And because I wanted to see if I could post a picture. Good stuff.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
In other news
The Steelers lost to the Patriots yesterday. What a bummer. They looked good to win. Two turnovers in the red zone, lots of pressure on Tom Brady in the pocket. And then came the 4th quarter. That sucked. The Pats are the best clutch team around, thanks to their quarterback and kicker. As my friend MK said yesterday, I don't think Adam Vinatieri knows the meaning of the word pressure. Same goes for Tom Brady. And they were forcing Big Ben to throw. Let's just say he's better at handing off the ball to his runningbacks than throwing the ball most of the time. Not good. So, the win streak is over. Still, 15 regular season games is a pretty good run. Next time...
Only the lonely
Why these thoughts came to me yesterday in church I really don't know. Do you think it's okay to be lonely? And I mean in relationship to one's singleness. I'm not really sure. You see, I have a great family and some awesome friends. Some are just acquaintences, but some are deep friendships, both male and female. People I can be myself around, warts and all (including fits of the giggles at prayer time - oh no!). On top of that, I know that I'm a child of Creator God, who loves me more than anything, and who I talk to everyday. So why do I still feel lonely? And is it a bad thing?
It's very tricky. On the one hand, we're taught that God should be our everything, the only one we need. On the other hand, he created us as relational beings. Even though Adam was in close relationship with God, Adam needed something else. And what's funny is that is was God that decided Adam needed something besides Himself. So where is the balance in that?
I don't know the answer. But I have come to think that sometimes it's okay to be lonely. Not that we should just sit around an mope all the time because we're lonely, but it's okay to feel lonely. It doesn't necessarily mean that my relationship with God is not what it should be. Nor does it mean that I'm definitely going to be married someday. God could take the loneliness away. But I shouldn't sit and feel guilty if I feel lonely. I dunno. Just some random thoughts from a random Sample. :-)
It's very tricky. On the one hand, we're taught that God should be our everything, the only one we need. On the other hand, he created us as relational beings. Even though Adam was in close relationship with God, Adam needed something else. And what's funny is that is was God that decided Adam needed something besides Himself. So where is the balance in that?
I don't know the answer. But I have come to think that sometimes it's okay to be lonely. Not that we should just sit around an mope all the time because we're lonely, but it's okay to feel lonely. It doesn't necessarily mean that my relationship with God is not what it should be. Nor does it mean that I'm definitely going to be married someday. God could take the loneliness away. But I shouldn't sit and feel guilty if I feel lonely. I dunno. Just some random thoughts from a random Sample. :-)
Monday, September 19, 2005
Just in case you were wondering
I have nothing to say. :-) Stay tuned, I may have something to say in the future...
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Getting real
A post on another blog has got me thinking. Are we afraid to share honestly with other Christians? I think so, and it's a shame. I know that I have gone through times of doubt and frustration, but don't really want to share some of the things I've been thinking for fear that I'll be judged. That people will think I'm less of a Christian. I think people pass judgement on other people in those situations because it's easier than dealing with their own shortcomings/doubts/insecurities.
After wrestling for a while, and reading a lot, I have come to the conclusion that God welcomes people who are honest enough about their struggles to admit them. That God is patient with my doubting, my confusion, even my anger. He let Job question him. Didn't answer him directly, but that's not the point. Job complained to God, and it was okay. Jacob wrestled with God, Thomas needed tangible proof, the disciples would get it and then not get it a minute later. And yet God was patient. And he USED every one of those people. And I think it was the faith that resulted from those periods of doubt and uncertainty that enabled God to use them so mightily. (I must put in a caveat and say that just because God uses these times doesn't mean that I think God likes us to be in places like that).
Sometimes doubt can drive people from God. But I think more often it's a strengthener of faith. If I doubt and wrestle, then when I come through on the other side, my faith is "mine". I'm not just taking someone else's word for it...I've made it mine.
So if it's something God can work with, why can't the church? Instead, it's seen as a weakness, something that we can't share with other people, or something we don't know what to do with when someone does open up. But we've all been there, and I think we're lying to ourselves and to others if we don't admit it. Everyone has times when they question God. When what they've been told and believe doesn't seem to fit with what's really happening.
It doesn't mean I don't believe. Really, what else is there to believe that holds water? No, it's not turning my back on God. I'm just being real and honest before God, taking off my mask of "spirituality". Admitting my struggles. Now if only I could be so bold as to do that in front of other people.
After wrestling for a while, and reading a lot, I have come to the conclusion that God welcomes people who are honest enough about their struggles to admit them. That God is patient with my doubting, my confusion, even my anger. He let Job question him. Didn't answer him directly, but that's not the point. Job complained to God, and it was okay. Jacob wrestled with God, Thomas needed tangible proof, the disciples would get it and then not get it a minute later. And yet God was patient. And he USED every one of those people. And I think it was the faith that resulted from those periods of doubt and uncertainty that enabled God to use them so mightily. (I must put in a caveat and say that just because God uses these times doesn't mean that I think God likes us to be in places like that).
Sometimes doubt can drive people from God. But I think more often it's a strengthener of faith. If I doubt and wrestle, then when I come through on the other side, my faith is "mine". I'm not just taking someone else's word for it...I've made it mine.
So if it's something God can work with, why can't the church? Instead, it's seen as a weakness, something that we can't share with other people, or something we don't know what to do with when someone does open up. But we've all been there, and I think we're lying to ourselves and to others if we don't admit it. Everyone has times when they question God. When what they've been told and believe doesn't seem to fit with what's really happening.
