Help help I'm under attack
You've broken my back
With a seat full of tacks
I jumped so high
I got bent out of shape
Only to write to you
Until it was late
Pizza tonight
Was delicious, yes great!
I made it you know
And ate eight
Extrovert extrovert
I am at home
Wish I was with you
Or out on a date
MMMmmm dates
Tasty like dried grapes
I should do filing
I should plan parties
I should be cleaning
I should start strumming
I should go biking
Tomorrow before
Nathan and Lauren's
Why am I antsy
Why don't I fancy
Calling or moving
Or ladybug shooting
When I start poeming
It quickly becomes
Nonsense surprises
I've never thought
It's so refreshing
Altogether something
But I am fading
And elongating
This post would be
[Dumb]
Friday, July 28, 2006
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Delight Of My Heart
So God you just made me bounce up and down on my exercize ball and smile uncontrollably. And I have another thank you to add to a long recent list.
Thanks for letting me see and recognize another way you speak to me.
Here let me throw at least a couple of the list makers on here.
Thanks for being sneaky. I just watched Spy Game with my family courtesy Chasey and enjoyed it. You are much sneakier.
Thanks for having your daughter question me. Thanks for delaying building materials and giving me time off work to pray, and listen, and hear from your children, and rest. Thanks for your prayers Jesus. They have been answered over and over again in my life and both your prayer and your answer are dearly precious to me.
Thanks for unity. It is a gift that is of sweetness. It makes me think of your book of Proverbs. How wonderful a Godly wife. How terrible a contentious one.
Thanks for Mike. As he says, he is just one. So am I.
Proverbs 17:17, which apparently we have imprinted on a mug, but I memorized it before I knew that.
A friend is born, as is a brother, for times of adversity.
Why? What must the friend do in those times?
He must love.
He must lay his own life down.
Love endures long and is patient and kind.
Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy,
is not boastful or vainglorious,
does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited, arrogant and inflated with pride
It is not rude, unmannerly, and does not act unbecomingly
Love, God's love in us, does not insist on its own rights or its own way
for it is not self-seeking, it is not touchy or fretful or resentful
it takes no account of the evil done to it
it pays no attention to a suffered wrong
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness
but rejoices when right and truth prevail
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes,
is ever ready to believe the best of every person
its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances
and it endures everything without weakening
Love never fails, never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end
and I love you when I obey you.
Thanks for people coming to Mom & Dad's anniversary party. Good thing you're keeping things moving along even when I am not...
Thanks for your grace. It is unfailing. That is amazing.
Thanks for reminding me to call Andy.
Thanks for a really good day.
Now it is over.
And I still haven't showered!
See what happens when tacos are ready and tempting immediately upon getting home?
No you can't see?
Well you can go look at Cyler's birthday pictures and imagine a similar expression on my face at such a predicament:
Lertastic
Goodnight
Thanks for letting me see and recognize another way you speak to me.
Here let me throw at least a couple of the list makers on here.
Thanks for being sneaky. I just watched Spy Game with my family courtesy Chasey and enjoyed it. You are much sneakier.
Thanks for having your daughter question me. Thanks for delaying building materials and giving me time off work to pray, and listen, and hear from your children, and rest. Thanks for your prayers Jesus. They have been answered over and over again in my life and both your prayer and your answer are dearly precious to me.
Thanks for unity. It is a gift that is of sweetness. It makes me think of your book of Proverbs. How wonderful a Godly wife. How terrible a contentious one.
Thanks for Mike. As he says, he is just one. So am I.
Proverbs 17:17, which apparently we have imprinted on a mug, but I memorized it before I knew that.
A friend is born, as is a brother, for times of adversity.
Why? What must the friend do in those times?
He must love.
He must lay his own life down.
Love endures long and is patient and kind.
Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy,
is not boastful or vainglorious,
does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited, arrogant and inflated with pride
It is not rude, unmannerly, and does not act unbecomingly
Love, God's love in us, does not insist on its own rights or its own way
for it is not self-seeking, it is not touchy or fretful or resentful
it takes no account of the evil done to it
it pays no attention to a suffered wrong
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness
but rejoices when right and truth prevail
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes,
is ever ready to believe the best of every person
its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances
and it endures everything without weakening
Love never fails, never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end
and I love you when I obey you.
Thanks for people coming to Mom & Dad's anniversary party. Good thing you're keeping things moving along even when I am not...
Thanks for your grace. It is unfailing. That is amazing.
Thanks for reminding me to call Andy.
Thanks for a really good day.
Now it is over.
And I still haven't showered!
See what happens when tacos are ready and tempting immediately upon getting home?
No you can't see?
Well you can go look at Cyler's birthday pictures and imagine a similar expression on my face at such a predicament:
Lertastic
Goodnight
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Rare Romantic Disposition
Disapprovingly Accused Of Dropping Off The World
I really liked how that sentence rolls on the tongue so it can be the second title. Editors remember that it can't have rolled off your tongue unless you actually said it out loud.
Yes I was. I got the call Monday night and was hence late (right...) for home church. We hadn't talked in two weeks, hence the comment.
So Wednesday was a go. Wednesday is over now and I thought I'd let you know how it did go.
I cooked up some delicious Mango Chicken Stir Fry which we had in lettuce wraps. I was pleasantly surprised. Usually I'm not a big fan of ginger or large amounts of soya sauce based stir frys. The large amount of mint leaves combined with the citrus of the fresh orange juice and mango mixed perfectly and I absolutely loved it. It tasted like something you'd have to have spent a year searching for a good restaurant to eat. And it only cost $10, rather than $10/person, or much worse.
Lauren was down with the sickness so we did not go out but stayed in and hung out. All very laid back. I had done the dishes upon arriving so Lauren and Nadine did them after supper. Not terribly exciting for Lauren who does them all the time, such as before supper with me, minus when I kicked her out to give a tour of their house. But she hasn't seen Nadine in a long time and Nadine is a first born so her drive to do was fulfilled.
Nathan showed me the features of his new movie camera - quite impressive. We chatted for awhile, had tea and cookies and watched a pair of Family Guy episodes. I'm always iffy about Family Guy episodes. I suppose it's alright since I find the ADD, allusion and bizzarre jokes funny and still get offended by the crudity.
Anyways, outside Nadine wanted to talk. No no no, not Airdrie Mall Eviction talking, actual conversing. There's been none of that since I was 17.
It was a record breakingly short walk & talk. We only had to pass four houses before turning around.
She just wanted to make sure that it was OK that we were only friends. She thinks I'm a fabulous person to hang out with and doesn't want to change that but.
Now you think I'm all disappointed don't you. Wrong. I have been ever so laid back about this from the start. It was so very peacefully satisfying that the need to talk was about that vs, so what's going on between us - you need to clarify.
So what's wrong with me?
How will my poor parents ever have grandchildren at this rate?
I guess I must have a problem.
It's not that I don't have romance on my mind. It's not that it's not important to me. It's simply under control. Not a crippling restraint.
I have surpassed the need for dating. I remember it. I remember very clearly walking along with Jason, probably grade 10, and telling him, "you know what we need? Girls."
Maybe it's because I've given romance so much thought. Maybe it's because I know that it's a simple fact that it won't work out romantically with at least 9/10 girls. It makes it easy to see girls as treasures and sisters first. Later on sure I'll wonder if I could date them. But it's so much easier to see that it won't work and not worry about forcing it. Why? Why expend the effort on a disaster?
Dating is taxing.
It's difficult enough even dreaming up things to do with friends, almost painful sometimes. I remember dating. You have to do it all the time. No of course that's not what dating is all about. No of course that particular pressure wouldn't stop me from dating someone.
