Mudshot Eyes

Krista’s post from Tuesday is terrific. Check it out HERE. I’m highly biased, but I think it is a great piece.

The Mighty One, God the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
~ Psalm 50:1

Most people remember Jonah as the one who was swallowed by a whale and then burped up like a bad yam. But there is a fascinating scene at the end of the story where Jonah finds a nice spot to rest for a while under the shade of a tree, protected from the hot sun. Overnight, God decides to send a worm to bore into its trunk and cause it to wither by morning.

This left Jonah in the sweltering heat, cooking his temperament to the boiling point. I CAN RELATE. In the lower right hand corner of my computer screen I have the current forecast: “Tue: 98° F”, followed by the ominous red thermometer icon. Sorry for being such a wuss, but I hate this weather! Typically, have glowing reviews of nature’s ability to point us to the glory and character of God, but I have to say that I struggle with that when we are knocking on the 100-degree mark.

However, God’s words to Jonah bring me back to center:

The sun came up and God sent a hot, blistering wind from the east. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head and he started to faint. He prayed to die: “I’m better off dead!”

Then God said to Jonah, “What right do you have to get angry about this shade tree?”

Jonah said, “Plenty of right. It’s made me angry enough to die!”

GOD said, “What’s this? How is it that you can change your feelings from pleasure to anger overnight about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night.”

Even though it’s not the main point of this passage, I am reminded that God is the One who lit the fire of the sun when it first came into being. It is a picture of God’s untamed power, even when it is hot as hell (perhaps especially then).

Before I run and hide into my air conditioned office tomorrow, I’m going to try and pause my grumblings to see God’s character through the sweat. It may be just the relief I need from the heat.

Every blog is allowed two (2) “It’s been really busy lately, but I’m still here and will post soon” posts. This is my first one for this year.
I’ll take this opportunity to survey. What topics would you like to read about? Below are some of the category tags from my posts over the past few years. Which are ones that you want to ponder further? Please leave a comment to pitch in your two cents. Throw me your top 5 topics that you think warrant more discussion…

abortion • adversity • affluence • alcohol • bible • books • Christ • christianity • christmas • church • creation • cross of Christ • culture • darfur • discipleship • easter • emerging church • environment • eucharist • evolution • family • fitness • forgiveness • friends • genesis • good friday • holy week • iraq • islam • justice • missions • money • movies • music • nature • news media • politics • poverty • prayer • predestination • quotes • racism • redemption • relationships • resurrection • revenge • sabbath • science • sin • suffering • television • theology • time • war • wine • worship

Every article at my wife’s web site is worth your time, including her post from today…

Enjoy.

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
- Groucho Marx

It just hit me. I haven’t watched television in two weeks! I’m not on a television burning crusade and I didn’t declare a TV fast, but I haven’t seen a sit-com, reality show, sporting event, or a rerun in over two weeks. Here’s the thing that strikes me the most about this: I haven’t missed it. Is that because much of the programming is mind-numbing drivel? That may be a part of it, but there’s more to the story.

In these two and a half weeks, I have finished two books, began a new long-term personal project, got a decent amount of sleep, exercised two or three times a week, and spent time with Krista. It’s been great! What prompted this accidental TV fast?

One factor was that we moved our television into our second bedroom. The living room is no longer a misnomer. We use that room for LIVING now. If we want to watch a movie or a TV show, we go into the other room. Now when I’m sitting on the couch, instead of reaching for the remote, I grab a book or a magazine, or better yet, we may even have a conversation! Other times, I just sit there and breathe (lately I’m discovering how important breathing is).

I still enjoy movies and a select number of television shows, but this 18 day boob-tube break has reminded me that life is truly lived outside the perimeter of that 42 inch screen.

After spending a few beautiful days in the wine country of Sonoma and Napa Valley, California, I thought it appropriate to post some of my favorite quotes on the nectar of God’s green earth, wine. I’ll start with some warning words. As with anything we enjoy, we enjoy it with care, knowing that the abuse of even God-given things can bring consequences of varying degrees.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
- Proverbs 20:1

“At the third cup, wine drinks the man.”
- Hokeko Sho

“Don’t be drunk on wine or you will dilute your life. Drink in the Spirit of God until you are full.”
- Ephesians 5:18 (Barmer Translation)

And now, an a lighter note…

“Go, eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:7

“To turn water into wine and what is common into what is holy, is indeed the glory of Christianity.”
- Frederick W. Robertson

“You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”
- Psalm 104:14-15

“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath, and a glass of wine.”
- Thomas Aquinas

Have any good wine quotes to contribute? Add them in the comments…