tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032659343386729672024-03-05T20:01:51.338-05:00But You Have ComeA regular blog of thoughts on life, ideas, and the church.Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-82090625561452671812013-03-04T20:36:00.003-05:002013-03-04T20:36:32.571-05:00redirect...in case you haven't changed your links yet, here's a link to this week's post:<br />
<a href="http://bethanyjeanlittle.blogspot.com/2013/03/silence-slander-and-authenticity.html">http://bethanyjeanlittle.blogspot.com/2013/03/silence-slander-and-authenticity.html</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-63481012919883467672013-03-04T10:24:00.000-05:002013-03-04T11:05:54.411-05:00URL change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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have you ever wondered about the title of this blog? <br />
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I thought so. <br />
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As a result, <b>I have decided to change the url of my blog. Change your links, your favorites, your reader... and from now on all new posts will be found at:</b><br />
<a href="http://bethanyjlittle.blogspot.com/"><b>bethanyjeanlittle.blogspot.com</b></a><br />
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And for those of you who are still curious... the original blog title came from this verse in Hebrews:<br />
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But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12.22-24)</blockquote>
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-46483181683632248972013-02-15T16:51:00.002-05:002013-02-15T16:52:02.730-05:00Lent - some thoughts to get you startedIt is now the season of Lent in the church calendar. I hope to write more about it, but in the meantime, here are two posts from the archive to get you started:<br />
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<a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2011/04/seasons-of-church-part-v-lent.html" target="_blank">seasons of the church: Lent</a><br />
<a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/03/lenten-hymn.html" target="_blank">lenten hymn</a><br />
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also - a short reflection by a friend, Sarah Ngu:<br />
<a href="http://the%20language%20of%20self%20control/" target="_blank">why the language of self-control falls short</a><br />
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Is there anything in particular you would like to read a post on, concerning Lent?</div>
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-66554682049599179802013-02-12T11:13:00.001-05:002013-02-12T11:13:25.355-05:00Authentic?<br />
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<span class="s1">“Made with REAL fruit” proclaim the labels. “Vintage” says the shop sign or the web banner. Much of today’s marketing makes use of our desire for that which is authentic. And since nobody likes something that is fake, we by their more-real products.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The longing for and exploitation of authenticity has permeated much more of our society than just advertising. The popular TV show “Girls” “strives above all else for authenticity,” according to Ms. Dunham, the show’s creator and lead actor. (<a data-mce-href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/fashion/on-this-hit-show-the-clothes-make-the-girls.html?hpw" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/fashion/on-this-hit-show-the-clothes-make-the-girls.html?hpw" target="_blank">NYT1/2/2013</a> ) This is particularly reflected in clothing choices and in tag-lines such as “almost getting it kind of together”.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Politics also turns on authenticity. At times it seems that the true character of a particular political leader is more important than his or her policies. While it is nothing new that we want our leaders to have integrity and good character, perhaps the preoccupation with their “real” lives is ultimately unhealthy because of its high cost.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Social media, too, promotes a culture in which that which seems authentic is more highly valued. Or at least, in an online culture where one can instantly age a photo through Instagram or selectively choose what part of your self you reveal, it creates a longing for authenticity. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"> Where does all this leave us? As I considered these trends, I found myself asking a few questions.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>First, has the very word “authentic”, in a self-defeating way, come to mean nothing at all? </b> In a NYT article by Rosenbloom entitled “Authentic? Get Real”, Jeff Pooley points out that you can’t “be told by a social media guru to act authentic and still be authentic.” There is a deep irony here. The more people value authenticity, the more it is manufactured, to the point where Pooley says “we want something real.” This statement only makes sense if that which is <i>real</i> has become different from that which is <i>authentic. </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Bound up in this question is the question of whether the term has become not only useless, but out-dated. The quantity of books coming out this year which include “Authenticity” in their titles seems to belie this suggestion, but my survey of web articles seemed to be more concentrated in the 2007-2011 range. Do you have thoughts on this?</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Secondly, is the longing for authenticity in our culture primarily individualistic and potentially destructive of community?</b> Andrew Potter, in his bookThe Authenticity Hoax: How We Get Lost Finding Ourselves suggests that our obsession with authenticity is self-absorbed and competitive individualism. One might think that acknowledging ones true self would promote open and honest relationships. However, given the difficulty of knowing oneself to begin with, and our propensity to try to be <i>more</i> authentic than another person, there is reason for concern. It is worth considering more carefully the degree to which individuals within a community, and the community as a whole, should strive for authenticity.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Finally, how are we as Christians to view all of this? </b> Certainly we value truth and honesty. The issue becomes more clear when we consider choices that a church might make about its presence in a city. How does it focus on the transforming power of the gospel: does it focus on the grace extended to weak and fallen people, or the hope-for result of that grace, and of sanctification? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">One might even argue God does not reveal himself as “authentic” (although the assumption is that he is, of course, real). Authentic revelation implies a degree of disclosure that the infinitude and mystery of God’s personhood seems to make inadequate or false. It also involves, to some extent, representation, which we must avoid in the worship of God. We do not worship an authentic version of God, but his very self.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">On a more positive side, I think we would agree that we want the church to be a place where people can come as they are. This is how we come before God; should it not also be our posture before each other? A more positive understanding of authentic christian community could come from this.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>What are your thoughts on all of this? Questions? Comments appreciated!</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>For your convenience, here is the definition of authentic:</i></span></div>
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<span class="s3">authentic</span> <span class="s4">|ôˈTHentik|</span><span class="s1">(abbr.: <b>auth.</b> )</span></div>
