Category Archives: Uncategorized

Verseleciel is right, we should be gracious toward typos.  But that we might avoid such typos, and for general help:

1. definite
2. separate
3. desperate
4. their = possessive, belonging to them
5. there = positional, as in, “not here”
6. they’re = they are
7. its = possessive, belonging to it
8. it’s = it is

Any others you guys can think of?

simply understanding
You see me when no
one’s around
frustration shows my patience
it seems i’ll never get
this right

to get to know You better

to love You more than myself

to give You everything

all of me, all of me


i am human
i borrow this excuse for
my pride
inconsistent, independent
it seems i’ll never make
this right

to get to know You better


to love You more than myself


to give You everything


all of me, all of me

waiting for a sign to fall
into my lap from the sky
pockets full of time
it seems I’ve waited
here forever

I don’t know why, but this song was in my head from the moment I woke up this morning.  I haven’t heard it in years, as far as I know, and I may be teased by my friend Matty for remembering it, but I have to say, it was a nice thought to begin the day with…

Wasn’t it yesterday I was eight years old
I had a pocket full of rocks
That I knew were made of solid gold–
There were girls to be hated
Trees to be climbed
Forts to be built, there was so much time–
It’s good to be alive, it’s good to be alive

There’s nothing in the world like being fifteen
Your pockets are empty, but your head is full of dreams
Of girls to be loved
Of places to see
It’s the best and the worst
Just my friends and me
And we’re anything we want to be

And it’s good to be alive!
To feel the wind in my face
See the blue in the sky–
It’s days like this I realize
What a gift it is…
It’s good to be alive!

Well I wonder what this day will see
Will I find my dreams or stare in the face of tragedy
Whatever may come
Whatever may be
Of this I am sure, I’m forgiven and free
And I will live like I believe

–Geoff Moore and the Distance (I know, I can’t believe I’m quoting them here, either.)

Yeah, I really wasn’t at all serious about that title.  Sorry, folks.  I typically shudder when people talk about dating Jesus, as it seems far too noncommittal and merely sentimental to describe our relationship with Christ.  Sorry my humour wasn’t more apparent (smile).

And no, I don’t usually entitle something before I write it.  The other night, though, Brooke and I worked together to write out a brief summary which will go on the mailer for this study.  Here’s a piece of what we came up with:

Relationships.
You already do them.
Learn to do them right.

Whatever your experience has been, this relationship stuff is hard.  You have questions now, and you’ll have more questions later.  But God’s Word will always have everything you need to do relationships the right way.  At the Transform Student Conference, you will gain the study skills you need to search the Scriptures for the truth.  Not our answers.  Not your answers.  His answers.

God’s Word will always have everything you need to do relationships the right way.

I think my favourite part is the last few lines–the purpose of this study is to help young people learn how to approach God’s Word with whatever questions they may have, both now and in the future (won’t we always have questions?).  Instead of attending conference after conference at which they hope someone else will give them the answers they need, the hope is that they will learn to go straight to God first for the answers.

Still, we have a lot of writing to do…hopefully I can start into it tomorrow!  As for tonight, I’m going camping, so blessings on you guys!  If you catch a whiff of North Sea pipe tobacco on the wind, it’ll probably be me (smile).

P.S. A rough Australian western, this “Proposition,” but really solid film.

Some friends of mine at Precept have asked me to try my hand at writing a Precept Inductive Bible study for teens.  It’s to be a six-week st udy in relationships.  I know, why on earth would they ask me, right?  Well, ours is not to question why, ours is but to write and pray really really hard (smile).  Anyway, tonight I’m brain-storming about it a bit.  Here’s one thought for a working title:

How to Date Jesus and See Other People Too.

What do you think?  This one would go out to all the homeschooling courtship folks out there (smile).

P.S. I’m trying out this audio thing on xanga.  Check out my audio page…
 

Yeahp. that’s what I’m listening to today.  And can I just say that I still enjoy me a little Supertones every once in awhile.  They made the leap to my iPod over the weekend, and that makes them and me happy.  Other ancient bands of note which were imported in the past few days: Reality Check (self-titled and only album…remember them?), Caedmon’s Call (self-titled, 40 Acres, and Back Home), and Third Day (Time).  So there.

Let me drown in an ocean of devotion
Let my joy be in service and love my emotion
Let me be closer that Your right hand
Tighter than Your left hand and let me be a Godly man
‘Til the day I die, ’til the fire’s just smoke
I will go for broke ’til my last word’s spoke
If I limp then I will run with a limp
I’ll win some and lose some, but I’ll make my attempt

Last breath before the candle flickers out
I will speak the name of Jesus!

I will keep fightin’ to the knockout, even if I’m knocked out
Hittin’ hard, I’m hittin’ for the belt
My soul will keep going ’til my body buckles under
Till my bloody knuckles carry us to heaven by the truckfulls
I will be as stubborn as a pitbull,
Neutral as a nazi, resolute like Ghandi
I will keep preachin’ ’til I’m took out,
‘Til I’m Heaven en route–
No sell out!

The Supertones always make me think of my friend who, with wife and daughter, are presently in another country.  This music reminds me of one crazy night driving down to Atlanta in my old Corsica, trying desperately to find the Gwinnett Civic Center with two great friend and two virtual strangers, a crazy Jamaican lady redirecting us, and finally, at long last, arriving at Ska-mania.  Five Iron, Insyderz, and Supertones all together.  Admit it, you’re jealous.

