Faith like a Friend

Have you ever noticed that conversation with an old friend is so easy and comfortable? I visited a church in Augusta last week and got to reconnect with an old friend. It was amazing how our conversation just kinda picked up were it left off a couple of years ago, the last time we saw each other. It reminded me that our relationship with God is similar. We can go long stretches of time without spending time in prayer or Bible reading, but when we do either it's a very natural and comfortable feeling. Like we haven't missed a beat. It is regrettable the time we let slip away when it comes to friends and God, but isn't it wonderful to know that the intimacy is there to press the pause button so that life can continue.

Frustration

A friend had a car wreck yesterday that really put a dent in her week (no pun intended). As some of us gathered at the scene of the accident we were all reminiscing about our own wrecks. We were reliving our situation as her situation played out before our eyes. It reminded me that the act of corporate worship is about reenacting the drama of God's history with humanity. The details of the story include creation, sin, redemption, unfaithfulness, salvation, and faithfulness. I have been asking myself if I do this in my daily worship of God or if I, like so many others, am simply going through the motions. The wreck also made me realize that as a community of faith we share in each others joy and pain in a unique way...kinda like we did yesterday at Hill and Oak.

God says one thing

As I took Claire to preschool this morning a song by Bill Mallonee came on my iPod. The title is Crescent Moon. One of the lines says, "Life is coming to grips with what you're worth, when God says one thing but your heart says another." I think we can be our harshest critics in life, especially when it comes to any shortcomings in our relationship with God. We stumble and struggle with sin and our heart tells us that we are worthless and unworthy of God's love. The truth is, we are unworthy. That's what makes grace so incredible. As God's children he looks at us with love and compassion and mercy even when we mess things up so bad that we can't see the light at the other end of the tunnel.

Does that mean that Christ promotes sin?

In Galatians, Paul talks about the way the Law points out our need for Christ and grace. Verse 17 intrigued me yesterday as I read it. If in growing in our faith we discover that we are in fact sinners who still struggle with the taint of darkness in our hearts we cannot conclude that Christ promotes sin or evil. In fact, Christ stands in direct opposition to sin and evil. "Does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!" Sometimes I think we become so enamored by the wickedness in our hearts that we confuse our struggle with sin as God condoning our sin. The very opposite is true. As we grow in faith, we see better the depths of our sin and our need for redemption. Then we can join Paul in "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

New Ebenezer and a Wedding

I have never been to a wedding on New Year's Day, but this year I had the privilege to go to one in Effingham County, GA. This was some of Cyd's family. The ceremony was short and sweet, with a time for family to get together and visit, almost like a family reunion. The reception was held at New Ebenezer Retreat Center in Rincon. New Ebenezer was founded in 1736 as a group of Lutheran Salzburgers settled there seeking religious freedom. The original settlement served as a battleground during the American Revolution. The facilities and largely untouched natural environment provide windows into the past and the future. One can't help but wonder what it must have been like to live there all those years ago. The future seems hopefully after some time of reflection in such a pristine setting.

Pretty in Pink

Thursday while Cyd and Claire wern't home, I painted Claire's new room Oxford Pink. It was fun to get to do that for her, not just because you have to paint a room in the house. When she saw the finished product she said, "Thank you, soooo much Daddy!" (which is her favorite expression the last week or so). I also liked getting to work on a project alone to have some time to think...I did take advantage of being able to listen to some music as loud as I wanted to while Cyd wasn't in the house. It's fun to listen to cds you haven't heard in a while so that's what I did. Some of my musical selections are listed below in no particular order:

Collective Soul "Self Titled"
Bob Dylan "John Wesley Harding" original version of All Along the Watchtower
Drivin'N Cryin "Mystery Road"
John Mellencamp "Greatest Hits"
Bon Jovi "Live"
Neil Young
Ben Harper
U2 "Achtung Baby"

The Start of 2008

Well, I hope that the start of 2008 is not an indication of the way the rest of the year will go for us. This week we've had plumbing problems (curse of an older house) and car problems. Frustration is the word for the week. On top of those two things, we have been trying to put Christmas away and paint Claire's new room. I will be glad when my "time off" is over so that I can get some rest when I get back to work. I guess I will have to wait and see what else 2008 will bring.