On God's Grace For Contentment In Him

My soul is like a house, small for you to enter, but I pray you to enlarge it. it is in ruins, but I ask you to remake it.

- St. Augustine, Confessions, Bk. I.5

On Aesthetics, Music And God

On the page, it looked... nothing. The beginning was simple, almost comic, just a pulse: bassoons, basset horns like a rusty squeezebox. And then, suddenly, high above it, an oboe. A single note, hanging there unwavering, until a clarinet took it over -sweetened it into a phrase of such delight. This was no composition by a performing monkey. This was a music I had never heard -filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing. It seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God.

- Salieri, Amadeus, 1984.

On Oranges, Oreos, And Love

Two important conversations with two important women in my life. Lord I am thankful for their loving heart to forgive and to renew their relationships' with me. As Christ loves us, let us love one another.

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

- 1Peter 4:8

On Daschunds, Poop, And Weddings

I had a dream that I adopted a dachshund off the street with her puppies. But my wife kept getting mad bc it kept pooping everywhere... I need to find me a wiener doggy :]

On Odd Thoughts And Feelings

Am I the only person who gets random desires to solve math problems?

On Suffering, Sovereignty And Worship

In heaven will we sing songs about suffering and pain? Piper argues that suffering and sovereignty are at the very essence of worship because they are at the very essence of the cross. Therefore, indeed, there will songs about suffering and pain -especially in heaven.

"Good Friday did not happen to be forgotten..."

- John Piper, "The Supremacy of Christ in Suffering" May 8, 2010

On Suffering, Sovereignty, And Glory

"If the leaves had not been let go to fall and wither, if the tree had not consented to be a skeleton for many months, there would be no new life rising, no bud, no flower, no fruit, no seed, no new generation"

- Elisabeth Elliot, Passion and Purity (Grand Rapids: Flemming H. Revell, 2002).

On Sudan, Miracles, And The Gospel

Tonight, I had a really edifying conversation about the impact and influence of Christianity in Sudan. I walked away with much to reflect on and much to consider. Here are some of the topics of conversation:

1. Due to the unstable political climate there is a melting pot of languages. As a result, the question must be asked, "what language do you preach the gospel?" Next time I think it is hard to preach a message, I should be thankful everyone speaks English.

2. Furthermore, there is a lack of educated ministers. As a result, there are many who must teach and preach who have not even a high school degree. With that said, God works in spite of this. And, often due to the passion and faithfulness of the heart of those called, many repent and forgive -not even waiting until the sermon is over to change their lives! Thus, How important it is to have men who are passionate and wholly devoted to the Lord. Or all the more, it is not enough to have knowledge and facts -godliness and faithfulness to the Lord cannot be substituted with education and degrees.

3. To be sure, there is also uncertain political realities that are looming. For instance, should Sudan remain united? Aside from all the war that separates families, the North is occupied by Muslims. As a result, many of the people in the south are resistant and would actually like to be free of their oppression. Yet, unfortunately it is in the south where there is all the oil. Without a doubt, the conversations in their churches are far different and faith requires more than a simple acknowledgement of a concept followed by a superficial change of life. There is no such thing in this climate. You are either are Christian who is persecuted or you are not. There is no room for casual Christianity.

4. Finally, death is not foreign to everyday life. Not only is war a common reality of their history, many die of illness and specifically aids. To be sure, the gospel cannot and must not be tamed. Faith must call one not simply to notional assent but a faith that transcends the reality of sickness and death. What is more, it begs the question -if God can forgive sin -can God not also heal your body? Indeed, if God creates you and can resurrect you -can he not heal your body from aids? Our faith must move beyond a common comprehension of the Christian life understood through the distorted lens of the "American Dream." Instead, the gospel must call people to die. To have radical faith that trusts Jesus as Paul, Peter and John portray. We must ask different questions. What is the fullness of the atonement? What does Jesus mean for the salvation and redemption of those who need more than your middle class American?

As the conversation went on, the Holy Spirit began to evoke the question in my heart: what would you give for the blind to see, the lame to walk, and for the gospel to regenerate dead souls to life? How difficult is it for my heart to ascend to the higher places of life and contemplate and live out the gospel and redemption of Christ radiating His glory to the world. Will I not have a deeper faith in Christ who has already forgiven me?

“Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

- Mark 2:8b-11

Lord give me a passion for Your glory!