It just seems mysterious why some people are such eager gluttons for punishment.
So what is it?
I don't know. I just know I'm very laid back about the whole thing. If you happen upon someone attractively interesting. Hang out. Get to know them. If they're still fabulous, be friends a long while. After that long while I can usually tell if romance could ever survive and thrive. Now if life timing suits and God is keen, then go after it.
I feel genuinely sorry for people older than I am who have that pressure against them.
Still, I realize that my life is just forming, and I don't mind at all the notion of learning how to live without romance so that I can clearly live well with it.
Which brings me to my present pre-occupation. I'm looking for a house, with my house-church, so that we can become more literal. And then I've got a year, all to begin learning about a disciplined life, together. The company's great. I've got no complaints about convenience left. It's going to be good.
Love endures long and is patient.
I really liked how that sentence rolls on the tongue so it can be the second title. Editors remember that it can't have rolled off your tongue unless you actually said it out loud.
Yes I was. I got the call Monday night and was hence late (right...) for home church. We hadn't talked in two weeks, hence the comment.
So Wednesday was a go. Wednesday is over now and I thought I'd let you know how it did go.
I cooked up some delicious Mango Chicken Stir Fry which we had in lettuce wraps. I was pleasantly surprised. Usually I'm not a big fan of ginger or large amounts of soya sauce based stir frys. The large amount of mint leaves combined with the citrus of the fresh orange juice and mango mixed perfectly and I absolutely loved it. It tasted like something you'd have to have spent a year searching for a good restaurant to eat. And it only cost $10, rather than $10/person, or much worse.
Lauren was down with the sickness so we did not go out but stayed in and hung out. All very laid back. I had done the dishes upon arriving so Lauren and Nadine did them after supper. Not terribly exciting for Lauren who does them all the time, such as before supper with me, minus when I kicked her out to give a tour of their house. But she hasn't seen Nadine in a long time and Nadine is a first born so her drive to do was fulfilled.
Nathan showed me the features of his new movie camera - quite impressive. We chatted for awhile, had tea and cookies and watched a pair of Family Guy episodes. I'm always iffy about Family Guy episodes. I suppose it's alright since I find the ADD, allusion and bizzarre jokes funny and still get offended by the crudity.
Anyways, outside Nadine wanted to talk. No no no, not Airdrie Mall Eviction talking, actual conversing. There's been none of that since I was 17.
It was a record breakingly short walk & talk. We only had to pass four houses before turning around.
She just wanted to make sure that it was OK that we were only friends. She thinks I'm a fabulous person to hang out with and doesn't want to change that but.
Now you think I'm all disappointed don't you. Wrong. I have been ever so laid back about this from the start. It was so very peacefully satisfying that the need to talk was about that vs, so what's going on between us - you need to clarify.
So what's wrong with me?
How will my poor parents ever have grandchildren at this rate?
I guess I must have a problem.
It's not that I don't have romance on my mind. It's not that it's not important to me. It's simply under control. Not a crippling restraint.
I have surpassed the need for dating. I remember it. I remember very clearly walking along with Jason, probably grade 10, and telling him, "you know what we need? Girls."
Maybe it's because I've given romance so much thought. Maybe it's because I know that it's a simple fact that it won't work out romantically with at least 9/10 girls. It makes it easy to see girls as treasures and sisters first. Later on sure I'll wonder if I could date them. But it's so much easier to see that it won't work and not worry about forcing it. Why? Why expend the effort on a disaster?
Dating is taxing.
It's difficult enough even dreaming up things to do with friends, almost painful sometimes. I remember dating. You have to do it all the time. No of course that's not what dating is all about. No of course that particular pressure wouldn't stop me from dating someone.
It just seems mysterious why some people are such eager gluttons for punishment.
So what is it?
