Thursday, October 30, 2003
According to the Weather Channel, the temperature at this moment (8:45am) here in the suburbs of Atlanta is only one degree warmer than Tununak, Alaska. However, the 28 mph winds gusting to 35 mph make it feel like 35 degrees on the island.
Um...so I'm subbing again. Today, I'm at Fellowship Christian High School subbing for a friend of mine from college, Anita Corsini. I feel quite at home in her classroom, which is heavily adorned with UGA paraphernalia. I've had a pleasant day thus far, even with the visit (before class started) from the Caribou gang in which Austin and pals proceeded to tell my class all about coffee shop Kim--what I drink, where I sit, and who I sit with. With Caribou coffee cups in hand, they taunted me for drinking the office Folgers and told me they would brew Caribou La Manita for me in the library if I get here earlier next time.
I have a strange life...
Um...so I'm subbing again. Today, I'm at Fellowship Christian High School subbing for a friend of mine from college, Anita Corsini. I feel quite at home in her classroom, which is heavily adorned with UGA paraphernalia. I've had a pleasant day thus far, even with the visit (before class started) from the Caribou gang in which Austin and pals proceeded to tell my class all about coffee shop Kim--what I drink, where I sit, and who I sit with. With Caribou coffee cups in hand, they taunted me for drinking the office Folgers and told me they would brew Caribou La Manita for me in the library if I get here earlier next time.
I have a strange life...
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
I'm a bit concerned...
I'm a bit concerned, both by the fact that I wasted time taking this quiz and the result.
You are Agent Smith, from "The Matrix."
No one would ever want to run into you in a
dark alley. Cold as steel, tough as a rock,
things are your way or the highway.
What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
I'm a bit concerned, both by the fact that I wasted time taking this quiz and the result.
You are Agent Smith, from "The Matrix."
No one would ever want to run into you in a
dark alley. Cold as steel, tough as a rock,
things are your way or the highway.
What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Hmmm...should I be concerned about my blog? For about two weeks the banner adds chosen by Google for my blog were related to critical thinking strategies. Now, they are related to Christian dating and meeting Christian singles. Does Google think I need help with decision making and my love life? Yikes...
Today, Senorita Price is subbing for Senora Price. As you can see, I'm starting the day off well by using my planning period wisely. So far, the only somewhat disconcerting aspect of this job is that everyone seems to already know who I am--including my name, resume, and random facts about my personal life. I guess I should get used to that. What with the writing career and all, I need to be able to handle the public nature of celebrity life.
In other news, I had a packed weekend--visit to Athens with my cool little cousin Leanne (OK--she's a senior in high school, but she is still my littlest cousin), pumpkin carving party at Wendy and Jennifer's house (voted the best party ever by 8 out of 9 pumpkin carvers--the ninth was sick and unable to attend or vote), shopping in Little Five on Saturday (Halloween Festival-yikes!), 5 OT Alabama football game with Alabama fans (no comment on UGA game--please pray for healing), coffee with friends on Saturday (sorry, it was at Starbuck's), awesome worship service at Crosspointe on Sunday (followed by lunch at Moe's), my little bro's graduation from Devry (Summa Cum Laude like his big sis), an excellent theological discussion at the Bou (with a very wise teacher), paella with family and friends on Sunday night (worlds colliding), and a much needed phone call from a good friend to end the weekend Sunday night. Well, I guess that is more than you needed to know about my weekend...
Tomorrow, I don't work until the evening so I'll try to post something more worth your valuable time. I hope everyone is having fun at work. I mean you're reading my blog, which means you must be pretty bored, but other than that, I hope all is well.
