Saturday, September 29, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/29/2001 05:13:49 PM | linky <

  "Hinds Feet on High Places" is an amazing book. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest it. I wouldn't want to spoil any of it by posting a selection... I just want you to read it! :D It was the inspiration behind Jars of Clay's 2nd album, "Much Afraid," which was named after the main character of the book. There are a lot of good lessons in its pages... and a lot of encouragement to myself in my current situation, alone and looking heavenward.

I have never been apart from Thom for so long before, and not in a long-distance-relationship-college sense before. It's a growing experience for me, and I know it is necessary, to help me fully rely on God and God alone, without any other source of comfort within reach. Thom and I have an incredible relationship, and it is still hard to put it on "pause," but it's been a time of growth so far... and I know that's needed if we plan to pursue the relationship to completion (i.e. marriage). "Hinds Feet on High Places" has a lot of sections where the heroine has to deal with similar situations and the sacrificing of her will for God's will and His glory, and for her own learning experience.

So basically, this is a book plug. :)

From amazon.com: "There are no obstacles which our Savior's love cannot overcome. The High Places of victory and union with Christ can be reached by learning to accept, day by day, the actual conditions and tests permitted by God.The lessons of accepting and triumphing over evil, of becoming acquainted with grief and pain, and of finding them transformed into something incomparably precious. . .these are the lessons of the allegory in this book."

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    Friday, September 28, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/28/2001 02:38:34 PM | linky <

  I've been hearing more and more these days a general confusion about Christianity, especially with the sudden outpouring of spirituality in America. The term "Christian" is so broad, and has been applied to so many different sects and groups (often resulting in a not-so-good stigma attached to the name), that I see a lot of individuals remarking about a "Christianity" which is not even the real thing.

Of all the statements of faith I've seen regarding real Christianity, this one seems to sum it up the best.

(more thoughts on this topic will follow.)

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    Thursday, September 27, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/27/2001 11:35:48 PM | linky <

  I think she responded favorably to the spork. ;)

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 > > > >  court | 9/27/2001 10:05:42 PM | linky <

  Woohoo! Laurel has returned! :D

On to what I wanted to post....

"...His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

"by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

"to knowledge self-control, to self-control perserverance, to perserverance godliness,

"to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

"For if these things are yours and abound, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."--2 Peter 1: 3-8

We were discussing this at the college Bible study this last Tuesday, and discussing whether the points mentioned in these verses are guidelines to aspire to and add on to as you reach each one, or just attributes to gain in yourself. It was mentioned that knowledge is worthless without faith and virtue ("moral excellence"), as it is hard to absorb a good sermon or teaching without the faith and attitude to back it up and give it something to rest on. The rest likewise - to fully understand one, you need the grounding of the one "below" it.

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 > > > >  laurel | 9/27/2001 09:25:58 PM | linky <

  Ok, my dad is watching some program on evolution right now, and evolution is just so stupid. ANd of course they're showing some wacked out fundementalists that make Christians sound like freaks.

I hate hate hate hate hate hate the THEORY of evolution. and like when did it become fact to teach in school?!

"Bible schmible, that's just been around backed up by history and documented. But evolution oh, now THAT's convincing."

Sorry to sound so sarcastic and biting, but this is one of those subjects that really irks me. Grrarg. People (me not excluded for sure) are SO stupid. And so easily deceived by the lies that the world tells, all that evolution is is a scapegoat for people who want to sound really smart and not have to obey any morals if they don't feel like it. Not to mention the way evolution gets sucked into bunches of other things. How, when did evolution become the "cool popular" view? because of Stephen Hawking? Uck. i have to go do something else now. I'm very very angry. which is of course, the best way to react to things like this. :P

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    Wednesday, September 26, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/26/2001 01:35:25 AM | linky <

  Found on ladydusk: "And, finally, I've added In the Light. I had considered linking here previously, but they had almost no new posts for a couple of months. That seems to have changed."

Eh heh. Uhm, yes. Sorry. 'Twas quite dead for awhile, wasn't it? I was busy finishing up a degree, and no one (aHEM) else (aHEM) was (aHEM) posting... so this site kind of languished. But I have firmly prodded the other "contributors" with a plastic spork, and they should be posting again.... right guys? (aHEM)

I hope to be back for good now. :D

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    Monday, September 24, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/24/2001 11:43:53 PM | linky <

  I'm feeling challenged to really live my life for God... to openly reveal my relationship with Him in each and every thing I do... His "stamp" should be evident in my actions and pursuits. Those who cross my path should notice the evidence in my behavior, in my manner, in what I choose and choose not to do. I feel as if I haven't been doing that well enough - I don't blatanly seem non-godly, but I don't "ooze" God. OK, "ooze" not the best word... :) You know what I mean... I have been "stagnant." And I'm going to change that.

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 > > > >  court | 9/24/2001 01:01:08 AM | linky <

  Redesign... yay! :D

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    Friday, September 21, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/21/2001 02:34:52 PM | linky <

  You know, I have often wondered what America's role in the end times is going to be. At my college bible study last week we discussed possible routes for the US to take in the days of Revelation. One guy brought up the fact that America is often referred to as an "eagle," and that we have long been protectors of Israel, but since Israel must stand on its own at the end, something must make us stop that support.

