And It Came To Pass

Dear Blog Family (and any other random, one-chance-in-a-million other reader),

If you know me very well, you know that I just can’t let anything happen without SAYING something about it. I think it’s a closure thing for me; maybe relational too. I need to analyze the incident or the comment or decision or expression or whatever. I want to consider motives and causation and ultimate caveats or insights while simultaneously challenging people and helping them “feel better.” The personality quirk applies now too, at … the … demise … of … this … blog.

I’m tempted to over analyze this too: What exactly is my purpose? Who is my audience? Why do I enjoy it? Why do I see it as a chore? Why do I not want to stop? Why did I start in the first place? Ad nauseum.

So I’ll FIGHT the temptation to give excuses or go into a verbal catharsis and just say that I certainly hope the rest of you keep it coming. I’ll continue to bookmark your blogs and find joy in reading your posts and seeing your pictures, but you’ll probably find it good to delete any link to this site on your own blog after the 1st of October (that wonderful “page not found” message will begin to appear about that time)

It’s been fun, but I think it's time.

RB
PS… Parting shot, guaranteed to stir something up: Don’t be too afraid of the “Emerging Church” and check out LaShawn Barber, she’s worth reading on a regular basis.

Too Good to Describe

Words and pictures can't convey the richness of the experience. Backcountry in Alaska. Beautiful country. Excellent weather. Incomparably good company. And just the right mix of bear anxiety, tromping through the brush, freeze-dried food, and majestic landscapes.

"Speak"

Back to a little Depth and Dimension. Reading some of Ayn Rand this week. 20th century philosopher and novelist. Evangelistic in regard to her philosophy of Objectivism which is essentially humanist, often referred to as rational self-interest, but rejected by most liberals, humanists, modern day Marxists and relativists because of the inherent denial of altruism as a motive for anything. Brilliant person. Hanging on by the skin of my teeth just to grasp even her elementary arguments. Blatantly rejects possibility that God or a god is actively involved in our lives. BUT she has some political opinions that I share, including an aversion to contemporary egalitarian socio-political demands.

For instance, I love that she points out inherent conflicting values of the modern-day liberals when they emphasize equality as a foundation for societal policies – ignoring their stated valuing of individualism and achievement. Then Rand also ask the question about what happens when wealth, income and power are shared equally among all, “regardless of competence, character, knowledge, achievement, or brains.”

And more to the point here, given that Christians may rightly have different opinions about this issue of egalitarianism, she provides some insight for all of us about having an impact with our worldview. One of her disciples asked how we can possible make a difference and her answer is that we should just SPEAK. When someone says something we disagree with (given our Biblical Worldview), don’t let it slide by unanswered (and thus silently condoned). Don’t preach everytime an issue comes up, but at least say, “I disagree,” and be ready to explain why you disagree if an explanation is requested. This requires two things; first that we take the time and energy to know what we believe and what we don’t believe and why, and second that we muster the courage to disagree with people we work with and live with instead of letting their worldview prevail unanswered. Good stuff.

Can't Help Myself

Been thinking about so many things that count lately, from the sheer joy of healthy, happy Henry Marr and his mom and dad to household budgets, Middle East conflicts and vacations to Sun River, Alaska or New York. But here I find myself wanting to post for someone's pleasure (my own? our happy little blog family?) another photo phunny. Checking out the picture and comments of Wesley P-Jak's toupee reminds me of these two. Isn't life fun?!

Things to Come

My, My. Campin' with a 4 month old and a 9 month old - and not a hint of a glitch. Like they were born to it. Well what do you expect coming from their lot of family and friends? They'll have packs on their backs before you know it!

Not by Accident

"In Friendship we think we have chosen our peers. In reality, a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another, posting to different regiments, the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting - any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others."

The Four Loves, by C.S. Lewis

Summer Projects

What have you been up to, RB? May and June Yardwork, plus some teaching here and there (at Corban and GFU). Now on to campouts and backpacking...and a little more teaching. Great summer!

Role Reversal?

