I like this - when "borrowing" writing from a person who is now is that great cloud of witnesses, putting a blog tag on it that says that.
I'm borrowing the idea from "Foolish Confidence"
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” —Hebrews 12:1
I am writing out my testimony, from the earliest years I can remember. I think this was my favorite song in the hymnal...not because I truly understood the theology, but because it was FAST. And there was an underlying line of even faster music in the refrain. Every time we had "special request" evening in the service, this would come up. I even remember that "It Is Mine" was hymn #309...that's how abiding the memory is.
Then, I was Baptist, but I really don't know which "flavor." Now, I'm happily Reformed, and I think I still love this song.
1 God’s abiding peace is in my soul today,
Yes, I feel it now, yes, I feel it now;
He has taken all my doubts and fears away,
Though I cannot tell you how.
Refrain:
It is mine, mine, blessed be His Name!
He has given peace, perfect peace to me;
It is mine, mine, blessed be His Name!
Mine for all eternity!
2 He has wrought in me a sweet and perfect rest,
In my raptured heart I can feel it now;
He each passing moment keeps me saved and blest,
Floods with light my heart and brow. [Refrain]
3 He has given me a never failing joy,
Oh, I have it now! oh, I have it now!
To His praise I will my ransomed pow’rs employ,
And renew my grateful vow. [Refrain]
4 Oh, the love of God is comforting my soul,
For His love is mine, yes, His love is mine!
Waves of joy and gladness o’er my spirit roll,
Thrilling me with life divine. [Refrain]
No power on campus for a while...
This year again, wheat is what I'm focusing on (I contemplated the "processed food" thing but that's a little too much to take in)
For Advent I went through "God is in the Manger" -
For Lent, I got "God is on the Cross" - another devotional that includes writings from Boenhoffer.
The first day of Lent:
"...And take up their cross...”
That cross is already there, ready, from the very beginning; we need only take it up. But to keep us from believing that we must simply choose any arbitrary cross, or simply pick out our suffering as we will, Jesus emphasizes that each of us has his or her own cross, ready, appointed, and appropriately measured by God.
~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
If we choose our own suffering...is it a cross? Does "our cross" necessarily mean that we're suffering for God or the Gospel? Or is it just...suffering?
The idea that GOD has already chosen our path for us, has already appointed our "cross" - our way of suffering for Him, is comforting. It means that He is in control, He knows the path, He saves, He delivers, He KNOWS, and He has a purpose.
In our suffering, WE have a purpose.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
~~~1 Corinthians 1:3-5
18 years ago, my daughter, Amanda, had a minor ear surgery. We brought her home and I had o rune out to get a prescription filled.
Our cat Blackie had gone missing and since the animal shelter was across the street com the pharmacy, I stopped there while I was waiting on the Rx. They were so short staffed that they weren't keeping animals that owners were dropping off, just putting them to sleep.
There was a couple there with a kid size shoe box, with a tiny tail hanging out. She was crying, but was so allergic...I said, "oh, I'll just take him."
The woman at the counter said, you can't do that IN HERE."
So we went outside and I took this tiny kitten home and he became Amanda's kitty...and we named him after her ear doctor...Henry.
Amanda doesn't remember a time without Henry. He held vigil with me when Amanda's daddy was dying, sitting in his lap for hours at a time.
He spent a little time with me here in the apartment, and was a great balcony cat.
Henry died today. He's had diabetes for 5 years, had eye problems, but Amanda, and her boyfriend, Mike, took good care of him.
Mike was crying, Amanda can't even talk, Tom's a mess and so am I.
Henry will be missed.
Every so often I start a book that just doesn't seem like it's worth finishing...So once a month I'm planning on posting a "not a review" for those "zero star" books...
First up...
JFK: The CIA, Vietnam, and the Plot to Assassinate John F. Kennedy
at 28% done, I decided to call it a day. the book is listed at a "bargain price" and is written by a pilot who flew with the "movers and shakers" of the war. It communicates a lot of information, but in a way that is not all that readable.
I did take away a renewed understanding of the futility of the Viet Nam war, and I guess it's a good thing that we look at ALL war with the same cynical eye.
(Edit: okay, I'm working at it again...)
This is really good! I've put it on chicken, kale, broccoli, and could pretty much eat it with a spoon.
SPICY COCO SAUCE
Sauce will hold for 5 days refrigerated, or you can freeze it. Portion size is cup per serving. Makes 4 servings.
Recitas, Lyn-Genet (2013-01-01). The Plan: Eliminate the Surprising "Healthy" Foods That Are Making You Fat--and Lose Weight Fast (Kindle Locations 2671-2681). Grand Central Life & Style. Kindle Edition.
A few days ago, Tim Challies wrote a post on "50 Shades of Porn."
I didn't respond before comments were closed, but I wanted to address a few things.
First, I tend to not use the word "porn" - it limits the impact of what is really going on. People hear "porn" and think "pics." If we use the term "erotic material" - we open up a variety of genres...and we eliminate a double standard.
"50 Shades" is not "porn" in the way we normally think of it. It's "erotic material."
Second...Tim Challies wrote:
Women, you need to be aware because the pornographers are coming after you. Yes, you.
Using the term "erotic material" - "historical romance" has been around for a long time. You know the sort, pirates, bad guys, villains...all who steal the tender virgin, ravage her and then steal her heart...and lose their heart to her as well. And, for some women's libraries...you can tell where the "juicy parts" are by the worn spots in the books.
Why do women get hooked on soap operas? Yeah.
Third: the double standard.
A while ago, Tim posted a poem written by a woman whose husband was a regular (and addicted) user of erotic material. This woman was going back to her very wedding night, imposing what she knows now onto that night and declared everything RUINED! And that notion of years (YEARS) of ruined marriage was not only supported, those who objected to that sort of retroactive grudge were scolded for it.
Can you even imagine what the response would be to a man who caught his wife re-reading for the 20th time the "juicy parts" of that novel, then declaring their wedding night a hurtful thing, because he believed that her thoughts were really on Fabio (or whoever the male model was) when he was making love to her?
THE DOUBLE STANDARD:
When men use erotic material, they're evil, mean, unfaithful and pretty much the scum of the earth.
When women use erotic material, they're victims of a marketing ploy.