Sage is almost a year old now, and I think my favorite thing about him is his smile. His general expression is fairly happy, but when I catch his eye and smile at him, his cute little face erupts in joy. The effect is so thorough that it seems as if even his hair is smiling.
At the moment, Ethan is having sort of a rough time of it. At three, he finds himself being moodier and more distressed than I ever remember Spencer being at his age. But every so often, I’ll catch him when he’s not paying attention, and I’ll just smile at him as if to tell him I cherish him. He smiles back, and for a moment, all is right in the world.
Spencer is five, and I would say that smiles are one of the key currencies of our relationship. I see him doing something cute, he makes a joke, or I just want to remind him how much I love him, and I’ll smile so that he sees me.
In my own experience, the one consistent message God gives me is that He loves me and is pleased with me. Whenever I picture Him in my mind, He only ever has one facial expression.
Thought of the Day 10.21.09
Roughly half the time when I pour water into my coffee maker, some spills on the counter because the carafe is designed badly. This annoys me.
My cell phone sometimes changes the file name of songs I download or refuses to recognize their existence at all. This is frustrating.
Since the DTV switchover, I never know whether my attempt to record a show will have worked or failed until I sit down to watch it. This is infuriating.
When my computer is being slow, I get annoyed. When a cereal bag rips all the way down the side, it makes me want to scream. And there’s just nothing quite as maddening as a pen that is neither out of ink nor capable of writing properly, no matter how many circles I draw in the margin of the paper.
Unless I’m very badly mistaken, we all get angry when things don’t do what they’re designed to do. So why is it that people have trouble imagining God being furious with us when we hate, covet, lie, steal, lust, and refuse to love Him as we were designed to do?
My cell phone sometimes changes the file name of songs I download or refuses to recognize their existence at all. This is frustrating.
Since the DTV switchover, I never know whether my attempt to record a show will have worked or failed until I sit down to watch it. This is infuriating.
When my computer is being slow, I get annoyed. When a cereal bag rips all the way down the side, it makes me want to scream. And there’s just nothing quite as maddening as a pen that is neither out of ink nor capable of writing properly, no matter how many circles I draw in the margin of the paper.
Unless I’m very badly mistaken, we all get angry when things don’t do what they’re designed to do. So why is it that people have trouble imagining God being furious with us when we hate, covet, lie, steal, lust, and refuse to love Him as we were designed to do?
Thought of the Day 10.20.09
On the west side of the 51, somewhere around Indian School, there’s a really large structure that’s been in the process of construction for a long time now. I think it’s connected to the hospital, but I still can’t tell whether it’s parking or offices or a new wing or what.
What’s interesting is that it sort of bugs me that it’s always there and looking so unfinished. At the moment, I notice it mostly because that is it’s condition, but I believe one day the job will finally be completed. And I suppose as I drive by, I will notice and think about it. I may object to having South Mountain obscured for a few moments, or I may find it pretty. Who knows? But I expect that, over time, I’ll start noticing it less and less. Eventually, it will simply be the way it is, and if enough time passes, I might even describe it as always having been there.
In the city that is our souls, this is essentially how habits are begun, pursued, and then made nearly permanent. They are noticeable in formation, but eventually they are simply who we have always been. And this is true for both good and bad soul architecture.
What’s interesting is that it sort of bugs me that it’s always there and looking so unfinished. At the moment, I notice it mostly because that is it’s condition, but I believe one day the job will finally be completed. And I suppose as I drive by, I will notice and think about it. I may object to having South Mountain obscured for a few moments, or I may find it pretty. Who knows? But I expect that, over time, I’ll start noticing it less and less. Eventually, it will simply be the way it is, and if enough time passes, I might even describe it as always having been there.
In the city that is our souls, this is essentially how habits are begun, pursued, and then made nearly permanent. They are noticeable in formation, but eventually they are simply who we have always been. And this is true for both good and bad soul architecture.
Thought of the Day 10.19.09
How do you respond when the Bible challenges what you believe?
The most common response is to pretend the passage isn’t there. Everyone does this sometimes.
The second response is to focus on other passages which reinforce your current view and marginalize the difficult one. This is an error theological conservatives are prone to make.
The third response is to explain away the passage as the byproduct of inferior people in a primitive culture. This is an error theological liberals are prone to make.
Unfortunately, all three of these responses end up treating the Bible as if the passage didn’t exist at all.
The fourth response is different. When the Bible challenges you, you stop and pay attention. You pray. You try to get as much information as you can to be sure you’re interpreting it properly. But if it becomes clear that the Bible is saying you’re wrong, you pray for God to help you live accordingly.
No one always honors the Bible. But only someone who is willing to let the Bible correct him can honestly say he is reading it as the Word of God.
The most common response is to pretend the passage isn’t there. Everyone does this sometimes.
The second response is to focus on other passages which reinforce your current view and marginalize the difficult one. This is an error theological conservatives are prone to make.
The third response is to explain away the passage as the byproduct of inferior people in a primitive culture. This is an error theological liberals are prone to make.
Unfortunately, all three of these responses end up treating the Bible as if the passage didn’t exist at all.
The fourth response is different. When the Bible challenges you, you stop and pay attention. You pray. You try to get as much information as you can to be sure you’re interpreting it properly. But if it becomes clear that the Bible is saying you’re wrong, you pray for God to help you live accordingly.
No one always honors the Bible. But only someone who is willing to let the Bible correct him can honestly say he is reading it as the Word of God.
Thought of the Day 10.16.09
What’s the difference between delivering a lecture and preaching a sermon?
What’s the difference between playing music and leading worship?
What’s the difference between reading announcements and proclaiming God’s work in the community?
What’s the difference between contributing money to a charity and honoring the Source of all blessings with tithes and offerings?
What’s the difference between eating bread and drinking grape juice and partaking of the Lord’s Supper?
What’s the difference between reading the Bible and feeding your soul on the Word of God?
What’s the difference between talking out loud or to yourself and praying?
I won’t presume to offer an answer to any of these questions in so brief a space, but I will notice something about all of them. Unless you know the difference, it isn’t very likely that you’ll do any of these things in a way that will make a difference.
What’s the difference between playing music and leading worship?
What’s the difference between reading announcements and proclaiming God’s work in the community?
What’s the difference between contributing money to a charity and honoring the Source of all blessings with tithes and offerings?
What’s the difference between eating bread and drinking grape juice and partaking of the Lord’s Supper?
What’s the difference between reading the Bible and feeding your soul on the Word of God?
What’s the difference between talking out loud or to yourself and praying?
I won’t presume to offer an answer to any of these questions in so brief a space, but I will notice something about all of them. Unless you know the difference, it isn’t very likely that you’ll do any of these things in a way that will make a difference.
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