Screwtape- "He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself-creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally becomes sons. We want to suck in; He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Thoughts of a Demon
Been reading the Screwtape Letters by C.S.Lewis. It's a very thought provoking book and amazingly profound for it's time. If you haven't read it, it's about an older demon named Screwtape sharing advice with his nephew Wormwood on how to control the human soul. Read this part today and wanted to throw it out to you to think about. Feel free to comment if you'd like.
Screwtape- "He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself-creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally becomes sons. We want to suck in; He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."
Screwtape- "He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself-creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally becomes sons. We want to suck in; He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."
Monday, January 10, 2011
Who the heck are you?
I only made it to the J's....so if you saw this on Facebook and your last name is from A-J...I must like you for some reason or another. If your last name is from K-Z...your fate is yet to be determined.
It occurs to me that the term "friend" is thrown around rather loosely in todays' Facebook influenced culture. Now understand that I think social networking is a good thing and it's cool that I can connect with people that I wouldnt be able to otherwise. It's just amazing to me how going down through my list of friends that I do not know who 30 of them are...or at least I can't remember.
Here's what hit me though a few minutes ago that made me write this. I am considered God's friend. Now God has a bunch of friends yet he considers me one of them and a close one at that. There's have been times that I have not connected with God for quite some time. There have been other times that I have done things that most certainly hurts our relationship. I have made promises to Him that I have not been able to keep. I have been less than a friend to God time and time again...yet some how...some way...He still calls me his friend. He hasn't decided to "delete" our friendship. He still sees value in me...and in you.
That's a very elementary thought I know...yet at the same time it is very profound. I am glad that our Lord is not like me when it comes to friendships. How cool is it that God actually cares about our "status"?! Hopefully I am open enough to hear his "comments" on it. Okay...that's enough cheesy Facebook analogies. But seriously though...what would you do if God poked you?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Wish I Owned a Radio Station
Bet you didn't expect that sound to come out of that mouth did you? Neither did I. Just another lesson in the "don't judge a book by it's cover" class.
We took the kids to Camden, New Jersey to work at a homeless shelter the weekend before Christmas. A staff member they called "Detroit" got up and told his story. He actually had 2 or 3 college degrees and was doing great early in life but got mixed up in a messy divorce from his wife and other bad circumstances landed him on the street. He lived in a box and begged for money in front of a Dunkin Donuts until the manager finally came out one day and asked him if he wanted a job cleaning. He said yes and did such a great job there that other surrounding businesses hired him to do the same. He now helps other homeless people get on their feet.
I haven't been around too many homeless folks but when I am...I get nervous. While in Italy studying abroad for ten weeks I would often run into gypsies who would beg for money and shake a cup in your face. My initial thought, whether in the US or abroad, has always been the same: do they really need this money or am I being cheated. But the more and more I experience people like Ted Williams and Detroit...well...you know what I'm feeling. Is it possible that my heart needs to change a bit? How would Jesus respond to this guy? How would you respond to this guy?
Think about it and say a prayer for Ted...hope to hear his voice on the radio sometime soon.
Monday, January 3, 2011
New Year's Side Effects
It's a brand new year and for some reason I find myself wanting to blog. I have no idea why. The last time I wrote was 2009. This very morning I also got up early, made a pot of coffee, had breakfast, and read a book. For many people this is normal but that is not my typical morning ritual on my day off. I typically get up around 10am and then lay on the couch until 2pm watching TV and movies. But this morning i wanted to be more productive and have a feeling of accomplishment. Why you ask? Well I'm not sure but I think it has to do with this whole "new year thing".
I also have renewed my commitment to lose weight...again. I am also trying to become more faithful to my daily Bible reading and time with God...again.
What the heck is going on?! It was Friday night, time passed, and Saturday came and with it this renewed since that I could change and do the things I want to do and not be stuck in the habits of the previous day. What's up with that?!
I find it very cool that God let's us start again. We are not stuck where we are and have to put up with the habits we've formed. We have the ability to change and make choices. That, to me, is very refreshing. While I may or may not keep the habits I'm trying to form, God allows me to make that decision. And for some unknown reason, I find myself making those decisions on Jan 1st. Will it continue...well tomorrow shall tell. Happy New Year!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Stages
Due to the recent changes in my life and some of the conversations I've had with people lately, I've made some observations about the stages we experience in life:
1) Each stage of life has it's own significance. We tend to make some more important than others(sweet 16, college, marriage...), but I'm not sure that we should view them that way. I don't want to go back to my high school years...but I know that it was a part of my life that shaped how I am today.
2) We tend to look forward to the next stage or wish we could re-live a past one rather than live fully in the one we're in. "I can't wait until I'm older" a 7 year old says. "Wish I had my licence" a 15 year old might say", "We are getting married next year, can't wait!!". The 60 year old says "not as young as I used to be, it's a shame". I understand that there are some things to look forward to. I think though that sometimes some people have all of their focus on the future or past rather than enjoying the phase they are in.
3) Last and most annoying(to me anyways): "Just wait til you get to the real world"-we say to a college kid, "Wait til your married, then you'll know what I mean"-to a young couple, "Just wait to you have kids"-to a newly married couple, "O you just wait til they turn 13"-to a family with todlers, "See if you feel the same way when your my age"-an older person says...and so on and so on. It's not condesending I've decided but it is a somewhat negative comment. Basically we're saying "you think you have it bad now...you just wait. It gets worse!!!" I'm sure I will do it myself from time to time but I hope to include the good things as well. "Enjoy high school while your there, college is a blast but make sure to enjoy the time you have left at home."
