Dang.

The last couple weeks I've been listening to a sermon series by Mark Driscoll titled "Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions." All of the messages are available as free podcasts from iTunes. The sermon on humor was particularly eye opening to me for a couple reasons.
The first is that I love to laugh. Occasionally I think I laugh at things I shouldn't. However, after listening to his, quite convincing, view of God and humor, I feel like it's okay to laugh.
The second is that I picked up on an important piece that I needed to hear. Driscoll says, "We take ourselves too seriously and God too lightly." That has been ringing in my ears all week. I'm too easily offended, and I'm too afraid of laughing at things that might offend others. He makes the correct assertion that the only sin in our post-modern culture is to be offensive. We know that the Gospel offends. We know that there are some heinous, ridiculous things people believe. From now on, I won't feel so bad when I chuckle at Tom Cruise.

Johnny Cash

This is one of my favorite music videos (and songs) ever.

Words Mean Something

The idea that each word has a weight of its own, a meaning, has been the recurring theme in my communication disorder classes. Sometimes I give great consideration to my own words and the words of others. Other times, I speak and listen with little thought. The following words, which I first heard several years ago, have meant something to me. Each time I hear them, they speak a particular truth about my life, about all of us. Today, they have echoed in my ears.

In the economy of mercy
I am a poor and begging man
The currency of Grace
is where my song begins
In the colors of Your goodness
in the scars that mark Your skin
In the currency of Grace
is where my song begins

Their original context is the song "Economy of Mercy" by Switchfoot. On their own, they are extremely poetic. In the context of the song, I like them even more. The title words strike me most. I know not how to give more weight to words which, in my mind, are already so heavy. I can only say that I have no currency but the grace of God. For that, I praise the Lord above.

Drooling...

over this.

New Year

I've been contemplating a New Year's post for several days now. Originally, I made no resolutions. I never stick to them, so why make them, right? After some consideration, I decided that might not be the best attitude. I can't go through life not setting goals just because I think I'll fail. So, while I still don't have any definite goals or resolutions, I have decided that this year, I'm going to try to stop thinking in terms of "someday," and "eventually." If there's something I want to do, I'm going to just do it. Not everything can be done right this second, but I can start working towards it.

So right off the bat, I have a few things that I simply had to do. I saw these circles on one of my favorite blogger's site. I like her fabrics much better, but I'm thinking I can always change them out if I find ones I like better. Anyway, I've been wanting to complete this quirky little project for quite a while and I finally did it.

Ah, my good old trumpet. It's been several years since I picked it up. I've been saying that some day I'll pick it up again. I played for almost ten years, so I'd be foolish to let myself forget completely. It felt surprisingly good in my hands. I'm pretty rusty, but hopefully I can get back in the swing of it soon. Kyle also picked up his old trumpet. We're hoping we can play some duets.

I'm also attempting to read my Bible in its supposed chronological order this year. According to my reading plan, it started, of course, with the first few chapters in Genesis. Currently, I'm reading in Job.

I have a few other ideas of things I want to accomplish, but perhaps they can wait for another time. I better go practice that trumpet!