Chorus
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
Verse 1
A Great Cathedral In The Sky
A Sanctuary that's always Open
Grandpa Lighting Up Our Eyes
Telling Stories While Our Worlds Unfolding
Chorus
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
Verse 2
Beyond The Window I See Light
And A Promise Of A Place Unbroken
Skip The Rock it's Gonna Fly
Listen To The Whispered Songs Of Morning
Chorus
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
Chorus
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
On The Rim Of The Visible World We Go
Four Our God
Need No Lesser
Cathedral
Some days, we need to remember we are just in the brink of something great. Today I choose, and tomorrow I will choose to live life on the edge of this world. Will you?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas ... the craziest story every told!
There are some years that are more richer than poorer, that are more joyful than sorrowful, that are filled with more happiness than pain. This hasn't been one of those years for me.
I have felt more alone than connected, I have been more sorrowful than joyful, and I have felt poorer than richer many days. This has defiantly changed who I am during this holiday season. I have seen myself pull away from many things, including Christ at many parts during this past year.
My advent reflections did not go as planned this year. I wanted to really dive deep into the gospels and see if I could find a new revelation this year; that didn't happen. Today I was chatting with B, and it hit me how amazing this whole thing was!
Think about the wise men. These guys traveled for weeks, months, or maybe even years to find the Christ child. They brought with them the most precious gifts of their lands. If we take this forward into our culture of 2009 (almost 2010), what does that look like. Its like getting some of the wisest Senators and MP's together, sending them out with some of the most precious things our nation produces, and finding some kid in the slums of Africa after following a light in the sky for who knows how long.
How can you think this is wise! I guess it just blows my mind that someone would be willing to obey God that blindly.
Or what about Joseph. He is engaged to this beautiful women (at the very least she was attractive in some way to him) and out of the blue she gets knocked up ... and you know it wasn't you. Can you imagine going into the Gallelee Carpenters Union 9924 and telling the guys that " .. my fiancee is knocked up .."
Year in and year out I have heard this story before opening presents and it sounds so pleasant. Jesus was born in a manger *cue the young girls "awwww'ing"*. It really isn't that cute! I think that over time I have become so comfortable with God being born in this way that I have made it sound almost nostalgic to me. But not this year.
Tomorrow morning when I wake up and we read the Christmas story, I will not be thinking about the gifts that I am giving my parents, or the swag I will be getting, or how nice it was that Jesus was born. I will be considering how Jesus was born in the slummy part of Bethlehem, how hurt must have Joseph been when he first heard that his wife was pregnant - and it not being his, and how wonderful that even though Joseph was human he forgave Mary and loved this child.
May God bring you into a new appreciation of Christs birth this year - in whatever shape or form it comes in.
I have felt more alone than connected, I have been more sorrowful than joyful, and I have felt poorer than richer many days. This has defiantly changed who I am during this holiday season. I have seen myself pull away from many things, including Christ at many parts during this past year.
My advent reflections did not go as planned this year. I wanted to really dive deep into the gospels and see if I could find a new revelation this year; that didn't happen. Today I was chatting with B, and it hit me how amazing this whole thing was!
Think about the wise men. These guys traveled for weeks, months, or maybe even years to find the Christ child. They brought with them the most precious gifts of their lands. If we take this forward into our culture of 2009 (almost 2010), what does that look like. Its like getting some of the wisest Senators and MP's together, sending them out with some of the most precious things our nation produces, and finding some kid in the slums of Africa after following a light in the sky for who knows how long.
How can you think this is wise! I guess it just blows my mind that someone would be willing to obey God that blindly.
Or what about Joseph. He is engaged to this beautiful women (at the very least she was attractive in some way to him) and out of the blue she gets knocked up ... and you know it wasn't you. Can you imagine going into the Gallelee Carpenters Union 9924 and telling the guys that " .. my fiancee is knocked up .."
Year in and year out I have heard this story before opening presents and it sounds so pleasant. Jesus was born in a manger *cue the young girls "awwww'ing"*. It really isn't that cute! I think that over time I have become so comfortable with God being born in this way that I have made it sound almost nostalgic to me. But not this year.