In other news, I had a packed weekend--visit to Athens with my cool little cousin Leanne (OK--she's a senior in high school, but she is still my littlest cousin), pumpkin carving party at Wendy and Jennifer's house (voted the best party ever by 8 out of 9 pumpkin carvers--the ninth was sick and unable to attend or vote), shopping in Little Five on Saturday (Halloween Festival-yikes!), 5 OT Alabama football game with Alabama fans (no comment on UGA game--please pray for healing), coffee with friends on Saturday (sorry, it was at Starbuck's), awesome worship service at Crosspointe on Sunday (followed by lunch at Moe's), my little bro's graduation from Devry (Summa Cum Laude like his big sis), an excellent theological discussion at the Bou (with a very wise teacher), paella with family and friends on Sunday night (worlds colliding), and a much needed phone call from a good friend to end the weekend Sunday night. Well, I guess that is more than you needed to know about my weekend...
Tomorrow, I don't work until the evening so I'll try to post something more worth your valuable time. I hope everyone is having fun at work. I mean you're reading my blog, which means you must be pretty bored, but other than that, I hope all is well.
Friday, October 24, 2003
Fine, I'll Post Something
I'm really sleepy right now, but I've been chastised by multiple people for my lack of posting and am afraid that I might need to attend remedial blog classes if I don't do something soon.
Have you ever gotten behind on journaling and kept getting further behind because you feel like the first new entry seems too daunting (because you think it has to cover all that's happened and all that you've learned since the last entry)? I learned to move past that in journaling, but seem to have fallen into that trap here in blogdom (a word coined by the ever-so-clever Sally). As in journaling, I need to forget about all that has been left out in the intervening time and just start writing. So that is what I'm doing. Writing. Or...actually...typing. Um...but I'm not sure what I'm typing about...
Hmmm...oh! Last night, the ever-so-cheerful Cheryl took me to a screening of Love Actually, a movie that employs every British actor known to Americans in order to make us all think that it is obviously a good movie. Well...there little ploy worked on me and it actually was a fun flick. It is a pleasant little story (actually ten semi-related stories) that has to do with love and Christmas, but somehow has nothing to do with the incarnation of love for whom we celebrate Christmas. Interesting. But then again nothing new for Hollywood. Some of the story lines were better than others--some more believable, some sadder, and some funnier. But overall it was a fun, light romantic comedy. And perhaps I should warn you so that you are more prepared than I: Hugh Grant is playing the role of Prime Minister of England. Although I initially laughed out loud at this...he actually pulled it off by seemingly allowing his character to be equally surprised at his own high office.
And one more thing...I can't decide if the writers were British and really believe the European stereotypes regarding Americans or if the writers were Americans making fun of European stereotypes regarding women. If you are a single young American female who has spent any length of time in Europe, you are probably aware of the way in which European men seem to have this strange notion that American girls are easy. Especially in London, guys in pubs seem to believe that American girls were all dying for a shag with British men. This movie totally exploits this attitude as well as stereotypes (perhaps well-earned) regarding our politicians.
Finally, while we're on the topic of great British folk, (were we on that topic? well, close enough)...Colin Firth (famous, of course, for his amazing portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the BBC Pride and Prejudice) is obviously an amazingly talented actor (who happens to be somewhat attractive and strangely seems to become more so with age). I'm sure all of you are interested in learning more about this artist, so I am kindly providing you with a link to a Colin Firth Site. Actually, it's pretty scary. You might not want to go there.
Man...I feel a bit better now. I hope all of you do as well. Maybe this will open the floodgate for future posts. Let's not hold our collective breath just yet...baby steps...
I'm really sleepy right now, but I've been chastised by multiple people for my lack of posting and am afraid that I might need to attend remedial blog classes if I don't do something soon.
Have you ever gotten behind on journaling and kept getting further behind because you feel like the first new entry seems too daunting (because you think it has to cover all that's happened and all that you've learned since the last entry)? I learned to move past that in journaling, but seem to have fallen into that trap here in blogdom (a word coined by the ever-so-clever Sally). As in journaling, I need to forget about all that has been left out in the intervening time and just start writing. So that is what I'm doing. Writing. Or...actually...typing. Um...but I'm not sure what I'm typing about...
