Pursuing God

I'm still working on that hermeneutics post, but for now I have something a little simpler. For some reason (I'm neither married nor seeing anyone right now), I was pondering this morning how my relationship with Jesus is a lot like marriage. Paul describes it this way in Ephesians, after all. As I understand it, women want a constant stream of intimacy in a relationship. When a man works hard at intimacy with their partner they feel like their relationship is nearly paradise under normal circumstances. When a man or woman becomes distant from their significant other, it takes time to rebuild the intimacy they have neglected to maintain. God is a lot like that. When we neglect to cultivate our intimacy with Him, we become distant from Him, and it takes time to rebuild the intimacy we neglected. Despite a Godly peace that feels like Paradise, we choose to leave it over and over again.

It is our fallen, sinful nature that makes us think we can ignore our God or our loved ones for any period of time. God does the redeeming of salvation, but it is our choice to sin that drives a wedge inbetween us. We have to pursue God like a man pursues a woman. It is one of the many ways women reflect God's image. They both desire to be pursued.

The National Anthem in Beijing

Does anyone else think that the Start Spangled Banner at this Olympics sounds like something from Walt Disney? When they show the flags waving during the anthem I expect to see Tinkerbell fly up and tap the top of the Flag pole.

Thoughts on Church Growth

Not what I promised, but one sentence summaries of what can be learned from reading each chapter of Rodney Stark's The Rise of Christianity. Some points completely serious, some partially humorous. I'm wired from coffee, but it is too late to think seriously.

1. Given enough time, a few hundred people in an Upper Room can multiply into over half the population of any country.
2. Christianity does have something to offer the middle classes and the wealthy.
3. There's proof that St. Peter was a great evangelist while not being a proficient writer.
   
4. If you take care of the contagiously sick, they'll join your faith after they recover from their illness.
5. Encourage marriage and outlaw any form of birth control if you want your faith to grow! (I think the humor in this line is the primary reason I started typing this out.)
   
6. In the midst of a mess, people have always turned to God.
7. You may need to apologize for rubbing up against so many strangers, but when your hometown is exploding with people, it should be easy to evangelize others.
8. Watching someone die for Jesus gives others the courage to live for Him!
   
9. Evangelism is most affected when done by united Chistians.
10. Many people agree Christianity had more attractive morals than other ancient Roman Empire religions.

I think #5 is by far the best line. And what's good for religions is probably good for whole nations too, but that's diving into politics isn't it?

Next

I know I have not been keeping my promise on Facebook to add more cool stuff more often, but my Thurs. night Bible Study group has compelled me to write a blog on Hermeneutics (biblical interpretation) soon. Look for it!

In the Year Two-Thousand!

I love Conan O'Brien. I don't agree with NBC's decision to "force" Jay Leno to retire, but I do have a soft spot for O'Brien's hilarious, sophmoronic stupidity.

It's been a reoccurring thought of mine the past few days that God is only concerned with our present. This very second and the very next after that to be exact. Whenever we think about the future, it seems impossible for most of us most of the time to stay focused on Jesus Christ as our provider for everything we need. The reason I believe this is so is that thinking of the future isn't consistent with having the faith of a child. Children are never concerned with the Big Picture; only the present. Children trust their parents to take care of their present because they love their parents, and that is what God wants of us, I believe. God wants our trust about the future so that we can focus on job #1; becoming more and more intimate with Jesus.

So when life and the Enemy try to get you down remember that ignoring the future and focusing on the present is as important to your success as treating the present like it is the past is to Conan's TV ratings success.

References

1. Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)
2. My Utmost For His Highest, Aug. 3rd.
3. Matthew 19:13-14
   
4. Table For Two by Caedmon's Call
   

Notes on Vacation

So I'm back from vacation...miss me? I spent 6 days at Virginia Beach with some family. We stayed at a family-owned hotel called the Belvedere Motel next to the Boardwalk and Atlantic Ave. The water was 100 yards away from my room, give or take a little. Great location and quiet at night, too.

I spent a lot of time out on that beach, especially in the morning. Then the sun would rise, dolphins would be near the shore, and the dawn fishermen would be standing on the beach until the sunbathers kicked them out at about 8 am. It was great, as close to a heavenly, peaceful place as I've been for awhile. Besides this, I biked 20 miles on the Boardwalk, saw the Dark Knight in IMax, took a tour of the Oceana Naval Base, and ate at a lot of good places.

I wasn't overly impressed with The Dark Knight in IMAX, but Oceana was really cool. First, there were F-18s taking off and landing when we got there. We got some good pictures of that I can't upload right now. Also, I got to eat in and tour the Officer's Club. Again, no pictures yet. Seeing the jets in "The Petting Zoo," as my retired tour guide called the jet museum, was great as well. You can actually pet any jet between an A-4 and an F-15 Tomcat if you'd like.

I want to take a minute to give a shout out to young lady named Helena and her co-workers at the Sushi Bar and Steakhouse called Mahi-Mah's. The atmosphere, service, and sushi there was excellent. I'd go back to VA Beach just to eat a this place. It's in the Ramada Inn on 7th and Atlantic (I believe that's the address). Sushi starts at $6 and steaks and other entrees range from about $18 to $35. It seemed worth every penny!

Finally, I think I got what I wanted most out of this trip, that being time with Jesus. I have morning devotions and prayer on the beach every morning. In the afternoon I read Tom Oden's Systematic Wesleyan theology. In evening I read even more Scripture. That made the vacation worthwhile! As well, I was really happy about my God supported attitude during the week. Everyone got along really well, actually. I'd recommend Virginia Beach to anyone who wants to have a relaxing time at the beach. As I wrote in my journal on day three, it was one of the best vacations ever.

God DOES work in mysterious ways

So tonight was not the best evening. Not because I was home and alone. That wasn't a bother. I've got plenty planned for the rest of the weekend, and as a Christian what I do on the weekend doesn't decide my happiness anyway. The problem was my Christian contentment virtually vanished around 9:30. Not for any reason I can figured out either.

So I start reading the Christian book I'm into right now. Pray through it at points and after 5-7 pages give up on it. Too tired and my laptop was calling my name. 15 minutes later after reorganizing my bookmarks on Firefox I realize the Joy is back!!! God DOES work in mysterious ways! ;-) Since my Restoration (Micah 7:8-9), I've realized my theology and education in the workings of the Holy Spirit is lacking, but I guess God answered those short prayers I prayed as I was reading.

Now if I could just start doing devotions in the morning instead of only in the evening...Gotta work on that one. As it is right now, I'm most joyful in the evenings and the farthest from God in the mornings. :-( It has nothing to do with work, really! :-)