This is a prayer that has been upon my heart lately, as I have been wrestling with my inconsistency within my relationship with the Father. I am beginning to realize that I need the Spirit to do what I cannot do by myself (i.e., to make me more and more like Christ):
“Father God,
Thank you for another day of life! I accept it as a gift of grace that I do not deserve. But I confess that for me to be made in the image of Your Son today, I need for You to move in powerful ways within my heart and life. I know my own heart and how I constantly abandon the work of Your kingdom in order to build my own. But I confess even now that I want to do what is right, with all my heart and spirit. I know that even this prayer is not a simple solution, so I ask for the determination to make it the cry of my heart. I want to be faithful, but I know that each day stands as an opportunity to either towards or away from loving intimacy with You. So I ask for grace for this day alone, for tomorrow is not a promise given to me.
I ask, just for today, that You would allow me to remain focused on what You have intended for me, and change my longings so that I might yearn for You and Your work in my life. I need for the Holy Spirit to cause me to see everything else as trivial compared to the glory and grace that You have in store for me. I am surrounded by a world that continues to draw me away from You, but You, Father, have overcome the world. I pray that You might help me to overcome my own trials and temptations, but that I would also learn how You are using them to teach me. I thank you for the example of Jesus Christ, who lived among us, as one of us, and yet keep His heart from sin through fellowship with His Father. I ask that I might also have that same intimate fellowship with You, God, so that I can see You as the greatest love of my life. I thank you for Your immeasurable grace, which You pour out on me daily, even without my asking.
Your desire is for me to be made into the image of Christ – I ask that You might make that my deepest desire and that I would live in such a way as to participate with You in that sanctifying process. My earthly nature continues to pull me away from the things that I know are satisfying (everything that You are and do) and entertain me with lesser desires. But I ask, Father God, that you would move in and through my heart to cause me to see my identity as Your child, and the strength and grace to behave as such. Satisfy me in such a way that sin is seen for what it truly is. And I know that You desire all such things for me, and find joy when Your children share such desires with You.
In Your Name, I pray all these things… Amen.”
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Monday, October 25, 2004
.: the space between - pt. 3 :.
I do not write such things so as to complicate the matter, but rather, to shed light on the reality of the nature of our relationships. So often, we find the common struggle – the reality that we repeatedly wrestle with at moments in our life – of trying so desperately to deal with the issue of where your friendships are at and where you long for them to be in light of what they even could be. In those friendships that we possess where we have reached the potential, we have the tendency to slip into a mode of ease. It is those very friendships that we applaud and value because they require little work. And in turn, they require little to no work because the effort and toil required to deepen them is so modest and minute that they quickly achieve their potential on the heels of a common experience (tragedy, trial, joy, etc.).
In the setting of those friendships where the person's “interests” are not divided, that is where we typically find the relentless struggle to deepen them, and if we fail to do so, we are forced to explain them through finding defect or incompetence on the part of either them or yourself. We have such a hard time dealing with those types of relationships because the same instances where we stand to gain so much is the exact same place where we stand to lose so much. And because we stand to lose so much, we struggle and wrestle and fidget and strive to get such relationships, work earnestly on such relationships, and hope in the deepest parts of our heart to never do anything to even remotely come close to ruining or losing them.
Those that say that love shouldn’t be such hard work are typically those whom have managed to wrestle with wisdom and clarity in the past. Oh, that we might all do that with more wisdom as we become fully human beings in the reality of the in-breaking Kingdom of God.
In the setting of those friendships where the person's “interests” are not divided, that is where we typically find the relentless struggle to deepen them, and if we fail to do so, we are forced to explain them through finding defect or incompetence on the part of either them or yourself. We have such a hard time dealing with those types of relationships because the same instances where we stand to gain so much is the exact same place where we stand to lose so much. And because we stand to lose so much, we struggle and wrestle and fidget and strive to get such relationships, work earnestly on such relationships, and hope in the deepest parts of our heart to never do anything to even remotely come close to ruining or losing them.
