By way of review for my own meditation, here's my notes from yesterday's sermon by my pastor, Barry York:
The Deceitfulness of Sin from Hebrews 3
We can harden our hearts by allowing sin in our hearts.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
1) We should heed the scriptural warning. - let no one deceive you, God is not mocked, for whatever you sow, you shall reap; be careful about who you keep company with.
Our own self deceives us - be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Every sin that you commit starts with deception; sin pulls away from the simplicity of devotion to Christ; we're warned in scripture about the power of sin; Satan hid the consequences of sin from Adam and Eve.
2) The subtle follies of sin. - we are drawn away, we are enticed, then our will kicks in and commit ourselves to do the sin, we even talk about the sin, then finally we do the act.
We are drawn into sin by abusing the grace of God.
We should be sensible and righteous - but we think lightly of what God has done for us. If you, think about sin lightly, you are living loosely. Don't push boundaries beyond where they should go. Sin deceives us that we can handle it - we can filter out the bad stuff.
Become sensitive to sin in your life.
1) Humble yourself
2) Keep your soul constantly in God's presence - that is your protection, that is your safeguard
3) Beware of lawful things becoming idolatrous things - this happens when they become the center and focus of our existence.
O Lord, help me to actively seek You throughout the day. This is my safest haven from sin. This is my greatest joy. Amen.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Vacation from a foot's point of view
It's high time that we honored the real troopers of the camping vacation - the feet. It's the feet who carry us everywhere. It's the feet who sweat and get all hot and bothered. It's the feet that keep us going. Well the next several blogs are written with the feet in mind. Let us take on their perspective for once.
We're not going to have any pictures of bear boxes -
or brownies about to explode from the altitude -
or cute little chipmunks.
Nope, this time we'll see ruggedly shod feet gazing at picturesque Colorado cliffs -
We'll see feet resting comfortably in their favorite tennies in front of a Colorado mountain range.
Yes, let's consider for once, how things look from a little lower down.
We're not going to have any pictures of bear boxes -
or brownies about to explode from the altitude -
or cute little chipmunks.
Nope, this time we'll see ruggedly shod feet gazing at picturesque Colorado cliffs -
We'll see feet resting comfortably in their favorite tennies in front of a Colorado mountain range.
Yes, let's consider for once, how things look from a little lower down.
4th of July in Colorado Springs then off to the Grand Canyon
Alright, this is what I'm talking about. Take off the shoes, lay back on the grass, look at Pikes Peak, and wait for the fireworks show for a few hours.
Three hours later ... this is great!
Hiking in the Canyon requires a lot of breaks and the feet need to air out, right? And there's time for a self-timed photo with the camera positioned on a rock.
The hiking boots are very important - look at all that weight ... well, I better not go there.
Excellent view from the tent along the bottom of the Canyon. That's a knee, not a foot, in case you were wondering.
Three hours later ... this is great!
Hiking in the Canyon requires a lot of breaks and the feet need to air out, right? And there's time for a self-timed photo with the camera positioned on a rock.
The hiking boots are very important - look at all that weight ... well, I better not go there.
Excellent view from the tent along the bottom of the Canyon. That's a knee, not a foot, in case you were wondering.
Freaky ped views
That's right, let those feet breath along the trail. We used to have another name for those flip flops ... well, never mind.
The Colorado River! We made our destination!
On the bridge over the river, someone felt kinda woozy in the heat.
We met someone a little more light-footed than us.
Aw! Quit whining about the swollen hands! What about the feet?
The Colorado River! We made our destination!
On the bridge over the river, someone felt kinda woozy in the heat.
We met someone a little more light-footed than us.
Aw! Quit whining about the swollen hands! What about the feet?
Feet in the Canyon
Ah ... lay back in that tent and enjoy the view after that long hike. You deserve it.
This is nothing new, us feet are always looking up.
If I were running the show (get it?), I would have set the focus on the people or on the canyon instead of the nearby rock, but nobody asked me.
I'll trek thru here anytime!
This is nothing new, us feet are always looking up.
If I were running the show (get it?), I would have set the focus on the people or on the canyon instead of the nearby rock, but nobody asked me.
I'll trek thru here anytime!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Ben's pre-Birthday Celebration
This is Ben's birthday celebration week. They started Sunday when he was honored at Fellowship lunch with the premier place in line. Then he was honored before dessert along with David Morgan and John Spiegel as this year's Sycamore graduates. He got to go first for dessert too.
Then today, he received quite a surprise at SCA with a birthday cake and the singing of the traditional birthday song by his fellow classmates.
