The Bittersweet Paradox
Friday, January 27, 2006
Seriously Bummed About...
Not being able to register for Facebook. My friends were discussing it's fabulousness last night, and I was looking forward to enjoying the diversion at work.
But, alas, it requires a valid school email address. And mine was deactivated 27 days ago. It's a sad day...
But, alas, it requires a valid school email address. And mine was deactivated 27 days ago. It's a sad day...
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
I Need to Post
About what, I don't know. But I'm overdue. Ah, I know. I've been using my iPod more as of late because they've made us stop streaming audio at work. So, that leaves my iPod to pass the often boring hours sitting at my desk.
My iPod has a strangely eclectic mix of music on it. Everything from opera to Van Morrison. But, my friends, there was once a day when I listened to nothing but opera. I mean NOTHING. Have you ever known a 15-year-old who has nothing but recordings of Maria Callas and Kiri Te Kanawa in her record collection, and 1,000 page reference books called "The Opera Companion" read cover to cover? That was me in high school. Not kidding.
But today something strange is happening...I never thought I'd see the day. I'm skipping a lot of the opera stuff. Once I begin to hear strains of an orchestera and a fabulous singer, a sound which used to send chills up my spine, I'm noticing myself hitting the little skip button. It's not that I even dislike it...I'm just apathetic. I could take it or leave it. Seriously, what has gotten into me?
It looks like I've finally realized with certainty that there really is more to life than opera. Apparently, I dind't realize that there is good, creative, substantive music aside from the trained screaming of narcissistic chubby people. Apparently, I didn't know U2 existed. Apparently, I didn't know that there is music which in and of itself honors God. Good heavens, it's only taken me years...
My iPod has a strangely eclectic mix of music on it. Everything from opera to Van Morrison. But, my friends, there was once a day when I listened to nothing but opera. I mean NOTHING. Have you ever known a 15-year-old who has nothing but recordings of Maria Callas and Kiri Te Kanawa in her record collection, and 1,000 page reference books called "The Opera Companion" read cover to cover? That was me in high school. Not kidding.
But today something strange is happening...I never thought I'd see the day. I'm skipping a lot of the opera stuff. Once I begin to hear strains of an orchestera and a fabulous singer, a sound which used to send chills up my spine, I'm noticing myself hitting the little skip button. It's not that I even dislike it...I'm just apathetic. I could take it or leave it. Seriously, what has gotten into me?
It looks like I've finally realized with certainty that there really is more to life than opera. Apparently, I dind't realize that there is good, creative, substantive music aside from the trained screaming of narcissistic chubby people. Apparently, I didn't know U2 existed. Apparently, I didn't know that there is music which in and of itself honors God. Good heavens, it's only taken me years...
Thursday, January 19, 2006
I Love Me Some Bono!
Read this.
I can't speak to his success on the last part of this verse, that's between him and God; but judging from this article, he seems to be fighting for an awful lot of widows and orphans.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. --James 1:27
I can't speak to his success on the last part of this verse, that's between him and God; but judging from this article, he seems to be fighting for an awful lot of widows and orphans.
Monday, January 16, 2006
FUNDRAISING!!!
The time has come to dig in. I have about $10,000 to raise, give or take some change. That is a large figure and I have never really done all this before.
But, yay for friends. They were very helpful in helping me brainstorm this weekend. My two favorite suggestions:
1. Marry a millionaire before June.
2. Sell friendship bracelets out of my caboodle.
Thanks for all your help, guys.
But, yay for friends. They were very helpful in helping me brainstorm this weekend. My two favorite suggestions:
1. Marry a millionaire before June.
2. Sell friendship bracelets out of my caboodle.
Thanks for all your help, guys.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Hidden Agendas
Judging from the number of comments on yesterday's post (0), my thought provoking analysis of the Holy Scriptures is uninteresting to my readership:). So, in an effort to be more relevant, I'll return to somewhat humorous tidbits out of my life. So, here goes...