From The Last Season, by Eric Blehm:

Randy escorted his father back over Shepherd Pass - an easy stroll for him, but Dana showed his years, however slightly, by inquiring, "Is that the top?" about another false summit. Or "How many more switchbacks to the summit?" "Thirty years after my boyhood, the roles are reversed," wrote Randy in his journal. "Aren't we almost there, Daddy? How much farther?" (In some cases it takes a lot less than 30 years. ;=)

Best Time Of Day

Beautiful sunsets aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. It's a sunRISE that's worth seeing and talking about. The beginning of the day. Fresh start. Look what's coming. I had to get out of bed to see this. Here are a few of my favorites in the last couple of years. Most of them required me to get off my butt, put on a pair of hiking boots (and snowshoes in one case), strap on a headlamp and GET SOMEWHERE before the light of day. Hmm. Time to stop talking and do it again.

Timberline Trail at Cooper Spur

Saddle Mountain, Oregon Coast Range - St. Helens and Adams in the background.

Silcox Hut above Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood

Camp Lake in Three Sisters Wilderness - I actually took this one from my sleeping bag on a trek with "the boys."

(Notice the time of day this is being posted? Probably partially explains why I like to see the sunrise. In fact, I think I'll get another cup of coffee and go enjoy today's from the patio.)

Nostalgia

I'm a nostalgia kind o' guy. C.S. Lewis pointed out that the reason we are so interested in change over time, why we say things like, "my look at how you've grown" and why we are impressed as we compare events and circumstances of today with events and circumstances of yesterday, is because we are not created to live IN time. Our living IN time here on earth is a temporary condition. Fish, who are created to live IN water, are not impressed by the water - they just live... in it.

All that as a preface to a comparison of the photos below - one from Bazenlilly's blog and one from the ol' family albums. DVD's and 8 tracks mark the difference (and passage of time) but look at this: Carson 2006, Mama 1978. My, how things change - and don't change.

Yes, this is Roy's blog!

I just need a format renovation. I thoroughly enjoy the thinking and writing about matters of faith that I’ve posted in the last seven months (and your comments and responses along the way), but I have recently been wanting to add a dimension or two. The Depth and Dimension ruminations will still be a part of this blog, but I’ll be talking about movies and camping trips and books and hospital visits and BBQs and professional insights and jokes I’ve heard. I’ll be talking about… well… everything that counts in this abundant life God has blessed us with.

So this is a transition announcement. Same user name and URL – Theodemos – God/People. That moniker embodies so much of me – at least how I like to think of myself. My desire to honor God and my joy in the people He brings my way.

More to come.

Choosing Our Battles

Jesus’ parable of the vineyards – about latecomers getting the same reward as early risers. And the one about the son who says No at first, but eventually does the will of his father, compared to the one who says Yes, then does not do the father’s will.

Both lead me to be thinking about how Jesus judges people. He clearly indicates that one way of thinking and acting is at least better than another way of thinking and acting. Jesus is judgmental, and these are a couple of MILD examples.

G.K. Chesteron
"Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." Now THAT is something to think about in our postmodern, relativistic society. ( You need to read some of his writing - right up there with CSLewis and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.)

But how can we LIVE both Jesus’ love and acceptance of sinners and His condemnation of sin. Liberal Christians. Conservative Christians. Same Lord. Same Word. Way different emphasis.

Then there’s the total lack of tolerance for the conservative Christian perspectives that today’s proponents of tolerance continually display.

You’re with me so far, but now the twist: Is it possible that we conservative Christians are so focused on manifestations of depravity in our society (abortion, homosexuality, etc) and we work so diligently to address them politically and socially, that we let this focus define our faith for the world around us? Maybe, it would be better if we let it go a bit, and trust God to convict people in his own way and time, while we prioritize proclaiming His love and the hope and promise we have in Christ. Billy Graham and Luis Palau seem to be able to reflect and reveal the Lord in our postmodern age without getting nailed as right-wing, religious, intolerant fanatics. I wonder why. Perhaps it’s because they don’t let a few depravity issues define their faith. Or as the saying goes, they choose their battles differently.

Good People Go

Andy Stanley, Since Nobody's Perfect... How Good is Good Enough?

"...the "good people go" view has several hurdles to clear. The first is that there is no universal consensus on what is right and wrong. The second follows from the first. Assume for a moment that you do know, and agree with, a definition of right and wrong. Assume you know in divinely certain terms what consititutes good. Even if that were the case, you are still left with the quandary of how you are to be graded and where you stand at any given time. When you die, do you get to go to heaven if your good deeds constitute 70 percent of your overall deeds? Or does 51 percent earn you a passing grade?"