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<span class="s1">adjective</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>1</b> of undisputed origin; genuine: <i>the letter is now accepted as an authentic document</i> | <i>authentic 14th-century furniture</i>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">• made or done in the traditional or original way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original: <i>the restaurant serves authentic Italian meals</i> | <i>every detail of the movie was totally authentic</i>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">• based on facts; accurate or reliable: <i>an authentic depiction of the situation</i>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">• (in existentialist philosophy) relating to or denoting an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life.</span></div>
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-43109932644325204422013-01-16T18:00:00.001-05:002013-01-16T18:03:13.523-05:00Do it again!<br />
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"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon."</blockquote>
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G.K. Chesterton, <i>Orthodoxy</i>, Chapter 4</div>
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-33069104355895075152013-01-15T20:43:00.003-05:002013-01-15T20:43:44.450-05:00where is church going in 2013?Curious about trends in the church for 2013? I thought this was a helpful post: <a href="http://thomrainer.com/2012/12/31/thirteen-issues-for-churches-in-2013-issues-1-6/#.UPYEfaGjfzp" target="_blank">thirteen issues for churches in 2013</a><br />
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I am particularly interested in the points titled Heightened Conflict, Community Focus, Cultural Discomfort and Organizational Distrust. Any thoughts?<br />
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-38472941167944902022013-01-08T11:43:00.000-05:002013-01-08T11:54:37.196-05:00The year in books: 2012Jeremy Myers pointed out<a href="http://www.tillhecomes.org/4000-books-2013/" target="_blank"> on his blog</a> that if you were to read a book a week, you could only read 4000 books in your lifetime. That's a pretty generous estimate for a depressingly small number of books. It made me especially sad when I consider that I average more like a book every three weeks :( It's a good reminder to <i>choose my books well</i>. Do you have any reading ambitions this year?<br />
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Here's the roundup of books read this year. Perhaps my comments on them will help you decide what to read this year!<br />
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<li><b>The Lost Prince</b> by Frances Hodgson Burnett. <i>An enjoyable read (this is a children's book)</i></li>
<li><b>The Practice of the Presence of God</b> by Brother Lawrence. <i>This little book of letters is a spiritual classic worth pondering. See my two posts on the book here on <a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-do-you-respond-to-someone-who-is.html" target="_blank">suffering</a> and <a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/01/t-he-practice-of-presence-of-god-by.html" target="_blank">daily wisdom</a>.</i></li>
<li><b>Desiring God's Will</b> by David G. Benner (finished April 29 - or before!?</li>
<li><b>The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,</b> by James Martin, SJ. <i>This is a good introduction to Jesuit spirituality. Easy to read. (Perhaps a little too easy?) <a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/04/grace-housecleaning-of-your-life.html" target="_blank">Here's a post drawing on this book.</a></i></li>
<li><b>Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ</b> by John Piper<i>. This a good devotional-type book about the attributes of Christ. <a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/05/starting-to-believe.html" target="_blank"> Here's a related post</a> </i><i> in which I talk about how we begin to believe and one about how C<a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-of-no-generation-and-all-time.html#more" target="_blank">hrist will not be put in a generational box.</a></i></li>
<li><b> <b>Tale of Two Cities,</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> by Dickens - </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">If you read any book by Dickens, read this one. It is SO good! <a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/06/tale-of-two-cities.html" target="_blank">Here's my post on it.</a></i></b></li>
<li><b>Life Together</b> by Bonhoeffer. <i>I've read this one twice this year.</i></li>
<li><b>King's Cross</b> by Timothy Keller (TFA*)</li>
<li><b>The Call</b> by Os Guinness (TFA*). <i>This book refutes the idea that some people are called by God and other's aren't, and helps people think about God's call in their lives. Personally, I found it too anectdotal, but if you can get past that there's a lot of good stuff to think about. <a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2012/08/work-and-calling.html#more" target="_blank">Here's a post</a> on the practical implications for of understanding calling for our work. </i></li>
<li><b>A Free People's Suicide</b> by Os Guinness (TFA*). <i>I struggled with this book some, as the writing is dense and the audience somewhat ambiguous. I also felt that Islam was not adequately addressed (thus weakening his argument). That being said, if you get a chance to hear Guinness speak, or to talk with him, do it! He is a fabulous speaker.</i></li>
<li><b>The Four Loves</b> by C.S. Lewis. <i>Yet another good book by Lewis.</i></li>
<li><b>The Fall</b> by Albert Camus (TFA*). <i>This book gets into your head. A fascinating reflection on the darkness of the human heart. We read this in conjunction with Augustine's Confessions (one of my favorite books!). </i></li>
<li><b>Candide</b> by Voltaire (TFA*). <i>A humorous but unpleasant read. If you've read it, you'll know what I mean. Philosophy to ponder.</i></li>
<li><b>The Freedom of a Christian </b>by Martin Luther (TFA*). <i>A short but brilliant look at the Christian life, and the role of grace and works.</i></li>
<li><b>Unchristian</b> by David Kinnaman. <i>I read this book for background on my study of the church. It was helpful, although I felt that it was difficult to sort through what the research was really saying.</i></li>
<li><b>The Tangible Kingdom </b>by Halter and Smay</li>
<li><b>Quarks, Chaos and Christianity</b> by Polkinghorne. <i>A fascinating look at matters of faith and their relation to physics. He deals with such questions as prayer, miracles and free will, among other things. As always, it is refreshing to read someone so knowledgeable in both areas.</i></li>
<li><b>Seeking God (The Way of St. Benedict)</b> by Esther de Waal (TFA*). <i>This book is a gem. Read it. She challenges us learn from St. Benedict in very practical ways. Although there is much to be learned about the rule in this book, her clear desire in writing is really that we learn about seeking God.</i></li>
</ul>
*books marked TFA indicate that they were required (or strongly suggested) reading for the program I am in this year<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-12067247257330252032012-12-25T16:22:00.001-05:002012-12-25T16:22:36.081-05:00What child is this? (The double season of Advent)<span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span>ou stand in an art gallery, pondering two paintings. On your left in a gold frame is a large painting of the last judgement. On the right is a small painting of the nativity. <br />
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In many ways that is what Advent season has felt like for me. On the one hand we look forward to his second coming: glorious king, coming judge. On the other we contemplate his first: Word become flesh - a screaming baby born in a dirty animal pen, God taking on our sin.<br />
