Destination Unknown?

     I have to admit that I haven't written in the past month or so because my life, as are other's lives, been a journey. Although for me there has been no clear destination in mind other than being the best 'Christian' that I could be. Just how t I am to arrive at that goal has been a bit of a mystery to me. In fact that seems to be a problem for many of us “ Christians”; we don't see this life as a journey or we haven't a clue as to our destination. If you are like me you have heard the passage from the New Testament letter to the Hebrews about how we are in a race witnessed by others and that we must run the good race to the finish [ Hebrews 12:1-3]. I might add we are supposed to run this race with great patience, something that I am in short supply of at times. But then again I think that can apply to any of us. I think of this passage often and wonder if I somehow missed the starting gun. Or if they even allow tricycles in this race. Besides haven't I read somewhere that Christians are supposed to be non-competitive? If that is true them Paul's more athletic allusions in his writings to the early church then somehow have missed on that concept ( and FTR I do think that Paul was the writer of the passage here).

But I digress, as I often do.

Back to my original thought. I started out this journey, as well as this blog, in hopes of becoming a better”Christian”. As I think more and more,maybe the destination for becoming a better”Christian” should be just becoming a better person. Simple as that. Maybe the key to being a “Christian” is understanding that the Gospel is more about reclaiming Life and less about gaining Heaven. After all Jesus started his 'public' ministry by reading out of Isiah 61. So where does that leave us with Paul's illustration of us being in a 'Race'? I am not sure really? I am pretty sure that this is something to consider as I resume my journey.

a post resurrection story

 It is Easter night and I have been thinking about Jesus'post Resurrection stories. One in particular- the one where his former disciples go back to what they were before he turned their lives , as well as hopes and dreams, upside down. Maybe you remember it too. The one where they decide to go night fishing. The one where while they are headed home with empty nets, no fish, and less sleep. They get a tip from a stranger on shore. A tip that results in a net full of fish. So many the net nearly broke. But that isn't the part that I have been thinking of. I have been thinking of the breakfast the fisherman had on shore. That and the conversation that went along with it. It is that conversation in which Jesus asked Peter if he loved him more than the things around  Peter's life that catches my attention . We read it in John 21:9-17

 There are several things in that scene that I notice
   1] Jesus cooked and fed them. The resurrected Son Of God still acted the servant.
   2] Jesus broke the silence among them. The text seems to indicate that they at in silence. I would say that this is so typical male but I have a feeling none of them wanted to speak out of fear. Or shame.  Or maybe not wanting to allow them selves to hope in Jesus again.
    3] The question that Jesus asked of Peter is deeper than most translations give.  Jesus spoke Aramaic, a combination of Greek/Hebrew, so the phrase almost reads do you breath in what I meant to you on a moral/social level? In other words, do [did] my words have an impact on your life?

 That is something I want to dwell on here. I have been learning in my relationship with Wonder, that love is more than some four letter word centered around how I feel. Love is actually something that changes how a person thinks . I know that to true in my life. Because I love Wonder I have had to become more open to how I think about her feelings. I make more choices with that as a template.  and so;because I love Jesus/God I have to become more open to how I think about them. I make life choices according to that template.  Jesus asked Peter a question at that breakfast as a way of pointing out that Peter had to change the way he had previously thought out Jesus. To make choices about his life according to that new template that was drawn out by the gospel [  see Luke 14/Isa 61] Christ had lived out and tried to teach his disciples. This ,to mw, is just one of those post Resurrection stories that I can't let go of.

NO Virgina. I haven't forgotten I have a blog

HI there,
 Just a shout out to any and all who have chosen to follow my blog. I have been a little lax this week with  blogging. More like procrastinating really I had planned on doing the TC as a thrice weekly. We all know how well that worked out, So I have come up with a solution of doing this a weekly blog for now.  I think that will work for now as I find my footing as to the direc tion the TC will take. I really don't wasn't to plan things out all that much . I have been finding out that the journey unplanned is much more sanctifying. But having a destination will keep this on track . Anyhow----start  looking for more of the TC on Mondays.

A reasonable Fear

I haven't blogged much lately but something I saw on the news today triggered this. It seems that since health insurance reform was passed some people who disagree with it's passing have decided that it is OK to be demeaning and/or threatening to certain legislators. This really bothers me since I believe that we live in a society that should encourage civil discourse, in some case even civil disobedience,and if we disagree we should disagree agreeably. That makes sense to me. Isn't that we were taught in pre-school? That is was never OK to throw sand in the sand box. It was even worse to threaten someone with bodily harm, much less follow through on the threat. Sooooo- how come it has become OK to call legislators names or threaten some one who voted for or against health insurance reform? Is that who a responsible voter acts? Methinks that ( thanks to FOX News - Glenn Beck- Baba O'Rielly et al) it has some how become fashionable , for Conservatives at lest, to be immature and disagreeable in how they handle what they don't agree with. What scares me is that some cuckoo will decide it is alright to take a pot shot at some one, Especially if he/she/it hears 'God' telling them that it is Her/ His/It's will. I am worried that someone will get hurt. Can someone tell em when Politics or politcals views become a contact blood sport?