blog habits

technology makes it easy to keep in touch with blogging friends. you can "follow" people. you can "subscribe" to rss feeds. you can even "twitter". or have fresh blog posts "fowarded" right to your inbox.

as one who got rid of his blackberry in 2004, i must confess that none of those apply to me.

i prefer to simply click through on my blog roll (listed as more journeys). i kind of think of it as knocking on a neighbor's door. sometimes no one is home. days (weeks) might go by without a new diary, and you wonder... how are they... is everything ok... i hope their life is full of joy today.

and other times you are surprised by a new posting. the latest insights. a personal story. you can smell it when you click through. like a bouquet of garden flowers. a fresh pot of coffee. and hot-from-the-oven cookies, all rolled into one. before i read a single word i am already smiling.

so the question for you... how did you get here today? did you follow, click, link... or was it just a knock?

hate the sin, love the sinner

While this phrase was coined by a Hindu, it has been picked up and preached in Christian circles.

Hate the sin, love the sinner.

Do you know what this really is? Just another excuse to hate. Instead of saying I hate gays, I hate people involved in abortion, I hate people who cheat on taxes, I hate liberals, I hate people who are not just like me... we find ways to justify ourselves.

Let's put a biblical slant on it. Let's be righteous. Let's be compassionate.

Hate the sin, lover the sinner.

Do you know what that really is? Hate.

I heard that line in church a few weeks ago (not from the preacher) and it got me thinking. Even went so far as to search the word "hate" in the Bible. And you know what?

Jesus never preached a message of hate. Here's what Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Jesus preached a message of love. Love. Love. Love.

So maybe next time, when someone hides behind Christ in the name of hate, I'll have enough courage to speak up. Even if someone hates me for it.

thursday ramblings

Light may be most beautiful when you can see each individual component -- but most useful when each part comes together.

Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?" To which I reply, "Good question."

I was pulled from a deep sleep at exactly 5:30am. The alarm clock was never set. Later my wife felt a sudden urge to reach for her ear, just in time to catch an earning that had fallen. It's so totally cool when God is in the house.

On Tuesday I heard the birds singing in the morning. They sing every day. Tuesday I just heard them.

Today was more purposeful than yesterday. Tomorrow's looking pretty good.