"My soul followeth hard after thee....

...thy right hand upholdeth me."

While reading the first couple of pages of AW Tozers "The Pursuit of God" I was so interested that at this time, early 1900's, he writes about how we need to chase after God, how people are getting caught up in the programs, and getting so busy and yadda yadda yadda. This is not a new struggle! He talks of how we need to hunger and thirst for the Lord really "follow hard after him". I've read Psalm 63 a ton, it's one of my favorites. A couple of weeks ago I got stuck on verse 8 "My soul clings to you" I just loved that imagery, it's not just a desire but a strong sense of necessity, a longing. Then Towser wrote the KJV "My soul followeth hard after thee..." So beautiful.

I was today of what a beautiful picture this verse is of our relationship with God. We are to pursue God, thirst and hunger for him, to chase after him...yet we're already with him. We are to long for his presence yet are already there. We are in his right hand. We are saved, we are righteous in his sight, not by works but by who he is. He holds on to us as we cling to him. It's like a beautiful oxymoron, we chase yet we stand still. We are saved but our salvation doesn't end with a prayer, it begins. We work out our salvation in fear and trembling as we enter into the throne room, yet we are free to sit.

I was thinking about that image, and how it seems pointless...we're chasing and pursuing but not getting anywhere. I knew this wasn't the case but thats how it sort or reads. And I thought of a treadmill, because you run and run and run, but you don't get anywhere! You're stationary. However you still feel the effects of it, it is still healthy, you work your muscles, you strengthen your heart. . . . I followeth hard after thee, thy right hand upholdeth me.

Reunion with old friends

I'm a dork. The above line refers to the characters of Harry Potter. As you may know *if you read my blog* I was re-reading The Half Blood Prince. I finished it today and started devouring the seventh and final book "The Deathly Hallows".

I really do enjoy these books and have missed them... the characters that is. They make me laugh and yes Cry. They make me think, ponder and question. I know, I know they are fictional characters yadda yadda yadda and some may view I'm being swayed by magic and the occult...to that I say, nay! I understand if you dont want to read it, Pauls words in 1 Corinthians rings clear. However tonight I referenced Harrys plight in life to a friend who is struggling with apathy and a disconcerning situation. For them it was a reference that made it clear, a reference that actually illuminated her journey with the Lord.

I've also just realized that writing your thoughts, voicing your oppinions is a scary, precarious thing. So often your words are misconstrewed, misunderstood and mis-represented...

Communication overload.

Texting. Phone Call. Email. Msn Messenger. Facebook. Facebook Chat. Blogging. . .

My friend wrote a blog about texting, and the fact he doesn't like it. I text him a reply because I believe myself to be witty. Meanwhile I'm also talking the them msn. I could be talking to them on facebook as well, but alas I signed off facebook chat.



Two things that did not disapoint me this week:

Re-reading Potter #6

Lost - "We're not going to Guam are we?"

2 in 1

Last night, I had the grossest sleep I've had in a long time. I think I may have had a fever because I woke up sweating, which only ever happens if I'm sleeping in the Gambia or I have a fever. I woke up several times to go to the bathroom. I woke up several other times just to fuss about and turn over.

Now sundays are my get up and face the world, early day. 6:45 that ridiculous phone plays some ridiculous song to wake me up. So often I take a nap when I get home from church.

Today was one of them.

I went to church, and felt very encouraged by the service and the people and it was all around wonderful just like God. And it was sunny and a day full of hope and beauty. I thought about going for a walk or longboarding...however I was sooo stupid tired. So...end of day one.

I layed down at aprox. 2 and set my alarm for 4. I woke up at 2:30 and had to pee. I woke up at 3 because I got a phone call. I woke up at 4 because my alarm went off. I woke up at 5:05 because I'd fallen back asleep.

Beginning of day two.

I woke up, read some more Potter *re-reading #6* and then headed out for Citywide. This is a city ...wide... worship night for the youth of abbotsford. It's held at CBC, where I graduated from so it was awesome I saw a bunch of guys I graduated with, and then a bunch of my youth showed up. To be honest I was nervous because I'd never been "out" with my youth... haha funny right? but it all went well and I got some sweet opportunities to connect with some I dont know well, and pray with others, it was good. I came home finished watching accepted with Carly, Than and Benny...laughed. And now I'm here.

End of day Two...almost.

Pointless Blog? Sure, but today was a great day. 2 in 1 Sunday was both on great accounts.

An Article

I wrote this for our church "magazine" ...it was 11 at night, and I didn't edit it....

While sitting across from a young girl, who is obviously in love with the Lord and actively pursuing him, a small truth became a big one for me. Parents have the chance to have a huge impact on their children spiritually. I had asked her what she was learning from God, and she had mentioned she was reading a book that her mother had recommended and reading through proverbs with a group of her friends. I thought this was amazing; she was devouring a book her mother suggested and reading proverbs! I asked why her and her friends were reading proverbs turns out it was suggested by her friends’ father. It was initiated by a parent. It wasn’t forced upon her or mandatory but suggested, shared with. It was her choice but initiated by a parent.
I’ve seen it many times, where youth do not take initiative in their relationship with God because although their parents may be Christian they are not actively involved in their faith formation. A relationship is not modeled to them, but merely given face time, it isn’t a way of life but a program that has been downloaded without any thought.
Youth is only two hours out of every week; it would be naive to think that this would be the greatest potential for spiritual formation. Don’t get me wrong I’m not trying to type myself out of a position however I do realize that the home should be the primary teaching ground when it comes to spiritual matters. When a parent engages in conversation with their child about what they are reading in the bible, what they are learning from God and the questions that they have, it provides the youth an opportunity to discuss and formulate their own faith. It helps them discover that they too are capable of having a real relationship with the Father. Lifeline is hopefully a place where youth feel comfortable to come and share, to learn and grow and to be supported by their leaders. Growth, challenge, and equipping takes place at lifeline, but it’s not only coming from a lifeline night, or a over a cup of steamed milk, it’s coming from the home. And that’s a beautiful thing!

The list.

Last month I posted the beginnings of a sort of to do list. This list is not where I put things that are sort of a "dreams" or "possibilities" but things that I truly desire to see come into fruition and if I can I will work towards them. For ex. I did not put "adopt" on their...because all though it is something that I think I may want to do later in life, I have no idea if I marry if that would be the desire of their heart however I put "to be in a musical' because someday I will be!



I will begin to describe why things are on the list. The frist one I had on my list was



SKYDIVE.



...I know right? Sort of cliche? Phh my theory of cliches is that they are overused for a freakin' reason!! I have skydive on my list, not to seem bold or daring. Partially to seem adventurous sure. But really could you imagine free falling from a freakin' airplane! The turbulence of it all, the breath taking *literally* sensation!? Oh man, I could barely imagine. Yes I'd probably be crapping my pants, and someone might literally have to throw me out of the plane but freakin' eh I'll get out there! I'll be strapped onto someone else, i'll have multiple shoots that I wont even be in charge of opening...but I will jump from a plane! Ahhh I'm scared just thinking about it!

Obligation

Sometimes in a commitment you do said thing out of obligation. This is one of those times.

Oscar Wilde. I think this man is ridiculously wonderful and witty. . .

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."

"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction."
This one made me chuckle.

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. "

"Who being loved is poor."

"When the gods want to punish us they answer our prayers."

"Women are made to be loved, not understood."

A friend of the families passed away yesteday, she was only in her 40's.
My chest definitely aches.