Word

"The Word possesses such power, however seriously considered, heeded, and put into practice that it never remains barren of fruit. It always awakens new thoughts, new pleasures and devotions and cleanses the heart and it's meditations."

- Martin Luthur

Earth Day 2010

Here's how I celebrate EARTH DAY... by giving thanks to the One who created it and sustains it... "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31a)

Symbols

Last night, some dear friends gave me this writing that really moved me. It was written by St. Ephrem the Syrian who died in 373 AD in the city of Edessa. He was "the foremost writer and theologian in the Syriac tradition" of early Eastern Christianity. He ministered among the growing congregations (of that time) in what is today Iran and Iraq.

Cut stone becomes by its suffering a bulwark for men.
In calamity and in battle it stands before him and preserves his treasures.

Wood by means of its harsh treatment resembles the cross.
It carries on the sea; it bears on dry land;
It increases by its uses and enriches by its helps.

Strong iron is weak in the fire; it is malleable and yields to human strength.
And when it had been well-beaten, it repays the one who struck it.

Noble gold is beaten without offense.
To all those who beat it, it gives its sides...
Its insult is for honor, its suffering is for glory.

And who will tell of the suffering of a grain of wheat?
Indeed, how many scourgings and afflictions it encounters.
By its torment, it gives life to its tormentors.

The crusher also abuses the cluster of grapes.
By its blood, filth is washed away; with its juice it sweetens men.
And if it ages with him, it makes him merry with its wine.

When a fruit is eaten, by means of its suffering taste pours into the mouth.,
This is a symbol of that fruit that brings to life his eaters when his body is eaten.

Incenses are cast into the fire. Their scents rise up like their good Lord
Who by means of His death exhaled the scent of His vitality.

So also when a bird beats the air... the back of the air is subjected to it,
And like a bride the bird is carried on high by the power [of the air].

So also the farmer by means of iron rends and cleaves the earth,
But she is not angered by her suffering,
Her treasures and her womb she opens up by her sufferings.

The sheep in its shame strips off its garment and cloak,
And gives all of it to its shearers,
Like the Lamb who divided His garments for His crucifiers.

So old is the teaching that its time is not known...
All these things teach by their symbols:
They open by their sufferings the treasures of their riches,
And the suffering of the Son of God is the key of His treasures.

Dilemma

Okay, this post is completely in jest. A friend sent me some funny pictures today and I had to pass them on. I'll share them in the form of two questions...

1. Should I get a dog?



2. Or, should I have children?



Come what may, Liz and I are happy we went with option #2!

Back to Reality

My wife and I just returned from a wonderfully relaxing, week-long holiday consisting mostly of napping on a sunny beach in Mexico. I won't lie; it was glorious. To save you from needing to repent of a covetous attitude, I won't say any more.

On the way back to the airport, Liz looked at me and smiled as she sighed, "Well, back to reality." I thought about it and said, "Yes, but what a great reality it is..." Our 10 month old son, Titus. Our home. Our family. Our church. Our friends. Etc., etc., etc...

Yeah, Liz and I enjoyed a great time away, but we both agree we love "our reality" and are ready to get back to it.

Light the Lamps of the Past

I was encouraged by reading Spurgeon's devotional this morning. Referring to the times in life when it's difficult to see God's faithfulness in the present, he says...

"Go back, then, a little way to the choice mercies of yesterday, and though all may be dark now, light up the lamps of the past, they shall glitter through the darkness, and thou shalt trust in the Lord till the day break and the shadows flee away."


-- Post From My iPhone

I Change Not

Today, a friend encouraged me with a quote from Charles H. Spurgeon. I looked up the post in its entirety and was encouraged all the more...

"I am the Lord, I change not." – Malachi 3:6

It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. All things else have changed-all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the worn-out vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only hath immortality, of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change. The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth-"I am the Lord, I change not."

The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian’s hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." What ever his attributes were of old, they are now; his power, his wisdom, his justice, his truth, are alike unchanged. He has ever been the refuge of his people, their stronghold in the day of trouble, and he is their sure Helper still. He is unchanged in his love. He has loved his people with "an everlasting love"; he loves them now as much as ever he did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the last conflagration, his love will still wear the dew of its youth. Precious is the assurance that he changes not! The wheel of providence revolves, but its axle is eternal love.