Bottom line: Enjoy the stage you're in to the best of your ability, know that God has a plan for you during that stage, and don't look down on but encourage the younger and less experienced people.
1) Each stage of life has it's own significance. We tend to make some more important than others(sweet 16, college, marriage...), but I'm not sure that we should view them that way. I don't want to go back to my high school years...but I know that it was a part of my life that shaped how I am today.
2) We tend to look forward to the next stage or wish we could re-live a past one rather than live fully in the one we're in. "I can't wait until I'm older" a 7 year old says. "Wish I had my licence" a 15 year old might say", "We are getting married next year, can't wait!!". The 60 year old says "not as young as I used to be, it's a shame". I understand that there are some things to look forward to. I think though that sometimes some people have all of their focus on the future or past rather than enjoying the phase they are in.
3) Last and most annoying(to me anyways): "Just wait til you get to the real world"-we say to a college kid, "Wait til your married, then you'll know what I mean"-to a young couple, "Just wait to you have kids"-to a newly married couple, "O you just wait til they turn 13"-to a family with todlers, "See if you feel the same way when your my age"-an older person says...and so on and so on. It's not condesending I've decided but it is a somewhat negative comment. Basically we're saying "you think you have it bad now...you just wait. It gets worse!!!" I'm sure I will do it myself from time to time but I hope to include the good things as well. "Enjoy high school while your there, college is a blast but make sure to enjoy the time you have left at home."
Bottom line: Enjoy the stage you're in to the best of your ability, know that God has a plan for you during that stage, and don't look down on but encourage the younger and less experienced people.
Monday, March 30, 2009
More Drama Than A Junior High Dance
Drama. we all expereince it from time to time. I'm not talking Shakespeare either. I'm talking moments in life when everything gets crazy. Had one of those weekends Friday and Saturday. I'll spare you the details but give you my thoughts on it.
One moment in time. That's what makes a difference in some people's lives(not the song either). One choice, one mistake, one good decision...these are what define our lives at points. They point us in a direction. Sometimes one bad decision can change the course of a person's life and possibly change the world. The exact same truth applies to good choices as well. Consider Hitler and Abraham Lincoln.
There's a movie that I enjoyed watching in high school. It was a rough movie and I wouldn't recommend it because of the content...but I did get something out of it. The Butterfly Effect is a movie where a young man is able to read some of his old journals and is able to go re-live that moment in time that he wrote about. Not only can he re-live it but he can change what happens. Once he snaps out of his "reliving time" he comes back to reality...but his reality has changed. By changing one moment of his past, his entire future has changed...different college, different personality, everything has changed.
I like this because it shows that our decisions we make on a daily basis can effect our future paths and what will happen to us. It reminds me to keep my focus on God. When dramatic moments come...I want to make a good decision that has positive effects on my future...not negative. Don't let one moment in time mess with your eternity. So many people do this in moments of pressure, stress, and drama. The moment will pass and you will have to deal with the consequences of it. We need to decide right now that we are not going to let anything, any drama or situation mess with our final reality...heaven and life eternal with Jesus.
One moment in time. That's what makes a difference in some people's lives(not the song either). One choice, one mistake, one good decision...these are what define our lives at points. They point us in a direction. Sometimes one bad decision can change the course of a person's life and possibly change the world. The exact same truth applies to good choices as well. Consider Hitler and Abraham Lincoln.
There's a movie that I enjoyed watching in high school. It was a rough movie and I wouldn't recommend it because of the content...but I did get something out of it. The Butterfly Effect is a movie where a young man is able to read some of his old journals and is able to go re-live that moment in time that he wrote about. Not only can he re-live it but he can change what happens. Once he snaps out of his "reliving time" he comes back to reality...but his reality has changed. By changing one moment of his past, his entire future has changed...different college, different personality, everything has changed.
I like this because it shows that our decisions we make on a daily basis can effect our future paths and what will happen to us. It reminds me to keep my focus on God. When dramatic moments come...I want to make a good decision that has positive effects on my future...not negative. Don't let one moment in time mess with your eternity. So many people do this in moments of pressure, stress, and drama. The moment will pass and you will have to deal with the consequences of it. We need to decide right now that we are not going to let anything, any drama or situation mess with our final reality...heaven and life eternal with Jesus.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
National Youth ministry Conference
This past weekend I went to the Columbus Convention Center for the National Youth Ministry Conference. On the way there I started feeling really bad I must say...headache, sore throat, freezing to death. I went with my friend Justin pack who works at Louisville church of Christ. We got there and the night session was really good despite how bad I felt. They had a band at the end and I decided to go out and find a place to lay down. I found a sack chair and curled up in the fetal position and shivered for 45 minutes...it must have been interesting to watch. Some people must have thought I had the spirit in me, the others must have thought a demon. We found the couple that was letting us stay in their home and we headed that way. Once we got there I headed straight to bed and preoceeded to sweat out my 102.9 temperature. The next day I felt a great deal better.
I went to classes the next day pertaining to developing student leaders. It was a really great class where I learned a lot and I got plenty of ideas. I won''t share those ideas here right now. i must say though that this is an awesome conference. 3000 youth workers coming together to share life and conversation. I met a lot of great people and even though I felt like I was dying, i walked away encouraged.
I went to classes the next day pertaining to developing student leaders. It was a really great class where I learned a lot and I got plenty of ideas. I won''t share those ideas here right now. i must say though that this is an awesome conference. 3000 youth workers coming together to share life and conversation. I met a lot of great people and even though I felt like I was dying, i walked away encouraged.
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