<br />
The hymns we sing take up these themes. We feel the longing of the people of Israel, who waited for a promised king who would set things right:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
O come, O come, Emmanuel,<br />
And ransom captive Israel,<br />
That mourns in lonely exile here<br />
Until the Son of God appear.</blockquote>
We sing of the mystery of the incarnation (O Come, All Ye Faithful):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
God of God,<br />
Light of Light,<br />
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;<br />
Very God,<br />
Begotten, not created</blockquote>
and the majesty of his return (Let all Mortal Flesh):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Rank on rank the host of heaven<br />
Spreads its vanguard on the way,<br />
As the Light of light descendeth<br />
From the realms of endless day,<br />
That the powers of hell may vanish<br />
As the darkness clears away.</blockquote>
Both are found in the same verse of Angels from the Realms of Glory:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Though an infant now we view him,<br />He shall fill his Father's throne,<br />Gather all the nations to him,<br />Every knee shall then bow down:</blockquote>
The contrast between incarnation and second coming is almost as stark as the light-in-darkness metaphor of his coming, which we symbolize with candles. <br />
<br />
<i>It is this very duality of Advent for which I am thankful.</i> Contemplating only the incarnation, we are thankful that he came and that he knows our suffering, but we are still longing. Considering only the return, we fear his judgement. Only in light of his second coming do we fully understand the first; only because of his first can we bear -and hope for- his second.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDAl3CQT49LryQuJbKRlWS9fN6QVyFEaE11KWFJQn57ibkx9u4j_AgAcLjtUBDC5zx9Q1ZdbKZJT9Ho7ll_UL3JGq5pBdAPFSUm3_fcPz985vpLf6i5vj5Qc_r_7_UT3hsb4Hw1f99YRI/s1600/Michelangelo,_Giudizio_Universale_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDAl3CQT49LryQuJbKRlWS9fN6QVyFEaE11KWFJQn57ibkx9u4j_AgAcLjtUBDC5zx9Q1ZdbKZJT9Ho7ll_UL3JGq5pBdAPFSUm3_fcPz985vpLf6i5vj5Qc_r_7_UT3hsb4Hw1f99YRI/s400/Michelangelo,_Giudizio_Universale_02.jpg" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelangelo, The Last Judgement</td></tr>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-78078190267425117962012-11-18T11:38:00.000-05:002012-12-08T11:48:43.471-05:00Until<div class="p2" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Until</span></div>
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"How long, O Lord?"</div>
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cry time-garbed prophets</div>
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of dusty days</div>
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waiting waiting waiting -</div>
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for judgement of judges, </div>
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for heart-graven laws -</div>
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waiting working waiting.</div>
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"How long, O Lord?"</div>
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weeping over Jerusalem.</div>
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For forty coins, O innocent Lamb</div>
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lifted up to be looked upon</div>
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by tearless blind and </div>
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sorrow-blinded seeing.</div>
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Forgive us, Judge of all.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"How long, O Lord?"</div>
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cries the waiting church,</div>
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wallowing spotless bride </div>
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hearing the mockers speak</div>
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their oft-merited scorn,</div>
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holding firstfruits of one Adam</div>
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still eating that fruit of another.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"How long, O Lord?"</div>
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as false expectations hang,</div>
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a fragile shining cloud</div>
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above us who feel not their weight</div>
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until shattered they descend</div>
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piercing trust and pride and most of all</div>
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the hearts of those who hope.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"How long, O Lord?"</div>
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will the gift of discernment,</div>
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of vision,</div>
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be not a thwarted burden</div>
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but a treasure of seeing</div>
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free from maligned motives,</div>
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truly serving.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"How long, O Lord?"</div>
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as we bow in thankfulness and awe </div>
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to our rescuer and consuming fire.</div>
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We fear to ask for justice we </div>
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fear not to</div>
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knowing that beauty will not save the world</div>
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but only You, Beautiful Christ.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"How long, O Lord?"</div>
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We've hung our harps</div>
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on poplar trees </div>
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we groan in certain hope</div>
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of resurrection, restoration, re-creation.</div>
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waiting working waiting</div>
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O Lord, keep us in hope.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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for reference: Heb12:28-29, 1 Cor 15, and Psalm 137</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-59120564929995556402012-11-12T17:55:00.000-05:002012-11-12T17:55:21.256-05:00sunset shutters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This past week I was out on the pier enjoying the sunset, and experimented with different shutter speeds for capturing the water. There is a serenity and smoothness to the long exposures that I like.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-NS7Jw_h64XJv2WvfzUZuszGUntujKNPdADHJPqefrSVVvyeF_U4DHp2PBTO9SS6Fm5cQfd5YqkXsEj4VxgPJLWoGB7t90wyUV-NIi1A2In_xS4vwA7mwZxGOPMQLOShZP3mtAPMzlIl/s1600/IMGP8008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-NS7Jw_h64XJv2WvfzUZuszGUntujKNPdADHJPqefrSVVvyeF_U4DHp2PBTO9SS6Fm5cQfd5YqkXsEj4VxgPJLWoGB7t90wyUV-NIi1A2In_xS4vwA7mwZxGOPMQLOShZP3mtAPMzlIl/s640/IMGP8008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/50 s</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jgJERL3ZdZuSdLeCWQewkTuhLLx0jim1a3TjNsgj6FiX0RKO_1kavqNNnj6m7AUP57Elwmt2H1HU7xuf3UPngjLpvsSUJuQ8-APODio7Q1dSE81WYkfvKhdVtYxD2aot5k7Jtxy43b-1/s1600/IMGP8019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jgJERL3ZdZuSdLeCWQewkTuhLLx0jim1a3TjNsgj6FiX0RKO_1kavqNNnj6m7AUP57Elwmt2H1HU7xuf3UPngjLpvsSUJuQ8-APODio7Q1dSE81WYkfvKhdVtYxD2aot5k7Jtxy43b-1/s640/IMGP8019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ISO 200, f/18, 5.0 s</td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-19326177797984618092012-11-01T12:06:00.001-04:002012-11-01T14:20:03.829-04:00the power of Sandy and the Wings of God<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0llbueSUyzYgNSy5sHcFrlTsCUk3Pmn1pLklGsVBujwsktaoJOHXhpE_xdbxQZFeRON6S6JsNW3RT5uj1MNXgZQzP4UjGHidYYe_oB4k5tzVSmXneuAuhDgJjDZvmNQ9EW3JfDElAqr1I/s1600/IMGP7812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0llbueSUyzYgNSy5sHcFrlTsCUk3Pmn1pLklGsVBujwsktaoJOHXhpE_xdbxQZFeRON6S6JsNW3RT5uj1MNXgZQzP4UjGHidYYe_oB4k5tzVSmXneuAuhDgJjDZvmNQ9EW3JfDElAqr1I/s400/IMGP7812.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>ave me, O God,<br />