Hmmm...oh! Last night, the ever-so-cheerful Cheryl took me to a screening of Love Actually, a movie that employs every British actor known to Americans in order to make us all think that it is obviously a good movie. Well...there little ploy worked on me and it actually was a fun flick. It is a pleasant little story (actually ten semi-related stories) that has to do with love and Christmas, but somehow has nothing to do with the incarnation of love for whom we celebrate Christmas. Interesting. But then again nothing new for Hollywood. Some of the story lines were better than others--some more believable, some sadder, and some funnier. But overall it was a fun, light romantic comedy. And perhaps I should warn you so that you are more prepared than I: Hugh Grant is playing the role of Prime Minister of England. Although I initially laughed out loud at this...he actually pulled it off by seemingly allowing his character to be equally surprised at his own high office.
And one more thing...I can't decide if the writers were British and really believe the European stereotypes regarding Americans or if the writers were Americans making fun of European stereotypes regarding women. If you are a single young American female who has spent any length of time in Europe, you are probably aware of the way in which European men seem to have this strange notion that American girls are easy. Especially in London, guys in pubs seem to believe that American girls were all dying for a shag with British men. This movie totally exploits this attitude as well as stereotypes (perhaps well-earned) regarding our politicians.
Finally, while we're on the topic of great British folk, (were we on that topic? well, close enough)...Colin Firth (famous, of course, for his amazing portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the BBC Pride and Prejudice) is obviously an amazingly talented actor (who happens to be somewhat attractive and strangely seems to become more so with age). I'm sure all of you are interested in learning more about this artist, so I am kindly providing you with a link to a Colin Firth Site. Actually, it's pretty scary. You might not want to go there.
Man...I feel a bit better now. I hope all of you do as well. Maybe this will open the floodgate for future posts. Let's not hold our collective breath just yet...baby steps...
Thursday, October 23, 2003
I really had something very deep and profound to post today, but my place of work just called and needs me to come in (sleeping bag emergency of some sort). Well...duty calls...
Monday, October 20, 2003
must post something...
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Prayerful Worship Album
For my Catholic friends and traditionalists out there, I want to recommend Matt Maher's CD The End and The Beginning. I've owned it for over a year, but as I was listening to it on my run today, I decided that it is one of my new favorite Christian CDs (maybe it was the awesome blue sky or cool air that just put me in a good, worshipful mood, but I think the CD helped). Matt manages to take the traditional liturgy (some of it in Latin) and mix it with fresh passionate contemporary/rock sounds to create a great worship album. The Catholic liturgy is actually quite beautiful and powerful as long as people look beyond the memorized words to the meaning behind it. Matt captures this in a powerful way. The album is a mix of his own songs as well as a few songs by Darryl Evans, Passion, and other non-Catholic artists. As many of you know, the Catholic mass is actually one long prayer. This CD has that feel to it as it almost seems to go through the prayer of mass--praising, petitioning, confessing, and celebrating the Word and Eucharist. For those of you not into intercession of Saints and transubstantiation, skip songs 5 and 12. Otherwise, this CD should be a good experience in worship and prayer for Catholic folks as well as my protestant/non-denom friends.
BTW--It is AMAZING outside, so everyone stick your head out the window and breath in some cool autumn air. I felt quite at home running in the crisp breeze and allowing the fresh air to scour my lungs. If I closed my eyes, ignored the sound of cars, imagined that the concrete beneath my feet was tundra, pretended that the sun wasn't as warm, and...OK, so it was nothing like running in the village except the cool breeze, but it was a blessing (and there were no dogs trying to bite me or mud puddles/black ice to dodge).