The cake which an unnamed mom got for him had a cute baby picture and a snazzy action picture as seen here:
Here you can see how he was filled with amazement and awe at our astounding surprise:
Here's a close-up of the snazzy eatable action image which Adam Dinkledine ate. Mr. York asked him if it tasted sweaty:
Here's a close-up of the cute eatable baby image. He's so cute you could eat him, and we did:
Here is the traditional candle blowing out ceremony with on-lookers:
Ben and Andrew shortly afterward on the computer, of course.
Then today, he received quite a surprise at SCA with a birthday cake and the singing of the traditional birthday song by his fellow classmates.
The cake which an unnamed mom got for him had a cute baby picture and a snazzy action picture as seen here:
Here you can see how he was filled with amazement and awe at our astounding surprise:
Here's a close-up of the snazzy eatable action image which Adam Dinkledine ate. Mr. York asked him if it tasted sweaty:
Here's a close-up of the cute eatable baby image. He's so cute you could eat him, and we did:
Here is the traditional candle blowing out ceremony with on-lookers:
Ben and Andrew shortly afterward on the computer, of course.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Gate of Beautiful
Sometimes aren't we just like the poor soul waiting at the Gate of Beautiful?
We can't get around.
We wait for handouts from the world.
We remain beggars in our helpless state.
We need a little pocket change to make it through another day.
Then something surprising happens.
Another person comes along.
This person is just like us.
This person has failings.
This person has needs.
But they speak about wholeness.
They speak about God.
They speak of an other-worldly love.
They don't have any silver or gold to offer us.
They offer what they have.
They offer the Word of God to us.
The Word reveals the reality of God.
The Word reveals the power of God.
The Word reveals the sacrifice of God.
The Word reveals the Person of God, Jesus Christ.
This name they hold as sacred.
This Person they unashamedly worship.
Our hearts burn.
Our legs burn.
Our hearts and bodies are transformed.
We can get up.
We can move forward.
We have hope.
We aren't stuck anymore.
No choices.
God's strong arm holds us.
And we want to be held,
if you call that a choice.
We have been captivated.
We won't turn away.
Where else would we go?
The Beautiful Gate is beautiful indeed.
There we left the memory of an old life.
There we started anew.
We can't get around.
We wait for handouts from the world.
We remain beggars in our helpless state.
We need a little pocket change to make it through another day.
Then something surprising happens.
Another person comes along.
This person is just like us.
This person has failings.
This person has needs.
But they speak about wholeness.
They speak about God.
They speak of an other-worldly love.
They don't have any silver or gold to offer us.
They offer what they have.
They offer the Word of God to us.
The Word reveals the reality of God.
The Word reveals the power of God.
The Word reveals the sacrifice of God.
The Word reveals the Person of God, Jesus Christ.
This name they hold as sacred.
This Person they unashamedly worship.
Our hearts burn.
Our legs burn.
Our hearts and bodies are transformed.
We can get up.
We can move forward.
We have hope.
We aren't stuck anymore.
No choices.
God's strong arm holds us.
And we want to be held,
if you call that a choice.
We have been captivated.
We won't turn away.
Where else would we go?
The Beautiful Gate is beautiful indeed.
There we left the memory of an old life.
There we started anew.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
I listened to this song from my youth ...
Love That Will Not Let Me Go
by Steve Camp
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God"
1 John 3:1
- In this weary world, chasing after dreams, just left me back where I started. I couldn't see my way. I found it had a place for the broken-hearted. You spoke softly to my soul, with one touch I was made whole!
-
Now I know that there is a love that will not let me go. I can face tomorrow, because you hold me forever. Stronger than the mighty winds that blow; I'm safe within your arms... love that will not let me go.
Now I know that there is a love that will not let me go. I can face tomorrow, because you hold me forever. Stronger than the mighty winds that blow; I'm safe within your arms... love that will not let me go.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
This one's so bad, it's good
Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him . . . what?
A super callused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
A super callused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Couldn't resist
This joke reminded me of Spencer and Nathan:
These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
What poetry form are you?
|
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Main hall lobby
The bell is ringing,
People scurry.
Can remains comparing linguists
And I stand typing in the main hall lobby.
The public walks behind me
Thinking nothing of the
Plans and paths of
The only One who matters.
They breath His air.
They live on borrowed time.
They laugh and curse
Without a thought
Of wonder or dread.
Let me stop.
Let me at least slow down
To think of You
And see Your path
And breath Your air.
People scurry.
Can remains comparing linguists
And I stand typing in the main hall lobby.
The public walks behind me
Thinking nothing of the
Plans and paths of
The only One who matters.
They breath His air.
They live on borrowed time.
They laugh and curse
Without a thought
Of wonder or dread.
Let me stop.
Let me at least slow down
To think of You
And see Your path
And breath Your air.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Psalm 30:1-5
O LORD, I will exalt You,
For You have lifted me;
My foes You have allowed not
To glory over me.
O LORD my God, I pleaded
That You might heal and save;
LORD, You from death have ransomed
And kept me from the grave.
