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joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts 119:2
I have been chewing on this all week. Pondering. Stewing. Reflecting. I once heard someone say of the psalms, "If it’s all then it’s everything." ALL their hearts. All of it. Wow! I find it interesting to read blogs or stories that are written where the words don’t begin to say what looking into the writers eyes could say. I have nothing to say about this, because the words that I add, my commentary on this verse if you will, will keep me one step removed from the application. Who cares how I feel about this verse, I want to feel this verse. (Forgive me for being self contradictory here.) I would rather have the desperation for God with all my heart than to be able to recite this verse a thousand times.
So here are a few rambling thoughts in no particular order.
1. We were made for obsession; to soley and recklessly abandon the human spirit into
the hands of God.
2. Division destroys progress.
3. If you search with all your heart, you will serve with all your strength for the two are
intrinsically connected.
4. It is not as much how as when. Christians mastered the how because they possess the
written word of God.
5. 8 seconds is enough to ride a bull. 8 seconds is enough to shape a destiny.
6. God is always speaking.
7. God is always searching.
8. God is always more interested than you are.
9. God was ready before I wrote this. Before you read this.
10. All things that you have experienced have happened so that people would seek God.
11. How many more lessons do I need? Journal entries?
12. Action.
13.
Andy
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Stand Against the Wind
Erwin Raphael McManus
117 pages
Stand. That is what the book is about. Have your ever been so exhausted you said “I am so tired, I could sleep standing up?” The person who is speaking, generally is standing at the time. Someone lying down would never say this. In fact, they would be asleep already. But like it or not the tired individual remains standing, keeps moving, and achieves victory. This is a picture of the book. Standing when everything inside is crashing. Finding new strength and courage, and obedience when everything else is weak, afraid, and disobedient.
Recognizing the language that surrounds us, something comes awake in this book that I find to be true. The battlefield is the language. McManus uses words to speak directly to the heart. He uses them to depict exactly what he is trying to say. Leveraging phrases seems to fill this short book with plenty of meat and things quotable. But what really gave this book value to me is that these aren’t new ideas that I am presented with, but another way to see what I have learned to be true, through teaching and experience. “The way is clear: if we would just die, we would really live.” This again, is not a new idea. This is a very old idea. But to read through it again and the sharp perspective that is painted with the words, I again renew a resolve in me to die to self. Jesus’ life and death are the benchmark for which all romance should be measured. It is so true and such challenge fills the mind with a great sense of what he did. Again, this is not new but work in a mental picture and a renewed resolve. I like Mcmanus in this way, he uses the words to paint something that is there already. Concrete and not Abstract.
“Our Obedience directly affects the speed at which the future unfolds.” Wow I feel like a book can be written on that quote alone. I think that every story in the Bible can be tied in, analyzed, studied, and meditated upon. How amazing of a picture it is for me. The thought of not reaching the destiny that is planned in the future for me is terrifying. The clock ticks by, time and space continue on and the future unfolds one second at a time. But it is only through obedience that we will get there. Obedience is the only option. Any alternative to this and the destiny is another hour away, another week away, another month away. I will get there to my destiny. I will obey.
With themes such as obedience, courage, generosity, humility, gratefulness, and fear of God, a picture of the divine challenge to life that God brings us is a little more clear. The narrow road before us, though hidden from view in many ways is seen as it is. It is a horizon worth chasing. As Captain Jack Sparrow puts it, “Now bring me that horizon.”
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The Abolition of Man
C.S. Lewis
103 Pages
“But you cannot go on ‘explaining away’ forever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on ‘seeing through’ things forever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something trough it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How is it you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to ‘see through’ first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To see through all things is the same as not to see.”
With the last stroke of his pen, Clive Staples Lewis finishes his thought with something of a capstone. This quote did not make up the present; it was the bow that was nicely wrapped around the outside. The Abolition of Man carries the weight of an age-old argument that many unknowingly face daily, is there something intrinsic to the human species that defines our moral values and code? This argument is dealt with in this book, but is an answer to several other books that were current when Lewis lived. He calls out to any who would set their education up to be anything different. Modern educators who try to redefine the very thing defining about the ability to define, in other words. Sorry. Lewis says, “This thing which I have called for convenience the Tao, and which others may call Natural law or Traditional Morality or the First Principles of Practical Reason or the First Platitudes, is not among a series of possible systems of value. It is the sole source of all value judgments. If it is rejected, all value is rejected. If any valued is retained, it is retained. The effort to refute it and raise a new system of value in its place is self-contradictory. There has never been, and never will be, a radically new judgment of value in the history of the world.” So in essence then we can only respond to the system of value, we cannot raise up a new system and for that matter, shouldn’t try. It is only a dreadfully slow waste of life. It has been attempted before and all have failed.
I find this book to be something of a defense needed in a time of proper questioning. Unfortunately, today, most are not asking the right questions. This book is an answer to an argument of ideals, and not solely their application. I hear C.S. Lewis chuckle hear to his contentment insofar as the walk down the arguments picking them off one by one through his wisdom acutely addressing all those who allow implication to build up their ideals. In other words they see the fruit and not the tree. So many times he would answer, because he spent his time pruning trees and not just eating fruit. I find it digestible to know that he thinks in this sort of way.
This book was a read for the “record-books” as some would say. I didn’t find much personal application in it because it wasn’t very personal. But drawing what I can from it, I see the value in the study of things understood by most as a “fact of life.” Keep learning and keep questioning.
