daily life as life goes on . . .

Ever wanted a book to let you think.  Quite literally, to let you think about thinking and faith.  Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy) has a new book out called:  Knowing Christ Today:  Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge (Harper Collins/Harper One, 2009).  Here is a sample of some of the thoughts:

. . . some people who enter the lottery know they will not win.  they will not win, and they have good evidence that they will not.   They may refuse to consider the evidence or hold it before their mind.  Yet they are prepared to act as if they might win.  In wagering they are irrational and irresponsible.  Human life is full of such self-delusions.

And that explains why gambling is morally wrong.  It is not a morally admirable practice, but rather just the opposite.  Rational and responsible persons will not do it.  (We have a duty to be rational.  It is virtue.)  And it also explains why the gambling industry presents itself as “entertainment.”  It wants to disguise what it really is.  When you gamble, according to it, you are just “enjoying yourself” or having a fling.  But rational and responsible people are those who strive to base their beliefs and actions upon their knowledge.

Or how about this convoluted way to get a point across, where Willard quotes Elton Trueblood who is quoting Kirsopp Lake (and now you can quote me quoting Willard quoting Trueblood quoting Lake):

Faith is not belief in spite of evidence, but life in scorn of consequences.

Or, how about this snippet (you’ll have to read the book to get the context):

That also explains how many people can now say, “All religions are equal.”  What is meant is that all religions are equally devoid of knowledge and reality or truth.  In fact, however, no know religions are the same; they teach and practice radically different things.  You only have to look at them to see that.  To say they are all the “same” is to disrespect them.  It is a way of claiming that none really matter, that their distinctives are of no human significance.

My wife and I set up a luncheon date with a couple and their daughter.

Now, if I were a youth pastor, you would expect this to be a time to explore the current state of the family.  We might talk of life goals, or values, or communication.  You might even expect the daughter to have either initiated the meeting, or to have vehemently opposed attending.

Just the opposite. 

This meal was held at the local senior’s complex.  The daughter is close to our age (we are no spring chickens!), and the parents are great grandparents!

The meal was one of those enjoyable conversational jaunts down known paths, enjoying shared thoughts and exploring life as it unfolds.  We have know the family for literally years.  This was just one more opportunity to reacquaint and reactivate friendship.

Besides, the roast beef and gravy sandwich was great!

I met today with a new acquaintance.

He is lately moved to Kindersley. 

His life story has been extensive, and yet he still appears young.  He is married to a Muslim lady and is a bit of a Koine Greek scholar – reading and translating the New Testament.  He is a Caucasian from small town Saskatchewan. 

With that background a whole story could be imagined.  I’m rather inclined to spend time with him and find out the real story.  As I mentioned to him at one point in our conversation – I seldom read fiction, I find non-fiction can be way more exciting!!

Closure is what we call the need for finality after a death of a loved one.  We can claim we are unaffected, but somewhere, sometime the effects will out!  Thus, the need for a “funeral” of some type.

I have seen anything from the somber to the bash!  Religious to pagan. 

Every culture has there approach to death. 

The Christian has an optimistic yet realistic approach.  In today’s funeral we celebrated the life of Harry Piluk.  We watched as weeping happened – sorrowing for the loss of one who had talked, walked, comforted, fathered, fixed and loved.  Then we gave the casket a final resting place, confident that Harry is not dead but will live – absent from the body is present with Jesus!

Death and dying are joyful yet painful times.  May God comfort the Piluk’s at this time, and give them the great hope of the Christian – resurrection!