Continued Discontent

I'm trying to fight the malaise at work, but I'm afraid it's a losing battle right now. As I came in from the parking lot I was thinking about how I look so forward to lunch each day. It's certainly not because of the haute cuisine that I pack. I think it's because lunch is the time of day when I can do what I care about and not feel guilty about it.

I spend too much time on SCF email and reading various blogs and news items. I get enough work done, but I know I could do more. I just lack any fire for it these days. I want so much more to be in ministry where I am thinking about how I can help people grow to be more like Jesus. I also would like to spend more time thinking about how I could be more like Him.

I suppose part of that is shutting up and just doing my job like a good solidier. This is definitely a work of grace in my life. I'd better not let up on the prayers.

I realize that this is not the first such post I've written. Sorry for the recurring theme, but I guess that's what journaling is all about.

On Materialism and Persecution

Take 10 minutes to listen to this. It is brilliant.

I know that I have thought many of these same thoughts, but this is articulated wonderfully.

Getting Greek

I think that it is finally starting to click a little bit. We're doing Colossians in my small group and this week we're going to do Col 1:1-14. Lately our church has been doing an inductive study of the Sermon on the Mount. I had a hard time getting into the mechanics of it though. I enjoyed the discussion and I think it was valuable, but connecting the verbs and the objects seemed like tedious busywork.

I am willing to hear arguments that my attitude demonstrates a lack of humility on my part. However, I find that I spend a lot of time thinking about this stuff when I'm in Greek class. I don't think that putting a bunch of pretty colors on the page is going to solve anything for me. What I did instead was make a block diagram of the passage in Greek. I need to take another look at it before we meet tomorrow morning, but I think that this is going to be helpful for me. At the very least it is going to give me some good practice in making diagrams and reading Greek.

It's funny that I can do that but I am having a hard time finishing my reading of 1 Cor 14 that I need to do for class. I really need to get ahead in class as I have a very busy April ahead of me.

He is Risen!

We went to church this morning and got to hear a very clear presentation of the gospel. Unfortunately, our pastor is so aware of those who might be attending church for the first time that he does not say, "He is risen!" on Easter Sunday anymore. I'm not going to leave the church over this, but it does bother me a little bit. I realize that it's not a big deal and it may make someone new to church wonder about what is going on, but I think it's worth it so that those of us who have placed our hope in Christ can enjoy declaring the fact that Christ is risen indeed.

Good Friday

First of all, I want to apologize for not writing in a week. We were in Florida from last Friday-Tuesday and I am just now digging out of that. It was tough to have the long drive home on Tuesday and then class the past two nights. Amanda wasn't crazy about that, but she said that things went as well as they could.

I realize that I am turning into something of a spiritual wimp in an area that I am supposed to be leading. Specifically, I don't fast much anymore. I am carrying on the tradition that Amanda started in 2002 of fasting on every Good Friday. I went into today with a sense of dread. As I go through the day I feel cold, weak, and dizzy.

The funny thing is that I used to fast regularly when I was still doing the eating plan for The Lord's Table. Many of the people who serve under me also fast regularly. I have used the excuse of my exercise routine as the reason why I can't fast more regularly. Frankly, it kind of wipes me out so I don't do it much anymore.

Good Friday is different though. Today is the day when I want to really reflect on what Christ did on the cross. So maybe I am uncomfortable. Have all my friends left me? Nope. Have I been put through several unjust trials? Nope. Have I been beaten and scourged? Nope. Have I had a crown of thorns jammed on my head? Nope. Have I been nailed to a cross? Nope. Have I had to suffer from the loss of an intimiate relationship with God? Nope.

A little hunger is a good reminder, I think. I commend the practice to you.