And yet, even without answers to such questions, Good People Go is the general consensus of the majority who believe there is some kind of desirable afterlife. Go figure.

Grace makes much better sense.

Look to the Future

It’s worth the 4 minutes. Here’s a video documentary short (Googlezon?) that traces the impact of technology on our lives from 1985-2006, then extrapolates to make predictions through 2015. A little 1984ish and Brave New World, but thought-provoking, and well-done.

Check it out. Basically, softly predicts Google, Amazon and MSN leaving their mark on absolutely everything we need and do, with unparalleled information about individuals and monopoly on the kind of communication and consumerism that we seem to enjoy. Makes me ask myself the question, “Who will I be?”

What values and worldview will determine my priorities as technology continues to revolutionize the world? While I’m having fun with the new toys and communication tools and convenience will I stop to THINK about the values and worldview driving all of my purchases and job decisions. Beyond the books I read, vacations, car repairs, deciding what’s for dinner; in the heart (or heat) of pain and tears and fresh air and life and joy am I stopping to think what every one of my choices says about my true self and beliefs? Proverbial frog in boiling water?

I’m reminded to determine NOW who I choose to be, so I won’t need to make that decision every time a new trick or treat shows up on the radar screen.

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 3:17

“In Him we live and move and have our being.”
Acts 17:28

I Wonder

Am I courting trouble? You’ve read about people getting in trouble with their blogs, right? College students getting expelled because they post information about themselves which they should have kept to themselves, stewardess getting fired because of photo of herself in a company jet, job applicant not getting hired because he dissed the boss (who was leading his hiring process) online… etc. People doing the hiring and firing and admitting these days often search the net for info about individuals to see if what they find jives with what the applicant or employee professes. I actually think it's a good thing, but ...

I’m teaching a class at church and was (politely) pegged as a little too liberal for posting information about text criticism of the Bible (did the Gospel writers have a common source that they all used for information), and in the same class I was a little too conservative for posting information on a very conservative Baptist website (on a page other than the one to which I referred, they said the King James is the only English inspired version). That's okay. It really was a good discussion.

Then there are all the posts I make here in this blog, revealing hints here and there of some not-always-conservative-evangelical ruminations. But some of what I write about is over-the-top conservative evangelical right-wing American. A balance? Schizo? Wishy-Washy? Or just, questions.

Hmm… How private is this blog? You’ll see I’ve changed the photo of myself, and taken away some of my profile info. Paranoid? Guilty? Might I get fired? Maybe just surprise (or scare) some of my friends and family? I don’t think that’s the case. So I just continue… but I’m guessing there’s still some holding back on my part. I don’t think it would be good for ANY of us to tell everyone what we REALLY think.

Side note – sort of related. Afghan muslim converts to Christianity. Being tried in official courts, might be hanged. If courts don’t convict him, the clerics are inciting the people to tear him limb from limb.

I think my limbs are safe in your company... whoever you are. ;=)

Outside These Walls

Missionary to Zambia.
Tribes practice polygamy.
Leaders become Christians.
What spiritual counsel does the missionary offer about the multiple wives of Christian leaders?
How imperative is the denying or practicing of polygamy for the spiritual standing and Christian witness of these new Christians?
What impact on the faith and lives of these people will result by requiring the new Christians to choose only one of their wives and discard or divorce or deny the others?
What impact if the new Christians are encouraged to keep their wives?
Missionary chooses not to advise new Christian leaders to separate from multiple wives and choose only one because of the negative community and cultural and personal harm it will do to many people.
Missionary not popular with supporters back home for encouraging polygamy.
No longer a missionary.
True story.

I was reminded of this 1980’s situation while reading recently from the book, Whose Religion is Christianity? The Gospel Beyond the West. The author, Lamin Sanneh, describes what she calls the post-Christian West. Makes sense to me. The “West” – USA, et al – is NOT a Christian society these days. She then describes the amazing spread of Christianity in other regions of the world and refers to this as post-West Christianity because the faith that is spreading doesn’t look like the usual conservative evangelical Christianity of America – often very Pentecostal, focus on personal piety and relationship with Christ, little or no emphasis on the issues that American Christians have come to see as most important – abortion, homosexuality, bias against Christians in schools and media, influencing national politics, etc.

