I had a friend that really enjoyed reading Anne Rice’s vampire chronicles. It was her extreme interest in these books that I decided to pick one up and read them. You may all recognize her most from her book that was made into a movie, Interview with the Vampire. The movie was alright, but I found so much more richness in Rice’s words than the movie could express. Note that I’m not even interested in vampires, but found myself reading a few of her books because they were just that good. Now that vampire lovin’ author is a Jesus lovin’ one, devoting all her writings to the Lord and abandoning her vampire work (except for one that she says focuses on redemption rather than the vampires). She posted an article yesterday about her trust in the Lord and it’s worth reading.
Look: I believe in Him. It’s that simple and that complex. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the God Man who came to earth, born as a tiny baby and then lived over thirty years in our midst. I believe in what we celebrate this week: the scandal of the cross and the miracle of the Resurrection. My belief is total. And I know that I cannot convince anyone of it by reason, anymore than an atheist can convince me, by reason, that there is no God.
One of the things I love about Jesus and salvation is that there is no discrimination. It is available for everyone. I know people who loved Jesus as soon as they could read, others who found Him in college, and the best stories, to me, are the ones who found Him later in life. To me, that means they had extra years to live in sin and rebellion, but even with those years, God extends His grace and mercy. I love it when I hear of outspoken atheists coming to know Christ, only to devote their entire life to them - sometimes even more passionately than those who knew Him all their life. (The apostle Paul, anyone?)
So, on this Black Saturday, I sit at my computer in awe of what He has done for us and what He continues to do. He’s the one that makes our paths straight and crooked. I have to remember this. With Christ, there is such great hope. There is such great redemption.
Just wanted to point out what God is doing with a handful of bloggers. I’ve mentioned her before, but Anne Jackson (flowerdust.net) and a few other awesome bloggers (including musician Shaun Groves) are merging their blogging skills, Jesus, and the people of Uganda in a week, for a week. All of them will be heading off to Uganda, to share Christ — not only to the people there, but to the people all over the world who happen to run across their blogs.
This is something I would love to do during my mission trips, but for security reasons, cannot. So, much prayer goes out to the fifteen history makers - for security, health, focus, and the continued reminder to be open, honest, and willing vessels for Christ’s love to really shine in Uganda.
Keep up with Anne as she starts her journey February 10th. You can also check out the other bloggers listed on her site.
Sometimes I wonder if I do the right thing for the wrong reasons.
Sometimes I wonder if the right thing isn’t so right.
What if all the people doing the wrong things are actually doing the right thing?
If I do the wrong thing, will I feel right?
This is the sound of my head exploding. It happens a lot.
Daley Hake wrote an excellent post worth reading. Glad to know I’m not alone, although it’s hard to imagine someone that doesn’t struggle with this to some degree. Oh yeah, check his photography too. It’s badass.
I’m trying to love people. I’m trying so very hard to understand and serve those I come in contact with. I just seem to suck so bad at it. Are some of us just not as capable as others? Or is all of this frustration just growing pains that will one day cultivate into a greater heart and understanding for humanity?
I’m on a journey in which I am fighting with myself. A journey towards Integrity and Wisdom. An endless journey.
“I see myself a stranger in one land, and an alien among one people. Yet all the earth is my homeland, and the human family is my tribe. For I have seen that man is weak and divided upon himself. And the earth is narrow and in its folly cuts itself into kingdoms and principalities.
…I stand alone in mourning, listening. And I hear from within me a voice of hope.”
-Kahlil Gibran
I feel insane. I feel right, yet wrong. I feel content, yet disconnected. Disconnected from the way this world works and the people whom embrace the systems at hand. Both the systems proclaiming good…and the systems built out of selfish ambition.
Excerpt from Daley’s blog. Full post here.