For my Catholic friends and traditionalists out there, I want to recommend Matt Maher's CD The End and The Beginning. I've owned it for over a year, but as I was listening to it on my run today, I decided that it is one of my new favorite Christian CDs (maybe it was the awesome blue sky or cool air that just put me in a good, worshipful mood, but I think the CD helped). Matt manages to take the traditional liturgy (some of it in Latin) and mix it with fresh passionate contemporary/rock sounds to create a great worship album. The Catholic liturgy is actually quite beautiful and powerful as long as people look beyond the memorized words to the meaning behind it. Matt captures this in a powerful way. The album is a mix of his own songs as well as a few songs by Darryl Evans, Passion, and other non-Catholic artists. As many of you know, the Catholic mass is actually one long prayer. This CD has that feel to it as it almost seems to go through the prayer of mass--praising, petitioning, confessing, and celebrating the Word and Eucharist. For those of you not into intercession of Saints and transubstantiation, skip songs 5 and 12. Otherwise, this CD should be a good experience in worship and prayer for Catholic folks as well as my protestant/non-denom friends.
BTW--It is AMAZING outside, so everyone stick your head out the window and breath in some cool autumn air. I felt quite at home running in the crisp breeze and allowing the fresh air to scour my lungs. If I closed my eyes, ignored the sound of cars, imagined that the concrete beneath my feet was tundra, pretended that the sun wasn't as warm, and...OK, so it was nothing like running in the village except the cool breeze, but it was a blessing (and there were no dogs trying to bite me or mud puddles/black ice to dodge).
Monday, October 13, 2003
"Most of us spend considerable time putting off the things we should be doing or we would like to do--but are afraid to do. We are afraid of failure. We don't like it, we shun it, we avoid it because of our inordinate desire to be thought well of by others. So we come up with a thousand brilliant excuses for doing nothing. We put things off, wasting the energies of life and love within us." Brennan Manning in the Ragamuffin Gospel
"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." Beverly Sills
"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." Samuel Johnson
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in poverty or want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13
Back in the summer of 1999, God used these quotes and my circumstances to change my life and free me from the trap of always needing to be the best at whatever I do. Once I accepted the fact that failure was an ok part of experiencing life, new doors and opportunities opened up for me. These opportunities started off small--doing my first sprint triathlon. Then, they got bigger--moving to Alaska. I thought I'd pass these on to help others overcome their fear of failure so that they, too, can try new things or pursue the dreams that they have been putting off for whatever reasons...
"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." Beverly Sills
"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." Samuel Johnson
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in poverty or want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13
Back in the summer of 1999, God used these quotes and my circumstances to change my life and free me from the trap of always needing to be the best at whatever I do. Once I accepted the fact that failure was an ok part of experiencing life, new doors and opportunities opened up for me. These opportunities started off small--doing my first sprint triathlon. Then, they got bigger--moving to Alaska. I thought I'd pass these on to help others overcome their fear of failure so that they, too, can try new things or pursue the dreams that they have been putting off for whatever reasons...
Friday, October 10, 2003
I would like to dedicate this post to Cheryl. I have known Cheryl for so many years that it makes me feel old to think about it. We've experienced high school drama, dorm life, graduation, and weddings together. Now, she takes time off from her excruciating work day to check my blog as one of my most faithful readers.
First of all, I would like to apologize to her and everyone else for my recent lack of postings. I realize that there is nothing like wasting time to check a blog in the first place, much less to find that there is nothing new on it. I have no excuses for my lack of posts other than the demands of my new career as a writer (um...I'll explain that some other time). Secondly, I would like to apologize for the fact that even this posting probably won't have much in the way of substance. It's not that I haven't been thinking or that life hasn't been interesting, I just haven't had any revelations worthy/appropriate/intended for the general public's viewing.
Here's an overview of my week for those of you who are still bored enough with your jobs to continue reading:
1. I read TS Eliot's Four Quartets--definitely worth reading if you are the poetry-reading type
2. I started reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius--so far I can say with confidence that you should definitely pick it up at Barnes and Noble (in the Biography section under Dave Eggers) and read the introductory material next time you are waiting for a movie to start--I don't know yet if you should actually buy it, but the intro stuff is FUNNY! Excellent voice (that's for you, Wendy)
3. Almost finished with Manning's The Signature of Jesus (perhaps more on that later)
4. Got the trivia question only twice this week at Caribou
5. Took a ballet class for the first time in almost a month
6. Played Ultimate for the first time in almost a month
7. Um...got schooled by Cheryl in Ultimate (but still had fun)
8. Can barely move now (due to points 5-7 in case you're not following)
9. Finished writing two articles and was asked to write another (hence the new career)
10. Contemplated two main spiritual ideas: a)the fact that we can be paralyzed spiritually by viewing singleness as a disease to be prayed against rather than a gift to be used for God's glory and b)we can trust that God loves us and wants what's best for us but at the same time we need to remember that his ways are not our ways--so what he thinks is best won't always be what we planned or hoped for (it's actually better)
Yes, I have a strange life. I will not deny it. And I hope it stays that way...