His saints, O praise Jehovah
And thank His holy name.
His anger lasts a moment,
His grace a whole life time.
For sorrow, like a pilgrim,
May tarry all the night,
But then a shout of joy comes
When dawns the morning light.
For You have lifted me;
My foes You have allowed not
To glory over me.
O LORD my God, I pleaded
That You might heal and save;
LORD, You from death have ransomed
And kept me from the grave.
His saints, O praise Jehovah
And thank His holy name.
His anger lasts a moment,
His grace a whole life time.
For sorrow, like a pilgrim,
May tarry all the night,
But then a shout of joy comes
When dawns the morning light.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Bibliophiliac
Here in the "Learning Commons" (aka the IUK library) I hear quiet mummers, but no one approaches me for essay tweeking - so I can whip off an entry.
Two weeks of uni classes are past, and I'm getting into the groove. Both my classes offer many happy future inspirations since I am highly interested in the content of both.
My Mon/Wed "History of the English Language" class (w/me & Candace) touches on my beloved Latin. It spans Old English, Mid English, and Mod English. I'm researching to see if I can find enough information to write about British everyday people being exposed to Latin by singing the Psalms. I'm very excited about this! I'll keep you posted.
My Mon night class is a survey of the study of Rhetoric throughout time - starting with the ancient Greeks. I've taught/studied Aristotle's Rhetoric two different times and this has proved to be extremely helpful. The reading for this class is pretty heavy and demanding, but I'm going to learn a lot. It should make me a better writer and a better teacher, I hope. We have to write timed essays in reaction to our reading at the beginning of each class. I haven't had to do that for years - whew!
I brought my student's papers here today, so I think I'll grade for a while. Later!
Two weeks of uni classes are past, and I'm getting into the groove. Both my classes offer many happy future inspirations since I am highly interested in the content of both.
My Mon/Wed "History of the English Language" class (w/me & Candace) touches on my beloved Latin. It spans Old English, Mid English, and Mod English. I'm researching to see if I can find enough information to write about British everyday people being exposed to Latin by singing the Psalms. I'm very excited about this! I'll keep you posted.
My Mon night class is a survey of the study of Rhetoric throughout time - starting with the ancient Greeks. I've taught/studied Aristotle's Rhetoric two different times and this has proved to be extremely helpful. The reading for this class is pretty heavy and demanding, but I'm going to learn a lot. It should make me a better writer and a better teacher, I hope. We have to write timed essays in reaction to our reading at the beginning of each class. I haven't had to do that for years - whew!
I brought my student's papers here today, so I think I'll grade for a while. Later!
Monday, January 07, 2008
Eatin' carrots and drinkin' diet coke
Healthy - that's me.
College classes start today. Monday is my busy day: one morning class, work in the writing center, then one evening class. I do have a nice block of time in the afternoon at home for walking the treadmill and reading for class - which is what I did today.
Rob was off work and happily busying himself with his new hobby of knife sheath making. He's pretty good at it. Not surprising.
Candace and I have the morning class together. It's a 300 level class that is beefed up for her since she's an honors student and beefed up for me since I'm a grad student. Fun times.
Amy's around somewhere. Haven't seen her lately. You know Amy. She has a full class load and will keep working at Panera Bread too. Her classes which are very un-biology-like and very un-math-like will suit her well AND one theater class (she has all the fun.)
Ben worked this morning. He had to ride his bike to work a whole mile away. His van days are over since the "wan" is officially dead. Poor Ben. He's trying to sell it. He's now at his college class. I think he's going to enjoy this one since it's a computer design class - right up his alley.
Tomorrow it's back to teaching at SCA. I've missed the kids - it'll be good to see them again.
I'll be good and productive and do some reading now then go to class in a little bit.
Bye.
College classes start today. Monday is my busy day: one morning class, work in the writing center, then one evening class. I do have a nice block of time in the afternoon at home for walking the treadmill and reading for class - which is what I did today.
Rob was off work and happily busying himself with his new hobby of knife sheath making. He's pretty good at it. Not surprising.
Candace and I have the morning class together. It's a 300 level class that is beefed up for her since she's an honors student and beefed up for me since I'm a grad student. Fun times.
Amy's around somewhere. Haven't seen her lately. You know Amy. She has a full class load and will keep working at Panera Bread too. Her classes which are very un-biology-like and very un-math-like will suit her well AND one theater class (she has all the fun.)
Ben worked this morning. He had to ride his bike to work a whole mile away. His van days are over since the "wan" is officially dead. Poor Ben. He's trying to sell it. He's now at his college class. I think he's going to enjoy this one since it's a computer design class - right up his alley.
Tomorrow it's back to teaching at SCA. I've missed the kids - it'll be good to see them again.
I'll be good and productive and do some reading now then go to class in a little bit.
Bye.
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