A Brief Interjection

The goal of this post is, well, to be brief. Today was a fairly good day spent with my lovely wife. She really is wonderful! We were able to get a pre-approval for a mortgage today. That's nice to have, I think. I also learned that I'm not going to learn anything helpful regarding a possible job opportunity until either tomorrow or early next week---more likely the latter than the former. Oh well, you get accustomed to the whole hurry up and wait deal...patience is generally good to accumulate anyway.

My only gripes are pains in my jaw...we'll see if/when they go away.

More after this break...

Happenings on August 19, 2009

Today was pretty simple. I took a leisure morning, finished up some work for my sister-in-law, and eventually ended up heading to church to further help my sister-in-law. Apparently, now is a busy time of the year for her, so I figured I'd try to help lighten the load...metaphorically speaking. At any rate, I was able to knock out a project for her in such a way that she should be mostly set in that area. We'll see. She's kind of like me in that she doesn't always like to ask for help---or when she realizes that she needs help, it tends to be nearly too late. I hate it when I do that, and I do that all too often! I seem to make a habit/hobby of it! It's almost sickening, but then, I suppose that pride is generally like that. Pride is me centered---I can do it. I don't need any help. Sometimes, I wonder whether or not my pride is getting the better of me if I don't want to bother anyone! Ah well...some things to ponder as time goes by...

More after this break....

On Really Living

As I was reading my Bible this morning (it happened to be Romans, and that happened to be the eighth chapter), I was reminded of something as I was looking at the little mini headings that someone, somewhere came up with. The heading said 'Life in the Spirit'. It brought me back to a movie line which in turn brought me back to the great premise of the movie. In the movie Secondhand Lions near the end of the flick, the Middle Eastern oil mogul's kid/grandkid made an interesting statement regarding the main character's uncles. He said it something like this: "The men in grandpa's stories really lived?" To which the main character responded, "Yes, they really lived."

Now, to start, I'm going to talk about the movie, and eventually transition a bit later on. Some initial thoughts on that are kind of cheeky. Why say 'they really lived' as opposed to 'they were real' or 'they really existed'. In the movie, I was under the distinct impression that the grandkid of the sheik had serious doubts as to whether his grandfather was telling him a 'fairy tale' of sorts or an actual story based on history. In fact, the main character had that same struggle which is a monumental part of his development, not to mention the story line. From the main character's (Walter's) perspective, he'd heard a grand story of great daring that would be hard to believe actually happened regardless of the time and place it was supposed to have happened. The story Walter was told was attractive. It stirred up manly thoughts--thoughts of danger, honor, standing up for what's right, the classic damsel in distress...pretty much the things that little boys dream about (at least thing I used to dream about...). This brings me to another conversation in the movie. One of the uncles was discussing some things with Walter. At this point, Walter was fixated on whether or not those things 'actually happened'. The uncle's response was rather interesting. He responded something to the effect that it doesn't matter if it actually happened, but what matters is if you actually believe it. Upon believing in something, we are effectively taking a stand for something. And, as such, we stop watching life being lived, and begin to actually live it. This is something that resounded in me. And, I feel, it is something that is emphasized in the statement, 'Yes, they really lived.'

One of the things that strikes me---and not always in a positive way is just how worthless and, actually, helpless we as people are. That's especially funny that we are essentially worthless and helpless as is stated throughout Romans (and the rest of the Bible for that matter), but we desire to do great things. Does that mean we are incapable of doing great things? Not necessarily--however, as we learn in Ecclesiastes, 'great things' are often 'vanity, a chasing after the wind' or in my case a way to elevate me or whatever it is I'm idolizing at the time. But, whether or not we do our 'great things' for us or for God (as they ought to be---an act of worship with our talents, abilities, skills, and gifts), that doesn't mean God is impotent. It likely means we are blind or blinded. Look at Joseph of old. His brothers sold him to slavery, yet he made it to the top faster than most millionaires today---okay, probably not a good comparison. Let's look at it this way. Joseph was made nothing, but God exalted him by elevating him to the second most powerful person in that part of the world. Looking at his life, he stood up for what was right. He lived honorably. So, how do we truly live?

This question is one with which I struggle and often. Both Romans and Ecclesiastes remind me of similar things. First, I can do nothing in and of myself. Sure, I can have accomplishments, but to what end? My accomplishments whether or not they are in Christ can be used either way. We see that in the example of Joseph, for what was meant for evil was, instead, used for good. I may make accomplishments 'on my own', but I would likely not find fulfillment in my accomplishment or it would probably not be lasting. I would want to move on the the next thing, or make another great accomplishment to give me that feeling of accomplishment or feeling of greatness. Second, because I can do nothing in and of myself (not with any lasting fulfillment anyway), I need Christ---Messiah in me for contentment in what I do or even what I don't do. One of the first things that we should learn and understand as Christians is this: My salvation came at a price that I could never pay, and as such I can never earn it. There is nothing I can ever do, nor anything of me that can contribute in any way to it (see Ephesians 2, I believe) I am dead-set against God---his enemy. In fact, I'm just plain dead in my sin. However, because of Jesus' work on the cross, I am afforded grace which I can never earn. Because of this, I am a saint, a sinner saved by grace. There is nothing I can do for it. I am no better than anyone else. Jesus' grace was more than sufficient for me---as it is for anyone else. Because of this, the Spirit of God indwells me. I am completed. That doesn't mean my problems instantly disappear. By no means! It means I now know of them--I have the 'law of the Spirit'. I will still battle my fleshly desires, but now, I have the Spirit there with me, leading me, guiding me. Furthermore, because I have the Spirit of God, I am no longer dead in my sin, but I'm made alive in the family and kingdom of God. I'm an heir to a throne! It's because of this that I'm satisfied in Christ alone. My satisfaction no longer comes from those things that I once dreamt of. That's not to say that I still can't find those things satisfying. When our delight is in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. Because, in theory, our hearts will be in line with His. We will want what He wants in us and around us. All that to say this. Our satisfaction is no longer from dreams or accomplishments, but from God.

On Pro-Life...

Mary and I were reading another chapter of a fairly small book written by Randy Alcorn that is called 'Why Pro-Life?' I've found this book to enlightening. The logic used within its pages is at the very least uncomfortable for folks advocating the pro-choice position. For both sides of the spectrum, I believe this will get the cognitive processes rolling...

Stay tuned for more ramblings after this break....