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Fear And Trembling
Soren Kierkegaard
160 pages
There is something special about this book, that through the wiles of turning the pages a bigger lesson, not contained by the pages, emerge. This report then is as much a retort to preheld ideas regarding philosophy as well as the book itself.
Beginning in high school I had a emerging interest in thought. I liked to think that I could taste it, hold it, touch it. It was something to be sought after. It was my prize. Fast forward a few chapters of Andy’s life, and enter a adventure that doesn’t wait for anyone moving him forward. He strains ahead to reach the destiny of the day, dreaming for change, particularly the saving kind. This is a postmodern generation. Self is God. Einstein would be appalled at how relativity is thought of now. Where is philosophy now? Well, everyone carries it, most however, don’t claim any truth to it. And the true philosophers are more cynical than ever. Reaking of Existentialism they plod through their days as a Clydesdale treads through bridle-high mud. It’s not that there isn’t power in the strong hooves, for of course they make it through. The problem is, to what end? In effort to be eloquent they muddy everything around them, and also themselves.
This book is a book philosophizing the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. There is much said here, a lot of which I find to be quite useful. Do not misunderstand what follows. I sincerely believe Kierkegaard was a Christian who challenged and changed many things. Finishing this book, I found myself left wanting. What was it that I wanted? Action. Something. Anything. It was as if we packed for a hike up Kilamanjaro with canteens dripping with condensation from the cool liquid within, and then never went. Why? It was just a thought, that’s why. Again, don’t misunderstand me here, knowing that Abraham was infinitely resigned and ethics were suspended as he stood in absolute relation to God are important to understand. But as Kierkegaard would reveal himself in saying that he didn’t have the courage to be the knight of faith, I began to realize that he must never have read Daniel 11:32. “Those who know their God will do exploits. Where are Kierkegaard’s exploits? How is it that he only left himself an admirer of Abraham? I read the story and the blood surges through my vains to reveal a wanting of the unobstructed, radical, crazy, adventure that faith will lead one to. I felt disconnected from this book in that sense.
“But Abraham believed, therefore he was young; for he who always hopes for the best becomes old, and he who is always prepared for the worst grows old early, but he who believes preserves and eternal youth.” This is a key thing in the story of Abraham and it happens to be my favorite quote in this book. Smith Wigglesworth would cry out, “Only believe!” “Only believe!” It is not accident that belief preceded God saying, “Abraham was justified because of his faith.” This is the cornerstone of everything I believe about Jesus. I will do exploits.
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Things seem a little nearer. Tonight, twenty-one people sat and spoke of destiny. The cross. The cross. Identifying in His death, we read the words that have been treasured and passed through the fires of time and life. We spoke of Jesus. He said, if anyone wants to follow me, they must carry their cross, daily, and come after me. What puts meaning in our words? Our lives. Words only carry the weight that we give them. But to others, our words are validated or not in the details. The details of our lives. Who in the world is interested in the details of my life? Of any of our lives? Aren’t they dripping with hints of the miraculous. Testimony! Testimony! This is power. No one can argue the story. My story. Your story! Start living the life, we are called to live. I must grip my cross firmly. I stop carrying by moving sometimes. Too often I don’t understand and I stop to think. Faith is outside of logic. Why else would Abraham climb mount moriah and grab his knife to sacrifice Isaac? Outside of logic, and ethics. But Abraham was justified by faith. I have been stewing over the book fear and trembling for a while now. Something just gets me about Kierkegaard. Where is his exploits? Those who know their God will do exploits. I find myself disconnected in some way from him here. I must live this thing!!! I will carry my cross whatever the cost! I will be justified by faith. Jesus, where there is the logician in me, sow faith. Help me recognize quickly the people and the opportunities that you give me. It’s not that you haven’t given them. Help me not to let them slip by.
Andy
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Tonight i recieved a completely unexpected blessing, and now am currently using it to type this blog. My truly amazing father gave me an iPhone. I am so flabergasted I can’t even tell you. This truly will help me change the way that I do many things in my weeks. God is good. Philippians 4:11-13. And to my earthly father, thank you very much. I am so grateful.
Your son,
Andy
Andy
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Can you communicate? Can I? We talk and talk, sure. We exchange information, true. But do I/we really and actually communicate. The definition regarding people in the above picture says “Be able to share and understand each other’s thoughts and feelings.” How many times have I miscommunicated because I wasn’t able to understand someone else’s thoughts?
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
communicating with people
Today I was thinking again about the enormous power of communication. James here gives a huge clue to how to harness that power. BE QUICK TO LISTEN. If I simply “Say my piece” I not only didn’t communicate, but i miscommunicated. SLOW TO SPEAK. Yep, I don’t have that much to say, better let my words be few. Then they can be good and not just on and on.
communicating with God
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
the battlefield is the language. – winkie pratney
I live in hamtramck. 29 languages. 29 different paths of communication. Do you know a language? I want my life to be lived communicating with as many people and as many ways as possible. I am learning Italian currently but dream about Arabic, Spanish, Chinese. I could communicate with more than 3/4 of the world. How amazing could that be? How much value is there? Read on. Paul got the audience because he could communicate.
As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, “May I have a word with you?” “Do you know Greek?” the commander asked, surprised. “Aren’t you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?” “No,” Paul replied, “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people.” The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic. “Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.
Andy
