was the first time I ever fasted and helped my faith tremendously. Whenever I felt hungry, there was a simple solution: think of the Lord. Every single time, the hunger went away.

Set your mind on the things of God...let Him put your hunger (or whatever) away

Interesting Article

Hi all,

Here is an interesting article from USA today. It talks about the Portland Season of Service.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/07/evangelism-20-.html

Your anti-self

Karyn and I were discussing this a bit ago, based on a question from the game "Would You Rather". What would your anti-self, your nemesis, the photo negative of who you are be like? Would your nemesis be evil or good, dedicated or flaky, dirty or clean, rich or poor? Would he/she be a loner or not? What would be his/her motivating principle, goal, or world view?

See comments for my nemesis' description and leave your own.

From Oswald Chambers

An excerpt from My Utmost For His Highest (I'm cheating and using the one for May 25). I'm not so sure about the "good" and "best" part, but overall I like his train of thought.

"If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." Genesis 13:9


As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you, and these things are yours by right; but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the right and proper thing to consider if you were not living a life of faith; but if you are are, you will joyfully waive your right and leave God to choose for you. This is the discipline by means of which the natural is transformed into the spiritual by obedience to the voice of God.

Whenever right is made the guidance in the life, it will blunt the spiritual insight. the great enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but the good which is not good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. It would seem the wisest thing in the world for Abraham to choose, it was his right, and the people around would consider him a fool for not choosing. Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eye on God. "Walk before Me."

Nothing to say

Why doesn't anyone appreciate silence anymore?