Tomorrow morning when I wake up and we read the Christmas story, I will not be thinking about the gifts that I am giving my parents, or the swag I will be getting, or how nice it was that Jesus was born. I will be considering how Jesus was born in the slummy part of Bethlehem, how hurt must have Joseph been when he first heard that his wife was pregnant - and it not being his, and how wonderful that even though Joseph was human he forgave Mary and loved this child.
May God bring you into a new appreciation of Christs birth this year - in whatever shape or form it comes in.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Passion
Over the past week I have been blessed to be around people again. I attended a Christmas party at A's house that his parents were hosting. It was first of all great to see him. Due to how busy both of us have been this semester, we have not really gotten a chance to see him at all, so for the first 1 or 2 hours of the party we relocated ourselves into the basement and just chatted. It was so great to just connect with him again and to "just be".
Following this, he was obliged to go upstairs and to visit with the guests. Eventually I made my way up there and chatted with some of the guests. As the night was coming to a close I sat down in an easy chair and had a discussion with of the guests, L. I had never talked to him, and before this day he was only known as "the man upstairs", as A and his family lived in L's house during the construction of A's new one.
When the conversation got down to just L and I, his first question to me was "What is your passion?"
I was completely caught off guard by this as it isn't a typical question for people to ask, much less ask as the first question to you. Generally you get asked something along the lines of "What do you do?", or "Where are you from?". I can only imagine the shock and awe I showed on my face when he asked me that, but after composing myself I answered him with "Food" - and of course my face was absolutely beaming. As we continued to talk I expanded on my passions and on what I did, and how different they are.
Being an engineer, and loving food. The clash of two worlds in my books. It is almost as if I am two different people sometimes. I love the creation, the lack of structure, the ability to just make things work in the kitchen; yet when I leave, I find I leave that spontaneity behind.
While L and I conversed I wondered why I had separated myself from what I do love. Why am I in engineer, why am I not pursuing my passions?
I make excuses for what I do all of the time. I don't have the money, I am in debt too much, I don't have the time, I don't ... I don't ... I don't ...
I am unsure of what is the right path for me, or even where this path I am on is leading me. I hope that in the coming months I open up to new idea, and stop stonewalling myself. But most of all, I need to be sensitive to where God is leading me, and to where his plan for my lays. God Bless, and good night.
Following this, he was obliged to go upstairs and to visit with the guests. Eventually I made my way up there and chatted with some of the guests. As the night was coming to a close I sat down in an easy chair and had a discussion with of the guests, L. I had never talked to him, and before this day he was only known as "the man upstairs", as A and his family lived in L's house during the construction of A's new one.
When the conversation got down to just L and I, his first question to me was "What is your passion?"
I was completely caught off guard by this as it isn't a typical question for people to ask, much less ask as the first question to you. Generally you get asked something along the lines of "What do you do?", or "Where are you from?". I can only imagine the shock and awe I showed on my face when he asked me that, but after composing myself I answered him with "Food" - and of course my face was absolutely beaming. As we continued to talk I expanded on my passions and on what I did, and how different they are.
Being an engineer, and loving food. The clash of two worlds in my books. It is almost as if I am two different people sometimes. I love the creation, the lack of structure, the ability to just make things work in the kitchen; yet when I leave, I find I leave that spontaneity behind.
While L and I conversed I wondered why I had separated myself from what I do love. Why am I in engineer, why am I not pursuing my passions?
I make excuses for what I do all of the time. I don't have the money, I am in debt too much, I don't have the time, I don't ... I don't ... I don't ...
I am unsure of what is the right path for me, or even where this path I am on is leading me. I hope that in the coming months I open up to new idea, and stop stonewalling myself. But most of all, I need to be sensitive to where God is leading me, and to where his plan for my lays. God Bless, and good night.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Friends, and friends friends
Two blogs in one day, I know, it is something that has not been seen on one my blogs in a VERY long time, but I felt that they deserved to be seperated.
Over the past few days I have been blessed to commune with friends that I have known, and friends who are new.
Last week was a very hard week. Work was more taxing than normal, with later nights than I was generally used to putting in; but with deadlines and quotas that had to be met, I buckled down and got my work done. I walked around the office with an aggrivated aggression in my step. I scowled more than I smiled, and if 5 words would sufficiently answer a question I would use 2. I think you get the picture of what kind of painful week it was. I however had a light at the end of the tunnel one of my best friends was throwing a Christmas party for a bunch of her friends and so I had something to look forward to on Friday night.
