Mount Cammerer

Lee and I hiked Mt. Cammerer last Saturday...11 miles, knee deep snow, which no one had made tracks in.  We did.  It was awesome (and the hardest thing I've done in a long time!)

"What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun."
-Ecclesiastes 1:9

There may be nothing new...
but what's already here is pretty neat!!!



Peace,
Laura

Thoughts of Cynicism - Laura

The Blog through the Bible continues with Ecclesiastes...

I can be pretty cynical when I set my mind to it.  Maybe that’s why I’ve always enjoyed the book of Ecclesiastes.  I agree with Solomon, it does seem like most of life is pointless most of the time.  I grew up attending church and felt like people often told me (or at least gave me the impression) that it is ungodly to be cynical.  We’re supposed to be happy, right?  We are supposed to trust God to make everything ok, right? Yes, but Solomon just knew there wasn’t a formula for finding meaning in life.  Life is defined by tension and struggle and only a fool is glib enough to pretend it isn’t.  Only a fool thinks that happiness is the only meaning in life.  Only a fool pays little enough attention to actually FEEL content with his lot in life.  One of the greatest gifts that God gives to men is discontentedness, what I like to call Holy Unrest.  It drives us, it gives us a hunger for more, it points us to God—the only one who can give meaning to our lives and our inevitable deaths. I’m learning that a little cynicism is healthy.  It keeps me humble – I haven’t figured everything out.  It keeps me engaged – it makes space for questions.  It keeps me hungry – willing to feast on the crumbs of truth and meaning that I find in the world around me – gifts of the God that Solomon so wisely advised his readers to fear, obey and stand in awe of.  So, cynicism isn’t a crime…but don’t overdo it:

“Do not be overrighteous,

Neither be overwise—

The men who fears God

Will avoid all extremes.”

-Ecclesiastes 7:16&18

Peace,

Laura Cottrell

Ecclesiastes - Lee

I have something in my eye. It has been there all day. Well, actually, I think that my eye has been scratched slightly. My eye feels fine while it is open, but every blink feels like I am rubbing a tiny grain of sand against my eyeball... it is not very comfortable. It's pretty rare that I stop to consider my eyes. For 24 years they have worked pretty much perfectly. I have been able to see everything in front of me (provided that there's enough light). These eyes are good eyes; you can take 'em to the bank. I can see.

At least that's what I like to think. What if everything that I thought I was seeing clearly was actually distorted?

In The Princess Bride, the Sicilian bad guy loves to use the word "Inconceivable!"At a later point, Fezek (Andre the Giant), offers a funny little challenge to the short, bald Sicilian, "I do not think that word means what you think it means."In Ecclesiastes, I hear a challenge from Solomon. It's as if he is getting up in the face of my Christianity and questioning it's basic form and function.

I want to do what's right, earn a living, love and support my family, be wise, be happy, be blessed by God. Solomon informs me of an unnerving truth:
Everything is meaningless when I do it. That which originates from me is vanity... that's hard for me

That which originates from God - whether ease or struggle - is good and right.

more later.

Lee

Ecclesiastes 1 - the Truth is - by Lee

For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge
increases sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 1:18


The truth will set me free. But the truth will not make me happy. For the truth is, there is something terribly wrong, isn't there? (Thank you, V.)

Thoughts on 2 Timothy - Laura

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

What does it mean to have a form of godliness but to deny its power? 

What is godliness?

I am struck by the forcefulness of these words in 2 Timothy because they do a pretty good job of describing most people these days.  (yes, even people in churches.)  Maybe there's more to godliness than merely being good.  Maybe it has more to do with being like God himself, in all the mystery of what that means...if so, I'm thinking it will be a good idea to get to know the God I profess to imitate.  I do know him but as I get to know him better, hopefully, I will see a little bit more of the power of godliness at work in my life!!!

Peace,
Laura Cottrell

New Post - Lee

Why is this so hard for me? I don't have a good answer for that...

I have enjoyed reading: Song of Songs, Nahum, 2 Timothy (almost finished)... I just can't seem to make myself get on here and write about it. I really hate writing things down. And I especially dislike writing things that other people can read (even if no one actually is reading it).

Lent is here. Tonight we will be attending the Ash Wednesday service at church. I really don't know what will be said, but I know that Lent can be an opportunity to rearrange. I would really like to begin posting here daily during Lent. If I fail to do that, there is no condemnation for me; I need to remember that.

2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2:11-13
The saying is trustworthy for,
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful -
for he cannot deny himself.

The Wrath of God - Laura

       “Do not be deceived:

       God cannot be mocked.

       A man reaps what he sows.”

       -Galatians 6:7

God’s wrath and his justice are part of his personality.  The book of Nahum describes God’s wrath against Nineveh.  It’s not very long (only 3 chapters) but packed with retribution and vengeance:

       “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power;

       the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. 

       His way is in the whirlwind and the storm…

       His wrath is poured out like fire;

       the rocks are shattered before him.”

       -From Nahum 1

Fortunately, God’s personality is multifaceted.  He is a God of justice and wrath but also a God of Grace.  Thanks be to God!

Peace,

-Laura Cottrell

Love Poems - Laura

I have lingered over Song of Solomon, waiting for something to happen, but its hard to know what to say. I feel like most people ignore or overlook Song of Solomon for a number of reasons but first and foremost because people don’t understand it, don’t think it’s important. Most people overlook this part of the Bible because they don’t have any idea what true love really is, are desperately disappointed by the relationships they have and don’t like to read poetry anyway. Who wants to read an intimate conversation between a lover and his beloved, when you could never imagine saying anything like that to anyone?

Let’s pause for a moment over the fact that one of the most beautiful and intimate pieces of erotic, romantic poetry ever written is IN THE BIBLE. Wow! Most love poetry is written from a single perspective and is concerned with one of two things: the lamentation of love lost or the hope for “better” love in the future.

But Song of Solomon is different:

Beloved: I am my lover’s and my lover is mine

Lover: You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;

You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes,

With one jewel of your necklace.

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!

Beloved: I belong to my lover and his desire is for me.

Now. Present tense. No regret, no waiting and wishing. This love is real.

Another thing I notice is the way that others are invited to observe this epic love affair. Friends comment on the relationship, question the lovers, and reflect on the depth of their love. This relationship flows out beyond two people only. Love, according to Song of Solomon, is faithful but not isolating. Passion begets passion! (Galatians 4:18-20!!!)

Here are a couple of other poems about love, some of the few that reflect this immortal, unswerving, unselfish, life-giving love:

“MINE by the right of the white election!

Mine by the royal seal!

Mine by the sign in the scarlet prison

Bars cannot conceal!

Mine, here in vision and in veto!

Mine, by the grave’s repeal

Titled, confirmed, -delirious charter!

Mine, while the ages steal!”

-Emily Dickinson

“You say you want diamond and ring of gold

You say you want our story to remain untold

All the promises we made

From the cradle to the grave

When all I want is you.”

-U2

I want this kind of love to take root in my heart:

“Place me like a seal over your heart,

like a seal on your arm;

for love is as strong as death,

its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like a blazing fire,

like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot wash it away.

If one were to give

all the wealth of his house for love,

it would be utterly scorned.

-Song of Solomon 8:6-7

-Peace,

Laura Cottrell