The Color of My World

Lately I've been captivated by a Hillsong United song Hosanna. By lately I mean since mid October. Here's the lyrics in which I've been caught up:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I have for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

These words have been a constant prayer for me over the last ~1.5 months. I listen to the song almost everyday (yes, I'm an addict) but I often find myself singing it in my head or the words traveling through my mind as I wander about day to day life. The line that's got the greatest grasp on me right now is "Break my heart for what breaks yours."
What breaks God's heart?
How does/do I let it affect me?
Am I thinking about things that concern God?
As this line tumbles around in my soul, I think about people who are suffering (basic needs, violence, abuse, oppression, disease, etc.), who feel out of place or misplaced, who have questions and no one to talk to about them and on and on and on...This is one thing that has been coloring my world lately.

The other thing that has been coloring my world is a book by one of my favorite authors Jim Palmer. I'll let his bio speak for itself, suffice to say he's learning about God's grace just by being Jim in this world called Earth. I'm reading his 2nd book Wide Open Spaces: Beyond Paint-By-Number Christianity and LOVING it!! I only got to checking out his blog today, but I commend it to you to enjoy and give you a different perspective on things.

http://www.divinenobodies.com/blog/

Who, What, Where?

There are Christmas lights on the evergreen trees at the corner of the block.
Apparently tomorrow is Halloween.
Gas is averaging $2.15.
My friend Kile from WA called tonight and we had a really good conversation.
I have a really great book to read before bed (Wide Open Spaces: Beyond Paint-By-Number Christianity by Jim Palmer--one of my favorite authors).
I have a Netflix DVD to watch.
Tomorrow should be a good day.
One of my new classes tonight was excellent (Buddhism and the Christian).
I did pretty well in discussion during history today. Had some good points to make.
There wasn't anymore good deals on candy to replace my mixed bag of 50 Reese's products.
Still need to buy a ticket home for Christmas.
Need to fix plans for January.
I got to feel a real seal skin pelt on Wednesday.
It's 12:30am and I'm still wound up.

Spiritual Transformations: Living Now In Eternity

I have been reading the book Spiritual Transformations: Science, Religion and Human Becoming by Karl E. Peters. I picked it up on the new books shelf at the library for three reasons:
1) The title sounded interesting.
2) It was thin enough to get through by reading a bit each night before bed.
3) There was a beautiful picture of light shining through green trees on the cover.

I know--don't judge a book by it's cover.

I finally reached the last chapter today and wanted to comment on a couple things I read.
"Like the Taoist story of the climbing of Mt. Everest--a story of conquest or of befriending--the Christmas story that I heard and saw portrayed, presented to me two ways of living on the edge of time--living by the power that destroys in order to preserve itself, or by the love that enables all people to flourish and fulfill their potential."

• I read this and had one of those moments where your brain is trying to take in the fullness of what you just read and still can't quite comprehend it, yet you love what it said. Isn't this the whole point--to lose ourselves in Christ and be so fully consumed by the Triune God that we let go of trying to secure our own lives and desires and live to love so that all around us might thrive?
  

"...being mindful of their needs and mindful of our limitations....Assuming whatever shape according to the conditions? That's playing when you think about it--the playing of young children. Becoming as a little child, Jesus says, one can enter the kingdom of heaven. When one becomes like this, one is living now in eternity."

• Reminds me of Paul when he writes "For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. (I Cor. 9.19-23)
• Then there's this whole eternity piece; the idea that everything we do, no matter how insignificant we see it, is part of the cosmic work of God. We take part in this every day and moment, but we don't often realize it. That's what the mindfulness piece was about--being aware that we are here to serve others and in that we find our true selves and purpose is part of eternity...lived NOW.
  

Practical Use #1

I've known this for a while now, but thought I'd more publicly share my wisdom.

So you've got all these theological books sitting around that you've read, but are no longer interacting with on a daily basis? Here are some tips for making use of them!
1) Coasters--Whether on the couch or on the coffee table, a book cushions the table and the cup. Though if it's a book you like, I'd suggest putting down a napkin in case of spills or sweating cups.
2) Pressing Things--What better way to flatten a flower, other greenery, or something you've glued together than with some weighty theological books? Again, a sheet of paper or paper towel is wise in case there's bleeding from whatever you're trying to flatten.
3) Piled Up--Either to even something out or as a decorative display, a colorful, multi-sized, varied thickness stack of books is pleasing to the eye.

First Week of Classes

I survived! Despite having to finish off my approval essay and wrap up final internship evaluation paperwork and start all my fall classes, I made it through the week with only 3 stress headaches and a couple crying sessions. Yesterday I mailed out my essay and all the final intern paperwork, so it is DONE in my book. Just a few signature pages to ferry to the right places and then I'm all set.

I lost my immunology, chemistry and my Jesus the Savior reader to the evil mail system called the USPS, but I am moving on. So far all my classes seem like they are going to be great for learning and discussion. Great professors and fun people with which to learn. I'm most excited that it's Friday and I finally get a chance to rest and catch up on some sleep.

Last night I spent some time trying to get my palm pilot working with my computer. Turns out I will need to buy some software for the sync capabilities for Outlook, but it should just be a $20 upgrade. Worth it, in my view, to have my schedule right at hand. Plus it's way lighter and smaller than my laptop and turns on/off faster than my laptop.

So fall semester of my senior year, here I come!!!