Because Dove has such wonderful little dark chocolate promises, you'd expect that they'd actually have some good phrases on the inside of the wrapper. But they don't.
Today Lindsey got this: "Be your own valentine."
And my buddy Jordan got this: "Chocolate always loves you back."
I am thankful I didn't open those today.
Those are not the promises I like to hear.
Can I have the job to write those little things? Seriously.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Horizons...
As Dwight Schrute said last night on The Office, “There’s nothing on my horizon except everything…everything is on my horizon.” Thanks to Dwight’s hilarious wisdom and the strangely corresponding devotion I read last night in a book called The Promise of Winter (over which I will soon rave for your reading pleasure), I was reminded of the horizon that is before me…before us.
Each devotion in this book speaks of a promise, and last night’s was the promise of…yep, you guessed it—horizons. It was based from Psalm 55:6-8 which says this (beginning w/ verse 4):
My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death assail me.
Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest—
I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;
I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.”
On days of darkness or fear I just want to run away. I would suspect that most of us would much prefer to escape rather than to stagger in such grave existence. Our feelings are much like that of the psalter as he wishes “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” If this were possible, I’d have already flown the coop.
The writer of the devotion also says this:
Always humans reach and dream ahead. Lovers of colored leaves yearn for autumn to arrive. In fall, skiers crave snowy winters, whereupon shiverers long for spring. Spatially, pioneers move to frontiers, and all sorts of people envision horizons beyond which they could adventure, there to soar as if with gulls or to float in the air with doves. Outreaching these harmless fantasizings about what is next, what is beyond, are realistic hopes that they, that we, could move beyond what now holds us back and thereafter find new places spiritually to rest and reside.
…Just beyond the edges of routine life on any day there lurks some threat that prompts a yearning for escape. Such threats menace calendars and agendas. They become hazards just when we need to think clearly, to focus. And thinking clearly means pondering the promises. Thereupon not the image of an elegant dove but instead a stronger figure inspires a longing that is never misguided or misguiding. This One beckons beyond horizons, in the paths of Jesus Christ, who promises first adventure and then rest. We are free to follow.
The writer goes on to pray this prayer: “Sustain me, Lord, so that the flight I long for will not be a vain escape but a realistic movement toward the repose you promise. Amen.” This is my prayer. Although escape sounds like the best route to take in the midst of trial or the mundane commonplace, it is not. The best path is to trudge right through the middle of it. Therein lies the adventure. Sometimes it's an adventure we’d rather not take, but in the end lies a horizon promised to us that is more beautiful than our mind's eye could envision.
As the devotion closes, it provides a scriptural reference to the eleventh chapter of Hebrews which points to the faith and obedience of Abraham as he entered into the promised land. It reads like this:
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
May we never stop looking forward in faith to that city. There is a horizon that awaits. A promise awaits.
Each devotion in this book speaks of a promise, and last night’s was the promise of…yep, you guessed it—horizons. It was based from Psalm 55:6-8 which says this (beginning w/ verse 4):
My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death assail me.
Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest—
I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;
I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.”
On days of darkness or fear I just want to run away. I would suspect that most of us would much prefer to escape rather than to stagger in such grave existence. Our feelings are much like that of the psalter as he wishes “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” If this were possible, I’d have already flown the coop.
The writer of the devotion also says this:
Always humans reach and dream ahead. Lovers of colored leaves yearn for autumn to arrive. In fall, skiers crave snowy winters, whereupon shiverers long for spring. Spatially, pioneers move to frontiers, and all sorts of people envision horizons beyond which they could adventure, there to soar as if with gulls or to float in the air with doves. Outreaching these harmless fantasizings about what is next, what is beyond, are realistic hopes that they, that we, could move beyond what now holds us back and thereafter find new places spiritually to rest and reside.
…Just beyond the edges of routine life on any day there lurks some threat that prompts a yearning for escape. Such threats menace calendars and agendas. They become hazards just when we need to think clearly, to focus. And thinking clearly means pondering the promises. Thereupon not the image of an elegant dove but instead a stronger figure inspires a longing that is never misguided or misguiding. This One beckons beyond horizons, in the paths of Jesus Christ, who promises first adventure and then rest. We are free to follow.
The writer goes on to pray this prayer: “Sustain me, Lord, so that the flight I long for will not be a vain escape but a realistic movement toward the repose you promise. Amen.” This is my prayer. Although escape sounds like the best route to take in the midst of trial or the mundane commonplace, it is not. The best path is to trudge right through the middle of it. Therein lies the adventure. Sometimes it's an adventure we’d rather not take, but in the end lies a horizon promised to us that is more beautiful than our mind's eye could envision.
