HeArt[er]Burn

To set the record straight, here's an article that sorta of addresses the issue we've brought up numerous times (though this article itself seems to be a bit like a dangling participle).

It only lists two divorces (and three marriages) as of 2006.06.09. So there may be one after that, but I've not found it on the 'net.

This was originally designed to be a post just for information, but what I read in the article tends to disturb me. Don't get me wrong, like we talked about tonight, I'm all for learning from mistakes, but do you get the feeling that's what's going on here?

None of us knows the heart, and I'm certainly not asking for judgement to be passed. Rather, I'm looking for conversation. Do you think the attitude is just or flippant? (Does he even mention either divorce in the book? Does he mention the premarital part of it?) What do you think about him (even after his second divorce) leading a women's conference? Specifically, it is mentioned that his marriage endured "twenty difficult years". That's certainly not how it was portrayed in the book. Did he give up too soon? Is what he said in the book only the action/decision part of it (meaning the actual desire never came as promised)? Should it change our view point of his text at all? Do you think there are things he promised, that we agreed with, that no longer seem/are true?

Again, I'm not looking for book bashing nor am I looking for Steve bashing. What should our approach to this be if it occurs in our lives or the lives of those we love? What's our role as the church with someone going through this or on the verge of going through this?

Light Up Ahead

Take this heart of darkness
I give it up
And all the emptiness
You fill it up
The times that I feel nothing
You bring enough
So I can live for something
You lift me up

And all these bad dreams
I wake up to the light
And when I can't see
I wake up to your eyes

Wake me up
There's a light up ahead

It gets so complicated
If you live enough
Turn in to what you hated
You're breaking up
The times I feel like nothing
You bring enough
So I can live for something
You lift me up!

And all these bad dreams
I wake up to the light
And when I can't see
I wake up to your eyes

Wake me up
There's a light up ahead


This is one of my favorite songs by Further Seems Forever, one of those bands who played some great spiritual rock to the masses. I heard it today and was struck by how much this song can be written about me sometimes and figured it might hit you guys the same way. I love it. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Here's the link if you care to have a listen

Cheers

Brothers in Arm

Brothers in arm
Brothers in harm
Brothers there to lean on

I jump quick to attack knowing they have my back
And step up to the plate with no single debate
of whether right or wrong

I lead the way with words I say trying to convey
my
pain
and confusion

A smile on my face during a tumultuous day
brings me back to my senses

Whether lack of sleep or sorrow so deep
They rescue me from delusion

We fight, we die, we live, we try
to serve
our
God

Tis not an easy task should you ever ask,
because being human leaves us with thoughts of treason

Treason of our brains and our actions and our chains,
which we at times pile on like rain
not thinking of the dangers of the flood

Each step we take and move we make
we grow stronger

Like a flying ace we endure and face
all the world of sin

Wing men from up above, blessed of the stuff
God
is made of.

Lord hear my praise till the end of days that I have Men to walk with.
Your comfort draws near as they pull up a chair to talk and commune.

My dull sword drawn ready
to sharpen
on
the swords
of these men.

Through the forest we ride like a rolling tide cutting our pride
like samurai
on
bamboo.

Our cynical nature
is crushed like a wafer
in the hands
of a giant.

Thank you my God for hearing my prayers
for wiping my tears
and calming my fears.

For it is you I rely
The almighty on high
as the leader of this rag tag group.

May we be fishers of men
and real community never end
In Christ's name
AMEN

The Downside to Community

As we (a home group under the leadership of Brent Bell), Hammer Delt, seek to establish community within the Village body, I have made a few observations that have saddened me. I'd like your feedback on the thoughts. Keep in mind that these observations have been made short term, and without the knowledge of things to come.

1) A few weeks ago, I was invited to join "The Cove", a gmail group put on by some of our peers at the church. I don't know how many people are on the mailing list, but I would guess around 150. Just to cut to the chase, the majority of the conversation going back and forth is either a) not glorifying to God, and b) arguing to no end about things that make little to no impact on anyone's walk with Christ (make no mistake, stubborness and pride have a major part in this). Some of the "rhetoric and Christianese" (copyright Shanks, 2007) that is passed back and forth makes my head hurt, and totally boggles the little understanding I have in God. But isn't that the point of it? To lean not on my own understanding and to just simply trust in God? So why is so much time wasted on trying to figure out things that can only be given peace through prayer and application?

2) It seems we (read: Josh) have picked up more bad habits from others than we have actually shared good habits. This is directly referring to the sarcasm bit. Just this past Friday night, I found myself dogging the Prez, even after he called me out on it in public!! It wasn't done in hate or malice. I definitely don't think that we have reached some magical level in our relationship where it makes it okay to say things like that, even in jest. Why did I suddenly start doing that, especially when I make it a point to call others out on it? Is it the speck/plank corrolation? Thoughts please.