Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Minnesota Trip
We went to St. Paul, MN over the weekend. Did some fun stuff. Went to a river town, a Twins game, and the zoo. Here are a few pics.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
A Christian Society
I've been talking a lot with people about the both the church and the Church universal and how being a part of it should affect the life of the believer. It's tricky because most of us live it out through either 1. trivializing it to a Sunday morning and Wednesday evening 'institution' of sorts or 2. idealizing this unattainable (read Anninia and Siphira) sort of communal living living we see in very small part of the scripture (Acts 4:32-37) and living in constant disappointment. It's pretty interesting to me. Everyone I've talked with (present company included) has a lot more ideas of what the church shouldn't look like than we have ideas on how to change it to be a better reflection of the glory of God. Maybe it's just me. Tell me if I'm wrong.
Anyways, I read this little bit from C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity this morning and found it to be pretty interesting and relevant. All italics or bolding are my additions.
"The New Testament, without going into details, gives us a pretty clear hint of what a fully Christian society would be like. Perhaps it gives us more than we can take. It tells us that there are to be no passengers or parasites: if man does not work, he ought not eat. Every one is to work with his own hands, and what is more, every one's work is to produce something good: there will be no manufacture of silly luxuries and then of sillier advertisements to persuade us to buy them. And there is to be no 'swank' or 'side', no putting on airs. To that extent a Christian society would be what we would now call Leftist. On the other hand, it is always insisting on obedience - obedience (and outward marks of respect) from all of us to properly appointed magistrates, from children to parents, and (I am afraid this is going to be very unpopular) from wives to husbands. Thirdly, it is to be a cheerful society: full of singing and rejoicing, and regarding worry or anxiety as wrong. Courtesy is one of the Christian virtues; and the New Testament hates what it calls 'busybodies.'
If there were such a society in existence and you or I visited it, I think we should come away with a curious impression. We should feel that its economic life was very socialistic and, in that sense, 'advanced', but that its family life and code of manners were rather old fashioned - perhaps even ceremonious and aristocratic. Each of us would like some bits of it, but I am afraid that very few of us would like the whole thing. That is just what one would expect if Christianity is the total plan for the human machine. We have all departed from that total plan in different ways, and each of us wants to make out that his own modification of the original plan is the plan itself. You will find this again and again about anything that is really Christian: every one is attracted to bits of it and wants to pick out those bits and leave the rest."
-- C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity
I thought this was pretty interesting. I especially like the first paragraph. I think churches would be wise to follow what this Christian society "would be." Particularly the bolded parts.
No passengers or parasites - after all it is a body right? Everybody's got their part, yet it seems like to many of us are just along for the ride. Worse than that, we suck the life out of the people who are doing their part - because those people are also doing our jobs because we're to busy watching. Nothing about the Christian faith was ever advertised as easy... being a part of the body of Christ is no exception.
no manufacture of silly luxuries and then of sillier advertisements to persuade us to buy them. And there is to be no 'swank' or 'side', no putting on airs. - I think this one explains itself. Do we really need a 250,000 dollar sound system with subs and plasma tv's to put the words to our music on? I think not. Nor do we need to whore ourselves out by pouring all our time into looking 'hip' or 'relevant.' Just be the church. It's a reflection of Christ. That's attraction enough. We don't need dress it up with overdone sound systems and swag events. Seriously...
insisting on obedience - The Church is the hands, feet, and mouth of God (the Body) yes? Then, I don't think it's unfair to argue that God has given it authority unlike any other authority on the whole planet. Yet, the church is afraid to call sin what it is. We like to beat around the bush. Not to say that we should be harsh, unloving, and ungracious. By no means. But we also should not compromise. Yet, look at the church here in the US. There are some shinning examples, but there are also a lot who are becoming more and more tolerant of sin within the body. The church really should insist on obedience, because when we don't we all suffer greatly and more than that look just plain foolish - both in the local church and the Church universal.
cheerful society - this one is my favorite. It really should be. The church should be the utmost reflection of joy. By far we have the most to be joyful about.