It doesn't mean I don't believe. Really, what else is there to believe that holds water? No, it's not turning my back on God. I'm just being real and honest before God, taking off my mask of "spirituality". Admitting my struggles. Now if only I could be so bold as to do that in front of other people.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
15 days till fall
But who's counting?
There are so many reasons I love fall. Cooler temperatures, sleeping with the windows open, sleeping with the comforter on the bed, the cool, crisp smell in the air, leaves changing colors, football, wearing warm clothes, wearing warm clothes while outside at a football game screaming your lungs out, hot drinks. **Sigh** As Louis Armstrong said...what a wonderful world.
There are so many reasons I love fall. Cooler temperatures, sleeping with the windows open, sleeping with the comforter on the bed, the cool, crisp smell in the air, leaves changing colors, football, wearing warm clothes, wearing warm clothes while outside at a football game screaming your lungs out, hot drinks. **Sigh** As Louis Armstrong said...what a wonderful world.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
It's just like riding a bike
What a great weekend! So many good things, but most of all...a day off work. I'm having a hard time convincing myself today is Tuesday.
I went dancing on Friday night. Got to try out my new dance shoes. I was a new person. They didn't even recognize that dancing machine out there. :-) Great fun. AND I got to sleep in on Saturday morning. I haven't been able to do that for a while. I love my bed. Naps are great, too. Got to take one of those on Sunday afternoon. I learned that it's nearly impossible in September to find brown or blue dress shoes that weren't made for my grandmother. That sucks.
I'm SO saddle sore this morning. :-) I went for a bike ride with my parents yesterday down to a diner in Dillsburg. Great fun. I haven't been on a bike in years. Years, I tell you. And I didn't even realize what the seat was doing to me until we got back on the bikes after breakfast. That was painful. I'm thankful the trip home was a lot shorter. Bike seats are painful!
I love relaxing weekends. Where there are no agendas, no plans, activities. Where you can just come and go however you wish. And I got good food for the soul. Our church recently moved into a new and bigger building. And the first sermon series was "Family Matters". Gee, that's an interesting 3 months of sermons for a single 20-something. Which was disheartening. One fo the reasons I was drawn to the church in the first place was the pastor's sermons. I love his preaching style, and what he has to say. But this "FM" sermon series seemed more "seeker sensitive" than his usual sermons. I mean, I understand why they did it, but I was afraid the sermons that really spoke to me were a thing of the past. So my hopes were raised when I heard that the new sermon series would be "The 10 Commandments". And they were realized this Sunday when I heard the sermon...an into of sorts into the series.
I heard one of the best sermons this Sunday. It was very challenging for me, and met me where I was at. How often, in Evangelical Christianity, do we focus more on the love of God, and forget the holiness of God. The fact that we shouldn't even be allowed to stand in the presence of such a God makes the concept of mercy and grace that much more incredible. Unfortunately, I fall into that category too often. I like to think of God as someone I can run to easily, and talk with casually. Which are all things that are okay. But, all too often I forget about the incredible and absolute holiness of God. And I forget my humble place as a human before the Divine. Holy love. You can't divorce the two. One without the other is an incomplete picture of God. Good stuff. Can't wait till next Sunday...the First Commandment.
I went dancing on Friday night. Got to try out my new dance shoes. I was a new person. They didn't even recognize that dancing machine out there. :-) Great fun. AND I got to sleep in on Saturday morning. I haven't been able to do that for a while. I love my bed. Naps are great, too. Got to take one of those on Sunday afternoon. I learned that it's nearly impossible in September to find brown or blue dress shoes that weren't made for my grandmother. That sucks.
I'm SO saddle sore this morning. :-) I went for a bike ride with my parents yesterday down to a diner in Dillsburg. Great fun. I haven't been on a bike in years. Years, I tell you. And I didn't even realize what the seat was doing to me until we got back on the bikes after breakfast. That was painful. I'm thankful the trip home was a lot shorter. Bike seats are painful!
I love relaxing weekends. Where there are no agendas, no plans, activities. Where you can just come and go however you wish. And I got good food for the soul. Our church recently moved into a new and bigger building. And the first sermon series was "Family Matters". Gee, that's an interesting 3 months of sermons for a single 20-something. Which was disheartening. One fo the reasons I was drawn to the church in the first place was the pastor's sermons. I love his preaching style, and what he has to say. But this "FM" sermon series seemed more "seeker sensitive" than his usual sermons. I mean, I understand why they did it, but I was afraid the sermons that really spoke to me were a thing of the past. So my hopes were raised when I heard that the new sermon series would be "The 10 Commandments". And they were realized this Sunday when I heard the sermon...an into of sorts into the series.
I heard one of the best sermons this Sunday. It was very challenging for me, and met me where I was at. How often, in Evangelical Christianity, do we focus more on the love of God, and forget the holiness of God. The fact that we shouldn't even be allowed to stand in the presence of such a God makes the concept of mercy and grace that much more incredible. Unfortunately, I fall into that category too often. I like to think of God as someone I can run to easily, and talk with casually. Which are all things that are okay. But, all too often I forget about the incredible and absolute holiness of God. And I forget my humble place as a human before the Divine. Holy love. You can't divorce the two. One without the other is an incomplete picture of God. Good stuff. Can't wait till next Sunday...the First Commandment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)