When I left work on Friday, the snow blowing all around me, I was tired and I did seriously consider not attending this little shin-dig that B was putting on. Fortunatly I did not follow through with my initial feelings, and did end up going to this party.
Being my anal-retentive self I left my house with plenty of time to spare so that I did not get caught in the blizzard that was now full upon us. I did make it there with plenty of time to spare, and I pitched in to help with the final party preperations. It was great to just be around people. I didn't have a looming deadline, I didn't need to put on a face and pretend that everything was alright, I also didn't need to over react to things. I was able to just exist.
As the more and more people showed up I talked less and less and I just watched people more and more. It was great. One of my favorite past times. I could listen in on one group for a bit, then listen in on another. I would make eye contact with someone else when a joke was made, or when we observed someone else doing something totally off the wall. It was absolutly splended!
During this early part of the evening I was able to chat with our host of the evening, B. It had seemed like forever since we had actually talked more than a few sentances outside of texting (my last instant messaging vice which I am retaining). So it was great to spend some time - although limited due to her hosting responsibilities.
At this point in the evening I met someone new - something that doesn't always bode well for me. It was great to just talk and talk and talk with someone, who for tonight will be reffered to as M. Topics in the evening ranged from Godly order in churches, to Feminism, from favorite/dispise words to careers. The only thing I can say about the time I spent talking with M, was that it was wonderful.
As my weekend progressed I ran around a bunch with many different activities. My parents were in town so time was also spent with them.
As yesterday (Tuesday) finally rolled around, I remembered that I had an errand to run, so after work I drove over to B's house to pass on a book I had promised to loan her (Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen ... which is a spectacular book). Sadly she had not arrived home from work yet, but her very nice and accomidating roommate H was there and welcomed me in for a cup of tea. Although I didn't get my cup of tea (which was 150% okay), I did spend an hour just chatting.
I don't know what it is about me recently, but thats all I have seemed to want to do. As I waited to see B, H and I talked about failed relationships, and what we expected out of future ones. We talked about our futures and our callings, and just shared life.
I guess that living alone - contrary to my previous blog - has its disadvantages. I no longer have these moments with a roommate, and since my instant messaging days have been put to the side, I am feeling more and more isolated.
So who knows who will be the next victum of my desire to share life with, I sure don't. But one thing I do know, is that in the coming days and weeks I am sure I will find out more wonderful things about my friends, and hopefully meet some people who I don't even know yet.
So I put up my glass, and cheers the world, for tommorrow is a new day, and I will be sure to have another adventure.
Over the past few days I have been blessed to commune with friends that I have known, and friends who are new.
Last week was a very hard week. Work was more taxing than normal, with later nights than I was generally used to putting in; but with deadlines and quotas that had to be met, I buckled down and got my work done. I walked around the office with an aggrivated aggression in my step. I scowled more than I smiled, and if 5 words would sufficiently answer a question I would use 2. I think you get the picture of what kind of painful week it was. I however had a light at the end of the tunnel one of my best friends was throwing a Christmas party for a bunch of her friends and so I had something to look forward to on Friday night.
When I left work on Friday, the snow blowing all around me, I was tired and I did seriously consider not attending this little shin-dig that B was putting on. Fortunatly I did not follow through with my initial feelings, and did end up going to this party.
Being my anal-retentive self I left my house with plenty of time to spare so that I did not get caught in the blizzard that was now full upon us. I did make it there with plenty of time to spare, and I pitched in to help with the final party preperations. It was great to just be around people. I didn't have a looming deadline, I didn't need to put on a face and pretend that everything was alright, I also didn't need to over react to things. I was able to just exist.
As the more and more people showed up I talked less and less and I just watched people more and more. It was great. One of my favorite past times. I could listen in on one group for a bit, then listen in on another. I would make eye contact with someone else when a joke was made, or when we observed someone else doing something totally off the wall. It was absolutly splended!
During this early part of the evening I was able to chat with our host of the evening, B. It had seemed like forever since we had actually talked more than a few sentances outside of texting (my last instant messaging vice which I am retaining). So it was great to spend some time - although limited due to her hosting responsibilities.
