Wondering

Do you ever wonder the same thing I wonder?

If perspicuous means "clear" or "easy to understand" why don't we teach the word in kindergarden?

Why do we make the union of "gh" result in a "f" sound in cough, but no sound in "though?" Why isn't "thouf" a word?

If the speed limit is 70 why would we make cars and motorcycles that can easily more than double that, then write a ticket for doing what the vehicle was designed to do?

There's another one! Why are "write" and "right" pronounced the same?  Following their example shouldn't "canoe" and "candle" be pronounced the same?  They both have some of the same letters!

Note: my questions are facetious (yes, I used spell check since that word is an example of my point) and I am not hoping for an answer to the above questions.

Here's where I'm going - "Christian."

I wonder about that word.  I wonder about what that looks like as compared to what it means.  I wonder why one Christ would change the world forever and a bunch of the followers (literally "little-Christ") would work so hard at being like the world that He changed.

I wonder why prayer is so hard for us to make personal and intimate.

I wonder why the Bible is something that we would avoid.

I wonder how we lost the focus that Christ had - the Kingdom of God.  We are working so hard on improving our kingdom that we don't have time or energy for His.

I wonder how we got the reputation that you're not welcome in church unless you have the right clothes or are free from the wrong habits.

I wonder about why we have taught people that following Jesus is easy and "sacrifice" is what you do to advance a runner in baseball.

I wonder why God loves me.  I wonder how I am going to respond to that love today... even if it's not really perspicuous.

Wondering,

Pastor Dave

I Was Shocked

#1  I was shocked at how rotten it was.  As soon as I saw it I made a decision that something must be done right a way.

In my home office the windows have "window quilts," an insulated material that unrolls over the window forming a pretty tight seal.  I couldn't tell you the last time I pulled the quilt up and looked out the small window behind my chair.

When I heard wind I thought maybe I should.  I was shocked.  The window is falling apart.  I had no idea.  I just never checked.

Please don't feel the need to drop me a line about condensation accumulating over time and the need to let more air get to the window.  The thing is, I just didn't have the need to open that window or look through it.  So it stayed covered.  Because it was covered I really didn't think about it.

#2  I was shocked at how rotten it was.  As soon as I saw it I made a decision that something must be done right a way.

There's a place in my attitudes that I have sealed quite tightly.  I really don't need to deal with it because it's not obvious.  In fact I never let it show.  It hides behind the fabric of religion so effectively that it remains unseen.

In my quiet times I can hear it, but nothing really needs to be done because it's hidden.  If it's hidden and no one knows about it - it's unimportant.

Please don't feel the need to drop me a line and tell me how I should have known better.  I know that rotten attitudes spread and soon the soul is unable to keep the effects of storms or the cold out.  It's covered so I just didn't think about it.

#1  I have replacement windows on order and a contractor to install them.  We'll start with the upstairs this year because it's quite expensive.  It turns out there's a problem with more than one of the old windows.  As we go to a new winter season I'm looking forward to having better windows.

#2  There are replacement attitudes available and I have a Contractor to install them.  It's no easy task to replace attitudes. The Contractor I work with is equally licensed for both demolition and installation.  Turns out He found more than one attitude that needs replacement.  As we go to a new season of growth I'm looking forward to more protection from the elements and a greater level of warmth.  It's a very expensive job, but the Contractor told me He would cover the cost.

It's going to be a warmer winter.

Pastor Dave

 

Former Ding Dong

I finished a reading a book last night, closed it, thought about it, skimmed back through the pages, and proceeded to log it on my reading list. I then realized - I am a ding dong.

As I scrolled through the list of books I’ve read this year I was astounded at the titles I don’t even remember reading.  Most of them I have underlined so I can go back and find quotes I can’t remember, but I was struck by the fact that the content of some of them made no difference.   After I thought about that I went to the “to be read stack” to get the next book to read!

So, I came to the conclusion - I am a ding dong.

Imagine spending time reading so many books and not allowing them to impact me (be careful, you’re being set up). It’s as if I read because it was the right thing to do (you know where I’m going?).   I liked the title, the topic, the author, or it was recommended to me, so I read it. I read them because I can and I enjoy doing it… little impact (hang on).

Here’s the issue, the problem wasn’t the books. I’ve come to the conclusion I am too often a distracted reader (wait for it).  My eyes run over the words like a greased steam-roller while my mind is on the edge thinking on unrelated issues.

Who would repeatedly go through the motions without the heart engaged? (here it is)

Then I thought about my worship, encounters with God that have little impact because of my distraction.   I hurry through time with God like a greased steam-roller while my mind wanders to things… stuff… more interesting?!

Then I thought about the Bible.  Do I read that with hunger?

I thought about my faith.  Distracted?

I wonder why I don’t consider distraction a sin?  I wonder how many diamonds of truth I am missing because my undisciplined mind is busy counting grains of sand?   I wonder if that’s why the author of Hebrews told me to “fix [my] eyes?” (12:2)

I’m going to go back through the books I’ve read this year and spend some time with what was underlined.

I’m going to ignore distraction during my moments with the Lord.

How ‘bout that - I learned from books I didn’t think I learned anything from.

Former Ding Dong,

Pastor Dave