What Matters?

Ron Jenson is someone we met several years ago -- have enjoyed getting to know his thinking again via his blog and tweets. He mentions this great article in a recent post: http://www.ronjenson.com/?p=482

Calcifying influences

Faithless wisdom seeks control and fears the dynamic. 

Thus we set ritual above relationship, structure above reality and organization above organic life.

CHANGE??

Poet W.H. Oden wrote, "We would rather be ruined than changed. We would rather die in our dread than climb the cross of the moment and let our illusions die.”

When things grow worse

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Matthew 24:12

A sign of the end of days -- self-absorbed thinking will generally displace love.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7, 8

The mandate for believers in every age: attend to Christ’s new command to love each other as He has loved us.

Igift?

In German, the word Gift means poison!

(A friend of ours wondered one time why a lady in the store gave her an odd look when she noticed “baby gift” on her shopping list!)

Anyway, I got a great gift for Christmas. My son (we exchanged names this year) -- at my request -- gave me a new MP3 device.  I quickly got my NLT Bible and the audio version of John on it. Wow -- amazing tool -- portable and ready at all times.

But it can be so much more. Unlike its poorer cousins, this one features APPS!

Thousands and thousands of apps! Lots are free, you can download them and suddenly -- another time sucker! Another distraction. Another substitute for reality and authenticity.

A device to remind me to worship my God! 

Or…something else...to keep me far from His presence. 

This morning 1 John 5:21 came home. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (NLT)

Individualism and Commitment

American cultural traditions define personality, achievement, and the purpose of human life in ways that leave the individual suspended in glorious, but terrifying, isolation. From Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life

Choices can change the heart

How does a lapse of faith occur? Very simply: one begins to live like everybody else.  Leo Tolstoy