Smart College Students

We tried to be productive at our group project meeting tonight, and perhaps we did accomplish something. However, I think it speaks to the quality of my group's interactions when I say that below is the entirety of the notes that I took from the session: 

"Feminism is evil." - Matt

"The worldview view." -From Lynley's book summary 

"I'm here to humble you." - Caleb

"It's indigenous art, you idiot!" -Taylor

"I love partisian sandwiches." - Jonathan teasing my incorrect pronunciation of the word partisan

Caleb: "Lynley, Matt's plotting your murder." 

Matt: "I am not! Caleb started it!" 

Caleb: "I did not...it was clearly you!" 

Matt: "Why does everyone always think it's me??" 

Lynley: "Because you hate feminists." 

Needless to say, I love my friends. :) 

What He Understood

These are the things that my Savior understood. 

He understood what it is like to be unimportant in the world - He had no stately form or majesty that we should look at him.

He understood what it is like to feel ugly and unattractive - He had no appearance that we should be attracted to him. 

He understood what it is like to feel desolate and lonely - He was despised and forsaken by men.

Disability Legislation

I came across a fascinating article in the New York Times on employing people with disabilities (see the article here). I couldn't help but think that my mother, despite having a son with disabilities herself, would probably not desire the potential legislation on which the article was reporting. This legislation proposed steps would require more of businesses and schools in the way of hiring and accommodating people with disabilities or special needs.

While I agree with my mom that perhaps this new legislation encroaches perhaps too much on the freedoms of businesses, there is a frustration I experience when I read a paragraph like this one from the article:

Dr. Clauson Quote of the Day!

"There were many sects of Puritans. There were the Dissenters, Separatists, Congregationalists, Virgin Life Livers...they didn't last long..."

Dr. Mortenson Quote of the Day!

"[Before the Baroque period], we had a lot of God music. That is to say, only God and people with doctorates in musicology understood it."

Came Not to be Served

"After this, He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet..."

Am I Serving God with Reserve?

An excerpt from my devotion this morning. It was so rich that I could not help sharing. As you read this, allow the words to penetrate your mind and to sink into your heart. 

"Natural love expects some return, but Paul says--I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God  "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Paul's idea of service is exactly along that line---I do not care with what extravagance I spend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul. 

"The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the sain is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Paul delighted to spend himself out for God's interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economical notions--"Suppose God wants me to go there--what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A person must consider these things." All this is an indication that we are serving God with reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz., not one who proclaims the gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives."  (From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers)

The question is, am I serving God with reserve? Does my idea of Christian service look like Jesus' or the world's?

"And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of external possessions, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Mark 4:18-19

In the face of these piercing words I can only cry like the Tax Collector, "God be merciful to me, a sinner."