A.W. Tozer wrote in 1955 in his book The Root of the Righteous:
The abuse of a harmless thing is the essence of sin. The growth of the amusement phase of human life to such fantastic proportions is a portent, a threat to the souls of modern men. It has been built into a multimillion dollar racket with greater power over human minds and human character than any other educational influence on earth. And the ominous thing is that its power is almost exclusively evil, rotting the inner life, crowding out the long eternal thoughts which would fill the souls of men if they were but worthy to entertain them.
That was over fifty years ago. It really made me think about how I’m so easily entertained, and the things that really excite me are all too often things that are passing away. I pray that God would change me, and this generation, into people that clamor for things of lasting significance, and that God would be known for who he really is.
October 23rd, 2007
Posted by
zucchiniboy |
Thots |
no comments
“And when the men of that place recognized him [Jesus], they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.” - Matthew 14:35-36
Boy, I haven’t written here in a while, and I really wish I had, because thoughts and experiences flow out of my memory so quickly! I’ve been reading and thinking a lot recently, and it’s really been a good process for me. For instance, I had the privilege of speaking to some middle/high school kids at a church youth camp this summer, and in preparing for that, I really had to think through and solidify how I thought about different issues, and how I was to effectively communicate them. Most of the time, my life is just in coasting mode - I just deal with things as they come up. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that I can’t just be on coasting mode, but I need to proactively experience life, and not just let life happen to me. One tangible sphere that I think I’m seeing some change is in how I budget my time. Usually I just let my schedule happen to me - whatever comes up, I’ll do. Recently, though, I’ve seen that I need to be really intentional in how I spend my time, making space for different things. I’m working on it, and I still realize that a lot of things still just happen to me.
Anyways, the reason I put that passage from Matthew above is primarily the last sentence, “And as many as touched it were made well.” I was reading that this morning, and I was really struck by the magnitude of the statement - Jesus’ power is inexhaustible. And even in this case, it’s just a small example of the authority and power that he really has. Human language can only partially capture this sense of who Jesus is. The more I think about it, the more I realize that because of that, he is worth everything of who I am - first because He gave me life and breath in the first place, and second because I was meant to bring honor to Him! Even in things like my time (which I often view as my own), I have to continually evaluate how I spend that time - does it connect me to Jesus any better? And as each sphere comes more and more under the lordship of Christ, then real life starts to happen.
September 28th, 2007
Posted by
zucchiniboy |
Thots |
no comments
C’mon, just one more win! You can do it!
May 2nd, 2007
Posted by
zucchiniboy |
Thots |
one comment
Reading the news about VTU the last couple days has been heart-wrenching. I can’t stop thinking about our desperate need for a Savior, Jesus. Where there seems to be no hope, there is Jesus. Where there is hurt and anguish, there is Jesus. He meets every need of our hearts. In some ways, I think I’m oversimplifying the world’s issues. But then I think - no, I’m not. Because Jesus is the hope for the world, our sole and soul sufficiency. Life starts, ends, and continues with Him. I’m reminded of the bridge of a song my friend Minho wrote, which says:
And a light shines in the dark,
Gives hope to hopeless hearts,
And life to all who believe.
Everything we go through, God can meet it. That’s all I can think about when I read of hopelessness. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15-16)
April 19th, 2007
Posted by
zucchiniboy |
Thots |
one comment
