Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Walking by Faith
This summer/fall I have been searching and having many coversations in the process of better understanding what Christian faith is.
I wrote a blog about 1 1/2 months ago on faith but I never really felt comfortable with my questions and answers so I never published it. This was my premise....
"I have asked a lot of questions about faith....What does it mean to walk by faith? How does our country and our circumstance affect our understanding of faith? How does faith differ in the context of needs (aka spiritual vs physical)? What about pain and death? Am I able to read the faith stories of the Bible as human experiences beyond the mystical fairy tales that I have always understood them to be, and in turn come to a deeper understanding of what it means to have faith? Can you have faith with out relationship? Certainly there is no way to quantify faith, why have I found myself doing such while trying to get a better understanding? "
After lots of reflection time I, ironically, decided that I over complicated understanding faith by trying to pick it apart and analyze it.
The main reason for this change of heart is a phone call I receive from a good friend of mine this Monday.
He recently found out that his first born 3 1/2 month old daughter has a syndrome that gives her a life expectancy of under two years. Heartbreaking.
When I talked to him on the phone he said that as hard as the news was to take, and as much as the pain weighed on him, God has given him and his wife peace. Peace that God is in control of all parts of life and death...that we live in God grace....and that "His will be done" is their cry.
He also told me not to feel sad and wonder what it would be like if it was my child....but instead live in grace and with Joy in the moments that God gives us... and again that God, who loves us, is in control and he will never give us anything that we cannot handle.
The calm in his voice was Godly. I still am awed when I think about it.
I am struck by the magnitude of trusting in God by believing his promises. Hearing my friend's story of the faith God has given him is moving to me. I pray that God would give me faith that strong...through good and bad times...all of the above times...always believing and trusting God as the creator and sustainer of my life and that Jesus Christ is the way to salvation.
I wrote a blog about 1 1/2 months ago on faith but I never really felt comfortable with my questions and answers so I never published it. This was my premise....
"I have asked a lot of questions about faith....What does it mean to walk by faith? How does our country and our circumstance affect our understanding of faith? How does faith differ in the context of needs (aka spiritual vs physical)? What about pain and death? Am I able to read the faith stories of the Bible as human experiences beyond the mystical fairy tales that I have always understood them to be, and in turn come to a deeper understanding of what it means to have faith? Can you have faith with out relationship? Certainly there is no way to quantify faith, why have I found myself doing such while trying to get a better understanding? "
After lots of reflection time I, ironically, decided that I over complicated understanding faith by trying to pick it apart and analyze it.
The main reason for this change of heart is a phone call I receive from a good friend of mine this Monday.
He recently found out that his first born 3 1/2 month old daughter has a syndrome that gives her a life expectancy of under two years. Heartbreaking.
When I talked to him on the phone he said that as hard as the news was to take, and as much as the pain weighed on him, God has given him and his wife peace. Peace that God is in control of all parts of life and death...that we live in God grace....and that "His will be done" is their cry.
He also told me not to feel sad and wonder what it would be like if it was my child....but instead live in grace and with Joy in the moments that God gives us... and again that God, who loves us, is in control and he will never give us anything that we cannot handle.
The calm in his voice was Godly. I still am awed when I think about it.
I am struck by the magnitude of trusting in God by believing his promises. Hearing my friend's story of the faith God has given him is moving to me. I pray that God would give me faith that strong...through good and bad times...all of the above times...always believing and trusting God as the creator and sustainer of my life and that Jesus Christ is the way to salvation.
Friday, August 13, 2010
My NPR Irony
I enjoy getting my news from National Public Radio. I drive a lot for work and so I get plenty of time to listen to the radio and become a more informed citizen. The NPR news style is to present the information as un-biasly as possible (fairly subjective right off the bat) and insure ethical journalism in the traditional sense. Not traditional in the "yellow" form, but in the "proper research/responsible anaylsis and delivery" brand. Where is the irony in listening to informative news and being up to date on events happening in this country and around the world?
Well, when I listen to NPR all day I tend to think I know something about everything. I am able to pipe up in conversations (which is totally unlike me) on a wide variety topics that I normally would not be comfortable to speak to. Essentially, I shed the humility in not having a clue and pretend that I get it.
The more I know, the more I think I know. The less I think I know, the more I learn. The more I listen to NPR, the more i speak to what I think I know and don't ask questions about what I don't know.
It seems obvious that the issue is not in the information but my response to it. I guess it is hard for me to listen to someone, who in my mind is off base, and not confront them on it...asserting only that I know better, but still having no clue...furthering the ignorance.
As I continue to learn...so much of being an adult is trying to maintain a healthy amount of tact. And further...that Humility is not something we can choose to present, but something that is deep within us that presents itslef... when we desire more for someonelse than oursleves.
Well, when I listen to NPR all day I tend to think I know something about everything. I am able to pipe up in conversations (which is totally unlike me) on a wide variety topics that I normally would not be comfortable to speak to. Essentially, I shed the humility in not having a clue and pretend that I get it.
The more I know, the more I think I know. The less I think I know, the more I learn. The more I listen to NPR, the more i speak to what I think I know and don't ask questions about what I don't know.
It seems obvious that the issue is not in the information but my response to it. I guess it is hard for me to listen to someone, who in my mind is off base, and not confront them on it...asserting only that I know better, but still having no clue...furthering the ignorance.
As I continue to learn...so much of being an adult is trying to maintain a healthy amount of tact. And further...that Humility is not something we can choose to present, but something that is deep within us that presents itslef... when we desire more for someonelse than oursleves.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Longs Peak
I have done a fair bit of hiking in Colorado, but the one mountain always in the back of my mind was Long's Peak. I have literally been looking at it for 3 years waiting for the right time to hike it. The mountain and the experience blew me away. It was one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen, as well as the best summit view I have ever seen. We started the hike at 330 in the morning which means we got around 2-3 hours of sleep after getting to the campsite. The hike for me was 17 miles (due to hiking from our campsite to our car and from my car to the trailhead). The actual trail is only 14.5. The total elevation change up and down is 10,200ft. The last 1.5 miles of the hike is class 3 (meaning you have to use your hands and feet to get up it, essentially scrambling. It was the hardest and most rewarding hike I have ever done. Enjoy the pictures and trust me that they do it no justice.
Friday, July 09, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Why Jumping Pictures You Ask...
READ THIS and observe the truth of the article in the pictures.
Everybody is RELAXED and having fun. It just seems to make sense to me :)
Everybody is RELAXED and having fun. It just seems to make sense to me :)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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