I Want to Hold Your Hand

Last night I listened to a sermon by my dad in itunes. At the end of the sermon my dad was saying "I would like us to sing a hymn..." which then cut off to the next file in itunes - 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' by the Beatles. I thought it was pretty intuitive actually...

The sermon had to do with religiosity (Matt. 15:1-20) and how we make the outward, physical nature determine our spiritual awareness. Meaning, that what we appear to be seems to be more important than our relationship with God. And sometimes the 'appearance' takes precedence over God in our lives...we would rather keep our traditions and our holy 'look' than actually follow God.

Here's a quote from it that I thought was intense:
" Religious formality is an illusion, a deception, a spiritual trap, a spiritual deadzone (Matt. 15:1-20; Col. 2). Religious formalities are not the answer in a Christian life...It doesn't matter what we are on the outside. It matters tremendously to God what we are on the inside...When it comes to the precepts of men we don't need any more religious cosmetics, we don't have to doctor ourselves up, we don't have to look good, or try to look good. We have to be honest with God. We cannot make God more attractive and we cannot make ourselves more holy by doing certain rituals or obeying certain human precepts. We are merely expected to know the truth and let that truth set us free. And there are no rituals in that."

Funny how many Christians try to water down the message of Christ because they think if they leave it the way it is, it will be offensive (and less attractive). Funny how many Christians think that when they serve Christ they are indebting Christ to them...yet even the best of what we do is nothing compared to Christ. So, why can't we just see that the only thing that allows us to be honest about our wretched condition without God, His glorious and holy nature which is so beyond us, and the beauty of His sacrifice in Christ's death for our restoration in His resurrection - is to trust in Him completely...and that would be to hold Christ's hand. Walking with Him through life, staying by His side, allowing Him to guide us.

~I want to hold Your hand Lord~

A Long Day

Well, the apartment I've lived in for the past year was rented out by the first person to come look at it. I figure it had to do with the price and the renovations. My landlord thinks it had to do with my decor as well. I'm glad he thinks I have style!

Today I went to a conference. I ended up coming home feeling discouraged and tired. I think I've got to add to my list of annoying words in "University Speak"...the term pedagogy was used excessively and to the point of saturation! And though I found the workshops to be very useful, I couldn't help thinking that the change in curriculum had a sinister side to it. Halfway through the day, we had an interesting tangent in conversation that had to do with the influence of the government over final educational decisions that could even bring less than satisfactory information into the textbooks just because they didn't want to offend one member.

Though that would seem to be a bit shady to most, I found a concept that was brought up in a positive light to be more fascinating. We are supposed to form 'habits of mind'. This calls for multiple perspectives and an open mind to all answers. Students are to take this mindset and apply it to all aspects of their decision-making in life. I've got to admit, it sounds wonderful, except for one little problem. It can also unknowingly break down the concept of absolute truth...so! It's been a long day!

Another Contract!

The past couple days have been crazy! Yesterday I treated Carmen (my TA) to a fancy dinner for all that she's done for me...I made steak tenderloin with a portobello wine sauce (it was an experiment) but it came out nicely...then we ran over to sign a contract on a two bedroom mainfloor house in the middle of town. I found out that I get a crab tree with the deal! I think that makes this the best house I've ever rented! ;) I move in August 25th...I'm definitely going to be excited!

Today I was visited by an old friend from Honduras! She just up and called me this week saying we should get together and then there she was at my door! Miriam Prins!! We enjoyed a day of catching up, walking Red Deer, eating pupusas and drinking granitas! I have a feeling that the whole Pinares group in Alberta will get together soon! After she left I headed out to watch Mama Mia with the Abba contingency - that would be all of my girl coworkers who enjoy belting out tunes at odd times of day! It was a great way to end the day, but not good for unwinding...which is why I'm writing this blog! :)

Waiting for my world to change...

At this time I am waiting for an email from a potential new landlord. Though I've grown attached to this little space I've occupied for the past year (it really has molded my concept of style), it will be good to not be in a basement. I've been in limbo about where I'm going to live this new year for the past few weeks. I think knowing that the waiting will soon be over has made it harder to manage. It may be that I'm also feeling it more because it's not just going to affect me. Estefania and Christina have trusted my judgment so much through this whole situation, I feel the responsibility.

Other than apartment hunting, I have been getting involved in the Crossroads worship team. On Sunday I played before two thousand people (over two services)...it was...big! ;) But not intimidating, strangely enough. I'm glad to be able to worship the Lord in that way again - though it's not at all like in Honduras - which I miss!

Our purpose

So I read this today and thought it followed nicely the thought I put up yesterday...

"Beware of thinking that Jesus needed sympathy during His life on earth. He refused the sympathy of people because in His great wisdom He knew that no one on earth understood His purpose (Matt. 16:23)...
Look at God's incredible waste of His saints, according to the world's judgment. God seems to plant His saints in the most useless places. And then we say, 'God intends for me to be here because I am so useful to Him.' Yet Jesus never measured His life by how or where He was of the greatest use. God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be."

May my life bring glory to God!

Starting again...

I know it's been a while...funny how things can seem so big at the time, but I'd just like to share a thought...

God desires for me to see Him walking on the waters of life. Sometimes we think that with Him in view we will get some sort of success...reputation, money, or some other goal...but when we think that way, we end up looking at those things instead of Him. And then we lose our sight of Him...and lose the only foundation that's solid. So knowing how much is at stake...a lesson I am learning is to look to God during any situation and know that all is right because I see Him.