I don't know. I just know I'm very laid back about the whole thing. If you happen upon someone attractively interesting. Hang out. Get to know them. If they're still fabulous, be friends a long while. After that long while I can usually tell if romance could ever survive and thrive. Now if life timing suits and God is keen, then go after it.
I feel genuinely sorry for people older than I am who have that pressure against them.
Still, I realize that my life is just forming, and I don't mind at all the notion of learning how to live without romance so that I can clearly live well with it.
Which brings me to my present pre-occupation. I'm looking for a house, with my house-church, so that we can become more literal. And then I've got a year, all to begin learning about a disciplined life, together. The company's great. I've got no complaints about convenience left. It's going to be good.
Love endures long and is patient.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
My Cardio's Infinite
Actually I'm not Will Smith so I'll be enrolling at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks this fall. The early bird deadline is August 23, so you could think about doing the same and decide before then.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the Funk Intro class on Thursday night from 7:30-9. It's $275 for 18 weeks of 1.5 hour lessons.
Of course you all know me, and how my interests flitter back and forth. If I'm living closer to central or west Calgary then I'll be tempted to take up rock climbing. Or maybe music will take off and I'll become obsessed with it at the expense of all other hobbies.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the Funk Intro class on Thursday night from 7:30-9. It's $275 for 18 weeks of 1.5 hour lessons.
Of course you all know me, and how my interests flitter back and forth. If I'm living closer to central or west Calgary then I'll be tempted to take up rock climbing. Or maybe music will take off and I'll become obsessed with it at the expense of all other hobbies.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
To Be Missed
So this post is all for RJ who is missing friends and wanting updates of life in Calgary.
Well RJ, at Converge last week, Chad and Adam Loz sang and played some worship songs and we got to sing along to God too. And we got to have communion. I had communion with Jason who I hadn't seen in quite a while. Then we got to pray for Marty & Kari, and Adam Hughes. I prayed Colossians passages over both of them.
I had hung out with Chasey that day and took it easy since I was feeling sick.
I bought the Rik Leaf CD and put bread on his table Saturday night.
Monday was the UM gathering at the girls' house. You got my email followup which I wrote on Tuesday night I presume. It was a good time of sharing and praying together.
Tuesday night I did chores and wrote for a while and did some reflecting.
Wednesday night I did chores and wrote a letter to the Vice President of HSBC to sort out that whole stupid thing.
Thursday night I downloaded a lot of mp3s and generally checked out bands from my HM Magazine - I haven't yet burned the mp3s into a CD sampler yet because I think the CDRW stopped working on this computer too. Basically it should die any minute now from being over a decade.
Then I still was feeling offish because I missed you so I made myself chocolate pudding, and ate some, and had a coke poured into a glass with a great deal of ice. Then I started reading a fiction novel that I bought 2 years ago but never read because I forgot I even had it since I had loaned it to my Dad. Then I went to bed at 1:30 AM and felt very satisfied for having done something enjoyable.
Today I went to the Stampede with Andy and Cyler. We looked at the photo exhibit (my favourite part of the Stampede) and went to the Our Lady Peace concert (which wasn't fabulous) and then we watched the fireworks. We also played the progressive alphabet game with name/spouse/location/job around in a circle along with Andrea,Hayley, and darnit, I had it a minute ago. Anyway, 3 of Melissa's friends.
Singing in the car with Andy is fun.
Today I found out that I can actually apply for a mortgage and will be pre-approved for more than I did 2 years ago.
Jamie is to present the idea/possibilities of buying a house in a week.
We had a freak downpour at work the other day - it was some intense rain, then some hail, then some more intense rain. It didn't hit Calgary but it was fun.
Pirates 2 is a great movie. Nacho Libre was quaint.
I bought Harvest Moon Tix tonight.
Are you enjoying your CDs I made you?
Did you see a Tiger?
I have been faithfully praying that written prayer each night. I am more determined than ever to pray it each night because I know you have it now too, and so I can pray for you with yet another connection and think about how You are starting your day when I end mine and we just keep trading, like sandals, like travelling roles.