Anyways, that's my long winded way of saying that I think it's a pretty interesting bit of writing. I'd love to hear what others are thinking.
KP
Anyways, I read this little bit from C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity this morning and found it to be pretty interesting and relevant. All italics or bolding are my additions.
"The New Testament, without going into details, gives us a pretty clear hint of what a fully Christian society would be like. Perhaps it gives us more than we can take. It tells us that there are to be no passengers or parasites: if man does not work, he ought not eat. Every one is to work with his own hands, and what is more, every one's work is to produce something good: there will be no manufacture of silly luxuries and then of sillier advertisements to persuade us to buy them. And there is to be no 'swank' or 'side', no putting on airs. To that extent a Christian society would be what we would now call Leftist. On the other hand, it is always insisting on obedience - obedience (and outward marks of respect) from all of us to properly appointed magistrates, from children to parents, and (I am afraid this is going to be very unpopular) from wives to husbands. Thirdly, it is to be a cheerful society: full of singing and rejoicing, and regarding worry or anxiety as wrong. Courtesy is one of the Christian virtues; and the New Testament hates what it calls 'busybodies.'
If there were such a society in existence and you or I visited it, I think we should come away with a curious impression. We should feel that its economic life was very socialistic and, in that sense, 'advanced', but that its family life and code of manners were rather old fashioned - perhaps even ceremonious and aristocratic. Each of us would like some bits of it, but I am afraid that very few of us would like the whole thing. That is just what one would expect if Christianity is the total plan for the human machine. We have all departed from that total plan in different ways, and each of us wants to make out that his own modification of the original plan is the plan itself. You will find this again and again about anything that is really Christian: every one is attracted to bits of it and wants to pick out those bits and leave the rest."
-- C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity
I thought this was pretty interesting. I especially like the first paragraph. I think churches would be wise to follow what this Christian society "would be." Particularly the bolded parts.
No passengers or parasites - after all it is a body right? Everybody's got their part, yet it seems like to many of us are just along for the ride. Worse than that, we suck the life out of the people who are doing their part - because those people are also doing our jobs because we're to busy watching. Nothing about the Christian faith was ever advertised as easy... being a part of the body of Christ is no exception.
no manufacture of silly luxuries and then of sillier advertisements to persuade us to buy them. And there is to be no 'swank' or 'side', no putting on airs. - I think this one explains itself. Do we really need a 250,000 dollar sound system with subs and plasma tv's to put the words to our music on? I think not. Nor do we need to whore ourselves out by pouring all our time into looking 'hip' or 'relevant.' Just be the church. It's a reflection of Christ. That's attraction enough. We don't need dress it up with overdone sound systems and swag events. Seriously...
insisting on obedience - The Church is the hands, feet, and mouth of God (the Body) yes? Then, I don't think it's unfair to argue that God has given it authority unlike any other authority on the whole planet. Yet, the church is afraid to call sin what it is. We like to beat around the bush. Not to say that we should be harsh, unloving, and ungracious. By no means. But we also should not compromise. Yet, look at the church here in the US. There are some shinning examples, but there are also a lot who are becoming more and more tolerant of sin within the body. The church really should insist on obedience, because when we don't we all suffer greatly and more than that look just plain foolish - both in the local church and the Church universal.
cheerful society - this one is my favorite. It really should be. The church should be the utmost reflection of joy. By far we have the most to be joyful about.
Anyways, that's my long winded way of saying that I think it's a pretty interesting bit of writing. I'd love to hear what others are thinking.
KP
Monday, May 21, 2007
Psalm 63
Psalm 63
The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Longing for a bit more...
Tonight find myself having quite a lot of longing to be in Old Naledi, Botswana. Not too sure why. Maybe a bit too much time on the old BBC Africa new site or reading about the KSU students who recently got there or maybe it was seeing Becky for a short while. Regardless, I'd really much rather be there tonight. Not so much in an angry or sad sort of way. More of an anticipation I suppose. I guess what I mean to say is that it's a rather good thing. I can't explain it too well. A joyful longing is about the best I can do.