Those that say that love shouldn’t be such hard work are typically those whom have managed to wrestle with wisdom and clarity in the past. Oh, that we might all do that with more wisdom as we become fully human beings in the reality of the in-breaking Kingdom of God.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
.: the space between - pt. 2 :.
Posting from Eastern WA...
The essence of what I am speaking to is the reality that there is a given potential in the nature of each and every friendship / relationship that we experience. There is the space between the “ground” of the beginning of that relationship and the height (better yet, depth) of what degree of intimacy and fellowship can be truly achieved in the sense of it being “perfect”. And for those friendships that we share with our “casual friends”, the possibility is tremendously limited, so we in turn have very little responsibility with regards to move into a more intimate level because there is not the perceived opportunity which is presented in those friendships that appear “unlimited”. What it would mean to love that person with whom you could only become good friends at best is far easier to deal with and experience in contrast to the person with whom you face having the “ability” (chance presented by circumstances) to potentially move into the most intimate of relationships (i.e., the marriage relationship).
(more to come...)
The essence of what I am speaking to is the reality that there is a given potential in the nature of each and every friendship / relationship that we experience. There is the space between the “ground” of the beginning of that relationship and the height (better yet, depth) of what degree of intimacy and fellowship can be truly achieved in the sense of it being “perfect”. And for those friendships that we share with our “casual friends”, the possibility is tremendously limited, so we in turn have very little responsibility with regards to move into a more intimate level because there is not the perceived opportunity which is presented in those friendships that appear “unlimited”. What it would mean to love that person with whom you could only become good friends at best is far easier to deal with and experience in contrast to the person with whom you face having the “ability” (chance presented by circumstances) to potentially move into the most intimate of relationships (i.e., the marriage relationship).
(more to come...)
Thursday, October 21, 2004
.: the space between - pt. 1 :.
(This is to be the first part of a three part post. It comes out of what most of my posts come out of - experience, feelings, and emotions, with God moving and speaking in and through all of it.)
We live and struggle and deeply desire in the space between what our friendships and relationships could be, and what they really are (less than what we had hoped for and still continue to hope for). Every relationship around us has a potential, and for those that have not experienced the probable width, breadth, and depth of any particular relationship, that person comes face-to-face with the question of what could be done to fix that, and even more, are they even capable of doing it.
So many of us have friendships that ultimately changed in the context of the other party either dating, romantically involved, engaged, or even married (the unchangeable, inevitable factor – one that has haunted each and everyone of us above 20 years old). And in those friendships, there was a limit to what we could experience with that person in the context of the given relationship. For in the end, they would one day say their vows to that third party and they would, in essence, commit themselves to a deeper friendship than anything that you two ever experienced in the past. So all along the path, up to the marriage, there is a progressing movement in their “engaging” (I intend the double meaning) relationship that moves beyond what mutually takes place between the casual, even close, friendship that you share together in.
It feels like such an offense because that perceived "intruder" is able to successfully move into the life of that person that you knew long before that point. In turn, they are able to experience and move up to and beyond what you shared as friends, and ultimately surpass you in an act of claiming the single position in their life that was formally left empty. And in the lives of those who do not possess the same quality of relationship with someone else (i.e., “single”), it is felt that much more of a violation of the heart.
(more to come...)
We live and struggle and deeply desire in the space between what our friendships and relationships could be, and what they really are (less than what we had hoped for and still continue to hope for). Every relationship around us has a potential, and for those that have not experienced the probable width, breadth, and depth of any particular relationship, that person comes face-to-face with the question of what could be done to fix that, and even more, are they even capable of doing it.
So many of us have friendships that ultimately changed in the context of the other party either dating, romantically involved, engaged, or even married (the unchangeable, inevitable factor – one that has haunted each and everyone of us above 20 years old). And in those friendships, there was a limit to what we could experience with that person in the context of the given relationship. For in the end, they would one day say their vows to that third party and they would, in essence, commit themselves to a deeper friendship than anything that you two ever experienced in the past. So all along the path, up to the marriage, there is a progressing movement in their “engaging” (I intend the double meaning) relationship that moves beyond what mutually takes place between the casual, even close, friendship that you share together in.
