The 2 pastors are in Guatemala on a missions trip, so the pastor's son preached today. He is most definitely part of the family. He was a bit (read a lot) crazy and a lot like his dad. :-) Which isn't a bad thing, as the sermons at my church are wonderful. He preached on the last 8 verses of Romans 8, which are wonderful verses, btw. And he used a good running analogy. It's not really a new one, but it struck me today, especially as I am trying to get back in shape for a race in 2 weeks and have recently run a 1/2 marathon. But, the spiritual life is like training for a marathon. It is hard, and not really fun, but it is necessary and definitely worth it, because if you don't train, then you will not be prepared for the race. I like thinking of myself as a spiritual marathoner. Also, Sunday school was very good and convicting, not in a "strike you down" sense, but a subtle conviction. We talked about inadequacy, and I realized that there are things that I need to give to God and allow Him to work. I generally just deal with things on my own, and that is not good.
I hung out with a friend yesterday and we went shopping. I blew through my furnishing and clothing budget, but I got some good things, including a nice "pub" table with 2 stools. The table has a white tile top, and it is counter height, which is something I really need, as I have virtually no counter space. If I'm going to cook, I need more counter space, and the table is perfect. The furniture store guy I bought it from was really weird and somewhat inappropriate/creepy, but he seemed harmless.
I also finally got a bigger harness for my cat. If she'll let me get it on right, I might try to take her out this evening. If she knew that the harness meant going out, I think she'd cooperate a bit more. She's been a bit ornery lately, and I think she might be a little bored.
I got a part in 12 Angry Jurors. I am juror #6. It is the hardest part in the play, as the character has very few lines and little to no personality. I think I am going to crochet granny squares to keep me in the play and involved. It will be a challenge, but I am looking forward to it.
My weeks are getting busier, what with play rehearsals and the approach of school. I will really need to get my act together and prepare for everything that's going on with work during August. It will be a busy month. I did finish all of the July to dos, which I'm very glad about. Now, onto August!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Of Coppers and Tractors
I am watching Law and Order UK. I like Law and Order, at least the earlier episodes. I watched a lot of it with my family in high school. It's more procedural, as it focuses on the process of prosecution, so it's not as intense as some of the other shows out there. The UK version is very similar to the US version, but it is culturally different. It's hard for me to accept their use of CCTV, which, from what I gather, is a network of cameras everywhere. Makes it good for catching criminals and tracking people, but it's so Big Brother. I'm not ok with it. It's also weird to get used to the opening lines which substitute "district attorneys" with "crown prosecutors." And I'm not quite sure why they wear those ugly wigs, though I kind of like the robes. Gives it a different feel.
I am auditioning for 12 Angry Jurors tomorrow. My monologue is basically there. I need to practice a bit tonight. I just hope I don't stumble over any lines, as I think I have the emotion down. I hope I get a part, but if I don't, then I will find something else to fill my time.
It is very warm around here. I'm grateful for my air conditioner, but it's basically only good for the bedroom. And, sitting with a warm laptop isn't helping things.
I am adjusting to my job, but I still have a lot to learn. I ask lots of questions. I answered my first reference question over chat today. I'd never used chat reference before, and it was kind of nerve wracking, but I was able to find the answer.
I went to the Henry Ford Museum with a friend. It was a lot of fun. My favorite part was the farm implements. :-) There is this ridiculously awesome tractor that is basically a train engine tractor. Steam powered and HUGE! Was definitely my favorite piece. There was some cool furniture too, which I enjoyed looking at. I haven't been to a museum in a long time, and it was fun.
I should get to bed a bit early, as I was exhausted today.
TTFN
I am auditioning for 12 Angry Jurors tomorrow. My monologue is basically there. I need to practice a bit tonight. I just hope I don't stumble over any lines, as I think I have the emotion down. I hope I get a part, but if I don't, then I will find something else to fill my time.
It is very warm around here. I'm grateful for my air conditioner, but it's basically only good for the bedroom. And, sitting with a warm laptop isn't helping things.
I am adjusting to my job, but I still have a lot to learn. I ask lots of questions. I answered my first reference question over chat today. I'd never used chat reference before, and it was kind of nerve wracking, but I was able to find the answer.
I went to the Henry Ford Museum with a friend. It was a lot of fun. My favorite part was the farm implements. :-) There is this ridiculously awesome tractor that is basically a train engine tractor. Steam powered and HUGE! Was definitely my favorite piece. There was some cool furniture too, which I enjoyed looking at. I haven't been to a museum in a long time, and it was fun.
I should get to bed a bit early, as I was exhausted today.
TTFN
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Updates
Thank goodness for Netflix. I signed up a couple days ago, and then got sick. Blargh. I don't have cable, so it helps pass the time. I have been watching movies and Dr. Who. I just finished season 1, and I am looking forward to season 2, especially as I've been told that David Tennant is awesome as the Doctor. We'll see. I became rather partial to the first Doctor (Christopher Eccleston).
There is a church wide potluck tonight and then watching fireworks. I might try to make it out, but I'm not sure I'll last for the fireworks. I don't like feeling like a blob and having low energy. I want to go out walking and running, but my body says no, though I was able to make the short walk to and from church.
I am now officially a librarian, as the former librarian retired on Thursday. It's a bit stressful, and I am going to need to go in on Tuesday and do some work. We get Monday and Tuesday off for the holiday, which is great, but it also means that we have to work on Labor Day. Any way, since I am still learning the ropes, it takes me a lot longer to do things, and I need to catch up and prepare for some things for Wednesday.
TTFN
There is a church wide potluck tonight and then watching fireworks. I might try to make it out, but I'm not sure I'll last for the fireworks. I don't like feeling like a blob and having low energy. I want to go out walking and running, but my body says no, though I was able to make the short walk to and from church.