for the waters have come up to my neck. [...]<br />
Do not let the floodwaters engulf me<br />
or the depths swallow me up<br />
(Psalm 69:1,15 NIV)<br />
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Language like this is all over the psalms. Much of it is metaphorical, and as such we can relate to it. But I believe there is a level of dependance on God's active, physical, work for protection and salvation that we often miss.<br />
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This week as the hurricane raged around us, shaking the house, reading from the psalms and Genesis took on new significance (see <a href="http://skylerfike.com/scriptureandsandy" target="_blank">this post</a>). The very physical, tangible and even dangerous presence of the storm around us gave us a new perspective on God's power and God's care.<br />
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<i>Awe</i>. What does that word mean to you? I would argue that very often the writers of scripture understood God's power in very literal ways. Even thunderstorms are impressive and even frightening when you live in a tent. Perhaps their fear and awe of nature gave them a richer understanding of the fear and worship of God.<br />
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<i>Helplessness</i>. For those of you on the East coast this past week, did you feel helpless to do anything about the storm's possible destruction? I can only imagine the feelings of those in the Caribbean who face larger storms from within much weaker structures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD0Q7vonfy-OqLl6fOXh6uvhGj1STx_tnDt9l3nvJxGZlwzpFI4JpirTGBhCOHm8m4RxEtnbw4J1mSESRIT7pyCPz-866Q0TrQihbXUC-O1rRWWFrxNa829XBdmUcOeZDF88vPT5D3FmE/s1600/IMGP7861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD0Q7vonfy-OqLl6fOXh6uvhGj1STx_tnDt9l3nvJxGZlwzpFI4JpirTGBhCOHm8m4RxEtnbw4J1mSESRIT7pyCPz-866Q0TrQihbXUC-O1rRWWFrxNa829XBdmUcOeZDF88vPT5D3FmE/s400/IMGP7861.JPG" title="hurricane Sandy Maryland" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Because you are my help,<br />
I sing in the shadow of your wings.<br />
I cling to you;<br />
your right hand upholds me.<br />
(Psalm 63:7)</blockquote>
Yesterday in the relative calm after the storm, I pondered this verse. What is "the shadow of your wings"? It is place of protection, of warmth and freedom from terror. It is only as much a cause for rejoicing as the dangers outside are cause for fear. Only in understanding the danger do we see how remarkable it is that he can <i>sing</i> in the strength of that shelter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV9YVeahGkyR80Zr9t2Fwj2H_Wn8B-sSyNB2SL8hB1eQ_Jeu5mc1DiM-DoKDOVYoppgF-tYo9wMEzqkvTZtIto-ETXfnQFLCNuBTRRGizm9ly_z1TuRuZTebmP_b-T5X5t0CFUNXFrLUO/s1600/IMGP7710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV9YVeahGkyR80Zr9t2Fwj2H_Wn8B-sSyNB2SL8hB1eQ_Jeu5mc1DiM-DoKDOVYoppgF-tYo9wMEzqkvTZtIto-ETXfnQFLCNuBTRRGizm9ly_z1TuRuZTebmP_b-T5X5t0CFUNXFrLUO/s200/IMGP7710.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">shelter from the storm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
How do you pray these verses? Do experiences of the might of nature or of other physical peril color your prayers? What do you believe God has the power to save you from?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matt 8:27)</blockquote>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-53625629365833371362012-10-27T15:43:00.003-04:002012-10-27T15:43:49.385-04:00October weekend road trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here are some photos from a trip to Shenandoah National Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8OtOcOimHbdjBb_MIUWQ0CfNWNmsyi78L1iY-DiwECOqBkzrNub8T2wTuDKk-XCSXEx3XChPdyXX9EeOwEzdCcbsP7sd9tpuMnRM5MaSVI03_wgwownIu2q_YSUsWokT0as0q0dNiCeL/s1600/IMGP7417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8OtOcOimHbdjBb_MIUWQ0CfNWNmsyi78L1iY-DiwECOqBkzrNub8T2wTuDKk-XCSXEx3XChPdyXX9EeOwEzdCcbsP7sd9tpuMnRM5MaSVI03_wgwownIu2q_YSUsWokT0as0q0dNiCeL/s400/IMGP7417.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUN00NtEoNUjkYET5VpxDPTO_rOUOwI9DtitTReinZ_EAhYJkB5WPCsoSztQlel6NDiZb6F16aU9wFo9s1jSIOgE14QcCSWivQKEfRf3B76lz_9N_BKq4McRNuH0j81lGBlzftkRdRnFO/s1600/IMGP7418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUN00NtEoNUjkYET5VpxDPTO_rOUOwI9DtitTReinZ_EAhYJkB5WPCsoSztQlel6NDiZb6F16aU9wFo9s1jSIOgE14QcCSWivQKEfRf3B76lz_9N_BKq4McRNuH0j81lGBlzftkRdRnFO/s400/IMGP7418.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7pqhDwgdhe4H5mMmaOWJG4X38aYCl-RG8nxu_lY1yHfKEd88t6NbHPOCj3_vy0QCHeT_t5UqJdv-RujPAEbraxxkHxIQTRU67FouVyWMtDmOPUnrwt-1xJguUvgrF-vBmFtGu5O20Zl_/s1600/IMGP7431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7pqhDwgdhe4H5mMmaOWJG4X38aYCl-RG8nxu_lY1yHfKEd88t6NbHPOCj3_vy0QCHeT_t5UqJdv-RujPAEbraxxkHxIQTRU67FouVyWMtDmOPUnrwt-1xJguUvgrF-vBmFtGu5O20Zl_/s400/IMGP7431.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPuNCEYA4ysd1HCE9nhRQewhWKkUcdchDq9so9ujiS0HAhV3AaUoVmdvN4dWdO5R8JfZewdb3BX_NmQRbXJVBuCtmFv3Ocs0vEphCWN9ojNuYdOoNg5cneX3Yn1ZJ6Bj1h1r4R1jzGj59/s1600/IMGP7463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPuNCEYA4ysd1HCE9nhRQewhWKkUcdchDq9so9ujiS0HAhV3AaUoVmdvN4dWdO5R8JfZewdb3BX_NmQRbXJVBuCtmFv3Ocs0vEphCWN9ojNuYdOoNg5cneX3Yn1ZJ6Bj1h1r4R1jzGj59/s640/IMGP7463.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXRAc_GrkPluVe4myJN-kr4bv9ecJ-Wm88bwL23kmP2ulMLOiUAr_V4Y8lp3OOR4zJxZ9aWW1YipOTh53y6Zqm9j2lT6OIQZUZ2Ji0x9z5Z1sxULijv6bfTxU8YII0fzziI3_-0pEdnce/s1600/IMGP7501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXRAc_GrkPluVe4myJN-kr4bv9ecJ-Wm88bwL23kmP2ulMLOiUAr_V4Y8lp3OOR4zJxZ9aWW1YipOTh53y6Zqm9j2lT6OIQZUZ2Ji0x9z5Z1sxULijv6bfTxU8YII0fzziI3_-0pEdnce/s400/IMGP7501.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADrZ7irYvXFevO1njAm-uKqvdWKO3VQ5uybtVkS_7b_ex3iqYjWHrRZRc9oMmZ4h-Le7_nmaQLRncpAjHgdYiah2OQ1Aq5FChlzwHYpnSpdRFpaKr-WcXYprYd5SZDzEvFYYdHshm0o6e/s1600/IMGP7563.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADrZ7irYvXFevO1njAm-uKqvdWKO3VQ5uybtVkS_7b_ex3iqYjWHrRZRc9oMmZ4h-Le7_nmaQLRncpAjHgdYiah2OQ1Aq5FChlzwHYpnSpdRFpaKr-WcXYprYd5SZDzEvFYYdHshm0o6e/s320/IMGP7563.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyleeGKdbZbryNY-z0BTJIDr-ZWqjTQlOsUorNyamegAvknemkzLDX0Wjy76TULQLNs1ubqfTyZr1k8O8Czf59KPAVPs8eORxvcZ5ywqLeh0QgiWIWL0xwJbLpnsizcnSrjSaH0I5TF4D/s1600/IMGP7633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyleeGKdbZbryNY-z0BTJIDr-ZWqjTQlOsUorNyamegAvknemkzLDX0Wjy76TULQLNs1ubqfTyZr1k8O8Czf59KPAVPs8eORxvcZ5ywqLeh0QgiWIWL0xwJbLpnsizcnSrjSaH0I5TF4D/s400/IMGP7633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-37663100156584373852012-09-29T17:31:00.001-04:002012-09-29T17:31:20.825-04:00sky-scapes (a photoblog)It's been a while. I have been busy reading and writing for other (non-blogging) reasons. Frankly, I have enjoyed a bit of a break from blogging. I think I will continue a bit of a break from all the writing by posting photos. <br />
<br />