Faye is having an awesome time in Israel and is nowhere near anything dangerous.
Love ya. God bless.
Well RJ, at Converge last week, Chad and Adam Loz sang and played some worship songs and we got to sing along to God too. And we got to have communion. I had communion with Jason who I hadn't seen in quite a while. Then we got to pray for Marty & Kari, and Adam Hughes. I prayed Colossians passages over both of them.
I had hung out with Chasey that day and took it easy since I was feeling sick.
I bought the Rik Leaf CD and put bread on his table Saturday night.
Monday was the UM gathering at the girls' house. You got my email followup which I wrote on Tuesday night I presume. It was a good time of sharing and praying together.
Tuesday night I did chores and wrote for a while and did some reflecting.
Wednesday night I did chores and wrote a letter to the Vice President of HSBC to sort out that whole stupid thing.
Thursday night I downloaded a lot of mp3s and generally checked out bands from my HM Magazine - I haven't yet burned the mp3s into a CD sampler yet because I think the CDRW stopped working on this computer too. Basically it should die any minute now from being over a decade.
Then I still was feeling offish because I missed you so I made myself chocolate pudding, and ate some, and had a coke poured into a glass with a great deal of ice. Then I started reading a fiction novel that I bought 2 years ago but never read because I forgot I even had it since I had loaned it to my Dad. Then I went to bed at 1:30 AM and felt very satisfied for having done something enjoyable.
Today I went to the Stampede with Andy and Cyler. We looked at the photo exhibit (my favourite part of the Stampede) and went to the Our Lady Peace concert (which wasn't fabulous) and then we watched the fireworks. We also played the progressive alphabet game with name/spouse/location/job around in a circle along with Andrea,Hayley, and darnit, I had it a minute ago. Anyway, 3 of Melissa's friends.
Singing in the car with Andy is fun.
Today I found out that I can actually apply for a mortgage and will be pre-approved for more than I did 2 years ago.
Jamie is to present the idea/possibilities of buying a house in a week.
We had a freak downpour at work the other day - it was some intense rain, then some hail, then some more intense rain. It didn't hit Calgary but it was fun.
Pirates 2 is a great movie. Nacho Libre was quaint.
I bought Harvest Moon Tix tonight.
Are you enjoying your CDs I made you?
Did you see a Tiger?
I have been faithfully praying that written prayer each night. I am more determined than ever to pray it each night because I know you have it now too, and so I can pray for you with yet another connection and think about how You are starting your day when I end mine and we just keep trading, like sandals, like travelling roles.
Faye is having an awesome time in Israel and is nowhere near anything dangerous.
Love ya. God bless.
Tomorrow - Hang Out Here
Saturday July 15 you can come over and hang out and watch the Violet Burning DVD if you so wish. You can all thank Jason for actually calling me and saying, "so... you have a Violet Burning DVD huh?"
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Sick, Throatless, Sitting, Very Much Enjoying
Last night I went down to St. Paul's where Andrea "matchless" Matchullis and Rik Leaf were playing. I think Dave coined the matchless moniker and it made me smile. Andrea played, and you couldn't even tell she wishes for much more. Perhaps it was her dream about losing her arm and not even noticing until she gradually realized all it means. Better to use it and be thankful than to curse what it is not yet. Listening to Andrea is always pleasant. She went to Grant MacEwan for Vocal Performance and it shows strong. She played 'oldies' and it was odd to realize I've heard her play half a dozen times and recognized and guessed songs she talked about briefly before playing.
And thanks God for the evening starting an hour late, and thus I was not late but early. Bless the people at Americano Pizza that unimpressed me last night.
Rik Leaf played and he was sick. All that really means was that I gave him a Fisherman's Friend - it certainly didn't diminish the performance from our perspective. I got to see him play just over a year ago at Sherry McConnel's birthday bash. He's a very gifted, practiced musician and a wonderful, clever, performer.
