I can only imagine

I love it when songs from your past come back to touch you again in a new way. To me, this is a direct testament to the work of the Holy Spirit-- as a Christian I see this phenomenon all the time through the Bible, and it's easy to say that it's because the Bible is the living word of God. But what makes it come alive? The fact that the Author is filling my heart and telling me what He knows I need to hear. So when a song, or a chapter in a book, or a poem comes back and hits me in an entirely different place, I can't help but think the same Author, the same Giver of everything good is speaking to me once again.

Last night I heard "I Can Only Imagine", and it had been a while. It was always a beautiful song to me, but something new struck me last night. God has done an incredible work in my life the past few years, humbling me and showing me through grace how much of a sinner I am, and how much my pride has kept me thinking I'm okay. Kept Christ from the access to change my heart. So I as heard those words (check it out here if you're unfamiliar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_lrrq_opng), I had this overwhelming sense of weight, thinking about how badly I want to be in His perfect presence, rather than constantly struggling against my own flesh here on earth.

I'll pause here to clarify: I, in no way, wish for death, much less seek it. But my heart does cry in unison with Paul from Roman 7 "Who will save me from this body of death?" How I long to be perfected! To no longer break the heart of my Savior with my sins, both the hidden and the obvious.

But I am learning more and more through all of this to be comforted by the truth that He hasn't given up on me. That He knows I'll take the rest of my life to get even half-way "there", and He will give grace and love over and over and over again despite all that. What a beautiful truth to hold onto during the time He has me here...

"Let That Be Enough"

I wish I had what I need
To be on my own
'Cause I feel so defeated
And I'm feeling alone

And it all seems so helpless
And I have no plans
I'm a plane in the sunset
With nowhere to land

And all I see
It could never make me happy And all my sand castles
Spend their time collapsing

Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
Let that be enough

It's my birthday tomorrow
No one here could now
I was born this Thursday
22 years ago

And I feel stuck
Watching history repeating
Yeah, who am I?
Just a kid who knows he's needy

Let me know that You hear me
Let me know Your touch
Let me know that You love me
And let that be enough

[From New Way To Be Human by Switchfoot]

What I learned at the DMV

1. Grape scented hand soap is weird.

2. It IS possible for squeaky hinges to sound like they're playing classical music.

3. It would take approximately 30 min to record all the words and numbers needed for the audio notifications.

4. Long waits have the potential to bring out either the best or the worst in people.

There are some who, when their number is called, will walk up to the counter with a smile on their face, say "Good morning!" to the teller and go on with their business cheerfully. And there are others who feel that some right of theirs has been violated by the mere fact that someone got to the DMV before they did and are, for some strange reason, being served first, thereby causing this person to wait. This person will then approach the counter before their number is called to ask how the long the wait will be, and soon after express their disgust. Along with lesson #4 (we'll call it #4.b), I learned that looking for positives in horribly boring experiences such as these makes the time much less wasted.

Also:

5. People apparently start lining up a half an hour before the DMV opens...

From the lips of a truly intelligent man

I start with the remark about him being intelligent, because you might not have believed me if I said it after you had read these. But know that Prof. Brad Embry is by far one of the greater teachers I've had, and these quotes from his Biblical Interpretation class is only the icing on the top of a really good class.

That being said, enjoy some completely out-of-context statements from the man himself:

"There's no wrong comments, just wrong people...who make comments."

"I've got the balance of a billy goat, though. Check it!"

"Most people say it in a deep, scary voice, but I did it in a playful, carebear sort of way...'What's your name?' 'Lee-gion!'"

"You can't stop the cleverness! You've gotta let it go!"

"Learn my penmanship! Adjust to me, I will not adjust to you. I will write as ugly as I want!"

"Check me out! In all my covered up splendor."

"I wish I had a kitten. And I could punt it."

"Where else can you take a course on Biblical Interpretation and, in the midst of a lecture on Schleimacher, have the prof make a reference to Vanilla Ice?"

"I can get combative. Like a cornered gopher."

"Your mother was common sand!"

"I'll bet some say they want to read it. But not money, more metaphorical, we don't gamble here. We know OF Vegas, but we don't go there."

"Be energized and watered, my friend."

*motions to class* "Dead horse. Whip! In a metaphorical sense, not that you appear to me as a dead horse."

"Now we will biblicalize it."

"The room is like a platypus." (student) "How so?" (Embry) "Have you ever SEEN a platypus? It's the most awkward creature there is! God loves it, I'm sure, but..."

"Wisdom is a lady. But so is folly, so don't get ahead of yourselves."

"I need a veil of composure."

"That is a slightly slippery slope. And that's my alliteration. And I NAILED it."

"I mean God's not feeling like 'I wish I had these obedient people to love, like Ra does...I mean everybody's doing it, all the other deities have those people...' That's probably irreverent. Steer clear of me today."

"But sometimes you just get a sack full of hornets. A horneted sock."

"And in the King James it's a FILTHY lucre. Lucre..."

"And they throw up their fisty-cuffs."

"I try to sprinkle a little wrong-doing in my life. Cause if you're blameless, well...'Hey look at my servant-- eh, no, not Brad. I should pick somebody else.'"

"Song of songs is about kittens! Floating to the moon."

"I would never actually punt a kitten." (student) "Wouldn't you, though?" (Embry) "Well I don't know, I've never had one around when I was angry."

"Toots, it's biblical! So you better get on board."

"St. Peter's beard! That's the Catholic way of showing surprise."

"So now I've referenced Canada and the Vatican. Let's see where we go from here."

"I know it may look daunting, but it will go quickly. Plus, you get to write 'wayward heifer'."

"When I was young, heifer was a bad thing to call someone. Not that it's a good thing now, you'd never call someone a heifer and hear 'Oh, thank you! Yeah, I just got my hair done.'"

"Oh dear, the goat...Pope John Paul II. Or something like that."

"Valley of Tomorrow"

I am a troubled mind, I am a calloused heart
A failing engine from driving way too hard
I was trying way too hard
I pulled a thirty-eight out of my bleeding heart
I killed my selfishness for bringing me this far
This far away from you

When the daylight breaks through the buildings of Chicago
I will stand alone in the valley of tomorrow

[Chorus]
Oh, this is the way I wanna go down
(This is the last time) I'm starting over with you
This is the way I wanna go out
(This is the last time)

I never second-guessed the little voice I heard
It's just a whisper, that sounded like a scream
I ain't never felt so free

When the daylight breaks through the buildings of Chicago
I will stand alone in the valley of tomorrow

[Chorus]

I never second-guessed the little voice I heard
It's just a whisper