On Truth, Beauty, And Death

I died for beauty but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth, the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

-Emily Dickinson, "I Died For Beauty -but was scarce," in , The Poems of Emily Dickinson, ed. Bianchi and Hampson (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1937), 161.

On The Depravity Of Man, God's Mercy, And The Freedom of Man

Today I was reading through Psalm 81 and came across vvs. 11f. Needless to say, my mind immediately thought of Paul's words in Romans 1:24-27. Consider:

So I gave them over to their stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices

- Psalm 81:12

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

- Romans 1:24

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural.

- Romans 1:26

Needless to say, if one desires a practical illustration of Psalm 81:12, one only has to read Romans 1:18-32. It also raises the question, "What is the natural state of the heart of man?" Scripture seems to be clear, the devices of man are sin, and the heart of man appears to be naturally stubborn and in a state of rebellion against the Lord.

Lord as I read your word, Father, help me to have a repentant and soft heart. That, when I hear your Word that Your Holy Spirit would grant my heart faith, hope and love that would spring forth obedience in order to walk according to Your ways living by faith in the Son of God, Jesus, who lives in me.

On Time, Expectations, And Smiles

In talking about expectations as you get older, not looking at deadlines, and the necessity of relationships for happiness Natalie (Anna Kendrick) and Alex (Vera Farmiga) give their takes one what is important. While, it isn't exactly perfect or absolute truth, there is an element of wisdom in that time can make the important things clearer:

Youthful Naiveté

He really fit the bill: white collar, college grad, likes dog, likes funny movies, 6'1", brown hair, kind eyes, works in finance but is outdoorsy -you know -on the weekends, I always imagined he would have a single syllable name like: matt, john, or dave, and in a perfect world he drives a four runner and the only thing he loves more than me is his golden lab…. and a nice smile

Elderly Wisdom

By the time you're 34 all the physical requirements just go out the window. I mean like you secretly pray he is taller than you, not an a-hole would be nice, just someone who enjoys my company, and comes from a good family because you don't think about that when you're younger. Someone who wants kids, likes kids, wants kids, healthy enough to play with his kids, please let him earn more money than i do -you might not understand that now, but one day believe me you will otherwise that's a recipe for disaster, hopefully with some hair on his head but even that's not a deal breaker these days and a nice smile -yea -a nice smile, a nice smile might just do it

- Up In the Air (2009)

On Baseball And Life

Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks), the coach of the Peaches, explains to Dottie (Geena Davis) why it is not enough to quite playing baseball because it is too hard. His words, by way of appropriation and ignoring immediate context, can illustrate an important truth about the Jesus Christ and the cross and, in so far as we too are to imitate Christ and bear our cross thereby reflecting Christ, the Christian life. Dugan states:

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."

- A League of Their Own

On Punctuality, Church, And Korean Dramas

Lol of the Day: on why he is late to church:

"I leave when my mom leaves. I can't leave any earlier. She sits on the couch like this , with curlers in her hair, watching korean dramas."

On The Regenerate Life

Thought of the Day:

Just a thought: Plato, putting words into Socrates' mouth states, "The unexamined life is not worth living" (Apology, 38a). Yet, it seems as fitting to argue that the Spirit filled, regenerate life is the only life possible of worthy living.

On March

March Statistics:

Points: 1,980

Segments: 8

Miles: 3,168

Total Points: 6,138

Total Segments: 26

Total Miles: 10,296

On The Glory of Christ

1 Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!


Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!


Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels in glory;


Strength and honor give to His holy Name!


Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,


In His arms He carries them all day long: 



Refrain:


Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness.


Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song! 



2 Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!


For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.


He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,


Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.


Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,


Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong. 



3 Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!


Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!


Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.


Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!


Christ is coming! over the world victorious,


Power and glory unto the Lord belong.

- Fanny J. Crosby 1869, comp. Chester G. Allen, "Praise Him!"

On Joy

1. God's faithfulness and fruit

2. Delayed flights

3. Lacoste

4. Applebees

5. Answered Prayers

6. Halo 3

7. Hugs

On February

February Statistics:

Points: 1,584

Segments: 8

Miles: 3,168

Total Points: 4,158

Total Segments: 18

Total Miles: 7,128

On God, Poetry, And Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

- Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914.

On Smiles

"Cause I don't wanna break

Your fine face I can't take

The way you wanna wrap me up

Inside your smile."

- Weezer, Smile, on The Green Album (2001).