Then I got to thinking about how if I really understood God for all that He is I would yearn to be worshiping in heaven with every part of me. Old Naledi - this small glimpse of what a beautiful God of restoration and grace we serve stirs up such a longing in me. For me, it's one of the exciting ways for me to tangibly see the character of God. Yet, even though it's about the best I know it's really just a very poor reflection of the tiniest part of the vast richness and beauty of God.
I pray that He would teach us to see Him more completely that we might learn to yearn for the only real thing that will fulfill us. The only real thing worth pursuing.
Then I got to thinking about how if I really understood God for all that He is I would yearn to be worshiping in heaven with every part of me. Old Naledi - this small glimpse of what a beautiful God of restoration and grace we serve stirs up such a longing in me. For me, it's one of the exciting ways for me to tangibly see the character of God. Yet, even though it's about the best I know it's really just a very poor reflection of the tiniest part of the vast richness and beauty of God.
I pray that He would teach us to see Him more completely that we might learn to yearn for the only real thing that will fulfill us. The only real thing worth pursuing.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
"Teacher Stages Fake Gun Attack on Students"
Wow. Talk about the worst idea ever. You'd think that being a teacher would disqualify you from thinking this was a good idea. Apparently not...
Monday, May 14, 2007
Zig Ziglar!
I knew I had to go to a seminar for work tomorrow on time management and motivation and such... but I never would have guessed that it was featuring none other than Zig Ziglar! Not sure who Zig Ziglar is? It's this guy...
That's right. You so wish you were coming too.
There's also 6 other speakers or so. Including Bill Self. I should be quite a day. If I can find a link about the seminar I'll post it.
~Jim Halpert
That's right. You so wish you were coming too.There's also 6 other speakers or so. Including Bill Self. I should be quite a day. If I can find a link about the seminar I'll post it.
~Jim Halpert
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Summer is around the corner...
and Er and I are turning over a new leaf. We're trying to figure as much cool FREE stuff to do with friends, together as a family, or as a date as we can. It should be fun - maybe a good way to get people in the church spending more time with each other outside Sunday morning. After 20 minutes of brainstorming here's what we got.
| Fun Things We Like To Do For Free | |||||||||||
| 1. Go on picnics | |||||||||||
| 2. Go on a walk | |||||||||||
| 3. Arts in the Park Music Series | |||||||||||
| 4. Go swimming at City Pool (thanks for the pool passes Poulsons) | |||||||||||
| 5. Take Elijah to the park | |||||||||||
| 6. Go to the Riley County Museam | |||||||||||
| 7. Go for a walk out at Konza | |||||||||||
| 8. Go out to Pilsbury Crossing | |||||||||||
| 9. Couple's game night | |||||||||||
| 10. Grill out at city park | |||||||||||
| 11. Pot Luck/Sand Volleball Night at City Park with Friends 12. Fly a kite (Thanks to Chris Barker for 12-14) 13. Go for a bike ride 14. Walk around campus We'd like some more good ideas and cool people to do them with if you're intrested... | |||||||||||
Friday, May 11, 2007
A qoute worth reading...
“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
- The Talmud
I ran into this today while I was killing some time before work. Friday's are a slow day here at Century Business.
If you're like me aren't very familiar with what the Talmud is go here. It's interesting an educational! Whowza! Thanks wikipedia.
It's interesting how God's desire for His creation hasn't changed between the Old Covenant and the New. It's even more interesting how we're no different than Isreal. We suck at living it out.
Cheers!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
And the baby is...
a healty little girl. We're super excited. Names are pending but we're thinking about Nora. Middle names anyone?
I'll post the pictures we got when I can pry them out of my wife's hands long enough to bring them to work and scan them.
I'll post the pictures we got when I can pry them out of my wife's hands long enough to bring them to work and scan them.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Speeding tickets...
Nothing quite like getting what you deserve...
