Good-bye Good Weather

Good-bye rafting,
Kayaking, and chocolate tang.

Adieu, Shakespeare festival,
And outdoor film going.

Au revoir, aromatic flowers,
And freshly mowed grass.

Until next year, Art in the Park
And Hyde Park Fair.

Arevaderci fresh summer food.

Good-bye spontaneous skinny dipping.

Later, water-skis and wakeboard.

I will miss you, my cruiser.

Adios, margaritas, corona
And unabashedly painting the town red.

Good-bye foothills, our rubber soles
And tires will tread again come spring.

Sayonara summer stoop sitting.

Until next year. Farewell…

Sincerity

"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."
2 Corinthians 2:16,17

"Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace."
2 Corinthians 1:11-13


It’s like a drink of cool water, a breath of fresh air, a swim in a clear lake, a perfect line down a freshly powdered mountain. SINCERITY!

Once again, I find myself pushing and pulling to find that spot of perfect tension, not ease, but tension where I must live… and rest.

The pushing is truth and the pulling is love. Where can I find this place of tension, and ultimately, rest? In sincerity. It’s so refreshing to know that what is truly most effective is simply me being me…sincere.

I’ve spent so many a laborious day peddling, and peddling, striving in my flesh to speak the truth in love. I’ve also spent no less days straining to use my liberal education, i.e. worldly wisdom, to filter truth and love.

No more. I’m just going to be sincere, and breathe easy.

Dichotomy Dilemma (part one)

My grandma always said, “everything in moderation” and I always found myself nodding in agreement. In fact, I’ve often thought that life was about finding the balance, and living in that balance. It’s only lately that I’ve come to understand that I can’t live in the land of balance and moderation where I am allegedly supposed to have peace and where things are perfectly aligned to my pleasing. On the contrary! I’ve realized that instead of being “at peace” it is actually more comforting to live in an eternal and sometimes agonizing tension (read a little Rob Bell to hear more about the “tension” of life).

About a year ago, my pastor spoke in front of the church about drinking, cigar smoking, and God forbid, the celebration of Halloween! The message was clear. Everything that we do, we must do (no, not in moderation) according to what we personally feel convicted about. Not only that, but we must understand that our obligation is to others and that we must walk in freedom, but with full understanding that we must love others first. Love should always be the filter for what I do and don’t do. IT'S SO SIMPLE! It’s the solution to my wondering “is this ok?” “should I do this?” No more wondering, simply ask God to walk with me as I walk in loving freedom and I will know where to walk!

However… it’s not exactly that simple. It’s been a challenge living that out in “Christian circles” where we cling to modernist paradigms which say we must always see things in black and white. Truth and non truth. Yes and no. Do and don’t. Wrong and right.

Of course I don’t ever see myself living a life where everything is relative, (thank God for the truth of His love for me) but I am considering the benefits that the relativist mindset can bring to living a radical Christian life.

Is this blasphemy? I don’t think so, but maybe tomorrow… I will.