My enjoyment was almost defined by the smiles I could see around the room on other people's faces. How could you not love the evening? All the stories and personality with fantastic music.
God bless him and his family.
So there's some World Cup today, and Converge tonight, and sunshine and water inbetweenst.
No Sam Roberts I decided but ah well, you can't have fun all the time. My back is very sore. It could have been from lifting a 17' high wall by sheer brute strength on Friday - one of the craziest things we've ever done but it worked out alright.
Well there you go, a typical post, haven't seen one of those for awhile here now have you?
And thanks God for the evening starting an hour late, and thus I was not late but early. Bless the people at Americano Pizza that unimpressed me last night.
Rik Leaf played and he was sick. All that really means was that I gave him a Fisherman's Friend - it certainly didn't diminish the performance from our perspective. I got to see him play just over a year ago at Sherry McConnel's birthday bash. He's a very gifted, practiced musician and a wonderful, clever, performer.
My enjoyment was almost defined by the smiles I could see around the room on other people's faces. How could you not love the evening? All the stories and personality with fantastic music.
God bless him and his family.
So there's some World Cup today, and Converge tonight, and sunshine and water inbetweenst.
No Sam Roberts I decided but ah well, you can't have fun all the time. My back is very sore. It could have been from lifting a 17' high wall by sheer brute strength on Friday - one of the craziest things we've ever done but it worked out alright.
Well there you go, a typical post, haven't seen one of those for awhile here now have you?
Buy 2 Get 1 Free
Offer #1 is the exciting chance to spend money on band merch including T-Shirts and CDs from the ever-popular Zambooie vendor. Less money can be spent on shipping with a collaborative order and now is your chance to save! Just go to Zambooie.com and tell me which items you want and ensure you actually have enough money for said items and you'll be on your way. If you mistakenly think you don't need anything right now, let me tell you that House Of Heroes and Brandtson both have CDs for $10 and Mute Math's album is only available there.
Offer #2 is a quaint little excursion North for some live music September 8-10. The annual Harvest Moon Festival in Edmonton should be a lot of fun. Not to mention: What better way to say I love you than by making a friend go on a road trip - besides giving them a spatula? They have some really good bands lined up this year. You can check out all the details at http://www.harvestmoonfestival.com
The idea here is to get the group rate with ten or more people. Now we already missed the early bird deadline - except that they extended it to July 14! So you need to talk to me pronto as I would much prefer to only pay $33 each for tix.
Offer #3 is the chance to come to the lush gardens located fancily enough, right here in Whitehorn, right behind my house, for some quiet, peaceful, entirely relaxing, soulful you might even say, rambunctious jumping on a trampoline. Yes it has returned, and though it's only 12', it will still do the job of getting you suspended off the ground. Or you could all call me on the very same day and say Nolan, when are we finally going to get to see that Violet Burning DVD you once talked about, and I could say, well I haven't even watched it yet even though I bought it... when was that April? Why we should watch it right now. Then I would even pop you popcorn for the event, or give you carrots if you'd prefer.
All offers may be extended to friends.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Explanation & First Clues
So I have been meditating on 1 Corinthians 7 and 13 for a couple weeks now. I shared these posted passages with Nick in his birthday card but after reading Lauren's 'return to blogging' post I decided to share them here.
The crazy part in all of this are the verses surrounding the quoted ones. Paul writes, and answers their questions. What should you do with yourself now that you're a Christian? You should continue with whatever you were doing before you were a Christian.
So for example, if I was a carpenter before, then I should keep on being a carpenter now. The change Paul talks about is not quitting your job and going and becoming a super apostle travelling about on missionary journeys. The change is in how you work; why you work. Don't work because you're worried about the clothes you want to buy. Don't work worrying about how much it will cost to go to your favourite restaurant.
Don't become attached to the things of this world. What are things of this world? What are pagans worried about?