It feels like such an offense because that perceived "intruder" is able to successfully move into the life of that person that you knew long before that point. In turn, they are able to experience and move up to and beyond what you shared as friends, and ultimately surpass you in an act of claiming the single position in their life that was formally left empty. And in the lives of those who do not possess the same quality of relationship with someone else (i.e., “single”), it is felt that much more of a violation of the heart.
(more to come...)
Friday, October 15, 2004
.: confusion as friend :.
In preparation for my sermon for "Preaching & Worship" class, I have been working through the passage of Isaiah 50:10-11 in the hopes of "wrestling with the text" in such a way that I can offer some explanation, encouragement, and exhortation (please note the three different points and the shared first letter for all the Baptist pastors in the crowd) to my listeners. One of the books that I have been reading for the sake of study has been Larry Crabb's "Connecting" (props to Mark Eaton for the recommendation) and all I can say is "WOW!" Here is one of the sections that spoke to me more as a maturing (yet failing) human being than as "Mr. Sermon Prep" guy;
"For those who enjoy discovery because they know a good God is moving through the chaos toward a wonderful conclusion, mystery poses no problem. It is welcomed. Explain what you can, and relax even when you can't. But for those ruled by a passion to explain, for those who insist on feeling confident in their own plans, mystery is offensive. They want to know exactly what they must do to provide for their economic future, to restore harmony in their relationships, to succeed in their career or ministry. Confusion is an enemy. Uncertainty is a challenge to overcome."
That hit me so hard because I so often see the times in my life when things seem so extremely quiet and lackluster, especially in my relationship with God, as being some sort of failure on my own part. And when God fails to let me in on what He is doing in my life, I either condemn Him as not caring about me, or simply not being in control at all. Chaos seems like the last thing that would have the fingerprints of God all over it... and yet it is in those times (what seems like day after day), God is most at work and most "alive" with passion, accomplishing something that is a masterpiece - grander than anything that I could ever do on my own feeble strength.
I am a creature who loves to be in control, and for me to have to surrender that control (what feels so strong in my hands at times, and yet so inadequate to manipulate what I would need to change to make my own will happen) to Christ feels like nothing short of insanity. Surrender control? I have spent so much time gathering it up, piece by piece... and you want me to surrender it to You, God? Why? What will You do with it? What will You choose to do with ME? I heard the illustration once from Eaton that as we attempt to hand God our list of plans and agendas for Him to sign in adherement, He rips it up and hands us back a blank sheet of paper for our own signature of agreement.
Faith is dark. Faith is mysterious. Faith is quiet when we need to hear what is going on, and speaks to us at some of the most inconvenient times. But if I read Crabb right, it is simply all a matter of perspective. And from my own experience, I know that he is right. For in those times when my heart has trusted God and been committed to whatever He wants to do in and through me, I am open to and inviting of mystery. But if something causes me to mistrust God on some subtle level, confusion is simply another cause for me to shake my fist in His face and hold on to my supposed regret of ever having given my life to Him in the first place. God is very real... and His heart is very loving... but beyond all doubt, His ways are sooo much higher than our own and our siding with Him out of love never promised us a life of full comprehension and insight into our future. Faith is a simple matter of walking with the Father in such a way that the moments and thoughts and words of each day stand for themselves and speak to the ongoing relationship that holds more value than any ability to control it for even a second.
"For those who enjoy discovery because they know a good God is moving through the chaos toward a wonderful conclusion, mystery poses no problem. It is welcomed. Explain what you can, and relax even when you can't. But for those ruled by a passion to explain, for those who insist on feeling confident in their own plans, mystery is offensive. They want to know exactly what they must do to provide for their economic future, to restore harmony in their relationships, to succeed in their career or ministry. Confusion is an enemy. Uncertainty is a challenge to overcome."
