recklessly dreaming

The Captive Mind - Czeslaw Milosz (the epigraph)

When someone is is 55 oercent right, that’s very good and there’s no wrangling. And if someone is 60 percent right, it’s wonderful, it’s a great luck, and let him thank God. But what’s to be said about 75 percent right? Wise people say that is suspicious. Well, and what about 100 percent right? Whoever says he is 100 percent right is a fanatic, a thug, and the worst kind of rascal.”

(from my journal yesterday)

I sat at the park yesterday finishing a book (Speaking My Mind see left), started a new one ( Searching for God Knows What ) and people watching. I was sitting near a “lake.” Really more like a pond. There was a young family near me - 2 young girls with parents in tow. Kids enjoy “fishing” like no one else I know. It is in quotes because I am sure it doesn’t meet the standards of many anglers. How many times is it physically possible to reel in a line in a minute? They hardly had lines in the water before the youngest had a bite (she was a young two-ish). What a fun scene. There was also a fish in the water directly in front of me. I was sure of this because it kept coming and nipping the surface. After awhile, I thought “I wonder if fish eat cheese.” I am sure this was on your mind also. Yes, in fact they do. It was gone just shortly after it hit the water. Then of course my brain started thinking. Just down the way they were offering food also - it was just on the end of a pointy hook. My cheese had no conditions. In fact I did not see the fish or evidence of it again. So being a minister I headed down the path of pratical application. (It did not help that I had just finished Tony Campolo’s book). How often do we (Christians) offer things to the world with conditions or hooks in them. How often when we reach out as christian ministries or churches, do we put conditions on what it takes for assistance (come to church being a big one)? Have we created an ugly pairing? By doing this have we distorted the image of Jesus. I firmly believe that in a world such as ours - ministry to the immediate needs of individuals opens doors to verbally sharing the gospel (I also believe that it is shared in the actions) - but it being a condition scares the heck out of me.

the end.

For one of my friends - I read these words and heard this saong today and thought of you. We need to spend some time together this week. I know you’ll see this.

I am hurt but I am not slain,
I’ll lay me down and bleed awhile,
And then I’ll rise and fight again.

Poet Sir Andrew Barton

David CrowderAll I Can Say -

Lord I’m tired
So tired from walking
And Lord I’m so alone
And Lord the dark
Is creeping in
Creeping up
To swallow me
I think I’ll stop
Rest here a while

Bridge:
I didn’t notice You were standing here
I didn’t know that
That was You holding me
I didn’t notice You were cry’n too
I didn’t know that
That was You washing my feet

Some days its a Party Shuffle mood, others pick that playlist or album - but tonight it is a one track repeat night.

New from Charlie Hall - available on the Passion 05 - How Great is Our God CD .

Verse 1
I once was fatherless,
a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep

Verse 2
Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come
And take this life, take your life.

Pre-chorus
Sin has lost it’s power,
death has lost it’s sting.
From the grave you’ve risen
VICTORIOUSLY!

Chorus
Into marvelous light I’m running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way

Verse 3
My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I’m free. now I’m free!

Bridge
Lift my hands and spin around,
See the light that i have found.
Oh the marvelous light
Marvelous light

Lift my hands and spin
See the light within…

Nearly 2000 miles later I am back in Kansas.

I have had my fill of Mexican food from the following establishments (some more than once) Rosa’s, Abuleos, and Taco Bueno.

I had Texas BBQ from Joe Allen’s .

I audited Theology of Church Music and spent time with friends, grad students, and co-workers at ACU. I even got to spend time with my colonial kids on Wednesday.