Sometimes I need to be part of something small

Take the quiet small path and walk slowly, observe it and appreciate it.

I have all my life tended to be drawn to big questions and life changing issues that affect all humanity. I ruminate constantly about good and evil, about injustice and hatred, and love and compassion. I question everything all this time and sometimes I cannot shut down the thoughts. They spin and grow and leave and return and simmer and explode with every book I read, piece of news I hear, or thought I think. My brain seems on constant overload.

It's why I multitask so much, to keep from obsessing. I switch from one little task to the other to keep my self in mental movement.

That is why sometimes I need to stop thinking about the big questions and just concentrate on the small world immediately around me. The beauty, the quiet, the insignificant but pleasant diversions of a normal day. It takes a purposeful effort to leave the big questions and live in the smallness of today, here, now.

On my office wall I stare at some scripture verses done artfully, a few favorite sayings in needle point and my 12 inch digital picture frame with over 2000 special vacation moments that also can take my mind off the big thought to some special memories captured. And there next to is is Van Gogh's Starry, Starry Night. Ahh, relax, live in the moment for a moment.

An Evening in Holland

We celebrated the Dutch Heritage at our church fellowship dinner last night. Enjoyed the youth ensemble from Valley tChristian High School.
Seeing young people perform and remembering you were once in high school fills you with hope and memories. Loved their songs from Beauty and the Beast and Sound of Music.

Simply Good News

N T Wright has followed Simply Jesus with Simply Good News and they are brilliant and insightful and they point out where western Christianity has gone wrong in believing and sharing the Gospel.

My old brothers from the fisrt half of my life do not care for him because he diminishes the wrathful God punishing Jesus on our behalf concept and actually restores mankinds hope. He is one of the thinkers who will contribute to our current reformation. Thank God. The good news is news, not advice. It is news, not a message about what we have to do to get on God's good side.

Thursday Fun

Had a fun church golf outing at the historic San Marcos course that recently had a major upgrade. The fairways and greens were nice and the weather this week is what everyone hoped it would be last week. 80 degrees and sunny.

Burned Alive?

A destroyed fire fighting engine, a symbol of terrorism at the World Trade Center.

Our outrage internationally of this cruel execution of a fighter pilot of Muslim faith, by radical Muslim terrorists has us understandably shaken. What ever happened to the Geneva Rules of captured enemies.

Our history has a sad string of this painful method of execution by divided people. Catholics against Protestants, Orthodox against supposed heretics. It is barbaric, and evil.

I must state the obvious and say that is why my understanding of the language of scripture makes such references to fire, ie Lake of Fire is that these are figures of speech and not literal. Fire is an element of combustion that has kept us warm, cooked our food, and even runs our combustion engines. Jesus use of Gehenna, (hell is a very bad translation of the word btw.) described a valley, the valley of Hinnom, Ge Henna, outside the south gate of the city of Jerusalem, where the unclaimed bodies of executed criminals were burned along with the rubbish from town, and after war the bodies of enemies killed were burned there, cremated as it were. He warned Israel that there rebellion may cause their enemies to throw their defeated bodies on that heap some day.

The rains washed the ashes towards the Dead Sea, the salty sea where nothing lives. The Jews told stories of fiery pits near the Dead Sea like the ones that rained fire and brimstone upon the residents of Sodom and Gommorah. They called the Dead Sea the Lake of Fire.

The Gospel heralds better things, a newer announcement, good news, that God is actually kind and not cruel, that mercy triumphs over justice, and burning forever in fire that is not quenched is not what literally happens. God help us to find that better story.

Mr. Moon, Moon, shiny silver moon

June 2014, our first view of Central Park, NYC

Got up to get gas for Laura before sunrise and the most beautiful moon was setting in the west. Crisp morning air and silence greeted me as I did the chore, and thought about life and health and freedom.

Had someone pay me a compliment yesterday, or perhaps it was a jab. Discussing my Sunday message on redemption being an agreement between God the Father and the Son, before creation, accomplished on the cross, independent of human response.

Are you the only one saying these things? Does anyone else agree with you? It is a truth that we have lost touch with the Good News that a loving God made the first and permanent move toward humanity in bondage and restored humanities hope with Good News. Somehow we have turned the redemption applied method into a human achievement. Did you know words can hurt you? says the funny Geico commercial, yes they can, but really understanding them can set you free from fear and enable you to love those who have not yet realized Gospel truth.

Post 2401

I was joking about American consumerism and the unique experience of Golf and Superbowl week in our state. The weather was bad, someone won the golf tourney on that last nine holes like always, and someone lost the superbowl which allowed someone to win. The half time was gaudy and loud, the snacks and beer consumed and fun had was immense, and the commercials were costly and cute.

It was essential American life and culture....and I love it. The people hauling consumables out of Costco were not buying guns and ammo to protect or kill. We were allowing ourselves to enjoy life without trying to rule the thoughts, hopes, and actions of others.....as long as they respected laws and rights It was all good fun.

Our freedom is precious, and some serious foundations protect it. We began the game singing about our spacious skys and amber waves of grain, which became Doritos, and we heard the rockets red glare of a war to end a divisive time so that huge black college educated men can defend the line and protect talented black and white quarterbacks.

This is America, where I practice my faith and live my life. Let freedom ring, in culture and in gospel. Glad to be back, feeling better on the inside of my spirit.