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.