Straight and Broken: part 2

Though the path be straight and narrow, there is no promise that path will not be bumpy or broken. Throughout the Proverbs, there is strong "pathway" imagery to communicate where our hearts should stay and where we should avoid. Often the path we are told to stick to is that which is straight and narrow, because that is the pathway God lays before us. It is the path which leads to Him. It is the path which leads to life.

We are to avoid the wandering path set before us by enemies and various temptations. This is the wandering pathway which leads to nowhere. It is the wandering pathway which also leads our hearts to death.

While the straight and narrow path may be broken and bumpy, it is still straight. We can be assured that continuing straight will lead us to life, hope, and ultimately, Christ.

While the wandering path may be smoothly paved with enticement, comfort, and ease, it is still aimless and leads to death.

We may choose the rocky road that is straight to the top, or we could choose the paved switchbacks that never end but in death.

Straight and Broken

We have been told to trust God with all of our heart, quit trusting only our understanding, and He will make all our of paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6) My faith and life have seemed to come with a continual reminder over the last couple months. Though the path provided for us is straight and narrow, never are we promised that path will be without difficult bumps. 

There is reassurance that you are still on the right path even when it is difficult. Just keep going straight.

Honor of Honors: my best book review I've yet to write

I received the direct message a week ago on twitter from David C. Cook asking me to read and review Brennan Manning's soon-to-release book All Is Grace: a ragamuffin memoir. As you are likely aware, Brennan is a bit of a hero to me. I had imagined my chance to have a hotdog with him would be my only proudest moment. So this request to read and review my hero's book before it officially releases in October is something I am much more than excited to do.

I am honored and humbled by the opportunity.

QUESTION: What are the lies OTHER people tell themselves?

After yesterday's post, I wanted to rephrase the question for further answers. Yesterday, the question brought great answers regarding the lies we tell ourselves. I intentionally listed that question first as I imagined that today's question is easier to answer. It is always easier to see the problems other people have than our own. But question remains for today.

The question: What are the lies OTHER people tell themselves? The context: whatever you like (about relationships, about our faith, about work, about creativity, about addictions, about passions, about life in general)

Examples: He will love me if I put out. My dream is not worth pursuing because…. They don’t and couldn’t like me because… I will always be alone. Life is pointless. God could never love ME.  Facebook is real community. The Raiders are a good football team. This product will make my life better. I deserve this.

Please respond with your answers here.

You mail email your anonymous responses to info@ragamuffinpc.com 

QUESTION: What are the lies we tell ourselves?

I am working on a project right now, and I need your brainstorming feedback. The question: "What are the lies we tell ourselves?" The context: whatever you like (about relationships, about our faith, about work, about creativity, about addictions, about passions, about life in general)

Examples: He will love me if I put out. My dream is not worth pursuing because.... They don't and couldn't like me because... I will always be alone. Life is pointless. God could never love ME.  Facebook is real community. The Raiders are a good football team. This product will make my life better. I deserve this.

So, the question has been asked; please respond here with your answers.

You may anonymously email your lies to info@ragamuffinpc.com

For my childhood

For my childhood, I'd like to thank: - orange Nerf footballs - Toaster Strudels - Looney Toons - Super Tecmo Bowl - Big Foot monster truck - Hulk Hogan (and the Hulkamaniacs) - Banana Seats - Used word processor - Muncie Mission - Bottle Rockets - Semi-truck wall paper - Tennis-shoe blanket - Generic brands - Pegged jeans and Eastland shoes - Mrs. Davidson, Mr. Osborn, and Mr. Mason - "Pandoubty" - Mrs. Skinner sunday school - Homemade pizza - Homemade ice-cream - Staying up late to watch the superbowl - books (made of paper)

For the Ragamuffins [poem, rough cut]

this is for the broken onessmart enough to know how foolish they are this is for the ones who have tried and found life lacking This is for those not content to confess that THIS is all there is

this is for wearied ones fighting the fads of wondering if our crying hearts might drown us It is for those who know our tears are telescopes to heaven looking through trembling lenses for hope and deeper senses of home

this is for those who don't need church to be a menagerie of SAINTS but an emergency room for sinners It is for those whose shadows are faint from finding too much light

It is for those who step out onto nothing hoping to land on something because accepting that you are accepted is a perception of yourself not everyone can afford

But this is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who have let loose the luxury of denying a handout of amazing grace

This is for those who chose a path, though straight and narrow, is still rugged and beaten

You are still on the right track

This is for the phobic confessors who could never match the projections Of the pious It is for those to whom perfection is a gangly wire no one could ever walk

This is for the child who holds that heaven is full of five-year-olds sparing themselves the futility of proving themselves to people who will never speak their language Of half cartoon, half boo-boo, and half "Daddy, I love you."