That hit me so hard because I so often see the times in my life when things seem so extremely quiet and lackluster, especially in my relationship with God, as being some sort of failure on my own part. And when God fails to let me in on what He is doing in my life, I either condemn Him as not caring about me, or simply not being in control at all. Chaos seems like the last thing that would have the fingerprints of God all over it... and yet it is in those times (what seems like day after day), God is most at work and most "alive" with passion, accomplishing something that is a masterpiece - grander than anything that I could ever do on my own feeble strength.
I am a creature who loves to be in control, and for me to have to surrender that control (what feels so strong in my hands at times, and yet so inadequate to manipulate what I would need to change to make my own will happen) to Christ feels like nothing short of insanity. Surrender control? I have spent so much time gathering it up, piece by piece... and you want me to surrender it to You, God? Why? What will You do with it? What will You choose to do with ME? I heard the illustration once from Eaton that as we attempt to hand God our list of plans and agendas for Him to sign in adherement, He rips it up and hands us back a blank sheet of paper for our own signature of agreement.
Faith is dark. Faith is mysterious. Faith is quiet when we need to hear what is going on, and speaks to us at some of the most inconvenient times. But if I read Crabb right, it is simply all a matter of perspective. And from my own experience, I know that he is right. For in those times when my heart has trusted God and been committed to whatever He wants to do in and through me, I am open to and inviting of mystery. But if something causes me to mistrust God on some subtle level, confusion is simply another cause for me to shake my fist in His face and hold on to my supposed regret of ever having given my life to Him in the first place. God is very real... and His heart is very loving... but beyond all doubt, His ways are sooo much higher than our own and our siding with Him out of love never promised us a life of full comprehension and insight into our future. Faith is a simple matter of walking with the Father in such a way that the moments and thoughts and words of each day stand for themselves and speak to the ongoing relationship that holds more value than any ability to control it for even a second.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
.: not the end :.
Faith to me says that I am holding out on the hope that God will provide for me what I truly long for, in perfect ways that don’t draw me away from Him but only return me that much closer to His side. Faith speaks words from the core of who I am, words that say that the Father is the only one who could give me what I long for, and if I don’t get it from Him, I will never truly find it. Faith in this instance… at this moment… says that I fall upon God in the deepest of hopes, that what seems so true to me – that my life is a tragedy, that nothing truly has any purpose, that pain and suffering are the deepest themes of this life (the deepest that I could ever experience or hold onto), and that everyone will win and feel (experience) in all the areas that I have lost and felt nothing – is not the end of the story for me, but that He is doing something deeper and grander than I could ever hope for. What I see with my eyes and feel with my heart does not tell the full story, for life is bigger than that and a man does not see the whole picture in the first 30 years of his life.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
.: muuuuusic :.
I want to be in the habit of offering you all some sweet sounds to listen to while you view the page, but have had problems with how to make it happen. BUT... the time has arrived and I want to present a song for the pleasure of your ears. It's only one song so don't go too crazy but do enjoy it! (I am listening to it for the 17th time as I post this song... it's that good!)
Joshua Radin - Winter
Joshua Radin - Winter
Monday, October 11, 2004
.: the nature of the urge :.
Whatever our perceived giftedness is, we truly cannot help but do that very thing. Whether it is writing, preaching, drawing, dancing - whatever! - we must do that very thing we have been gifted to do (notice that I did not say "born to do", for that one thing alone is relational in nature, as opposed to what I am speaking of)... the single thing that gives us the greatest sense of joy and speaks to our nature beyond anything we could falsely drum up or force ourselves to believe.
For, in my case, as a writer, I simply must write. I naturally allow myself to make the room necessary (today it meant foregoing studies for some time) to achieve my felt motivation - my God-given urge - and I passionately do it with the richest of emotions. I am drawn up into... I am carried away... I am driven and compelled... and I perform and create in a manner that feels so natural because it is at the core of my very nature - one that has been purposed and fashioned by God.
May all men and women discover those qualities of their nature... and may they have those people in their lives, those situations in their experience, that liberate them - that set them free - and literally give them permission to be what the Father has created them to be!
Amen... a thousand times over!
