Simple Summary
This is my life right now. This is who I am today. This is all I got.
Trying to figure out if I have a job next year. Trying to figure out if that is a good or bad thing. Trying to figure out why there is so much silence from some people and so much noise from others. Trying to figure out how to love those who are around to be loved. Trying to figure out who is around to be loved. Trying to find more hours in the day for all those things and more.
Trying to unpress the pages. My petals are wilting.
Trying not to throw my hands in the air. Wait . . . there is an unfinished song somewhere about this:
“And I swear, as I throw my hands in the air (I’ve thrown all my prayers in the air)
That I fear that the truth is more than I can bare
When everything’s been dipped in lies and compromise confines my mind
I pray that life is more than what eye can see
If I could get outside my life to live and find what is mine to give
Maybe then You would be proud of me. . .”
Or something like that.
I’m off to another confrence, while fighting pnemonia, and grading papers.
And waiting. Constantly waiting. While driving too damn fast . . .
Back From Boston
I’m back. If you didn’t know I was gone, then you missed out on your chance to rob my apt.
That is all.
~MEH
Does God Lie To Me For My Own Good?
One of my former students got in contact with me to ask me about Rene Descartes and his various philosophical theories. This led to a conversation about the nature of God and the question of “why God is good.”
Have you ever thought about that? There are two real options:
- God is good because God IS the metaphysical standard for what good is, OR
- God is good because there is a metaphysical standard for what is good OUTSIDE of God, which God always matches up with.
This a huge difference.
The question arouse with the question of whether or not God would trick us for our own good. Think of the Oracle in the Matrix (I hate myself for the comparison):
She said, “I told you what you needed to hear.”
In other words she lied to Neo in order to lead him in certain direction.
What of God? Is there any reason that it would be wrong for Him to do this?
If His actions are always good because He IS GOOD then no action He does can ever be called wrong because He is the standard, BUT
If His actions are always good because He IS ALWAYS GOOD than no action can ever be called wrong because, if He does decieve for a higher purpose, this means that such actions are right for everyone. Therefore, I can lie in order to spare somone’s feelings, because that is a “higher good.”
Or maybe not . . .?
“maybe I’m Crazy”
Another one to re-record one of these days. Written Circa 2003, and was the first complete original song E and I ever played together. Church at Bethany. Back in the day. We had a saxophone and drums to back us. Who knew? . . .
______________________________________
Do You still call me “son” when my heart’s on the run
Or do I need to find a foster home to call my own?
Will it still be the same when I call on Your Name,
Even though I only pick up the phone, it seems, when it rains?
Before my world’s falling down, Will I turn around and walk humbly out
Of the foolishness and the pride, the lusts of my eyes, and walk by Your side?
Well maybe I’m crazy, or desperately lazy, Lord knows that I can’t tell.
Or maybe just foolish, but I know I can’t do this by myself.
And here I stand like a child all alone trying to cross a busy street
without a hand to hold and I know that the road is long, and the traffic is deep,
And sometimes that “don’t walk” is for me.
Sometimes I find myself caught here between bars and lines,
Counting in time to my own mind. But He moves like a song around me
And suddenly He is my key of life, so why can’t I play it right?
Well maybe I’m crazy, or desperately lazy, Lord knows that I can’t tell.
Or maybe just foolish, but I know I can’t do this by myself.
And here I sit like a man all alone trying to wade this flowing Jordan
without a boat of my own, and I know the is river’ wide, and the tide she is deep,
but I learned how to swim at His feet, and He will always carry me,
so the waves never pass more than over my feet
Sometimes I find myself caught here between earth and sky,
When clouds define what’s on my mind,
But He moves like a storm around me
And suddenly He is the air I breathe
And I survive as I inhale the breath of life
When I’m wallowing in the filth and pain,
Walking just like Cain will you still call my name?
I know you are able. And if I fall away with myself to blame,
Will you seek and save and change my heart’s label?
Trailhead Sermon Notes/questions
I’ll be posting the sermon preview, notes and questions which are prepared by the whoever is delivering Sunday morning’s message on the Smallgroup@Trailhead page from now on. That is all.