And then there's this verse:

"But the woman (God's chosen people) was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent." -- Revelation 12:14

So, I don't know what to make of that, but it is an interesting thought.

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    Thursday, September 20, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/20/2001 11:35:52 PM | linky <

  I thought this was pretty funny... :D

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    Wednesday, September 19, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/19/2001 06:58:29 PM | linky <

  "Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer ... if My people who are called My people will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7: 12a, 14

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    Tuesday, September 18, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/18/2001 06:45:32 PM | linky <

  Here's a link to what happens in a draft, if you're curious.... o_o

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    Saturday, September 15, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/15/2001 12:01:43 AM | linky <

  (Support freedom) moved to the column on the left.

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    Friday, September 14, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/14/2001 10:27:26 PM | linky <

  Now as He sat ... the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us ... what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one decieves you. For many will come in My name, saying 'I am the Christ,' and will decieve many.

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

"All these are the beginning of sorrows. ... And many will be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and decieve many.

"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

"But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. ... Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."

--Matthew 24:3-8, 10-14, 36, 42

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 > > > >  court | 9/14/2001 08:14:05 PM | linky <

  Adding: I have never liked TV evangelists, just to clarify. ;)

National day of Prayer (yesterday)

Disturbing comparison of the NY skyline before and after (via brownpau)

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 > > > >  court | 9/14/2001 08:11:35 PM | linky <

  Read an article that was both slightly encouraging and disturbing today.

Slightly encouraging:

"... in a moment of searing national anguish, the country's deep religious faith is an asset to be built upon, and criticizing our leaders' use of God in behalf of healing is a sad mistake."

Disturbing: (following the comments of TV evangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson that liberals in America were responsible for the terrorist attacks)

President Bush gave the best speech of his life at National Cathedral as well. It was warm and moving and yes, grounded in his faith that God will comfort those who mourn and help make sense of what seems senseless. "God's signs are not always the ones we look for," he said early. "We learn in tragedy that his purposes are not always our own, yet the prayers of private suffering, whether in our homes or in this great cathedral, are known and heard and understood." He talked about God, not Jesus. (emphasis mine) The religious thoughts may have gone on about a minute too long. But Bush looked calm and secure and reassuring, and finally, presidential.

Sitting there listening to Bush, I knew that to nonbelievers, what he was saying might sound nonsensical, that it might not be comforting; it might even be disturbing. I knew some heard "Jesus" every time he said "God," and that's understandable, given Bush's ties to zealots like Falwell. (emphasis mine)

Since when does "Jesus" = "hateful zealot?" Since when has Jesus been separate from God with regards to Christianity? I beg of you... if you feel a sense of agreement with regards to the above quotes from the article I read... PLEASE, go to the source, the writings about Jesus, the New Testament, to find out EXACTLY what He taught and what He stood for. That is the only way to know... not to listen to some moron babbling away about what he thinks Jesus stands for. If you read the N.T. accounts of Jesus, you'll see He was all about love and forgiveness... over and over again in the Gospels the theme of Unconditional Love, grace, and redemption rings forth.

That being said, I am so incredibly encouraged to hear, over and over again on all the major news networks, things like "God bless America" and "God bless you" ... in times like these, there's only one place to look for assurance.. and that's to Him.

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    Thursday, September 13, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/13/2001 10:03:19 PM | linky <

  Read Psalm 42.. and pray.

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    Monday, September 10, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/10/2001 10:36:57 PM | linky <

  someone from "cortland.edu" has been searching for my name, and I'm dying of curiosity as to who is looking for me. I do realize there are a lot of people out there who share my label (evidenced by searching my name on google.com)... but the slight chance that it's someone I know has me intrigued.

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved bretheren, your election by God." -- 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

Just wanna give a shout out to all those other bloggers who have made it a point to make known their faith in Christ, and have not been ashamed of the gospel. Too often we as Christians hide out of fear of ridicule or persecution.... I want to say thanks to everyone who continues to speak the Truth! :D (see sidebar to the left for some such blogs!)

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    Sunday, September 09, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/9/2001 05:06:15 PM | linky <

  Fixed some spelling errors in the most recent verse. Stpuid tpoys. ;)

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    Saturday, September 08, 2001

 > > > >  court | 9/8/2001 10:10:16 PM | linky <

 
Thom could use some prayer; he is experiencing a stretching and growth of his faith. As he wrote to me:

"I am on the potter's wheel... reckoning with God, and with my spirit. I consider it all joy. Read James chapter 1. I am not undergoing an outward struggle (a trial coming from an attack from the outside) per se, but an inward tempering of my spirit. God is forming me."

He's off at college (I'm glad it's a Christian college!) and dealing with some of these issues for the first time.

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 > > > >  court | 9/8/2001 09:00:08 PM | linky <

  Updated the ages on the sidebar there, which I realized were a bit out of date... :D

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 > > > >  court | 9/8/2001 08:57:18 PM | linky <

  "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these shall we be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." --1 Timothy 6:6-11

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