Oh, Spring Movies...

I'm conflicted.

Spring movies are by and large a waste of time and money. Now, in some ways this was a bit of a relief, because the summer and winter seasons had more great movies than I could find a way to see. However, I've really struggled to find much to do in San Antonio that doesn't include going to the movies.

So, it's kind of nice to have break. I've just got to find something to do. Rentals will only get you so far.

An Important Question

Does Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth work in a postmodern world?

I want to be like Alex

Tonight I had dinner with some friends and strangers. Afterwards, we sat around, chatting, discussing the two big no-nos (religion and politics, of course!), playing guitar and singing. After a few hours of this, my Afrikaner friend Alex, asked if we could spend the next few minutes singing songs of praise. This being holy week and all.

We sang four or five songs, and Alex spoke up again. He asked us to pray for the man speaking at Oak Hills Church tomorrow, that God would give him a special message for all of the holiday visitors who don't know Christ. We spent a good time praying. We sang a few more songs, and called it a night.

Alex did a good job of reminding me that a Christ like leader is the one who takes a normal situation, usually dinner with friends, and reminds us all of the presence and importance of God. As I grow as a Christ-follower and a leader, I hope I can be more more like Alex, and recast normal gatherings of friends into a time of worship.

Life as I knew it

I'm kind of getting back to what had, in late 2007, become my routine. Things like time for reading, working out, and journaling are back. I'm seeing people I haven't seen in the last few months.

The truth is, that while it's nice to feel like I'm regaining a lost element of control, it's interesting to me how little I've missed these things. It may be an inconvenience, but allowing someone into your life is much richer than keeping your schedule full.

One Thing I'm Learning

One thing I'm learning is how little I really trust God. Sure, I can point to the times he's rescued me from utter ruin, to the ways he's provided when I thought there was so way out, to the mountains of blessings I enjoy today. But, at the end of it all, I struggle to trust God.

What I'm learning is that deep down inside there are things I do not really believe. I do not really believe that I can find wholeness in God. I do not really believe he has plans for me. I do not really believe I can succeed in my goals.

In some ways, my lack of faith is a sick and twisted type of faith in itself. Despite evidence to the contrary, I continue to doubt God's goodness. And in doing so, I seem to, again and again, jump into things that are not good for me. Simply because I do not have faith that God has something better.

I know that the pain of my mistakes is God's grace. When I fail, I am not destroyed, but simply reminded, that life without him hurts a whole lot more.

A Prayer for the Holiday

This Irish prayer is attributed to Saint Patrick and often referred to as the "breastplate" of St. Patrick--words that shield.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;

Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Swiftness of wind,

Depth of the sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's hand to guard me.

Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding:

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,

Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,

Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of Creation.

Sympathy for the Preterists...

(Chris Morton is an Orthodox Christian, and his reflections here are not an endorsement of unorthodox beliefs.)

Do you ever just read the words of Jesus and think "seriously, what does that mean??? what am I supposed to do with that?"

Today I'm reading Mark 13, which I'm no stranger to. I get it-Jesus' condemnation of Jerusalem and his predictive prophecy of the fall of that same city that would come 40 years later. Now, I'm (more or less...) a literalist when it comes to the Bible, especially the synoptic gospels. I believe that they were written far before the fall of Jerusalem, and that they record Jesus' actual words.

I guess the struggle I felt tonight had to do with the question, "why are these words in the Bible?" Why include this prophecy at all? Sure, it may have had a powerful meaning to the original audience, but what about today?

Then there's the real rub: There's a way to read the text, that makes it sound like the second coming of Jesus was going to be literally and immediately after the fall of Jerusalem. The preterists say it was. The liberals say Jesus made a mistake.

The best explanation I've heard is that it all ties back to Daniel and the "son of man" reference in Mark 13, in a reference a prophetic day of judgment. Not to be confused with the final judgment, but more the very common OT prophet "God's comin' to getcha" judgment. And that's where I'm willing to land.

All I'm saying is, it's a hard text, I don't get it, and I can sympathize with the preterists.