3 halves make one more than whole

Do not accept yourself only as you should be but as you are because you will never be as you should be

Quit rinsing your filthy rags in gas station bathrooms as if hand soap and make-believe will make them believe you belong

But you belong

You belong to a kingdom belonging to people not trying to be cleaner than they are

You belong

This is for the sin-soaked and broken who are loved and outspoken knowing un   worthy is not the same as worth   less

This is for the paupers who have made peace with their flaws and their friends it is for those who have prayed in silence but never ceased to pray

This is for you Do not for one second take it for granted

Be certain your gift is contagious

Though it is yours to have it's value is only in it's giving away

Make sure your every conversation leaves a sensation of love

Because this

is where the mighty descend and the lowly rise to comprise what we all crave

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This piece is a sort of honor for a hero of mine. As I see video footage of Brennan, my heart sinks at seeing him fade away. This is still a very rough cut for this piece (I'm not even sure I'll keep the title). I want to take it to a couple writers' groups and see if I can refine it some more.

Lions and your Community

Have you ever seen a national geographic or animal planet special on lions? Somewhere I once heard that lions sleep away the majority of their day.  That sort of fact makes me wonder how they can be name the king of the jungle. It may have something to do with what I’ve seen on National Geographic. I have watch as a lion, now in hunting mode, waits in the grass, watching.  They are skilled hunters.  They sneak!  They wait! They watch! They are present even when the prey does not ever know.

When the moment is “right”, the lion runs after the herd.  Still he does not just run in and nab anything.  The lion is a wise hunter.  He chases the herd for a short time, creating a stampede.  Even still, the lion waits.  He watches!

What is he waiting for?  What is looking for?

He’s looking for the weakest one.  As the herd runs, the lion waits for the weak one that cannot keep up with the rest. He looks for the one unaware of the impending danger.  He wants and watches for the one unable to keep up with the protection of the herd, of the group, the pack.

Once the one begins to trail behind the rest, unaware of the impending danger, the lion pounces, attacks, and devours in a matter of seconds.  The actual attack is short and quick.  The prowl is the real wisdom of the entire thing, because while the lion prowls, the prey is too comfortable and unaware; it is unprotected by its own apathy and naivety.

The lion may appear lazy and a non-threat, but it is that sort of assumptive naivety that the king of the jungle preys upon.

1 Peter 5:8-9 reads, “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

We have a very present enemy who longs to keep individuals away from the heart of God.  If we really care about those in our community we will realize a couple things.

1. We cannot isolate ourselves from the community or the group. 2. We cannot allow other people to isolate from the group.

We have an enemy who prowls like a lion waiting for the one that isolates themselves from the group, the one who is unaware of the danger and he attacks that one person.

I Want to Go to There: booking schools, retreats, etc.

In the next year, my hope is to pursue opportunities to do more of what I love. Speaking! I am preparing my calendar for speaking engagements over the next year.

Please inquire here if you are interested.

TOPICS: pursuit of faith in college, making the most of college, recovery from distorted images of God, faith in pain and hurt, faith and creativity, general topics such as grace, gospel, and faith. I would love to chat with you about anything YOU might need.

You're Welcome: the burning house

I have a reoccurring post idea here called: “You’re Welcome”.

Every once in a while you come across a website that just steals your attention right from under you. You may not even know why, but you find yourself just mindlessly clicking through because you just have to see one…more…post.

These will be things I find to share with you; things before you thank me for showing, I’ll just say, “You’re welcome!”

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Once while working out of "my office", a friend introduced me to The Burning House. I love the concept and the pictures which come along with it.

If your house was burning, what would you take with you? It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable and sentimental. What you would take reflects your interests, background and priorities. Think of it as an interview condensed into one question.

Someone or something stole my time that day while using TBH as a distraction.

Enjoy!

New Album: MuteMath

Mutemath is one of those bands I tried over and over again per suggestion of different friends. It took several tries, but at once they became strong favorites. They remain one of (if not THE) best live show I have every seen. They have a new album set to release in October, and this is the first single they've let loose. I can't wait. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvrfoU3SS4U&w=560&h=349]