Some of you know I am now in Maryland. Here are some pictures from the past few weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizAA6ldvrHrTDWx0NeL8ikc0-Q2SxYpmJWPaAIwiwgfDHB3wCoN0CwvVZvRbRoW7zvmJ79R2u6Zqx8q-1vKKR7Xncog-SFbfjMYndZmepLdPYA-xL7ItwZOlFR8SdmfWmPIm3f8zFSQMh/s1600/DSCN7747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizAA6ldvrHrTDWx0NeL8ikc0-Q2SxYpmJWPaAIwiwgfDHB3wCoN0CwvVZvRbRoW7zvmJ79R2u6Zqx8q-1vKKR7Xncog-SFbfjMYndZmepLdPYA-xL7ItwZOlFR8SdmfWmPIm3f8zFSQMh/s640/DSCN7747.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dawn. driving in Western New York </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygWgWVV5VHs95STpU_qf0Bb7mEpgTnuQWJ9-LnG-OTL-eo8tXQ-0GjhBQix1aGwvfql0HuLdp8RJfz31SffCC85xseShyphenhyphenvqLVOPULNumZC1DfZHkiQN909ewBa3C-9Znl8sDQNdO2GuGa/s1600/IMGP6978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygWgWVV5VHs95STpU_qf0Bb7mEpgTnuQWJ9-LnG-OTL-eo8tXQ-0GjhBQix1aGwvfql0HuLdp8RJfz31SffCC85xseShyphenhyphenvqLVOPULNumZC1DfZHkiQN909ewBa3C-9Znl8sDQNdO2GuGa/s640/IMGP6978.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rainbow after a flood </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzLV7Zm2DSjJ_UNFo5CTVMqcvxeCT16QAwNRvDV-DVkYYGmVFlVIGolOk74L7li_2dhEN0s0ShI9yuVWS_bpViRF7BoF5u34iTcDTfWf4qGzihAcuNdaUTD4eDCOhWMnAczBpinSAx3IZ/s1600/IMGP6997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzLV7Zm2DSjJ_UNFo5CTVMqcvxeCT16QAwNRvDV-DVkYYGmVFlVIGolOk74L7li_2dhEN0s0ShI9yuVWS_bpViRF7BoF5u34iTcDTfWf4qGzihAcuNdaUTD4eDCOhWMnAczBpinSAx3IZ/s640/IMGP6997.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset after the rainbow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfH43W8vTiW454HAt9LLuWr1_m3aeAPGTI1D5qsGSg_k2s7_WzBmpjicPXdNYMXPVIen2eMZxF5tScnjb8-UFUoRgvGUhz8Axyb2ltcO_puTwzN2XmPGIANZeUXzoXIyD1OQ45h0ASIZ3/s1600/IMGP7006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfH43W8vTiW454HAt9LLuWr1_m3aeAPGTI1D5qsGSg_k2s7_WzBmpjicPXdNYMXPVIen2eMZxF5tScnjb8-UFUoRgvGUhz8Axyb2ltcO_puTwzN2XmPGIANZeUXzoXIyD1OQ45h0ASIZ3/s640/IMGP7006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">moon and clouds and someone to enjoy them</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OfqPRv0Y305g4jBVEFbhBekRnUiV49dL2K1HkUEOiZ5Lffh3nfeY5EcvGzkkwbBZGNxN-rOjSQ64HId1lqS3ZJDvaCoJH9D1fWKfIHGy4GhQO7qp0J56KsQ_eat1N6Os02P9kKnNJBCf/s1600/IMGP7007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OfqPRv0Y305g4jBVEFbhBekRnUiV49dL2K1HkUEOiZ5Lffh3nfeY5EcvGzkkwbBZGNxN-rOjSQ64HId1lqS3ZJDvaCoJH9D1fWKfIHGy4GhQO7qp0J56KsQ_eat1N6Os02P9kKnNJBCf/s640/IMGP7007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset on the point</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKTyhyphenhyphenPZ6jXCDynEc8lxNrBPsHkw0aza8DxOzQV2SBJsqR7Djdm01ZsdiivsXf9F4Rtg6gxAhiBclIKdOWUQ9bBkserFeM1x0qR-Ij7uOFtXw73qVDkz_NAeMxvZvZCeBK_3W4YA6Qwnw/s1600/IMGP7024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKTyhyphenhyphenPZ6jXCDynEc8lxNrBPsHkw0aza8DxOzQV2SBJsqR7Djdm01ZsdiivsXf9F4Rtg6gxAhiBclIKdOWUQ9bBkserFeM1x0qR-Ij7uOFtXw73qVDkz_NAeMxvZvZCeBK_3W4YA6Qwnw/s640/IMGP7024.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gulls and clouds</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7QL8lXVmvb9OqXMG6ydQml7nV10RbuB_19vSd52lksNOoxQL1GFCGJFeer7iglN3cJ92mN2VqZDiZBkG9xQgRPFqnUGKDOX0myb8XOSuMDqqb_YEUhYn0Uox_YBzwLMu7MpqYK8DlvH8/s1600/IMGP7081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7QL8lXVmvb9OqXMG6ydQml7nV10RbuB_19vSd52lksNOoxQL1GFCGJFeer7iglN3cJ92mN2VqZDiZBkG9xQgRPFqnUGKDOX0myb8XOSuMDqqb_YEUhYn0Uox_YBzwLMu7MpqYK8DlvH8/s640/IMGP7081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dawn on the pier</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OH7wiiKEGloKcyYosJMhFDZX_4fdACFifIXq4Szj4Bfglw1mFmnl_TaQyi6D4GNazzSJofvBW8gg48r2pkNnXX0WcfH_9GY81Ab2bBOciA9kCDcr0dLgO8GCJi7Ga8JTbK-Qd-i6VkDe/s1600/IMGP7096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OH7wiiKEGloKcyYosJMhFDZX_4fdACFifIXq4Szj4Bfglw1mFmnl_TaQyi6D4GNazzSJofvBW8gg48r2pkNnXX0WcfH_9GY81Ab2bBOciA9kCDcr0dLgO8GCJi7Ga8JTbK-Qd-i6VkDe/s640/IMGP7096.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the rising sun pierces the mist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHroAZEh6ObvqeODkiWTWTIzo89tVW-GKB_6ww9dhdp6zj3QbsuvcY2fKg69m3-i0Ind1mvdKLcJmHHWRceRNqlyG-L7uZh1iqkkrtFcTx6b3BaJKvDqQ_ImAEyNRWx9PEI4THkXTQyKb/s1600/IMGP7105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHroAZEh6ObvqeODkiWTWTIzo89tVW-GKB_6ww9dhdp6zj3QbsuvcY2fKg69m3-i0Ind1mvdKLcJmHHWRceRNqlyG-L7uZh1iqkkrtFcTx6b3BaJKvDqQ_ImAEyNRWx9PEI4THkXTQyKb/s640/IMGP7105.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dawn hues</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkE6cxyMWOneQIw0Q1xkvt_w-8x5OyJG75-iwnE6wLIRBcN9lGhOBz158W7lDPTq1ZP4N6TVxkNlKrECb6Uaq6q0_cwCO2CwvX22rr92Hh61Ib9Sy08IR8W6uIPl-bYbs4fmm-Er9p95V/s1600/IMGP7108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkE6cxyMWOneQIw0Q1xkvt_w-8x5OyJG75-iwnE6wLIRBcN9lGhOBz158W7lDPTq1ZP4N6TVxkNlKrECb6Uaq6q0_cwCO2CwvX22rr92Hh61Ib9Sy08IR8W6uIPl-bYbs4fmm-Er9p95V/s640/IMGP7108.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">expectation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwKCu0HqnS9ecBZawFLfqCS1zxEKbTSuc4-HX7m0S5s21FZ1NmVmCoF2CPwJL_X4Vfl0fi11YziMYTVPLRGaIHFXmtUUee7W4FDnTx6SUlEj7ne-Kacen69rXUHLa4dTzJRVrKPyOYDIm/s1600/IMGP7229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwKCu0HqnS9ecBZawFLfqCS1zxEKbTSuc4-HX7m0S5s21FZ1NmVmCoF2CPwJL_X4Vfl0fi11YziMYTVPLRGaIHFXmtUUee7W4FDnTx6SUlEj7ne-Kacen69rXUHLa4dTzJRVrKPyOYDIm/s640/IMGP7229.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a river of lights on the Bay Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vesper light</td></tr>
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-74706905557181628672012-08-17T09:42:00.001-04:002012-08-17T09:42:23.282-04:00experiencing God in our lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been asked why I believe in God, and what my personal experience of God is like. While it may be hard to understand for some, my experience of God is not limited to those things for which I have no other explanation: God is the explanation for all things, encompassing every part of my life - if only I had the eyes to see it. <br />
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Frederick Buechner puts it so beautifully that I must share it with you, though it is a longish passage:<br />
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The question is not whether the things that happen to you are chance things or God's things because, of course, they are both at once. There is no chance thing through which God cannot speak -- even the walk from the house to the garage that you have walked ten thousand times before, even the moments when you cannot believe there is a God who speaks at all anywhere. He speaks, I believe, and the words he speaks are incarnate in the flesh and blood of our selves and of our own footsore and sacred journeys. <a name='more'></a>We cannot live our lives constantly looking back, listening back, lest we be turned to pillars of longing and regret, but to live without listening at all is to live deaf to the fulness of the music. Sometimes we avoid listening for fear of what we may hear, sometimes for fear that we may hear nothing at all but the empty rattle of our own feet on the pavement. But be not affeared, says Caliban, nor is he the only one to say it. "Be not afraid," says another, "for lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." He says he is with us on our journeys. He says he has been with us since each of our journeys began. Listen for him. Listen to the sweet and bitter airs of your present and your past for the sound of him. (from <i>The Sacred Journey)</i></blockquote>
Poetic and wise. Does it resonate with you, too?<br />