Very thought provoking. Christianity has only “looked” as it does among us conservative evangelicals for a couple hundred years. What will Christianity look like in 100 years? Will some of the things we think are so important right now not be so important in the future? Is the West’s version of Christianity the only right one? I wonder what my missionary friend thinks?

An Enduring Perspective

I first read the book from which the following quote was taken twenty-five years ago, and the impact on my faith continues to be immeasurable. Recent study has taken me back.

“Jesus did not simply eliminate the law of Moses as a futile manner of attempting to secure righteousness. (With the New Testament) He did away with the “law principle.” He did not substitute one written code for another. Instead of giving us a law, He gave us Himself. It is not by trust in deeds of law, but by faith in Him as a person that we secure and sustain a right relationship with the Father. Law has gone and faith has come.”
Death of the Custodian, by Carl Ketcherside.

"The law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian.” Galatians 3:24-25

You require your 15 year-old son to be in the house by 10:00 pm on school nights, and by 12:00 pm on weekends, and you require that he tell you before he goes anywhere exactly who he will be with and where he is. When that son turns 18, graduates from High School, but still chooses to live in your house for a while – the relationships change. Those earlier rules are still VERY GOOD ideas, but now the PURPOSE behind the rules comes to bear more directly. You required that he come in early and tell you where he was and who he was with because you desired his safety and responsible behavior. Now, after 18, after High School, his safety and responsibility take the forefront - not the rules. He can still be safe and responsible even if he comes in later or doesn’t keep you informed of his company or location all the time. More of the responsibility is now his – and your role as a parent (or guardian) has changed.

Consider this: “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.” I Corinthians 10:28. All things are lawful? Does the Bible really say that?!? Yes it does. Though there are many other passages for us to read and think about in order to understand that one, the basic analogy to consider is that you don’t relate to your 18 year-old the way you related to your 15 year-old.

And Everyone Was Finally Equal

Revisiting a previous theme with a twist. I’m developing an appreciation for Kurt Vonnegut’s writing lately. Yes, he sees religion through a Marxist lens (the opiate of the people) and his works are often set in a dystopian society (opposite of utopia - people are controlled and dehumanized by the government - pointedly indicting the American government most of the time), but his creative genius is especially entertaining and thought-provoking.

“The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before god and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the Constitution, and the unceasing vigilance of agents of the united States Handicapper General.”
----- from “Harrison Bergeron” in Welcome to the Monkey House

Ah, I think, he’s mocking something – and I’m smiling already. (I DON'T smile at all of his mockery.) The previous theme I mentioned above was a blog word or two about a Christian perspective on Egalitarian and Meritocratic societies. The basic notion is that Jesus didn’t come to set us free from political and economic constraints, but from spiritual chains; so even though justice and mercy are highly valued in a Biblical worldview it’s OKAY if some people are more rich and privileged than others as long as … you can see the drift. (But it’s probably pretty important to fill in the rest of that sentence… as long as…)

Anyway, the short story quoted above hooked me. I’m enjoying Vonnegut and even brought home a video of Slaughterhouse Five from the library (to Jo’s chagrin ;=). He always brings a new view, a new frame of reference, to whatever the setting or plot of his writing. It’s remarkable, and enjoyable. Whether it’s a morbid tale about inhumane treatment of prisoners or a charming love story (yes, he writes those), he will always surprise us and open our eyes to seeing from a vantage point that we wouldn’t have thought to consider.

Ruling Over Creation

"God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:28

I'm teaching a course for classroom teachers called Action Research. The objective is to encourage and guide teachers through systematic investigation of something they do in the classroom in order to help them do it better - and to encourage them to make this a regular professional practice. David Claaerbaut, in his book, Faith and Learning on the Edge, opened my eyes to some biblical insight for the course.

He says that if we are to commit ourselves seriously to teaching and learning then we need to take another look at what it means to rule over creation. We are not to subdue and gain dominion over creation by conquering, subverting and manipulating it, but by knowing, comprehending its wonders so our mastery will be competent. What better reason to learn (or to do research) - that we might know as much about His creation as we can and therefore be the best stewards that we can be. This obviously applies in more arenas than education, or action research - but that's where I live so that's where I see the immediate application and insight.

