a good snow

How invigorating is the first snow? My bones and joints are not yet tired of it. It makes me feel 12 again. I got excited last night as I saw the flakes get bigger and bigger. Going outside for a bit, I started judging how good the snow was; did it compact under my feet? Did it make a heavy noise, or did my tread easily blow it about.
But by 7am this morning, I know I will be tired of it. The scraping of the cars and the driving and drivers of our little burg will surely make me dream of plush green fields and tulips of an early spring.

Putting to death

As a reminder to myself, I ask:
With what vanity do I live my day to day? and with what regard do I live for those around me?

May Chrit fill my 5 senses with Himself so that my hands and and feet may be glorified with His work.

friday nights

Can you think of a better friday night than the one spent with your kids?

I can.

The one spent with my kids.

Political Evangelism

I think I have narrowed down my concerns as a voter to a single concern that seems to be the impetus for the rest:

When did we allow the government, and the election of officials, to be the primary arm for evangelism?

It does not sit well in my gut and on my arms that we ride political parties because they are God's chosen instrument in order to bring morality and justice to the nation. Isn't that the church's role?

I do not agree with abortion, wholeheartedly. I see it as unprejudiced genocide that has not been seen since Joshua invaded Palestine, or Rome invaded Carthage. But giving control and full measure to an elected body we've kept it out of our hands. We've washed our hands of it and have let someone else worry about it. While it is legal today, I think the churhc is doing its role, by not participating in it and trying to dissuade those who want to. But if it is made illegal, I fear that the church will claim an adamant victory and then not care about and pursue those women and babies whose life is being threatened anymore.

Something has gone wrong. In the US Constitution, the government is barred from "respecting" any religion. But the church has "respected" the government in ways it never should have. We have "picked" our government and we want it to play our lap dog and do our work for us. Trying to get men and women to change their behaviour and respect the law. Again, this should be the sole work of the church.

We need the Christocentric vision of the church to change our world. Not those who curry favour by paying attention to the moods and cultural swings of the day.

So, yes I'll vote because I do not believe in the sitting idly by while I can do some good. But I'm not going to live as though my government is the most effective way to bring order to my life, or to my world.

Though I dwell in a democracy, I still live in a monarchy.

Why not an Armistice today?

Today is 11/11, the anniversary of the end of World War I. They ended with an Armistice, or a treaty of truce, ending all hostilities. However, the end of this war and all of its conditions brought about World War II in about 12 years.

I'm not looking for a truce. I would love one. God and I come together and we talk about what conditions each side will take in assuring that hostilities between us would end. But he's not looking for that. A truce would really work out great for me. There may even be some things I'd get to keep, like my ability to remain an entity on the world's stage.

But that's not what He wants, is it?

No. He wants my unconditional surrender. He wants to overthrow me and become the Lord of mt life. Anything I have becomes part of a colonial power that would use it for the glory and prosperity of the Mother Country, the High Places, the Heavenlies.

I do not offer him red poppies of remembrance littered across the fields so I can "never forget", but a white flag, so I'll never take up arms again.

His peace is lasting, and His ways are easy; His burden light. Though king, He is friend. Though Friend, He is living in me, a part of me and my hostilities towards Him treats Him as if an invading army.
Truth is, I invited Him.
Truth is, I wanted Him.
Truth is, I needed Him.
Truth is, I still do.

tonight's prayer exercise

How quickly and easy it was for me to think of my sin. Its ever present on my heart, and in my head. My tongue is weighed down heavily by it. And how merciful I want you to be to me, though I am unworthy and dirty. How greatly misled I have been.

And how great you are.

a funny story

So, I went grocery shopping after school on friday. Not all that great, had to get some things for dinner that night. Anyway, I was walking into Giant, and I heard a small voice shouting "hombre Arrenas". He did it several times. I turned around and saw a small Latin boy pointing at me with his family in tow.. his mom saw me look and told the boy to be quiet. So, there you have it. Apparently to the Spanish speaking population of the world, I somehow resemble Spider-man. Weird.