So hard to answer that question because the church I see here is worried about the same things as the pagans.
But there is a treasure written here. There is a freedom, an abundant life, a joy, and a peace to be found here. A mystery hidden since the creation of the world. And I am excited.
So I won't worry about defining what is pagan. I want to start with the Kingdom of God. With living for God. With desiring to please him.
So at work for example, I'm pretty sure cursing pieces of wood who are not co-operating with my will - not such a hotness attractor for Jesus.
Or far worse, being prideful in my work. Doubting other people's work. Viewing others as less than myself rather than more.
And what about all the other time not at work?
Because work is good. Paul also wrote about that. Don't be lazy, work. Sure it's a drag sometimes, especially since it's not as much fun as naming [or photographing] animals and trees, and tending [or writing songs about] gardens with no weeds, pestilence, or drought.
But Hope, which is eternal, is being sure of our salvation. Sure that this life and this world are temporary and will all pass away. Sure that heaven is a wonderful place, and our place has been secured there by Jesus.
And what about all the other time not at work?
The Kingdom of God.
My primary concern.
With what desire shall I make it my concern dear Jesus dear Jesus?
Love mercy?
Love is a big word. I've been reading about it for weeks and it's much bigger than my love. Don't despair though because it is God's love in me that I need.
God is love.
The Holy Spirit lives within me.
In 1 Corinthians 14, I'm told I should desire spiritual gifts. Most of them all, I should desire prophecy.
So many clues to this mystery. So many. But I'll leave you with that one and run along now.
The crazy part in all of this are the verses surrounding the quoted ones. Paul writes, and answers their questions. What should you do with yourself now that you're a Christian? You should continue with whatever you were doing before you were a Christian.
So for example, if I was a carpenter before, then I should keep on being a carpenter now. The change Paul talks about is not quitting your job and going and becoming a super apostle travelling about on missionary journeys. The change is in how you work; why you work. Don't work because you're worried about the clothes you want to buy. Don't work worrying about how much it will cost to go to your favourite restaurant.
Don't become attached to the things of this world. What are things of this world? What are pagans worried about?
So hard to answer that question because the church I see here is worried about the same things as the pagans.
But there is a treasure written here. There is a freedom, an abundant life, a joy, and a peace to be found here. A mystery hidden since the creation of the world. And I am excited.
So I won't worry about defining what is pagan. I want to start with the Kingdom of God. With living for God. With desiring to please him.
So at work for example, I'm pretty sure cursing pieces of wood who are not co-operating with my will - not such a hotness attractor for Jesus.
Or far worse, being prideful in my work. Doubting other people's work. Viewing others as less than myself rather than more.
And what about all the other time not at work?
Because work is good. Paul also wrote about that. Don't be lazy, work. Sure it's a drag sometimes, especially since it's not as much fun as naming [or photographing] animals and trees, and tending [or writing songs about] gardens with no weeds, pestilence, or drought.
But Hope, which is eternal, is being sure of our salvation. Sure that this life and this world are temporary and will all pass away. Sure that heaven is a wonderful place, and our place has been secured there by Jesus.
And what about all the other time not at work?
The Kingdom of God.
My primary concern.
With what desire shall I make it my concern dear Jesus dear Jesus?
Love mercy?
Love is a big word. I've been reading about it for weeks and it's much bigger than my love. Don't despair though because it is God's love in me that I need.
God is love.
The Holy Spirit lives within me.
In 1 Corinthians 14, I'm told I should desire spiritual gifts. Most of them all, I should desire prophecy.
So many clues to this mystery. So many. But I'll leave you with that one and run along now.
Hidden Mystery
1 Corinthians 7
30Happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God's work. 31Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away. 32In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life…
35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
Matthew 6
24"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
28"And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
31"So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
34"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 13:35
This fulfilled the prophecy that said, "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world."
Matthew 13:44
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