Turnips

"You can't squeeze blood from a turnip."
Depth and Dimension. It's tough to write from what ain't there.
I think this is one of the reasons I started this blog; some personal, spiritual accountability.
Avoidance is uncomfortable.

Something from Charles Colson's Who Speaks for God? seems to be relevant.
"Being a Christian in the West seems to mean joining the power structure, but in much of the rest of the world it means standing against it, risking everything. Our Third-World brethren in particular understand the hard truth that the structures of this world are fallen - and the gospel, therefore, is counterculture."

Maybe if it wasn't so acceptable to be a Christian I might not be so casual about devotion. Still no excuse.

Turn my attention, Lord. Help me choose to walk more closely with you.

His Work; Not Ours

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity, by Nancy Pearcey

(After a reference to Martin Luther's description of our occupations as God's "masks" - His way of caring for creation in a hidden manner, through human means...)

"The metaphor of God's "mask" presses home the fact that our vocation is not something we do for God. Instead, it is a way we participate in God's work. For God Himself is engaged not only in the work of salvation but also in the work of preserving and maintaining His creation."

"A journalism professor recently told me that even the best Christian journalists - sincere believers with outstanding professional skills - typically have no Christian theory of journalism."

So what is my theory of Christian teaching?
What work of God am I participating in as a teacher?
I may inherently have some idea about this, but have I articulated it so that it is foremost in my heart and mind as I teach?
And what about accountants and retail business managers and communications specialists.
How much thought are we putting into seeing God's work in what we call our jobs?

Sense or Nonsense?

"Christianity today is the tale of two paradigms; the earlier and the emerging. There is no one right way of understanding Christianity and being a Christian. It's a matter of what works. If the earlier paradigm works for you then there is no need to change, but for millions who cannot be literalists or exclusivists the earlier paradigm does not work. "

The Heart of Christianity, by Marcus J. Borg (referred to by some as the C.S. Lewis of the 21st century)

Earlier

• The Bible is a divine product with divine authority.
• Biblical interpretation is based on factual and literal acknowledgement.
• The Bible's function is revelation of doctrine and morals.
• Christian Life Emphasis is on what to believe and do to be saved.

Emerging

• The Bible is a human response to God.
• Biblical interpretation is based on history and metaphor.
• The Bible's function is metaphorical and sacramental.
• Christian Life Emphasis is on transformation in this life through relationship with God

A Revisionist Jesus Scholar

What if this is all there is?

"Every person needs to feel significant. We want our lives to count. We yearn to believe that in some way we are important. And that hunger for significance - a drive as intense as our need for oxygen - doesn't come from pride or ego. It comes from God, because he wants each of us to understand how important we are."

"Why then do most modern people carry with them an aching void - a pain that will not go away until we find the answer to our search for dignity? The emptiness we feel cannot be relieved by one more gourmet meal or another snort of cocaine. We carry water in a sieve when we try to fill the empty space with a better job or a bigger house."

The Hunger for Significance by R.C. Sproul

Then there's the line from the movie, "What if this is as good as it gets?"

The preacher in Ecclesiastes has the answer - EVERYthing is in vain, until we love and fear the Lord, then... everything is valuable.

Cut-flower Civilization

“It is impossible to sustain certain elements of human dignity once these have been severed from their cultural roots. The sorrowful fact is that, while the cut flowers seem to go on living and may even exhibit some brightness for a while, they cannot do so permanently, for they will eventually wither and be discarded. The historical truth is that the chief sources of the concepts of the dignity of the individual and equality before the law are found in the Biblical heritage.”

Elton Trueblood, A Place to Stand

Spiritual ADHD

Immediately Jesus knew in His spirit... Mark 2:8
Immediately the girl stood up and walked... Mark 5:42
Immediately He spoke to them .. Mark 6:51
Immediately the boys father said, "I believe Lord, help my unbelief." Mark 9:24

And those are only a few examples. Then take a look at how the Gospel of Mark is written compared to Matthew, Luke and John. Make's sense. Mark was a Roman and Romans were his audience; rulers of the world. Get it done. Now. Don't slow me down with lengthy descriptions or explanations.

Good or bad, that suits me. Yes, I like to ponder also, reading the same passage from the Gospel of John (NOT written specifically to Roman audience) over and over and staring and thinking and praying - for as much as a week or more. But generally I have the attention span and the "cut to the chase," "get to the bottom line," "what's your point" mentality of the Romans. I think that can be a good thing, and obviously God understands people like this - since one of the four Gospels is written in their language - but, it can't be good to be in such a hurry all the time.