For, in my case, as a writer, I simply must write. I naturally allow myself to make the room necessary (today it meant foregoing studies for some time) to achieve my felt motivation - my God-given urge - and I passionately do it with the richest of emotions. I am drawn up into... I am carried away... I am driven and compelled... and I perform and create in a manner that feels so natural because it is at the core of my very nature - one that has been purposed and fashioned by God.
May all men and women discover those qualities of their nature... and may they have those people in their lives, those situations in their experience, that liberate them - that set them free - and literally give them permission to be what the Father has created them to be!
Amen... a thousand times over!
Sunday, October 10, 2004
.: more on sarah :.
I found an article to further guide your thoughts about the video and lyrics that I posted earlier this week...
http://start.shaw.ca/Start/enCA/Entertainment/EntertainmentStory.htm?type=e&src=e101002A.xml
http://start.shaw.ca/Start/enCA/Entertainment/EntertainmentStory.htm?type=e&src=e101002A.xml
Saturday, October 9, 2004
.: rain, rain, go away :.
For the past two days, I have been forced to labor away in various libraries all around the UBC campus. I have experienced things that would make lesser men cry like little babies (i.e., sooo much reading, typing, more reading, more typing, etc.) and all of it virtually on an empty stomach (it's amazing what you are willing to go through to keep from losing your chair in a crowded library). I have been trapped in first level floors of libraries that are fresh out of the scenes of a horror film... and I have been stuck in the corner of the sixth floor (that's right... some libraries actually have more than two floors!) of a library with an incredible view, only my corner has no window. But the worst of it all has been my having to trudge through the rain for the whole 48 hours. And never have I realized as much as I do now what a dangerous combo rain and leaves make (many subtle attempts to keep from falling on my backside). RAIN... YUCK!!!
In honor of the recent cruddy weather up here in Vancouver, I am giving away for absolutely no charge two new photos that I took from my session last week with Mark. Use them as backgrounds for your computer... images for your MSN Messenger... postcards to send to your grandma... whatever you want.
BAKERVIEW 1.JPG
BAKERVIEW 2.JPG
In honor of the recent cruddy weather up here in Vancouver, I am giving away for absolutely no charge two new photos that I took from my session last week with Mark. Use them as backgrounds for your computer... images for your MSN Messenger... postcards to send to your grandma... whatever you want.
BAKERVIEW 1.JPG
BAKERVIEW 2.JPG
Thursday, October 7, 2004
.: closure and hope :.
Last night in my film class, we watched Fritz Lang's 1931 black and white film "M" as an example of pre-film noir. The premise of the film is the presense and capture of a psychopathic child murderer (quite a subject to deal with back then, as it would be even today). The film is in German (it was actual the first large talking film in Germany) with English subtitles. The version that we watched was somewhat grainy, but there is supposedly a remake on the near horizon.
The reason that I bring up this film is because of the ambiguity of the ending. This, like many other popular films, leaves the conclusion up to the audience's imagination. Now I don't mind this when the plot concludes with the man and woman finally discovering each other in love, or even when the hero dies for the sake of something greater than us all. I don't mind at that point being left to fill in the lines and envision life after the story. But in this case, not knowing if the criminal got what he truly deserved for his heinous crimes, I was left with a space in my heart that demanded that I know that he was rightly punished (i.e., a life for a life). Otherwise, in my limited understanding of how to truly critic a film, this one would be considered incomplete to say the least.
I love happy endings! I love where things just simply work out! Don't get me wrong - I want incredible tension... I want the grandest of risks... I want improbable odds. But in the end, I want to see a movie where everything is brought together, and I am offered incredible hope and closure that speaks of the life that I was meant to live (life before the Fall). To not be given that leaves me with a sense that I have just been cheated by the director and film crew.
A friend of mine commented to the fact that he loved the ambiguity of Lang's film because that is the way that life really is. Life is messy. Life is unfair. Life is brief to those whose lives seem noble and kind to the cruelest of men. And THAT is why he liked it? Because it showed life as it truly is? That is precisely why I HATE films like that. Because I love movies for their ability to speak of life as we do NOT know it. I love movies because they speak to my own story (i.e., life as I experience it) and they tell me, "There is something greater out there, Dave! You were built for glory and beauty and the richest of loves!". For a movie to simply remind me of the beautiful letdown that this world has turned out to be is for it to do nothing other than further the demoralizing nature and agenda of our culture and our world.
