LOVED the cover of the Oregonian the other day. Thought it should be commemorated on my blog...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
January 20, 2009!
LOVED the cover of the Oregonian the other day. Thought it should be commemorated on my blog...
Monday, January 19, 2009
MLK
"The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"
“Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.”
"I decided early to give my life to something eternal and absolute. Not to these little gods that are here today and gone tomorrow, but to God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Martin Luther King, Jr 1929–1968
“Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.”
"I decided early to give my life to something eternal and absolute. Not to these little gods that are here today and gone tomorrow, but to God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Martin Luther King, Jr 1929–1968
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
safe or brave?
I recently finished a book by Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission. I have since been contemplating one of the questions he proposes. Would you rather be safe or brave? In following God, can we be both? What are we supposed to do when following the will of God is scary?
He mentions a colleague who recalls his journey to give up his career as a lawyer and life in the United States to move to the Philippines and work for justice. The things that held him back were the losses of comfort, security, control, and success. Yet these were the things he was forced to let go of in order to receive the life that Jesus promised. As he did, he said he instead received adventure, faith, miracles, and a deep knowledge of Jesus.
The author says, “Jesus knows I must make a choice for myself. He is inviting all of us on his great, costly expedition of transformation in the world- but we must respond. Are we coming or staying? Jesus is relentlessly issuing the invitation and forcing a choice to action. What are we going to DO? I am much more interested in telling Jesus and others what I BELIEVE, but Jesus (and the watching world) knows that what I truly believe will be manifested in what I choose to DO.”
Today I have been doing much thinking about this question of being safe or brave. It’s easy for me to say I want to be brave. But if that means giving up being safe, that is scary. What does it mean to give up safety? I don’t know if I want to really know that at this point. But day by day, I do choose to trust God. And for me, this is bigger than my fear of being “unsafe.”
As his colleague recognized the things like comfort, security, and control that he would probably lose, I am reminded that I have also known these things well (maybe too well). I like them. They make me comfortable. Sometimes I get upset when I don't have them. But may I be reminded again and again that I would rather have the life that Jesus promises even if it means I lose what I perceive to be "comfort" or "security."
As Jesus tells the young ruler in Matthew, “Come, follow me.”
Lord make me BRAVE because I want to follow You.
He mentions a colleague who recalls his journey to give up his career as a lawyer and life in the United States to move to the Philippines and work for justice. The things that held him back were the losses of comfort, security, control, and success. Yet these were the things he was forced to let go of in order to receive the life that Jesus promised. As he did, he said he instead received adventure, faith, miracles, and a deep knowledge of Jesus.
The author says, “Jesus knows I must make a choice for myself. He is inviting all of us on his great, costly expedition of transformation in the world- but we must respond. Are we coming or staying? Jesus is relentlessly issuing the invitation and forcing a choice to action. What are we going to DO? I am much more interested in telling Jesus and others what I BELIEVE, but Jesus (and the watching world) knows that what I truly believe will be manifested in what I choose to DO.”
Today I have been doing much thinking about this question of being safe or brave. It’s easy for me to say I want to be brave. But if that means giving up being safe, that is scary. What does it mean to give up safety? I don’t know if I want to really know that at this point. But day by day, I do choose to trust God. And for me, this is bigger than my fear of being “unsafe.”
As his colleague recognized the things like comfort, security, and control that he would probably lose, I am reminded that I have also known these things well (maybe too well). I like them. They make me comfortable. Sometimes I get upset when I don't have them. But may I be reminded again and again that I would rather have the life that Jesus promises even if it means I lose what I perceive to be "comfort" or "security."
As Jesus tells the young ruler in Matthew, “Come, follow me.”
Lord make me BRAVE because I want to follow You.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
inspiration to run
I came across this song as I ran this morning.
My new song to ponder...
I have been pondering, but have failed to blog. I'm working on it.
Run
Stoplights, breakdown, we cry, last try
Worlds collide, time to decide
Where you want to go in this great big world
Where you want to go in this great big world
Stuck here too long in this sad song
Lost on a street, everyone has
Vanished and you're all alone
But you don't know where to go
You're all alone
And you want to go home
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Next page, new day, finding my way
Stumble upon the strength to move on
I am not alone in this great big world
And you are not alone in this great big world
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run
Music and lyrics by Travis Lawerence, Jenny Simmons, and Clint Lagerberg of Addison Road
My new song to ponder...
I have been pondering, but have failed to blog. I'm working on it.
Run
Stoplights, breakdown, we cry, last try
Worlds collide, time to decide
Where you want to go in this great big world
Where you want to go in this great big world
Stuck here too long in this sad song
Lost on a street, everyone has
Vanished and you're all alone
But you don't know where to go
You're all alone
And you want to go home
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Next page, new day, finding my way
Stumble upon the strength to move on
I am not alone in this great big world
And you are not alone in this great big world
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run
Music and lyrics by Travis Lawerence, Jenny Simmons, and Clint Lagerberg of Addison Road
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