Help me focus, Lord.
Slow me down.
Help me rest a while in your presence and with your Word.
Take me deeper than I might go if I'm always in a hurry.

I believe

"A Christian is a person who, with all the honesty of which he is capable, becomes convinced that the fact of Jesus Christ is the most trustworthy that he knows in his entire universe of discourse." Elton Trueblood in a spiritual classic, A Place to Stand.

The fact of Jesus is the most trustworthy that I know in my entire universe of discourse?
Do I know Jesus the way I know that the sun will come up tomorrow?
Do I know Jesus the way I know that my knees will ache after 3 miles of downhill pounding?
In my universe of discourse I know a lot of things, or at least think I know, and I have faith that even more are true though I wouldn't say I know them.

Trueblood gives me much to think and pray about, but I see myself more in a man we meet in the Gospel of Mark. He comes to Jesus for his son's healing and says, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and heal him." "If you CAN?" Jesus replies. "Everything is possible for the one who believes." Then comes the reply reflective of my own spiritual identity: "I believe Lord, help my unbelief." (Mark, 9:22-24)

I like this guy! Maybe he is exactly the man Trueblood is talking about - one who comes to Jesus with all the honesty of which he is capable.

A last quote ...

A last quote from Colossians before moving on: "Husbands, love your wives... "
(Jo was inadvertently practicing a "wet exit" on our kayak trip... don't you love her!)

Egalitarian or Meritocratic?

Okay, Colossians 3:21 - "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord." Then add 4:1 - "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a master in heaven."

But I also remember Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

If there is neither slave nor free why give counsel to slaves and masters about how to treat each other? Clearly, Paul was not recommending that masters set their slaves free so that they would all be equal. Some Christians today cite Galatians 3:28 as support for a more just and equitable society - good things. But HOW equitable? How equal? What is just? Paul in Galatians is raising the issue of our true value and standing with God - that our socio-economic status (or gender) do not matter in His eyes, but (especially in light of Colossians 3:22 and 4:1) he is not recommending an egalitarian society or he wouldn't just give advise about how to treat each other, he would tell Christian masters to set their slaves free.

I guess I'm just thinking and beginning to articulate some things I need to talk about with my Christian friends who are Democrats ... and I'm just basically rambling tonight anyway.

Back to Colossians

2:13-14 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Chapter 3 I understand pretty well, and love to read. Chapter 2 – not so much.
Uncircumcision of my sinful nature? Cancelled the written code?

I’ll have to keep working on that, but for some reason it reminds me of this song:

There are ghosts from my past who own more of my soul
Than I thought I had given away
They linger in closets and under my bed and in pictures less proudly displayed
A great fool in my life I have been, have squandered till pallid and thin
Hung my head in shame and refused to take blame for the darkness I know I let win

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid to bare all my weakness
Knowing in meeknes I have a kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
I am not afraid to let your light shine bright in my life, in my life

Jennifer Knapp, Martyrs and Theives

Yes, I think that does help me understand Colossians 2 a little bit better.

Old Friend

I picked up a book this week that I first read over twenty years ago, and as I read I saw much of what has been a part of my psyche ... well, probably for over twenty years. Here's a taste:

• "It's time we let go of some of our insipid images of leisure to include those experiences that push us to our limits."
• "Memorable leisure - the kind that has gravity and substance - often requires an inventive kind of boldness that is eager to take on new experiences, a desire to be a participant rather than a spectator."
• "Did you ever have to build a fire in a rainstorm?"
• "Have you ever slept on top of a ridge without a sleeping bag - and awakened in the morning feeling a little taller just because you had?"
• "Historically, God's people have been uninhibited risk takers, unafraid to dive right into the heart of life.... there's more to life than riding the glass elevators at (the mall)."
• Gratitude is not an option for Christians. Possibly the greatest principle of leisure I know is the principle of insistent, consistent, persistent gratitude.

When I Relax I Feel Guilty, by Tim Hansel. Now as I sit here arching my back to ease the pain in my hip from sleeping on the ground this weekend, I am reminded of how grateful I am- even for long, rocky, terrible, 5 mile-per-hour dirt roads that take you to wonderful places.