I am now officially a librarian, as the former librarian retired on Thursday. It's a bit stressful, and I am going to need to go in on Tuesday and do some work. We get Monday and Tuesday off for the holiday, which is great, but it also means that we have to work on Labor Day. Any way, since I am still learning the ropes, it takes me a lot longer to do things, and I need to catch up and prepare for some things for Wednesday.
TTFN
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Freedom
How does one struggle against one's sinful nature but also experience Christian freedom?
I will never be good enough. No matter how hard I try, I will never be good enough for God. I "knew" this growing up, but I realized that I didn't really understand or believe it. In the past year or 2, I have finally come to an understanding of what this means. And it is freeing. To throw yourself a the mercy of Christ and ask Him to cover everything is a relief. A release from fear. But, we are called to hate our sin and to struggle against our sinful natures. How do we do this without an accompanying guilt and fear? Are these not the motivating factors to strive against our nature? If not these, then what should be our motivation? Love for God should be our motivation, but this is sometimes forgotten or cast aside. It is easier, once the fear and shame and guilt is gone, to do whatever one desires, to use freedom in Christ as an excuse to do what I want.
It is not hard to understand legalism. It's man's way of figuring out faith. We are finite with minimal understanding and finite minds. Legalism helps us make sense, put God and faith in a big religious box. A list of dos and don'ts. But it's not that easy. God doesn't play by our rules. He cannot be contained, and for us to put limits on Him is demeaning and implies that we know better than Him. That we know exactly how this world is supposed to work and how everything is going to be revealed. But we don't. And while there are some things that are clearly noted and spelled out for us in God's word, we must be careful about the other things. Allow for grace. Allow for faith.
I am reading "On Christian Liberty" by Martin Luther. I bought it for one of my classes in college, but we never read it. I kept it though, and it is, so far, a good read. He makes a really interesting point using the metaphor of Christ as the bridegroom and us as the bride of Christ. Luther says,
"Christ is full of grace, life, and salvation. The soul is full of sins, death, and damnation. Now let faith come between them and sins, death, and damnation will be Christ's, while grace, life, and salvation will be the soul's; for if Christ is a bridegroom, he must take upon himself the things which are his bride's and bestow upon her the things that are his." (pg 19)
Luther also says 2 pages later, "Here this rich and divine bridegroom Christ marries this poor, wicked harlot, redeems her from all her evil, and adorns her with all his goodness. Her sins cannot now destroy her, since they are laid upon Christ and swallowed up by him. And she has that righteousness in Christ, her husband, of which she may boast as of her own and which she can confidently display alongside her sins in the face of death and hell and say, 'If I have sinned, yet my Christ, in whom I believe, has not sinned, and all his is mine and all mine is his.'" (pg 21)
I know that the Church is the bride of Christ, but I had never thought of it in the way that Luther phrases it. But if we are the bride of Christ, then we are one with Him, and our sin and shame is put upon and taken away by Him, and His goodness and righteousness is given to us. It is a wonderful, unfair exchange that I do not really understand, but I am grateful.
I will never be good enough. No matter how hard I try, I will never be good enough for God. I "knew" this growing up, but I realized that I didn't really understand or believe it. In the past year or 2, I have finally come to an understanding of what this means. And it is freeing. To throw yourself a the mercy of Christ and ask Him to cover everything is a relief. A release from fear. But, we are called to hate our sin and to struggle against our sinful natures. How do we do this without an accompanying guilt and fear? Are these not the motivating factors to strive against our nature? If not these, then what should be our motivation? Love for God should be our motivation, but this is sometimes forgotten or cast aside. It is easier, once the fear and shame and guilt is gone, to do whatever one desires, to use freedom in Christ as an excuse to do what I want.
It is not hard to understand legalism. It's man's way of figuring out faith. We are finite with minimal understanding and finite minds. Legalism helps us make sense, put God and faith in a big religious box. A list of dos and don'ts. But it's not that easy. God doesn't play by our rules. He cannot be contained, and for us to put limits on Him is demeaning and implies that we know better than Him. That we know exactly how this world is supposed to work and how everything is going to be revealed. But we don't. And while there are some things that are clearly noted and spelled out for us in God's word, we must be careful about the other things. Allow for grace. Allow for faith.
I am reading "On Christian Liberty" by Martin Luther. I bought it for one of my classes in college, but we never read it. I kept it though, and it is, so far, a good read. He makes a really interesting point using the metaphor of Christ as the bridegroom and us as the bride of Christ. Luther says,
"Christ is full of grace, life, and salvation. The soul is full of sins, death, and damnation. Now let faith come between them and sins, death, and damnation will be Christ's, while grace, life, and salvation will be the soul's; for if Christ is a bridegroom, he must take upon himself the things which are his bride's and bestow upon her the things that are his." (pg 19)
Luther also says 2 pages later, "Here this rich and divine bridegroom Christ marries this poor, wicked harlot, redeems her from all her evil, and adorns her with all his goodness. Her sins cannot now destroy her, since they are laid upon Christ and swallowed up by him. And she has that righteousness in Christ, her husband, of which she may boast as of her own and which she can confidently display alongside her sins in the face of death and hell and say, 'If I have sinned, yet my Christ, in whom I believe, has not sinned, and all his is mine and all mine is his.'" (pg 21)
I know that the Church is the bride of Christ, but I had never thought of it in the way that Luther phrases it. But if we are the bride of Christ, then we are one with Him, and our sin and shame is put upon and taken away by Him, and His goodness and righteousness is given to us. It is a wonderful, unfair exchange that I do not really understand, but I am grateful.
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