bring a friend to heaven.

I'm just sitting here at my desk, thinking about Heaven. It's gonna be so great. I can't really fathom what it will be like. But it will be great, that's for sure.

I heard a quote at church yesterday that's been on my mind a lot today: You can't take anything to Heaven- except a friend. A cute little quote. It's true, though, and it's got me thinking. I like to surround myself with things that make me feel comfortable- my books, my mp3 player, cable, my laptop, my favorite coffee mug, my favorite pair of skinny jeans...

Earlier this summer I went on a week-long support trip through Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. I forgot almost all of my pants. I remember to pack everything else, except any pants. I had a couple pairs of shorts, and some lounge wear, but nothing formal enough for my appointments. Aside from being annoyed that I was unprepared for the whole point of my trip, I was annoyed that I left my favorite jeans back home.

You're probably thinking...get to the point. Ok. I work so hard to surround myself with comfortable things. But I don't do it as much, as often, or as bad as non-believers, or other Christians, so I easily justify it sometimes.

But one of the reasons non-Christians do it is to find significance and security. That's what I did before I knew Christ. Now I find my identity in Him and assurance of salvation through Him.

The things that make me comfortable lead me to not share my faith as much, while non-believers continue to pursue comfort in things because they don't know there's something better out there.

If the only thing we can take with us to heaven is a friend, this is some awful irony.

Blessed are the...busy?

Sometimes I get so caught up in planning and numbers and lists and projects that I forget what it's all for. I suppose this happens to everyone at some point. The details override the reason they even matter in the first place. You can't see the forest through the trees.

My pastor is preaching on the Beatitudes for the next few weeks. Last Sunday he gave a sort of introduction to the sermon series, and explained the important of the "Blessed are those..." statements that are often misinterpreted. My logical brain tends to think, If blessed are the poor in spirit, for they will receive the kingdom of heaven, to experience the kingdom we must be poor in spirit.

But the logic fails. It's not that you can only experience the kingdom by being poor in spirit. The Beatitudes are not ethical imperatives. (I had to google that to get a better understanding of it, which one website explained as "an imperative derived from assumptions of constructivism." whatever that means). In this instance, we don't do something merely to reap the reward at the end.

The pastor explained that perhaps the Sermon on the Mount is like one massive vision statement. It's maybe not about the how, but the why. It's not about what you're doing, but what you're becoming.

Here's hoping this will help me stay focused amidst all the diagrams and details and dates. I love those things, but sometimes when I immerse myself in them, I get more involved in the task than the goal. Maybe blessed are the focused, instead of the busy.

Hungry.

I've been reading the Bible chronologically this year. I'm really enjoying it. I'm on my third read-through of the Bible from cover to cover, this time reading it in my small NLT pocket Bible. So much is jumping out to me that has never stuck out before- from the change in version, probably, and a different disposition. For a few days this summer I'd switched from the OT to the Gospels, but I soon found myself back in the OT. I can't get enough of it. I'm just starting Isaiah, after reading through a huge list of all the kings of Israel and Judah and all the fighting and killing for the power of King.

I don't understand all of it, but I can't seem to get enough. It's 1030pm, I'm mentally and physically exhausted, but I'm spiritually really hungry. I spent 2+ hours in the Word today at Starbucks. I spent a few hours reading yesterday at my kitchen table. I can't get enough. Every 4-5 hours I find myself opening up the Word and just reading random passages. I don't know why. I generally like to watch TV, movies, I enjoy chatting on facebook and talking on the phone with friends. All of those things seem really boring this week.

Not only that, but I've been forgetting to eat lunch. I never forget to eat. I don't always eat 3 square meals (it's more like grazing on whatever I can get my hands on). But even that is not appealing. It's weird.

Some Shane & Shane lyrics come to mind right now:

Psalm 145:16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Isaiah 55:2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

This is a really random post, but I just wanted to record this overwhelming sense of hunger and try to organize my thoughts. Thanks for muddling through them with me.