Have a great weekend everyone! Goo Dawgs...I mean...Gooooo Dawgs!
(Does it bother anyone else that Blogger's spellcheck does not recognize the word blog?)
First of all, I would like to apologize to her and everyone else for my recent lack of postings. I realize that there is nothing like wasting time to check a blog in the first place, much less to find that there is nothing new on it. I have no excuses for my lack of posts other than the demands of my new career as a writer (um...I'll explain that some other time). Secondly, I would like to apologize for the fact that even this posting probably won't have much in the way of substance. It's not that I haven't been thinking or that life hasn't been interesting, I just haven't had any revelations worthy/appropriate/intended for the general public's viewing.
Here's an overview of my week for those of you who are still bored enough with your jobs to continue reading:
1. I read TS Eliot's Four Quartets--definitely worth reading if you are the poetry-reading type
2. I started reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius--so far I can say with confidence that you should definitely pick it up at Barnes and Noble (in the Biography section under Dave Eggers) and read the introductory material next time you are waiting for a movie to start--I don't know yet if you should actually buy it, but the intro stuff is FUNNY! Excellent voice (that's for you, Wendy)
3. Almost finished with Manning's The Signature of Jesus (perhaps more on that later)
4. Got the trivia question only twice this week at Caribou
5. Took a ballet class for the first time in almost a month
6. Played Ultimate for the first time in almost a month
7. Um...got schooled by Cheryl in Ultimate (but still had fun)
8. Can barely move now (due to points 5-7 in case you're not following)
9. Finished writing two articles and was asked to write another (hence the new career)
10. Contemplated two main spiritual ideas: a)the fact that we can be paralyzed spiritually by viewing singleness as a disease to be prayed against rather than a gift to be used for God's glory and b)we can trust that God loves us and wants what's best for us but at the same time we need to remember that his ways are not our ways--so what he thinks is best won't always be what we planned or hoped for (it's actually better)
Yes, I have a strange life. I will not deny it. And I hope it stays that way...
Have a great weekend everyone! Goo Dawgs...I mean...Gooooo Dawgs!
(Does it bother anyone else that Blogger's spellcheck does not recognize the word blog?)
Monday, October 06, 2003
Fun Quotes! Fun Quotes!
And then I'm really done for the day.
The endless cycle of idea and action,
Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, but ignorance of the Word.
All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,
All our ignorance brings us nearer to our death,
But nearness to death no nearer to GOD.
Where is the life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
The cycles of heaven in twenty centuries
Bring us further from GOD and closer to the Dust.
--from TS Eliot's "The Rock"
"The question is, do I worship God or do I worship my experience of God? Do I worship God or do I worship my idea of him? If I am to avoid a narcotic approach to religion that forces me to stagger from experience to experience hoping for bigger and better things, I must know what I believe apart from the nice or nasty feelings that may or may not accompany such a belief. The second conversion has to do with learning to cope and flourish when the warm feelings, consolations, and props that accompany the first conversion are withdrawn. Does faith evaporate when initial feelings dissolve? In psychological terms, the ego has to break; and this breaking is like entering into a great darkness. Without such a struggle of affliction, there can be no movement in love." --Alan Jones quoted in Brennan Manning's The Signature of Jesus
And then I'm really done for the day.
The endless cycle of idea and action,
Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, but ignorance of the Word.
All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,
All our ignorance brings us nearer to our death,
But nearness to death no nearer to GOD.
