I shall seek and find you…
I shall take you to bed and control you…
I will make you ache, shake and sweat until you grunt and groan…
I will make you beg for mercy…
I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I leave you…
And you will be weak for days.
All my love,
The Flu
1) Go for coffee
2) See LOTR (let me know what day y’all want to go)
3) Sleep
4) Stay up late watching movies
5) Laugh a lot
6) Play shinny
7) Sit by a bonfire
8) Drink hot cocoa
9) Dance at Crocker’s wedding (anyone get a gift yet?)
So, I’ve been out of the blogging world for a while.
While I’ve been away, I’ve been working through what to do with my life after this pharmacy residency. As I’ve said, I’d love to come home – but everything is changing. I would not be returning to the world I remembered. I could stay here in Winnipeg. I would be putting down roots, solidifying new friendships. I could do that Mission Year thing I keep talking about but never end up doing. I could go back to school – but I don’t know if I could handle more school just yet. I still haven’t decided. I was going to this week, but have put it off indefinitely. I know God *will* use me regardless of where I am. Thank you for those who emailed and for those who have prayed.
You will see below that I have done a bit of blog surfing today. At The living home I saw a quote:
…scripture: a way of “listening to God reveal God”
I most highly recommend visiting Real Live Preacher … Read his story and the Christmas narrative that will be posted in the weeks to come.
Other blogs of note: Phuture, Super Blessed, Bene Diction, blog one another (had a good discussion on ‘asking good questions’), and Soul Gardeners.
Real Live Preacher writes an introduction to his Christmas Story narrative in 8 parts, beginning December 1.
Luke 2:1-7
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (KJV)
The facts are few and the account minimal to the point of absurdity. In a few short verses, Luke tells us everything we know about the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, he who would come to be known as the Christ.
There is wonder and mystery in this story, much of it hiding between the verses and in the silences that cry out to pilgrim readers. Luke’s soft words give us the gentle and polite details, but the real story was one of pain and surprise, of grace, beauty and brutality.
I’m fascinated by how we have filled in the gaps over the years. In building our own Christmas story, we have padded this bare account with cultural details, many of which are anachronistic or simply unlikely.
Read more…
From palmer’s journal: a quote from Nicholas Wolterstorff
Who then are the mourners? The mourners are those who have caught a glimpse of Gods new day, who ache with all their being for that days coming, and who break out into tears when confronted with its absence. They are the ones who realize that in God’s realm of peace there is no one blind and who ache whenever they see someone unseeing. They are the ones who realize that in God’s realm there is no one hungry and who ache whenever they see someone starving. They are the ones who realize that in God’s realm there is no one falsely accused and who ache when they see someone imprisoned unjustly. They are the ones who realize that in God’s realm there is no one who fails to see God and who ache whenever they see someone unbelieving. They are the ones who realize that in God’s realm there is no one who suffers oppression and who ache whenever they see someone who is beat down. They are the ones who realize that in God’s realm there is no one without dignity and who ache whenever they see someone treated with indignity. They are the ones who realize that in God’s realm of peace there is neither death nor tears and who ache whenever they see someone crying tears over death. The mourners are aching visionaries.