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-69971696343937582382012-08-14T23:36:00.000-04:002012-08-15T11:07:27.236-04:00work and calling<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMmilY8WhTIqhgyieDIHeK_n638_6kAFqFN30DMy33nzsoG6R_tgDBvBvYara0r7wzamIk8d_e6f68ieqRmmOl6hbgct8xui8jilE1m0zNR44Eal5iPphWnZ_f1rqoFKsutobP-WI4nZY/s1600/the-call-by-os-guinness.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMmilY8WhTIqhgyieDIHeK_n638_6kAFqFN30DMy33nzsoG6R_tgDBvBvYara0r7wzamIk8d_e6f68ieqRmmOl6hbgct8xui8jilE1m0zNR44Eal5iPphWnZ_f1rqoFKsutobP-WI4nZY/s320/the-call-by-os-guinness.jpeg" width="213" /></a>You may have noticed that my posts have been few and far between lately. Hopefully this will not last, but at the moment I am in the midst of a move and life is very full (good, but full). So this evening I thought I'd share with you a snippet out of what I've been reading for you to ponder.<br />
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In <i>The Call</i>, Os Guinness talkes about the importance of understanding (and reclaiming!) the meaning of <i>calling:</i><br />
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"Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ," [Oswald Chambers] wrote. "The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him.... The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him." </blockquote>
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Do we enjoy our work, love our work, virtually worship our work so that our devotion to Jesus is off-center? Do we put our emphasis on service, or usefulness, or being productive in working for God - at his expense? [...] </blockquote>
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We are not primarily called to do something or go somewhere; we are called to Someone.</blockquote>
This is a good reminder to me. Of course in some ways it puts me more out of control, but that is a good thing I think. How do you think your view of "calling" affects your work? Your relationship with God?<br />
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-87629502991310624282012-07-26T15:02:00.001-04:002012-07-26T15:05:02.285-04:00Personality Type and Sin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>here to begin on this one? I've wanted to write this post for a while, but I am beginning to think it needs to be more of a discussion than a single post. Here's a start.<br />
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Have you ever done the Myers-Briggs personality test, or something like it? For me reading the description of my personality type was uncanny. While I found it helpful for understanding myself better and gaining insight into how others perceive my behavior (apparently people of my type are frequently misunderstood!), the more negative aspects of the description raised some questions for me.<br />
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How do I separate 'who I was made to be' and my sinful nature? The answer is probably that I can't - not now at least and certainly not on my own. <i>(As a side note: isn't it beautiful that Christ loves us and died for us even when our disgusting sin is such a part of who we are? He doesn't separate us from our sin and love the lovely part; he loves all of us) </i><br />
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Partly because the two cannot be fully separated, I am concerned that too much focus on personality types could lead to self-justification of sin. <br />
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For example, one description states that someone of my personality type <span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;">may have little interest in other people's thoughts or feelings". This tendency doesn't sound very righteous to me - doesn't Christ call us to love one another, and doesn't that involve being interested in other people's thoughts and feelings? Not only that, but this could easily lead to other sins. And if I walk all over somebody, and then justify it by saying "oops! I guess that was just my personality type not to realize that I was hurting them," <i>I have still sinned.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">What do you think? Is the Myers-Briggs test helpful? Do you think it can be misused to justify sin?</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-21182377275452062842012-07-02T15:00:00.001-04:002012-07-02T15:00:12.504-04:00The Apologist’s Evening Prayer<a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2012/07/02/the-apologists-evening-prayer/">The Apologist’s Evening Prayer</a><br />
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Justin Taylor posted this poem/prayer by C.S. Lewis on his blog, and I thought I'd share it too. Christ alone can free us from our own thoughts and pride.<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-33710845737282437492012-06-27T17:52:00.000-04:002012-06-27T17:52:13.311-04:00Jesus in a doorway<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text Mark-1-32" id="en-NIV-24248" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></span><span class="text Mark-1-32" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">hat evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24248A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"></span><span class="text Mark-1-33" id="en-NIV-24249" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">The whole town gathered at the door,</span><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> </span><span class="text Mark-1-34" id="en-NIV-24250" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24250B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. (Mark 1:32-34)</span></blockquote>
<span class="text Mark-1-34" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text Mark-1-34" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Can you see him, standing there in the door? Warm light and conversation come from inside, where Simon's mother-in-law rejoices with family and neighbors and tells again the story of her miraculous healing.</span><br />
<span class="text Mark-1-34" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text Mark-1-34" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Outside darkness has fallen, and with it have come the crowds. They press in, letting the night hide their disfigurements of body and of soul. Keenly they feel their pain and their shame, and yet they move toward that man in the doorway, toward the light.</span><br />
<span class="text Mark-1-34" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text Mark-1-34"><span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">In this hour of darkness the King of Light yet is glorious. He speaks with authority. He reaches out his hand in compassion. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">The demons </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">shriek</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">, the darkness flees. </span><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-13996649943839639712012-06-20T18:00:00.000-04:002012-06-20T18:00:04.031-04:00the butterfly's summerIt swooped, it glided, it soared -<br />
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it lived out its brief life</div>
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landing on leaves </div>
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on <span style="background-color: white;">flowers</span></div>
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on air,</div>
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and it was enough.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/?limit=40&startPoint=0&nrecs=0&keysPlus=&keyP=&cols=1&specific=2082&x=12&y=45</span></div>
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Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-32546747312765036132012-06-18T12:10:00.000-04:002012-06-18T12:13:14.461-04:00June-aling-alongWhere have I been? Mostly enjoying the long, warm days of summer, and the extra freedom of schedule I have this time of year.<br />
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Here's a taste of what I've been up to:<br />
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Enjoying beautiful NY parks..<br />
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Eating with friends in my backyard (including a little kitty friend)!<br />