Where is the life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
The cycles of heaven in twenty centuries
Bring us further from GOD and closer to the Dust.
--from TS Eliot's "The Rock"
"The question is, do I worship God or do I worship my experience of God? Do I worship God or do I worship my idea of him? If I am to avoid a narcotic approach to religion that forces me to stagger from experience to experience hoping for bigger and better things, I must know what I believe apart from the nice or nasty feelings that may or may not accompany such a belief. The second conversion has to do with learning to cope and flourish when the warm feelings, consolations, and props that accompany the first conversion are withdrawn. Does faith evaporate when initial feelings dissolve? In psychological terms, the ego has to break; and this breaking is like entering into a great darkness. Without such a struggle of affliction, there can be no movement in love." --Alan Jones quoted in Brennan Manning's The Signature of Jesus
Omigosh! Two posts in one day! And I'm not sure if I'm done yet! Just wanted to let you guys know that there are changes under my blog listing in the left hand column. [Ex]changed.life is Adam's site. I just changed the link to read as the actual title of his blog. Emerging Minister is a blog I've been lurking on for a few weeks. It is worth checking out. Don't miss today's Newsflash--very funny.
I just got an email from good ol' Uncle Toby. As most of you know, Toby is neither my uncle nor old, but he does have a tendency to go to bed earlier than most self-respecting twenty-somethings. Well...he sent me some recommendations for good music and interesting reads. I haven't had time to check them out yet, but thought I'd pass them along to other folks that may be interested. We can trust Toby's taste, right? Well...there was that one incident with Raising Arizona and Anaconda, but other than that...
From the words of Uncle Toby:
1. patty griffin's music: hands down the best songwriter i've ever heard.
seeing her in concert is a religious experience. she's sort of a country/folk
singer with a beautiful voice and amazing depth in her poetry. you'd love it
2. books and culture: this is a christianity today magazine/newspaper full
of cultural reviews, music reviews, book reviews, etc. it's really well done.
by the way, i think christianity today is by and large a great magazine.
3. two books: Brian McLaren's "A New Kind of Christian," which is a
narrative written to describe the cultural jump of the US from modernism to
postmodernism though the church is still stuck in the modern age. Best book i
read in seminary. Also Don Miller's "Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious thoughts
on Christian Spirituality" which is a very funny, non-churchy, story filled
postmodern christian book.
When I get a chance to check these out I'll give you my thoughts. In the meantime, let's all pray for Toby and Katie as they are beginning a student ministry (Trail to the Top) in Boone, North Carolina.
From the words of Uncle Toby:
1. patty griffin's music: hands down the best songwriter i've ever heard.
seeing her in concert is a religious experience. she's sort of a country/folk
singer with a beautiful voice and amazing depth in her poetry. you'd love it
2. books and culture: this is a christianity today magazine/newspaper full
of cultural reviews, music reviews, book reviews, etc. it's really well done.
by the way, i think christianity today is by and large a great magazine.
3. two books: Brian McLaren's "A New Kind of Christian," which is a
narrative written to describe the cultural jump of the US from modernism to
postmodernism though the church is still stuck in the modern age. Best book i
read in seminary. Also Don Miller's "Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious thoughts
on Christian Spirituality" which is a very funny, non-churchy, story filled
postmodern christian book.
When I get a chance to check these out I'll give you my thoughts. In the meantime, let's all pray for Toby and Katie as they are beginning a student ministry (Trail to the Top) in Boone, North Carolina.
Friday, October 03, 2003
Gooooo Dawgs...
Hello, my fellow Georgia fans. If any of you are feeling the need to talk trash about the upcoming game, let me suggest that you visit Adam's blog and leave a comment or two. See y'all tomorrow!
Hello, my fellow Georgia fans. If any of you are feeling the need to talk trash about the upcoming game, let me suggest that you visit Adam's blog and leave a comment or two. See y'all tomorrow!
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Thinking Aloud
OK. I guess it’s not really aloud, but it is public. Over the past several days I have been contemplating the following two questions: To what extent does God lead us through our desires? And how do we discern which of our desires are selfishly motivated and which are of him?