Previously, my computer screen has been on the right side of my desk with the monitor slightly angled toward the door. I am right handed, so with my computer, keyboard and mouse all on the right side of my desk, it didn't leave me much room to move my mouse around, and frankly was kinda making my elbow hurt, because it was at a really strange angle. So, I got permission to move my computer screen from the right side of my desk to the left side. Bear with me here...there is a point. I work in a room where people (managers, especially) are constantly in and out. The copy machine and printer are all in here as well as all the filing cabinets. Did you remember how it said that my monitor was pointed towards the door previously. Let me tell you about a little side benefit of moving my computer set up to where my arm won't hurt. Now, my computer screen is pointed AWAY from the door. Meaning I don't have to be looking over my shoulder every time someone walks through the door, forcing me to constantly minimize the email I'm checking or website I'm perusing. I can now surf the internet with impunity, all while the bosses walk in and out completely ignorant of what I happen to be doing on my computer. Even as I type this blog entry, people walk in and out, completely unaware of what I'm doing. Really, though...my arm was hurting....I promise:)
In other news, I was selected out of everyone in the whole company to do the quarterly client audit. Wa-frickin-hoo.
Previously, my computer screen has been on the right side of my desk with the monitor slightly angled toward the door. I am right handed, so with my computer, keyboard and mouse all on the right side of my desk, it didn't leave me much room to move my mouse around, and frankly was kinda making my elbow hurt, because it was at a really strange angle. So, I got permission to move my computer screen from the right side of my desk to the left side. Bear with me here...there is a point. I work in a room where people (managers, especially) are constantly in and out. The copy machine and printer are all in here as well as all the filing cabinets. Did you remember how it said that my monitor was pointed towards the door previously. Let me tell you about a little side benefit of moving my computer set up to where my arm won't hurt. Now, my computer screen is pointed AWAY from the door. Meaning I don't have to be looking over my shoulder every time someone walks through the door, forcing me to constantly minimize the email I'm checking or website I'm perusing. I can now surf the internet with impunity, all while the bosses walk in and out completely ignorant of what I happen to be doing on my computer. Even as I type this blog entry, people walk in and out, completely unaware of what I'm doing. Really, though...my arm was hurting....I promise:)
In other news, I was selected out of everyone in the whole company to do the quarterly client audit. Wa-frickin-hoo.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
On Sacrifice
CHAPTER 22
The Offering of Isaac
1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
2 He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.
5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you."
6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
12 He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.
14 Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to
this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided."
15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,
16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
When I worked at a church in Louisville, the worship minister there had studied this chapter in depth, and gave me some incredible insight into it. I'm going to try to remember what he told me, and hopefully it will be accurate too:) They're some amazing tidbits.
At the beginning of the chapter, it talks about the land of Moriah. The land of Moriah is where Jerusalem was built, and the mountain, Mount Moriah, where Abraham was directed to by God to sacrifice Isaac is the very mountain where the temple was eventually built. Calvary, which Abraham propheticallyeferences when he says "God Himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice", wasn't far away from this very location.
The passage later indicates that Abraham tells his servants that he and the boy are going to the mountain to worship. This illustrates the principle that part of worship is indeed sacrifice, and obedience. Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
The end of the passage references "the angel of the LORD". When "the angel of the LORD" is referenced in the Old Testament, it is actually referring to Jesus, before he came to earth as a human. When the Old Testament refers an angel of God in the Old Testament, it's just an angel, but the capitol "the angel of the LORD" in the Old Testament, it indeed refers to Jesus. Thus, it is Jesus who tells Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac, all the while being extremely close to the physical place where He would eventually lay down His life for the sins of the human race.
Awesome stuff.
Friday, January 06, 2006
My Brain is Whirring
Well, I thought my mind was made up. But then my job threw me a curve ball. And now I'm confused. I mean, it's still made up, but now...I dunno...
My life in Christ in this world, a bittersweet paradox. But ultimately, it will only be sweet. Here's where I'll tell you something about it.
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