At this point in the evening I met someone new - something that doesn't always bode well for me. It was great to just talk and talk and talk with someone, who for tonight will be reffered to as M. Topics in the evening ranged from Godly order in churches, to Feminism, from favorite/dispise words to careers. The only thing I can say about the time I spent talking with M, was that it was wonderful.
As my weekend progressed I ran around a bunch with many different activities. My parents were in town so time was also spent with them.
As yesterday (Tuesday) finally rolled around, I remembered that I had an errand to run, so after work I drove over to B's house to pass on a book I had promised to loan her (Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen ... which is a spectacular book). Sadly she had not arrived home from work yet, but her very nice and accomidating roommate H was there and welcomed me in for a cup of tea. Although I didn't get my cup of tea (which was 150% okay), I did spend an hour just chatting.
I don't know what it is about me recently, but thats all I have seemed to want to do. As I waited to see B, H and I talked about failed relationships, and what we expected out of future ones. We talked about our futures and our callings, and just shared life.
I guess that living alone - contrary to my previous blog - has its disadvantages. I no longer have these moments with a roommate, and since my instant messaging days have been put to the side, I am feeling more and more isolated.
So who knows who will be the next victum of my desire to share life with, I sure don't. But one thing I do know, is that in the coming days and weeks I am sure I will find out more wonderful things about my friends, and hopefully meet some people who I don't even know yet.
So I put up my glass, and cheers the world, for tommorrow is a new day, and I will be sure to have another adventure.
A rose by any other name ...
Since I am now living alone - which has many benefits - I have converted one of my rooms into a sort of hobby room/study. So, live from my new found study I am writing this blog, and hopefully many more.
Yesterday I decided to delve into the book of Jude. I will admit it is one of those books of the bible that I have bunched in with the minor prophets, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy as books that I don't really read. For me Jude has generally been the book of the bible that I reach and I realize that I page flipped a little too far when searching for some New Testament book.
As part of my study I decided to read it along side of Matthew Henry's Commentary. So, with my bible on one side and my commentary on the other I started into it, and I got two verses, two verses that I would bet most of us have glossed over when looking at Jude.
This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
I am writing to all who are called to live in the love of God the Father and the care of Jesus Christ.
May you receive more and more of God's mercy, peace, and love.
This is not the most impressive piece biblical literature by any strech of the imagination, but the commentator made an interesting point about this. Supposedly Jude can also be translated as Judas - like the guy who betrayed Jesus. The commentator went on to talk about how Jude could have just changed his name when writing this, or done something to hide who he was; but instead he came out and associated himself with someone who was not very popular at the time.
This really challenged me. I sat there and wondered about how often I try to hide an aspect of me in order to give my arguments more clout. I guess that this has really brought to my light how what Shakespeare wrote was so very true " ... a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I hope that in the coming days, weeks, months and years ahead I remain true to the who I am, and that I may not be ashamed for what I have done, but live in the truth and peace of God.
Yesterday I decided to delve into the book of Jude. I will admit it is one of those books of the bible that I have bunched in with the minor prophets, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy as books that I don't really read. For me Jude has generally been the book of the bible that I reach and I realize that I page flipped a little too far when searching for some New Testament book.
As part of my study I decided to read it along side of Matthew Henry's Commentary. So, with my bible on one side and my commentary on the other I started into it, and I got two verses, two verses that I would bet most of us have glossed over when looking at Jude.
This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
I am writing to all who are called to live in the love of God the Father and the care of Jesus Christ.
May you receive more and more of God's mercy, peace, and love.
This is not the most impressive piece biblical literature by any strech of the imagination, but the commentator made an interesting point about this. Supposedly Jude can also be translated as Judas - like the guy who betrayed Jesus. The commentator went on to talk about how Jude could have just changed his name when writing this, or done something to hide who he was; but instead he came out and associated himself with someone who was not very popular at the time.
This really challenged me. I sat there and wondered about how often I try to hide an aspect of me in order to give my arguments more clout. I guess that this has really brought to my light how what Shakespeare wrote was so very true " ... a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I hope that in the coming days, weeks, months and years ahead I remain true to the who I am, and that I may not be ashamed for what I have done, but live in the truth and peace of God.
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