Turns out that there's a speed trap up right by where 177 Highway (i.e. Bill Snyder Memorial Highway). It also turns out that you should pay attention to speeding signs instead of fiddling with your radio and looking at the cars around you. Luckly, the officer was quite kind and respectful -- and beyond that gracious and gave me a far lesser ticket than I deserved. Turns out grace can be found in the most unlikely of places. So here's to you officer. Thanks for both ruining my day and reminding me of the goodness of grace all at the same time.
Overall, it's a pretty good thing that I got my ticket. Well... except that my insurance will probably get way more expensive and I owe the state of Kansas $126.00. But, I got the rest of my hour drive to reflect on how this small example of somewhat painful grace is a small reflection of the grace that I receive every second of every minute of my life. I deserve a lot more than the small (probably non-existent) "hard knocks" I think I get all the time. And to think, God's grace doesn't even cost $126 dollars. It only requires the surrender of "my" life...
But then again, it's also the only place that I can find life as it's meant to be. It's kind of a strange, beautiful paradox. Now maybe if I could learn to express the gratefulness I expressed to a cop for granted grace that saved me a few bucks to the God who's granted a grace far more costly and beautiful.
But I guess that brings me back to giving up the mud pies that I like to play in for a wonderful holiday by the sea (thanks C.S. Lewis...).
It's my prayer that we could all learn to live in the fullness of life that grace offers to us... and more than that to be 1/2 as thankful for it as we ought to be. How easily that's lost in the hustle and bustle of work and accidentally going 20 over in 45 mile and hour zone on 177. How easy I forget. Luckily, God throws me cops who only write me tickets for 10 over when I deserve a bigger one. Reflections of the goodness of God's grace can be found all around. I just need to slow the heck down and see them.
Praise be to the God of Redemption who pours out grace on mud caked little boys like me who want so much to be like Him but just loose site when the mud covers our eyes. Praise to the God of Restoration who pulls us out of the mud and slowly washes all the mud of so that we can turn into a reflection of Something far more beautiful so that others can see the beauty of who Redemption is and find completion there. Praise Him.
Turns out that there's a speed trap up right by where 177 Highway (i.e. Bill Snyder Memorial Highway). It also turns out that you should pay attention to speeding signs instead of fiddling with your radio and looking at the cars around you. Luckly, the officer was quite kind and respectful -- and beyond that gracious and gave me a far lesser ticket than I deserved. Turns out grace can be found in the most unlikely of places. So here's to you officer. Thanks for both ruining my day and reminding me of the goodness of grace all at the same time.
Overall, it's a pretty good thing that I got my ticket. Well... except that my insurance will probably get way more expensive and I owe the state of Kansas $126.00. But, I got the rest of my hour drive to reflect on how this small example of somewhat painful grace is a small reflection of the grace that I receive every second of every minute of my life. I deserve a lot more than the small (probably non-existent) "hard knocks" I think I get all the time. And to think, God's grace doesn't even cost $126 dollars. It only requires the surrender of "my" life...
But then again, it's also the only place that I can find life as it's meant to be. It's kind of a strange, beautiful paradox. Now maybe if I could learn to express the gratefulness I expressed to a cop for granted grace that saved me a few bucks to the God who's granted a grace far more costly and beautiful.
But I guess that brings me back to giving up the mud pies that I like to play in for a wonderful holiday by the sea (thanks C.S. Lewis...).
It's my prayer that we could all learn to live in the fullness of life that grace offers to us... and more than that to be 1/2 as thankful for it as we ought to be. How easily that's lost in the hustle and bustle of work and accidentally going 20 over in 45 mile and hour zone on 177. How easy I forget. Luckily, God throws me cops who only write me tickets for 10 over when I deserve a bigger one. Reflections of the goodness of God's grace can be found all around. I just need to slow the heck down and see them.
Praise be to the God of Redemption who pours out grace on mud caked little boys like me who want so much to be like Him but just loose site when the mud covers our eyes. Praise to the God of Restoration who pulls us out of the mud and slowly washes all the mud of so that we can turn into a reflection of Something far more beautiful so that others can see the beauty of who Redemption is and find completion there. Praise Him.
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