August 31, 2003
A six point sermon based on Philippians 3:12-16:
1) Dream (I haven’t had a dream for a while – or at least a dream that I’ve been able to name. The longing is there, I’m just not really sure what it is for.)
2) Grow (I need to grow spiritually quite a bit. Devotion is near to non-existent.)
3) Let go (I always think I have nothing really to let go of, but then I remember that I hang on to my own failures much too tightly.)
4) Don’t quit (I’m pretty stubborn, and tend not to quit – but I sure tend to complain about it a lot.)
5) Recommit (To start again, or maybe even to just start.)
6) Reward (I really don’t count my blessing enough. I wonder what happened to my ‘unbridled optimism’?)
Building your life is a lot like building a boat. The larger the vessel you set out to build, the steadier and more constant your course will be. To build it right, it will take much effort, planning and resources in the beginning, but once realized, it’ll be steady through the greatest of storms, and can leave from port for months at a time.
With a large ship, it’s also much harder to change course at will. To keep things from flying off of the deck and upsetting your cargo, you have to plan ahead. You may have to wait until you’re in broader waters, taking time to slow your engines, plot your bearings, and coordinate a change of direction.
On the other hand, if you choose to remain in a smaller, more agile vessel, you will have the luxury of being able to turn on a whim. You can weave in and out of rivers and streams whenever the moment strikes. But you won’t be able to sail the deeper waters of the oceans, you might easily capsize in the wakes of others, and you may find yourself without refuge or safety in the slightest of storms. There are pros and cons, and yes, seasons for both, but it’s ultimately up to you to decide what kind of vessel you will build with your life.
Quarter Century Crisis, Relevant eZine
August 31, 2003
Church one: the message was “the reason for my joy is … Jesus” (in the reason for my joy series). What caught my attention was two things: 1) Joy is a fruit … it depends on the rest of my life being in focus with God; and 2) Joy has a lot to do with contentment (Romans 8:28-39).
Church two: the message was on the 10th commandment (in the series). What caught my attention? 1) coveting steals our contentment; 2) it is inherently inward; and 3) it implies that what God has given us isn’t enough.
‘So what?’ you say. I’ve been coveting community, fellowship, other people’s walk with God, the perfect church… God’s been saying it all along – I know the plans I have for you; wait in me, trust in me; I know what is best; what I have in store for you is beyond your wildest dreams – but keep dreaming, keep craving, keep the hunger and desire.
August 27, 2003
I was reading Rie’s blog today, and what she posted just made sense …
People keep asking me what I plan to do once I’m done and I wish that I had a good answer for that. … The more I think about it, the more I lack a vision for the future. That’s good I guess. Then I’ll be willing to go anywhere God needs me, but still the human part of me really wants to know something. I’m having to give up a lot of things to God but I think that giving up my future is the toughest part. I trust Him. I know that He’ll bring me where I need to be, so I suppose that’s all I need to know.
August 16, 2003
Asian Noodle Salad
2″ soba noodles OR 1″ spaghettini
1 lemon OR lime
1 tbsp fresh OR 2 tsp bottled ginger
2 garlic cloves
3 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 – 1 long english cucumber
10 oz baby spinach (1 large pre-packed bag)
1. Slice cucumber lengthwise and scrape out seeds. Cut “half moon” slices thinly.
2. Combine zest of lemon (or lime) with ginger (minced finely), garlic (minced finely), vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil.
3. Cook noodles. Before draining add spinach. Drain immediately. Rinse under cold water. Drain well.
4. Toss noodles with dressing. Add 1 tbsp lemon (or lime) juice. Add more to taste.
Voila. (Excellent for leftovers I’ve been told.)
August 13, 2003
“My son–when I led your ship to its demise, you became afraid, angry, and embittered toward those that help your build it. It was, in its season, a tool for your growth–it fed you from the sea, taught you of the sea, and carried you on a course through its many waters. But in time, you became more dependent on the ship than on the sea it was designed for. In that, your ship had become your prison. It held you captive from exploring the depths of the unknown. The very thing that carried you across the surface of the sea prevented you from truly experiencing it. You were protected from the deep by boundaries, parameters, and understanding of your own mind. My son, I Am the Sea. I gave you the ship, because it would create an ongoing relationship for us. You would exist on the ship, and it would exist on me. But now I want more–you want more–and that ship was standing in our way. I want to carry you through my depths. Remove from your mind the agendas of destinations. My mystery is dark, unpredictable, and daunting for those who fear losing control. But that is to be your future. Let go of the monument you’ve created to your own understanding of my mystery, and allow me to envelope you in it.”
jared
As I lay there in the water, clutching the last remaining pieces of debris to keep me afloat, I understood that my future is to lose myself in that mystery, without thought to “emerging” from it to again. I must relinquish my grip on those pieces, if I am to truly experience the deep. As I slip beneath the surface now without agenda or breath, I have this picture. I am sinking slowly, looking up toward the surface, bathing in the glittering rays of the sun as I watch my past move further and further away. I am submerging–being permeated with, immersed in, and even suffocated by the most beautiful, indescribable, immeasurable mystery. The darkness of the deep surrounds me, and I have this intoxicating sense of complete safety, as I embrace the future of my life in the deep. Maybe finally, lost in the mystery of God, I am found.
