- The cleanse is over and I really enjoyed. Now, I was expecting more of an explosive reaction (like Yosemite Sam’s exploding cigar), but the gentle over time method of detoxifying your body is a better choice. I especially recommend you do it with a group of youth pastors. Talking (or bragging) about bowel movements is always a spiritual bonding experience. Go here to get your colon blo on…

- R.E.M. (Athens, GA represent!) has a new album coming out and it sounds good. I mean really good. 

- During my jury duty lunch break I went to a Presbyterian Church that has a contemplative labyrinth set up and I had a spiritualichous time. Slowing down and connecting with the Lord was just what I needed today. Brian (RTYM) blogged on doing this with youth a while back. You should try it.

-We’re taking a spring break trip to In & Out Burger with some youth. It’s a 11 hour (each way) fast food run to have some amazing burger. I’ve never been, but heard it’s amazing. Any recommendations on what I should order?

- Spring is here and the Chacos are out in force. Just thought you should know.

Those are my random thoughts for the day. Any randomness from you?

[painting by Arne Sørlie]

It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger for them.

- George Eliot

[This is a ramble continued from here...]

Are we, as Christians, connecting people with Christ?

Some of us can become worshipers of the Word (i.e. the Bible) and suck the life right out of it. I believe the Bible is the divine inspired word of God. But I also believe that without God the pursuit and reading of the Bible is boiled down to mere words on paper. Many may argue this, but it isn’t as if they words put in a correct order that make up the book create a mystical union of spirituality. God illuminates scripture, God breathes life into it. Think about the Trinity. Is the Bible part of the Trinity? It’s not the Father, Son and Holy Bible.

There are those who are unwilling to leave the safety of the church and walk amongst the sinners. They would rather pour over the Bible, but never live it. What have you gained if you know the words, but are unwilling to walk it out? If your love of the Bible and fear of “sinners” keeps you hidden away from the world, you’ve missed the point of why Christ came in the first place. You’ve forgotten that he didn’t just die for you.

Evangelism isn’t about being right when others are wrong. It’s not about proving a point. It’s about investment and a relationship. It’s about us showing the love of Christ to an unbelieving world. It isn’t easy, but it’s what we are called to do.

If we don’t mirror Christ, nothing we preach will matter.

As I’ve said before, I’m not fan of politics. There’s no one running on either side that I particularly like. And you’ll never see this blog endorse anyone. It just won’t happen. That being said, a friend of mine sent me an article about Mike Huckabee, a Republican running for President. He’s a former Southern Baptist pastor and has a unique perspective of seeing both sides of government and church. I love this quote from him. I think in this instance, he’s spot on. There’s so much truth to this statement.

“Government knows it does not have the answer, but it’s arrogant and acts as though it does. Church does have the answer but will cowardly deny that it does and wonder when the world will be changed.”

My loathing for politics comes from this idea: why change the world through political force, when it can be done with prayer and following the Lord. I just see two diverging paths. One is consumed with gaining power (politics) and the other is all about giving it up (following Jesus). Policy will not change hearts. It will only make rules and enforce them. Yet we still try to make this happy marriage of Jesus and politics. If Jesus is going to save America is through the brokenness and humility of the churches seeking the Lord and reaching out in compassion to the hurt, broken and poor. The whole point of Huckabee’s quote is that we as believers can change things, but won’t. So we turn to politics to vote someone to do it.

So what do you think? Am I wrong? How can both Jesus and politics coincide?

I’m not really into following the herd (if you haven’t noticed already) so I don’t really do well with commercial holidays. But I’ll look past that because there’s always good reason to pause and meditate on how blessed and thankful we are.

I’m thankful for:

- a big and merciful God

- a loving and supportive wife

- brilliant and amazing kids

- steadfast and encouraging friends

God has really blessed me by surrounding me with such amazing people. I love the fact that get to follow Him (and share His love with others) as my career.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:2-3

So today is a good day.
What are you thankful for?