to be able to breathe again.

Yesterday, my dog jumped on my bed and watched as I typed a paper on my laptop. I promise. She was concentrating as hard as I was, and when I looked at her, she stared right back.

She's so cool.

The dog is never allowed on my bed, or any other piece of furniture in the house. But, I miss her dearly while I am at school, so I allowed her to cuddle-- on the condition that she didn't touch any of my pillows. Dog slobber is disgusting, and I just can't handle it on my pillows.

I was so content to just sit and type and watch her fall asleep. I love the moments in life when everything appears to be on pause, and the only thing that seems out of the ordinary is the sound of breathing...or the droopiness of a dog's eyelids.

I do love being around people, but I love being alone with my thoughts, with my dog, and with God. To just be is a beautiful thing.

5 million people....

what am i to do?

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

...to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

Oh, the irony.

I am in complete support of the "anti-facebookers" out there. I commend you for following your convicitions. For being Christ-like in your endeavors, and for striving toward more holisitic and intentional relationships.

Ironic though, that we are now all communicating through this electronic outlet. Ironic that my first post in many months comes as a result of knowing that my CU friends are now online.

I hate that.

I use this blog to post random thoughts at random times and to follow the insightful findings of my dear friends at home and beyond. Now, since others have joined the network, I'll use it to read their thoughts, and to maybe gain insight that I fail to see in the real world.

These online resources are just that-- tools. Talk to me about my facebook convictions-- I would love to talk to you about yours. I refuse to let this, or any other online network, replace real relationships. Let us use this to spur real conversations, to spur research into new ideas, and to compel each other to be more like Christ. Let us use this time and these resources to learn to be more like Christ and get others to do the same.

I will continue to post nonsensical things and to read blogs late at night for hopes of an inspiring tidbit. I will also continue to challenge you on your electronic use, and hope you do the same for me.

Let's talk. Let's do life, together.

this is our God.

Isaiah 40.

10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, 
       and his arm rules for him. 
       See, his reward is with him, 
       and his recompense accompanies him.

 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: 
       He gathers the lambs in his arms 
       and carries them close to his heart; 
       he gently leads those that have young.

 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, 
       or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? 
       Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, 
       or weighed the mountains on the scales 
       and the hills in a balance?

 13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, 
       or instructed him as his counselor?

 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, 
       and who taught him the right way? 
       Who was it that taught him knowledge 
       or showed him the path of understanding?

 15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; 
       they are regarded as dust on the scales; 
       he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

25 "To whom will you compare me? 
       Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

28   Do you not know? 
       Have you not heard? 
       The LORD is the everlasting God, 
       the Creator of the ends of the earth. 
       He will not grow tired or weary, 
       and his understanding no one can fathom.

divine romance.

The characteristic of God being Triune really does affect everything we do. Thank you, Dr. Gombis, for addressing such a great topic in chapel today.

I am continually challenged by what it means to be relational. Sometimes I think relationships have no value, yet, I still desire intimacy and connectivity with others. This, I believe, is the God in me crying out.

What, I wonder, does it mean to be realtional like Christ? Ok, so, he ate with tax collectors and sinners, traveled with his most beloved friends, and his most intimate relationship was with God. Ok, sure. If I crave intimate relationships, what should they look like?

The Trinity.

Of course.

Face to face, fully penetrating, loving, eternal, bringing joy and the fullest amount of love and grace. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, yet separate entities, that this concept blows my mind. Yes, this is what true relationship is supposed to look like. "Interpenetration"-- fully and deeply plunging into another in order to exalt and delight in each other. Welcoming and pursuing each other eternally. 

The Trinity is an ongoing relationship of hospitality, joy, and delight. There is no fear, no suspicion. 

This is God.

This is whom we are modeled after--this is what we are created to be like. God intended us to be known, and there is no greater thing than to fully love and be loved. Our relationships and selves are created to model this undeniably great attribute of God. 

Again, I find myself pointing to the early church thinking they have it right. Yet, we need to embody this attribute not because of the church's model, but because of who God is. 

Discovery of this idea, of the relationship and entity of the Trinity quite excites me....Life together. 

a life of response.

Sometimes I don't quite understand what it means to be a Christian. "Christ-like", "mini-Christian", "lover of others". What does it mean? These definitions don't simplify a thing.

What, God, am I supposed to do in the daily grind? What do I do when a friend doubts, when I doubt, when I see hurt and pain and can't do a thing about it? What am I supposed to do when you show yourself in such a bizarre way? How am I supposed to respond?

I think life is all about the way we respond to our situations. That's how we are Christians. What drives our responses is our internal desires, passions, sins, etc. I can't fix situations, but I can fix the way I respond to them. I can't be all-knowing like Christ, but I can hope for sensitivity toward a situation and respond in such a way that is God-honoring. 

We doubt, yes, but what does it mean to respond to doubt? I'm not sure. What about "callings"? How do we respond to those, other than the obvious? 

God, what does it look like to respond like Christ?