Sunshine and Lucy

How fresh does it feel when the sun finally comes out after a few days (or weeks) of clouds and grey? I think it feels amazing. I frequently see the sunrise thanks to my dog, Lucy. At first it was the worst way to start the day - grumpy, tired, cold, and getting dragged around my apartment complex by a 50lb 1-year old. But I've come to a new conclusion. 90% of the time, when Lucy and I are taking our stroll, no one else is around. The birds have returned to sing in the arrival of green and spring. I can finally wear sandals outside, even if my feet get wet with the dew. I've begun to look forward to those moments when the sun crests the horizon and shoots through the trees. It's fresh, new every morning.

It has challenged me to make sure that I rise with the Son every day. What an over-used comparison, right? But I've realized that I can either wake up and wait for a shower, a cup of coffee, and noon until I wake up and become affective to the world and for Christ, or I can welcome in the chill of the morning air and be grateful. The same way, I can either trudge through the day and eventually pick up scripture, or mumble a prayer, or listen to some Christian music and eventually be reminded that I'm a child of God. Or I can begin each morning with the Son shooting through the pages of the Bible. I can breathe in the fresh breath of Life as the Holy Spirit infuses me with a purpose. I can walk freely [barefoot even] with God and know that He will always love and cherish me. His compassion is new every morning.

So I'll look forward to the sun. I'll look forward to the dew. I'll look forward to what the Son will do. And I'll still look forward to coffee.

Worship & Sin

Sin and worship are opposites. Sin separates us from God and destroys our relationship with him. Worship connects us with God and renews our relationship with him. Even when we sin against others, we're not honoring God, which means that we're doing the opposite of what He has called us to do. And Grace is the gift that covers our sin and allows us to Worship. It is Grace that lets us enter God's throne room. It is grace that has caused the reunion between Father and child. It is grace that has saved us through Jesus Christ and is sacrifice of mercy. And it is Grace that allows us to return back to our Father when we sin. Not that we should keep on sinning so Grace can increase. But we must keep worshiping and giving honor and glory to the source and giver of that Grace. We must never take for granted the intimate relationship that God wants to have with us. Even when He is just and wrathful, his mercy and grace are still available for us and allow us to repent and return to Him.

The difference between SIN and SING is one G. Let that G be Grace.

It's been forever

Moving is fun, but being done with moving is better.

Looking into podcasting.

I need to utilize this blog.

I think I might.

How many days

How many days can it rain before you lose all resistance to mopiness?

How many soggy steps can you take in the grass before you begin to leave footprints?

How many clouds can you let fly overhead while dodging their shadows?

Laying it all down

The paradoxes of Christian Faith are sometimes easier to accept if you don't try to figure them out.

Surrendering sets you free. What an amazing truth. By giving up control, decisions, problems, desires...you gain a freedom and a peace not found elsewhere.

The human injustice of the Crucifiction is non-existant compared to the divine justice of the Cross. Man's wrath was placed on one Man so that God's wrath would not be placed on all men.

Enough for now. Later.

I'm glad I have Monday's off

Jumping into work on Tuesdays is a bit easier than Mondays in some ways. I don't have horrible headaches on Sunday night. I get that extra rest and mind break. It's good.

But, I also sit down on Tuesdays and think that I've got to sprint to the finish every week. I'm a run hard, rest hard type of guy.

People who take naps for 15 minutes, or 30 minutes...I don't get it. A nap is at least as long as half of a football game. Or maybe a LOTR disc.

The ballance between it all is still being connected with the Spirit. Not completely checking out when I'm "off" and not pushing right past the moments when I'm "on."

hopefully today I can find the inbetween. I don't want merely to get things done. I want to complete the tasks set before me.

OK, off to more working.

TAKE 2 off

The end of a week. Friday is here. Enjoy your first non holiday weekend for a change.

Look Up.
John

Let's See How Long This Lasts

Hello there friends and strangly curious people.

This first post is going to be short. Just like me. Check out my details if you'd like. Basically, a friend started her own blog, and it inspired me to do the same. Sometimes my thoughts will be profound, sometimes they'll be disjointed. Sometimes they won't even be original.

But, I hope this is at least a good procrastination tool.


Look Up.

Chili