  

Yeah, Five Iron.  How late we learned that you guys were actually the best.

I have no idea why they did it, and what corporate or financial masters pulled puppet strings to bring it about, but the WB is now officially the CW.  Doesn’t really matter, I’m sure that they will mostly retain the ridiculous teen melodramas of years past (and the entire teenage girl population of Chattanooga breathes a collective happy sigh–“sooo good!” they scream).  But I just flipped past it and the are showing an episode of Star Trek, the original series, right now, and it just happens to be the one where this large, overgrown rug is shuffling through caverns underground, killing men indiscriminately, until Mr. Spock melds his mind to it and gains a heart of compassion for ugly ol’ Beastie. 

Yeah, classic.

Last night I took a few hours to thoroughly clean my bedroom, and in so doing decided that I would move this furniture here, place that lamp there, and reconstruct my room.  This will be the third arrangement this room has had since I moved here, but I think the transitions add a fresh perspective to things.  In fact, I’m looking longingly at the living room to do the same, but those bookshelves would be a beast to move around.  Hmmm.  But just to warn you all, the hideous green recliner from my college days is currently a new addition to the living room–we’ll see if she lasts out there.  Unsightly chair, it had previously been chained up in my bedroom where none should have the misfortune of looking upon it, and there it was sat in rarely and more often became simply another surface upon which to throw clothes which could be recycled.  And so, part of my reason for moving the chunky thing out of the bedroom was that I might not have such a place to throw clothing but instead learn to manage the wardrobe better. 

And sad that I should spend so many words on moving a recliner, eh? 

In other news, I recently finished London’s “The Sea Wolf,” and still have a small pile of books by my bed waiting to be turned through.  Thought I’d take a vote: which of the following books should be next on my list?

A. I, Claudius by Robert Graves
B. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
C. Rabbit Run by John Updike
D. some Chekhov short stories and a bit of collected poetry for a little while, in honour of coming autumn

Any recommendations?  I’m carrying poetry around everywhere anyway–it is fall, after all!  The season of creative sparks…

In honour of the Precept Inductive Bible Study method, the following invitation is presented in the manner of the 5 W’s and the H…

Who: the regulars…and even your irregular friends, if they have the evening available
What: an occasion for the viewing of the movie pictured above, Clash of the Titans
When: Thursday next, at something like seven in the even (that’s poetic for “evening”)
Where: at the historic Ritterbush pad
Why: for lenten entertainment and mild mythological amusement
How: courtesy of my Netflix subscription and the mad claymation skills of whoever made this movie

Speaking of Precept, tonight began the eleven-week study in the Covenants.  The first week was an overview, and the part of it I finished before classtime tonight I much enjoyed.  I especially love the word studies.  For example, while it is typically translated “made a covenant,” the Hebrew word for “made” more closely means “cut, cut off, cut away, tear (as in flesh), destroy or make an end to, exclude from membership or association.”  Think of all this relates to for we who are in Him, we Gentiles who were strangers to the covenants of promise, without God and without hope in the world, but who have been brought near by the blood of Christ–how we who had been excluded now are miraculously included!  How He was torn and destroyed for us, that we might escape God’s wrath!  And that His covenant should be everlasting!  Amazing.

None of these profound realities were discussed in the classtime tonight, sadly.  But as Brooke reminds me, this is only the first week and is meant to be a simple overview–I should be patient.  Still, there were various interesting opinions voiced this evening, and a few poor interpretations, one which elicited a great groan or disagreement from most of the room.  Poor fellow.  Still, I have higher hopes for it, and at the least it will help me press on in accountability to finish it all.

For those who have never gone through a Precept Upon Precept study, I recommend them.  It certainly helps one begin to dig in and get grubby with the Word (though, of course, really one is getting clean–“Sanctify them by the Truth, Father; Your Word is Truth!”)…

“Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.’ So his armorbearer said to him, ‘Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.'”

Are you so afraid of failure because you believe God only directs men into “successful” situations? Do you fear stepping out to ask the bold question, to dare the words of love, because you are unsure of winning the other heart? Is it the other person or yourself that you fear? Do you fear even your own desires, O saint? And are you using half-hearted prayers seeking “guidance” as a mask for your lack of faith in doing?

How many failures we have seen among the lives of biblical men and women, and yet God maintains His glory, His throne, His love. Is this a license for foolishness among God’s people? Surely not! But we must have a greater, grander view of God’s grace, and even of the grace among His people! Do other believers demand all answers and perfection from you? They should not, lest they forget the grace which also purchased them. The same honesty which requires that we sometimes speak the difficult things or confess the hard hurts and loves, is that honesty which compels every man in this prayer: “God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner.” The poor in spirit are most honest. The poor in spirit may, in this life, lose out for the sake of that honesty, or may be damaged by their own truth-telling. But grace and deep affection are not lost or injured for the losing–neither the love of God in Christ Jesus nor the love of the fellow faithful are diminished!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!”

Have you become convinced that moving forward into an unknown will separate you from His love? The doubt which may accompany many great steps of faith is not sinful; faith itself both includes and overwhelms doubt. But we have promises beyond the small steps and assurances which no small doubtful, daring venture can drown. Therefore, walk bold, Christian! Who knows? It may be that the Lord will work for you, for He is not hindered by many or by few…