decisions and rules

oh my goodness - this quote has so many repercussions - it just popped up on my google page and i had to put it here to remember to write about it:

"The truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions."

Mike Krzyzewski

who the heck is mike krzyzewski you ask? deep spiritual thinker? nope, basketball coach of the Duke Blue Devils - whoda thunk it? this is so big i can't wait to drag it into the church and unpack it there... later though - my laundry room awaits!

we are getting a "new" to us washer and dryer today - my dryer has been squealing like a stuck pig since lent and today we are getting a matching pair - only 3 years old for $200 CDN! yippee! god is so good!

the haters have found me!

the haters have found me! somehow i've gotten a link from lighthouse trails (i won't do them the favor of linking back - you'll have to do the search yourself) on their rob bell page. they've used my blog as a link for one of their quotes - which i have no idea how i got chosen for it. i have posted about rob, but i don't know where that quote was from???

so, if you've gotten to me from lighthouse trails - hi, welcome - you'll find grace here. i know it pains you that the kingdom is far bigger than you can control or imagine - but we're all gonna be in heaven so you might as well welcome us now! peace on your journey!

spiritual terrorism

most of you have already read this. i couldn't make it through the first paragraph. it felt like poison seeping into my brain and traveling throughout my body. how could anyone be so ugly? how could anyone make such claims?

all i could think about was kyle's wife, his children, stumbling across this cruelty and having to not only deal with the loss, pain and grief that comes from loosing your soul mate and father, but to have it made into such a public spectacle, milked for notoriety and any internet fame it might bring. it is phariseeism at it's worst. even the slimiest of ambulance chasers wouldn't stoop this low.

i kept thinking, 'that could be us'. anyone could have made the mistake, reaching out, adjusting the mike - how very sad someone is using this tragedy to catapult himself into the public eye by making such horrid claims. it is spiritual terrorism at it's ugliest.

people who need fear and power to promote their cause are the weakest of minds and the most to be pitied. the problem with terrorism is that it never gives those using it's methods what they desire. it only strengthens the opposition.

mr. proctor, the only consolation that can be had is that you have to live your sad, miserable life. you must serve and worship your horrible, angry god, and you must look at yourself every day as you shave and prepare to live out your small, pathetic existence while the rest of us enjoy grace, life and a god of abundance and love. i only pity your family, your children raised in a home where god is such a bastard and life is so demoralizing that you need to inflict the pain that you carry on others in this deplorable way.

confusing grace

liam said something last night at our small group that made me groan inwardly. we were all processing our family thanksgivings and he was talking about having my brother-in-law here, who is quite legalistic and judgemental. quite a reminder of how we used to be. (back in egypt) liam said, 'well i guess grace is about allowing other's to live in their legalism without judging them.'

crap.

i want to judge them. i hate the pharisee. i burns me up like nothing else. grace means i have to let the pharisee be a pharisee?? crap. he's right. their path and journey is different from mine. i need to live here in the light and freedom, stand fast in the liberty, and breathe. hopefully that looks attractive enough for them to break free from the slavery they have chosen someday.

father, forgive me for judging them, and all the pharisees in my life so harshly. please allow me to extend grace to them where they are instead of requiring them to be where i am before i will show them the grace that you have shown me. amen.