There is ample scripture available to shed light on these questions:
“He fulfills the desires of those who fear him.” Psalm 145:19
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Galatians 5:16
“Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purposes.” Philippians 2:13
(I would kill my students for not integrating quotes more effectively into their papers, but this is a blog post and not a thesis, so back off.)
Not all of our desires are good and pure, but if we allow the Spirit to work in us and shape our will then our desires will more likely be in line with God’s. We all know that getting into the Word and seeking God in prayer is the best way to renew our minds and allow God to conform our will, but we cannot deny that we still struggle daily with our sinful natures.
I guess the problem is that I can know this scripture and trust God, but when it comes to actually seeking his will, my mind is so full of my own ambitions and logical reasoning that I find it difficult to hear his voice. I wish I could be more faithful and less overly-analytical, but that is how God created me! My mind just won’t rest, but I can’t see that as an entirely bad thing when Jesus calls us to love him with all our heart, soul, and mind.
I guess if I am to be completely honest, I’ll give this dilemma a concrete shape: The Appalachian Trail. Thru-hiking is something I have wanted to do for some time now. It is a desire of my heart, and this year seems logical in the sense that it is a year of transition between committing myself to different schools. But is it merely a selfish ambition? Or did God give me this desire? This is a scary but vital thing to ask. Next weekend I will be talking to a couple about their AT ministry. I want to get involved because God is really calling me, not just as a way to “dress up” my trip as ministry. If he is calling me, then this could be a way exciting opportunity, but if this is not his will, then I don’t want to waste the time or money. Your comments and prayers on this will be appreciated.
Well…that was a post worthy of my blog title and description…sorry to have rambled so much.
OK. I guess it’s not really aloud, but it is public. Over the past several days I have been contemplating the following two questions: To what extent does God lead us through our desires? And how do we discern which of our desires are selfishly motivated and which are of him?
There is ample scripture available to shed light on these questions:
“He fulfills the desires of those who fear him.” Psalm 145:19
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Galatians 5:16
“Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purposes.” Philippians 2:13
(I would kill my students for not integrating quotes more effectively into their papers, but this is a blog post and not a thesis, so back off.)
Not all of our desires are good and pure, but if we allow the Spirit to work in us and shape our will then our desires will more likely be in line with God’s. We all know that getting into the Word and seeking God in prayer is the best way to renew our minds and allow God to conform our will, but we cannot deny that we still struggle daily with our sinful natures.
I guess the problem is that I can know this scripture and trust God, but when it comes to actually seeking his will, my mind is so full of my own ambitions and logical reasoning that I find it difficult to hear his voice. I wish I could be more faithful and less overly-analytical, but that is how God created me! My mind just won’t rest, but I can’t see that as an entirely bad thing when Jesus calls us to love him with all our heart, soul, and mind.
I guess if I am to be completely honest, I’ll give this dilemma a concrete shape: The Appalachian Trail. Thru-hiking is something I have wanted to do for some time now. It is a desire of my heart, and this year seems logical in the sense that it is a year of transition between committing myself to different schools. But is it merely a selfish ambition? Or did God give me this desire? This is a scary but vital thing to ask. Next weekend I will be talking to a couple about their AT ministry. I want to get involved because God is really calling me, not just as a way to “dress up” my trip as ministry. If he is calling me, then this could be a way exciting opportunity, but if this is not his will, then I don’t want to waste the time or money. Your comments and prayers on this will be appreciated.
Well…that was a post worthy of my blog title and description…sorry to have rambled so much.
music
fiction
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- Atlas Shrugged Ayn Rand
- The Name of the Rose Umberto Eco
- Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
- War and Peace Leo Tolstoy
- I'm sure I'm forgetting many!!!
things above
- The Consolation of Philosophy Boethius
- Desiring God John Piper
- Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis
- The Ragamuffin Gospel Brennan Manning
- Jesus with Dirty Feet Don Everts
random
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