MACain vs. PCobama

lausanne covenant

I was intrigued to come across the Lausanne Covenant which is a globally created and multi-denominationally created statement for theological common for unity in mission. Just started breezing through it, but really appreciated the closing statement:

Therefore, in the light of this our faith and our resolve, we enter into a solemn covenant with God and with each other, to pray, to plan and to work together for the evangelization of the whole world. We call upon others to join us. May God help us by his grace and for his glory to be faithful to this our covenant! Amen, Alleluia!

A beautiful picture.

I am beginning to read it more carefully and see whether it can be as unifying as the dream above.

death to self

I was reminded of this quote. It has been transformed in my heart into a regular reminder and prayer. I couldn't remember the words exactly because they have taken so many different shapes in my life.

I found it in an online copy of a memoir (ironically on page 187):

To one who asked (Mueller) the secret of his service he said:

"There was a day when I died, utterly died;"

and, as he spoke, he bent lower and lower until he almost touched the floor —

"died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will — died to the world, its approval or censure — died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends — and since then I have studied only to show myself 'approved unto God.'"

What a gift. May it be a continual prayer of the hearts of those who seek to honor God and follow Jesus.

crammed with heaven

Earth's crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with God;
but only he who sees, takes off his shoes—
the rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Part of this poem use to hang over the door to the youth room when I was a youth pastor. I had forgotten the expectancy these words brought to my heart. And the addition of the last line (which was not on the sign over the door) reminds me that it is so easy to live life while missing God's presence and blessing.

walden

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartanlike as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. For most men, it appears to me, are in a strange uncertainty about it, whether it is of the devil or of God, and have somewhat hastily concluded that it is the chief end of man here to 'glorify God and enjoy him forever.' - Henry David Thoreau

directing tolerance

The implications of Prop 8 in California are quite hard to fully grasp. As a Christian I wish to affirm Biblical marriage, as a thoughtful person I want to affirm the fundamental health of society when it comes to traditional marriage, and in wanting to be thoughtful about the freedoms of the U.S. I want to be fair in how the government treats crime, vice, and virtue. If only we were voting on marriage certificates on November 4th this issue might be clearer for me... but here is a story, only one story, from Massachusetts. Certainly food for thought:



Whether this story has "extreme" parents or an "extreme" administration on either side is irrelevant. It happened, and will continue to happen with such confusing messages to our kids from two distinctly different worldviews.

I wish our legislation would teach or direct us how to treat each other in a more tolerant way. In other words, how to be civil when we deeply disagree over something that we both agree is important.