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Going to the Public Market every week for great deals and good food, ...<br />
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... flowers, and LOTS of people..<br />
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.. and guitar music...<br />
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... and a European cheese shop!<br />
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I visited a rose garden or two,<br />
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biked along the Genesee with a friend,<br />
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and walked the pier at Ontario Beach Park - twice so far.<br />
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Pretty good for halfway through June, I'd say. What about you? What wonderful summer adventures have you had, or do you have planned? Any recommendations of great things to do in Western NY?<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-74174842258299009112012-06-04T11:18:00.001-04:002012-06-04T11:19:55.422-04:00A Tale of Two Cities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdS9lOJ3rBsjQMeUpy8U411QjbXfBE2h0rGEuSo7dmAnGmHkT4VXrorsfFywDuQYoOM_CkAJhfZ92JPxXXnJjyrBK-nWA_K1OkGDC45NIAXoG3MDDewPxt7QWXPIYh8uULbk0WVwt2s8fM/s1600/taleof+two+cities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdS9lOJ3rBsjQMeUpy8U411QjbXfBE2h0rGEuSo7dmAnGmHkT4VXrorsfFywDuQYoOM_CkAJhfZ92JPxXXnJjyrBK-nWA_K1OkGDC45NIAXoG3MDDewPxt7QWXPIYh8uULbk0WVwt2s8fM/s320/taleof+two+cities.jpg" width="207" /></a>I just finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141439602/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=butyouhavecom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0141439602">A Tale of Two Cities</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=butyouhavecom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0141439602" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Dickens. I have to say I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I have a new appreciation for Dicken's writing, which combines humour and wonderful descriptions with a good story and a thoughtful portrayal of human life.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141439602/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=butyouhavecom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0141439602">A Tale of Two Cities</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=butyouhavecom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0141439602" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> presents a chiaroscuro of human character; loving and gracious characters shine brightly against a deeply dark background. On it's own, that backdrop would be a disturbing, even frightening, picture of humanity. The vengeful, blood-lusting crowds of Paris in the heyday of the guillotine are sobering in the caricature that Dickens presents. <br />
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And yet there is light. We read of the strength of love, willing to sacrifice all. Of the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice which transforms even the most repulsive person into a hero. Of the hope of resurrection. <br />
<br />
Like the book of Esther, God is hardly mentioned, if at all. One might even be tempted to believe he has abandoned France to its suffering. Yet he is there. And as the story builds to its climax, we read the oft-repeated refrain:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.</blockquote>
Have you read this book, or other books by Dickens? What did you think?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-27253950477788042502012-05-27T21:57:00.000-04:002012-05-27T21:57:29.582-04:00Starting to Believe<span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ow does one become a "Christian" - one who is committed to following Christ? Is there some point between not being a Christian and being one, a space of time where the crossover is made? For some perhaps this happens rapidly, for others more slowly. But <i>how </i>does it happen? (Isn't that what we'd really like to know?)<br />
<br />
I found something Piper said regarding how one comes to trust in the truth of the Bible to be helpful. He distinguishes between God "'telling us' that the Bible is true" and "enabling us to see what is really there." He writes,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The practical effect of this path is that I do not ask you to pray for a special whisper from God to decide if Jesus is real. Rather I ask you to look at the Jesus of the Bible. Look at him. Don't close your eyes and hope for a word of confirmation. Keep your eyes open and fill them with the full portrait of Jesus provided in the Bible. If you come to trust Jesus Christ as Lord and God, it will be because you see in him a divine glory ad excellence that simply is what it is - true. (Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, p.121)</blockquote>
This does not diminish the work of the Holy Spirit, who helps us see this truth. It does speak against the idea that we should pray for some sign or magical change in ourselves that will make us all of a sudden believe in something that a logical person would find unbelievable. You don't trust and follow someone unless you know them; you don't know them unless you take the opportunities to do so.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSgFXQi9o1z2dN7w5ekxz1lKOWbIbivKuV6LRWNSp4Fz7QCAv7jP8cYRDC967ZZvvIFYVhBEBB_PFKEPeKpCdzxCexaBn78rtTqFEt35R4VeaY7rhjVxjuD1XaQvqEiQACDnLw8FAiRc_/s1600/jesus-opens-eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSgFXQi9o1z2dN7w5ekxz1lKOWbIbivKuV6LRWNSp4Fz7QCAv7jP8cYRDC967ZZvvIFYVhBEBB_PFKEPeKpCdzxCexaBn78rtTqFEt35R4VeaY7rhjVxjuD1XaQvqEiQACDnLw8FAiRc_/s320/jesus-opens-eyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">art credit:http://www.omsc.org/art-at-omsc/huibing/jesus-opens-eyes-slide.html</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This applies to those of us who already profess to follow Christ. Are we truly looking at Christ, and expecting to see ever more? The Holy Spirit does the work of helping us see, but do we allow Him to do so? This is a challenge to me to really hunger to know Christ more.<br />
<br />
Does this resonate with you? Is what Piper says helpful?<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-39075752073156354882012-05-19T21:38:00.001-04:002012-05-21T10:35:56.297-04:00Jesus of no generation and all time<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"T</span>he glory of Jesus Christ is that he is always out of sync with the world and therefore always relevant for the world. If he fit nicely, he would be of little use. <b>The effort to remake the Jesus of the Bibles so that he fits the spirit of one generation makes him feeble in another.</b> Better to let him be what he his, because it is often the offensive side of Jesus that we need most."</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-RPfkFRi6MAtbmuM2VOoKmP6_l_y-NX-NDYmcheasd6FlFPb0BGN04KHKNdGuK2ziY0XV7xa_0n8DyCbkxcSXGUh6eII9d7qQkG6PuQl1VwdSTvszDTuWWXxgLswhL4BGqWs4Of-03Tx/s1600/cleanseTempleElGreco.1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-RPfkFRi6MAtbmuM2VOoKmP6_l_y-NX-NDYmcheasd6FlFPb0BGN04KHKNdGuK2ziY0XV7xa_0n8DyCbkxcSXGUh6eII9d7qQkG6PuQl1VwdSTvszDTuWWXxgLswhL4BGqWs4Of-03Tx/s320/cleanseTempleElGreco.1600.jpg" title="Jesus Cleansing the Temple by El Greco" width="320" /></a></div>