As the devotion closes, it provides a scriptural reference to the eleventh chapter of Hebrews which points to the faith and obedience of Abraham as he entered into the promised land. It reads like this:
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
May we never stop looking forward in faith to that city. There is a horizon that awaits. A promise awaits.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
thinking in pink and brown...
So as Chantell so greatly described it last week...our birthing has begun. We're pushing and pushing, and our baby is this:
It's time for Awaken '07 at LCC. It's our High school girls retreat that's coming around the corner...quite quickly might I add! We're sort of getting into panic mode as we get all of our plans and details worked out, but it's an exciting time...just like the birth of a baby! If you are a youth minister and haven't signed your girls up for this, you should! (and soon...)
I'm sitting in my office and it's much too late. I need to go home and get on my sweats to go watch American Idol at Lindsey & Matt's. Maybe then I'll stop thinking of all things pink and brown...
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
randemonium
After re-watching the Dave Barnes Christmas Extravaganza video on youtube (which I also posted on here in December...scroll down if you haven't seen it), I'm in the mood for random.
- I had the most wonderfully delectable Chocolate Mint hot tea at Barnes & Noble the other night. I'm trying to google it and can't figure out what brand of tea it is...if anyone knows what brand of tea they have at the Starbucks in BN, let me know! It was YUM-O. Speaking of teas, Mom got me some Pomegranate White Tea for Christmas that is also delish.
- The other night I had the best time just chatting w/ a friend at Panera for hours. I love friends that you can do that with and you leave feeling energized rather than drained.
- I realized today that sometimes I cannot handle people who are too nice. Does this make me a bad person?
- I think I came up with my dream job concoction...it would be made up of 7 parts: 1 part singer, 1 part journalist, 1 part traveler, 1 part photographer, 1 part food critic, 1 part social justice/relief worker, 1 part review writer for all things (music, movies, hotels, restaurants, etc.) I think I would enjoy this. Though I don't have the skill I need for all of these, I would certainly love it. That's why it's a dream job.
- I have to buy a new TV b/c my color tube went out. I'm trying to figure out how I will get my current TV downstairs to the dumpster...
- Only 23 days left till our 2nd annual girls' retreat, AWAKEN, is here! We have so much to do, but it will be so fun.
- I've been writing a lot lately. Some of it is deep and some is futile. maybe I'll post some of it someday soon.
- I have now seen The Holiday twice in the theater. I think I could go again. I'm quite tempted.
- Trying to book a concert for LCC in April...any requests? I'm having a hard time b/c it's too late for a lot of artists who are already booked or in the studio.
- Winter sucks.
- I would like to drink some sweet tea right now.
- 1 month, 7 days until the Johyn Mayer concert.
And that's all for my random thoughts. Happy reading. Good day.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
life amidst the grey...
I just feel like writing, so here I am...
I'm having a hard time focusing on anything lately. I suppose that's normal after losing someone you love. I just feel like at work or at home or anywhere I just sit here and stare...completely unfocused. I'm just not sure what to do or where to go. The morning my Dad died I felt like I wanted all of the world to stop. Obviously, it doesn't. Life must go on, the world must keep turning, and we must keep breathing in and out. It's hard to get life back to "normal" because it won't be the same again. We seem to be doing pretty well, but I'm sure the reality of my dad's absence will come in stages.
It's hard to imagine what people do who lose a loved one who did not know Christ. Our only peace comes from knowing we'll see my Dad again someday. It fills my heart with joy knowing that he had faith in Christ. I just can't imagine life or death without Christ. "For to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Never before have these words from 1 Cor. 1:18 rang more true in my ears: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I love this. It is the power of God.
I'm looking forward to the spring and to the new life it will bring. I hate winter. It's grey, dull, and depressing. It's cold outside, and it's cold inside the heart. Lately it feels like all that could go wrong keeps on going wrong. I'm blaming it on winter. I'm ready to see the blessings of little rays of sunshine and colorful tulips and the new life of my niece or nephew to come.
On that note, I think God is beginning to give little hints of new life...starting w/ little Cameron Raymer being born yesterday. I'm so excited for Missy & Jake as they begin they journey of parenthood, and I look forward to finally seeing the little guy!
And I'm thankful for the sunshine today. It's God's reminder that there is good amidst the winter. There is life amidst the grey. Thank God.
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