I want a movie to call me out of myself, to lift my spirits, and cast a vision that I can seek for - one bigger than the ones that I so often am okay with settling for. Movies are made to draw me "further up and further in" (to quote Lewis), to call me back to the Kingdom that I would gladly lay my life down for (especially on the heels of watching a strong film), and to offer hope. To simply remind me of the brutish nature of life is to leave me with little more than despair and discouragement.
The reason that I bring up this film is because of the ambiguity of the ending. This, like many other popular films, leaves the conclusion up to the audience's imagination. Now I don't mind this when the plot concludes with the man and woman finally discovering each other in love, or even when the hero dies for the sake of something greater than us all. I don't mind at that point being left to fill in the lines and envision life after the story. But in this case, not knowing if the criminal got what he truly deserved for his heinous crimes, I was left with a space in my heart that demanded that I know that he was rightly punished (i.e., a life for a life). Otherwise, in my limited understanding of how to truly critic a film, this one would be considered incomplete to say the least.
I love happy endings! I love where things just simply work out! Don't get me wrong - I want incredible tension... I want the grandest of risks... I want improbable odds. But in the end, I want to see a movie where everything is brought together, and I am offered incredible hope and closure that speaks of the life that I was meant to live (life before the Fall). To not be given that leaves me with a sense that I have just been cheated by the director and film crew.
A friend of mine commented to the fact that he loved the ambiguity of Lang's film because that is the way that life really is. Life is messy. Life is unfair. Life is brief to those whose lives seem noble and kind to the cruelest of men. And THAT is why he liked it? Because it showed life as it truly is? That is precisely why I HATE films like that. Because I love movies for their ability to speak of life as we do NOT know it. I love movies because they speak to my own story (i.e., life as I experience it) and they tell me, "There is something greater out there, Dave! You were built for glory and beauty and the richest of loves!". For a movie to simply remind me of the beautiful letdown that this world has turned out to be is for it to do nothing other than further the demoralizing nature and agenda of our culture and our world.
I want a movie to call me out of myself, to lift my spirits, and cast a vision that I can seek for - one bigger than the ones that I so often am okay with settling for. Movies are made to draw me "further up and further in" (to quote Lewis), to call me back to the Kingdom that I would gladly lay my life down for (especially on the heels of watching a strong film), and to offer hope. To simply remind me of the brutish nature of life is to leave me with little more than despair and discouragement.
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
.: inspired by an artist :.
I happened upon a video yesterday that really made me consider once again my involvement with missions. Sarah McLachlan has a new video for her song "World on Fire" in which she does an incredibly creative twist on the typical music video coming out of Hollywood and the like nowadays. It was insightful and mindbending to see some of the stats and figures that she presents her viewer with. My roomie, who worked in the financial ends of the television industry, agreed with many of the figures, and even said that some were actually more than presented in the video. I hope that this video has as huge of an impact upon you as it did upon me! (This video requires iTunes, so you may need to search for it elsewhere if you are not currently running that program. In case you are interested in the lyrics, I have included a link for such.)
VIDEO
LYRICS
VIDEO
LYRICS
Tuesday, October 5, 2004
.: morning revelation :.
I had an incredible revelation this morning at 5:30am. I am who I am based upon the things that I see as being more or less valuable. For instance, if I see friendships as being truly valuable, than I will do everything within my power to surround myself with friends. This in turn makes the public statement to everyone around me (including those involved) that Dave values friendships. This takes on a twist in the sense that if that thing or situation is widely recognized (or at least by those whom I see as being valuable) as an object worthy of high value, than I am able to use that thing or situation to make a value statement about myself. Did you catch that? I can use things, situations, and even people (!), to control what others think about me. Not only that but I can use them to ultimately convince myself of anything that I want to believe about myself... even if it really isn't true.