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So writes John Piper in his little book<i> <a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=butyouhavecom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1581346239" target="_blank">Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ</a>. </i>Isn't that a relief? We don't need to try to find and interpret a 'Jesus for this generation'. We just need to find Jesus. A real person. Our Savior. Our God.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5flWqSme80DVRTvZvpwU0wWZyFHekSRff3JbjNZFncOFlw7CrSAsomAxuZsVwn7V5YnadrVetWXcG6pSX_BcXxCjruO-2Utogm2LQVolimBiz9IFQv4yrfG2jJFoPcn6eFb14fiRgaz8/s1600/jesustoday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5flWqSme80DVRTvZvpwU0wWZyFHekSRff3JbjNZFncOFlw7CrSAsomAxuZsVwn7V5YnadrVetWXcG6pSX_BcXxCjruO-2Utogm2LQVolimBiz9IFQv4yrfG2jJFoPcn6eFb14fiRgaz8/s320/jesustoday.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=butyouhavecom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1570756724" target="_blank">Jesus Today</a></td></tr>
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I find that sometimes I get so busy making connections between what Jesus says and my generation and culture that I forget that he is a real, living person. He will never fit into my box and I am so thankful for that.<br />
<br />
Is this true to your experience as well? What practical steps do you think we can take to know and listen to this Jesus - magnificent and loving and sometimes offensive - who lives today?<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-67915840136636640062012-04-30T10:52:00.001-04:002012-04-30T10:52:37.080-04:00How can I keep from singing? Today I'd simply like to share with you a hymn that has been meaningful to me of late. I hope it is encouraging to you too.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>
My Life Flows On </b></div>
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My life flows on in endless song;</div>
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Above earth's lamentation</div>
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I catch the sweet though far off hymn</div>
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That hails a new creation:</div>
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<i>No storm can shake my inmost calm</i></div>
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<i>While to that rock I'm clinging;</i></div>
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<i>Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth -- </i></div>
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<i>How can I keep from singing?</i></div>
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<i></i></div>
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Through all the tumult and the strife</div>
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I hear the music ringing;</div>
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It finds an echo in my soul-</div>
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How can I keep from singing?</div>
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<i>No storm can shake my inmost calm</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>While to that rock I'm clinging;</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth --</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>How can I keep from singing?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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What though my joys and comforts die?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Lord my Savior liveth;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What though the darkness gather round!</div>
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Songs in the night He giveth:</div>
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<i>No storm can shake my inmost calm</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>While to that rock I'm clinging;</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth --</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>How can I keep from singing?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A fountain ever springing:</div>
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All things are mine since I am His--</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How can I keep from singing?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>No storm can shake my inmost calm</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>While to that rock I'm clinging;</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth --</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>How can I keep from singing?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mYZ8dIXvvX4" width="560"></iframe></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703265934338672967.post-79433761941203515332012-04-25T10:02:00.001-04:002012-04-25T10:02:13.519-04:00The Daily Office<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9JbyCJoTq_FDnaMPwH-jgPHmBHWN7IKdt06DRLqNl6tvTe9wCVGrArSAleOhRFoJ5o6wgmropum0d3t-F5MKhpFmWcjcOHGXMUMDmp5JspK3igf34mkvfRUrVukogbpPoGDoSbkbw7xw/s1600/bookofhoursvalenciac1460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9JbyCJoTq_FDnaMPwH-jgPHmBHWN7IKdt06DRLqNl6tvTe9wCVGrArSAleOhRFoJ5o6wgmropum0d3t-F5MKhpFmWcjcOHGXMUMDmp5JspK3igf34mkvfRUrVukogbpPoGDoSbkbw7xw/s320/bookofhoursvalenciac1460.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I don't mean the place where you may happen to work. No, I'm talking about that ancient practice of daily prayer, in which we pause at specified times of the day to focus our attention on God. I did a post about these prayers, often called the Divine Hours, a few years ago called <a href="http://butyouhavecome.blogspot.com/2009/03/time-is-our-currency.html" target="_blank">Time is our Currency,</a> in which you can read a bit about the history of this tradition.<br />
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Recently, while driving a long distance by myself, I listed to a series of conference talks on prayer put on by HTB, called Wisdom of the Ages. (<a href="http://archive.htb.org.uk/prayer/school-prayer-2011-talk-2-learning-celtic-christian-tradition-part-1" target="_blank">the one I refer to in this post can be found here</a>.) One speaker, Roy Seale, talked about his experience in the <a href="http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/" target="_blank">Northumbria Community</a> and their practice of praying the daily office. <br />
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What intrigued me particularly was the noon office. Many people set their cell phone alarms for noon every day and pray, often something as simple as the Lord's Prayer. As he pointed out, it is wonderful to think of every hour starting with prayer, as people in every time zone pray this way. In the Northumbria community, they have their own set of prayers (which always include the Lord's prayer). The noon office is designed to be prayed in the middle of the day, "in the time it takes the kettle to boil." The book of common prayer has a simliar short office, but I find the midday prayer of the Northumbrian community particularly helpful and beautiful. <br />
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I love the opening sentences:<br />
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Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. </div>
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Establish Thou the work of our hands; </div>
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establish Thou the work of our hands.</div>
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(The entire office can be found <a href="http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/pray-the-daily-office/midday-prayer" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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What a wonderful way to invite God into the midst of our day and remind ourselves that our life in Christ encompasses our entire life!<br />
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What do you think? Will you add your voice to the chorus of voices lifted up in prayer each day at noon?<div class="blogger-post-footer">______________
Come read these posts in their original format on my blog: butyouhavecome.blogspot.com</div>Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15790343941446643301noreply@blogger.com0