"Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God." ~A.W. Tozer

thought one:
has it ever struck you how often things that are admittedly unFUN are so sweetly GOOD?
and how often things that are GOOD are downright painful for the flesh?
and how things painful for the flesh are the ones that are most valuable afterward?

this stuff seems axiomatic. you would think i'd make the connection behaviorally already...

but kids are so good for the flesh, bless their little souls!

thought two:

"There are no ordinary people," said Lewis. "You have never talked to a mere mortal.

Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations--these are
mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is
immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit."

Lewis continues, "This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play.
But our merriment must be of that kind which exists between people who
have, from the outset, taken each other seriously--

no flippancy,
no superiority,
no presumption....

Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your
neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses."

thought three:

(Thank you, Rev. G.S. Tebbe:)

~> You don't become more relevant, more "authentic," by imitating your afflicted, dying neighbors.

You become more relevant by LOOKING MORE LIKE CHRIST!


~> The Church [us!] as the "house of God"... door to heaven... not the building but the gathering of "lively stones"... in worship (think: adoration... think: terrifying delight... think: jaw to the floor and face to it as well, with a gratitude that sings [i use "sings" lyrically, not necessarily literally])

is super-sacred!
is super-mystical!
it is not a light thing!

a window to heaven, by seeing the awe-soaked adoration of the redeemed.

time (experiences/events/occurances) and persons more than place.

come and preview eternity! Sundays at 10:30 a.m. (child care not provided)