The step beyond this first thought is the reality that we live with the consequences of the things that we see as being most valuable. If we continue with the "friends" illustration, the consequences can be anything from having little time for other things (because you are caught up in making and keeping friends, which needless to say can be very time consuming) to always having someone to talk to (depending upon how deep you allow your friendships to go - too many deep ones can really impact your time and space). The impact can be either positive or negative, but we live in the context of a collage of results from our values. The things that we value dictate life as we know it, or at least as we experience it (obviously those two factors share a relationship). If television holds a higher value (most likely with regards to a value of entertainment) than, say, exercise or a healthy lifestyle, the results are seen daily in the mirror. If comfort and rest holds a higher value than good grades, you will tend to sleep in rather than exert yourself for a letter grade better than what you are currently earning.
I don't need to draw the lines for you in order to relate this to our relationship with God. If we value time and intimacy with the Father, the things that we value less will remain less of a priority, receiving less of our time and attention, and ultimately our passion and devotion. If we value it, we will make room for it. We do it every day with things that, if push came to shove (I love that phrase), we would have to agree are less important than fellowship with God and others. Our values play a deep role within our lives. They determine our needs, they dictate how we go about pursuing them (even to what degree of passion and determination that we choose to pursue them with), and they speak to our very nature as it is being fostered and made more like Christ.
The next step is up to every one of us; that is to truly determine what our values are. Some remain pretty out in the open for all to see (often more than we would want others to realize about us), but some values will only be discovered by truly listening to our hearts, and considering the conduct of our lives... with no excuses. We do everything we do for a reason - plain and simple. What that reason is is hardwired to your values... hardwired to your desires.
Father, what do I value the most?
The step beyond this first thought is the reality that we live with the consequences of the things that we see as being most valuable. If we continue with the "friends" illustration, the consequences can be anything from having little time for other things (because you are caught up in making and keeping friends, which needless to say can be very time consuming) to always having someone to talk to (depending upon how deep you allow your friendships to go - too many deep ones can really impact your time and space). The impact can be either positive or negative, but we live in the context of a collage of results from our values. The things that we value dictate life as we know it, or at least as we experience it (obviously those two factors share a relationship). If television holds a higher value (most likely with regards to a value of entertainment) than, say, exercise or a healthy lifestyle, the results are seen daily in the mirror. If comfort and rest holds a higher value than good grades, you will tend to sleep in rather than exert yourself for a letter grade better than what you are currently earning.
I don't need to draw the lines for you in order to relate this to our relationship with God. If we value time and intimacy with the Father, the things that we value less will remain less of a priority, receiving less of our time and attention, and ultimately our passion and devotion. If we value it, we will make room for it. We do it every day with things that, if push came to shove (I love that phrase), we would have to agree are less important than fellowship with God and others. Our values play a deep role within our lives. They determine our needs, they dictate how we go about pursuing them (even to what degree of passion and determination that we choose to pursue them with), and they speak to our very nature as it is being fostered and made more like Christ.
The next step is up to every one of us; that is to truly determine what our values are. Some remain pretty out in the open for all to see (often more than we would want others to realize about us), but some values will only be discovered by truly listening to our hearts, and considering the conduct of our lives... with no excuses. We do everything we do for a reason - plain and simple. What that reason is is hardwired to your values... hardwired to your desires.
Father, what do I value the most?
Sunday, October 3, 2004
.: a new found pleasure :.
Having been inspired by our friend, Jason Nelson, my good buddy Mark and I left church this morning and ran out into the countryside with our digital cameras on the prowl for some beautiful images to captured. We ran up Little Mountain (which unfortunately was closed), drove around the backside to Big Lake, continued on over to Highway 9, proceeded up Francis Road all the way over and around to Bakerview Park, and finally concluded our time back at the church and my parent's house. We got some gorgeous snapshots, thanks to the nice weather and some creativity. And like any great hunter would do, I have included one of my finer catches of the day as a means of bragging for my realized skills. (Hopefully in the near future, I will be able to share more photos for your viewing pleasure.)
TREE WITH BLUE SKY.JPG
TREE WITH BLUE SKY.JPG
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