FragileHands

Well it sure has been awhile.  I half forgot about it/half was really busy/half was really lazy.  (yogi bera moment of the entry)  Well a lot has happened since that last post.  I'll try to focus on the main things: winter quarter is over, spring weather is here (hopefully to stay), i've begun to make a major shift in my view of the world.  In my history class this quarter we were shown a video on youtube of a bunch of quotes from Thomas Paine.  One that stuck out to me was "moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice."  I thought about that for awhile and decided that there is a lot truth to that.  I'm thinking, mostly, of how God has revealed to me just how broken I am.  I think that the main reason I, (or anyone, but we'll just focus on me) falls so short is how we are so unwilling to sell out - to commit to the moral and spiritual principles that God gives us in the Word.  I used to always argue for gray gray gray....like there was no way to really have a true ethical code because everyone has different life experiences and different beliefs.  I think what I was really getting at was that in most physical occurrences in the world there are tradeoffs and the optimal situation is some sort of balance between two extremes.  This will usually yield the greatest output, best design, most profit, whatever have you.  After recent thought though I'm not sure this applies to ethics and I certainly have rejected it applying to faith.  Finding a balance between faith and doubt is a recipe for moral compromise and ultimately, moral destruction.  

I really want to start following with a new heart, one that is fully committed to the Lord and doesnt compromise to the world.  A couple tricks that will be tough is that it is impossible (at least for me) to never have doubts.  There will always be deserts that God makes me walk through that will be particularly tough.  It will also be tough to live, as my good friend Kary Oberbrunner has discussed in his 3 books, on "the fine line."  To ride the middle between being a separatist, and a conformist.  I think the harder battle of those two for me will be the one with the separatist.  I've spent a bunch of time fighting the battle of conformity and now to correct that problem I am afraid that I may over adjust.  

I think it's important for everyone to realize that there is a difference between selling out for God, and forcing faith on others, being intolerant.  I fear that this may one of the most common "mistakes" that people make when trying to live for God 100%.  I am perfectly aware that as Christians we are called to share our faith and make disciples of all the nations of the earth.  But I am also aware that Christ, above all, taught us to love God and love people.  Love is always patient, always KIND.  Jesus lived a life of compassion while He was on earth and he loved everyone for who they were.  This is how we need to spread the Word of God, by living it.  

Ultimately I still believe there is a need to find balance in nearly everything, I think that is how the world works, but I think there is always a right answer or in some cases a right balance to find.  I believe that we find these answers in God and His son Jesus.  

I'm sorry to anyone who reads this and is somehow offended by anything I've said.  I'm not trying to condemn anyone on either side.  These are just some of my thoughts at 2 in the morning when I should be working on a history paper and instead havent started it.  I hope everyone has a great week, I'll try to write a little more frequently now, but I wont be able until at least Thursday due to a couple exams.  Feel free to talk to me about anything I said if you want.  I'd love to hear what you think/really iron out what I think.

Currently Listening To:  The Eleventh Hour - Jars of Clay

Till next time,

Adam

P.S. Best offseason in the NFL goes to the NFCW.  They will resume the 09/10 season where they left off...the best division in the NFL.  (I especially like the 49ers getting the reincarnation of Jerry Rice after he fell some on the board.)