When it rains I feel connected with nature. As it rains heaven comes down to earth, kissing it. It stays as mist, and for a time heaven and earth are together, and I feel as though I am a part of all this. As ascending clouds heaven rises back into the sky, taking a touch of earth with it.
LORD, rain down Your Spirit on us from heaven, and lift us up into Your presence.
It seems to me that the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home” leaves us totally open to try it at a friend’s house.
July 25, 2010
Reached Game 400 in FreeCell. 999600 more to go.
…Probably not in my lifetime.
August 12, 2006
Today was the last day of the Leadership Summit.
One recurring theme was the message of getting past the fear of rocking the boat, of stirring things up, of making people uncomfortable. You need to shake things up if you want to change the world.
The other recurring theme was a parralel to Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water with Jesus. You need to take a step of faith if you’re going to do miraculous things with Jesus.
So in summary, the prominent message of the Summit was: rock the boat, and get out.
I’ve been going through my journal lately in preparation for publishing a book on autism, and came across a few entries that I thought might make some good blog posts. Enjoy. : )
January 8, 2009
I’ve been struggling with Perfectionism, Individualism, Self-Depreciation and Pride. It’s like a dungeon area in an RPG, I think I’m strong until I enter the cave and the enemies almost kill me, because they’re too strong or they’re completely unexpected. I have to study my enemies, rearrange my character in order to make him much stronger and equip him with the right weapons to kill these things. Then I think I’m strong again, until I go deeper into the cave.
That’s what my heart is like right now. It’s a cave that delves deeper and deeper, getting darker and more frightening with the revelation of each new level. God is showing me all these things that need to be cleared out, and giving me the wisdom and arsenal I need to do it, not leaving me to fend for myself.
A journey like this is painful and intimidating, and normally only a side-quest. Why bother? Because I know I’ll be all the stronger for the Experience, and able to face the unavoidable threats on the Main Quest.
People ask why Jesus came as a man instead of a woman, and many theologians have differing opinions of the exact reason why. I have my own explanation.
Jesus came to say, “I died for your sins. I forgive you. I will no longer hold your sins against you.” Which would be a lot harder to believe coming from a woman.
If our own mothers show us their stretchmarks and say, “I used to be sexy until you came along!” How much more would we expect God, coming as a perfect woman without blemish, to say to us, “You know, I used to have such lovely hands. But you had to go steal that chocolate bar!”
I’ve gotten hooked on the game Fate, particularly The Cursed King version, which not only allows you to create and build up a variety of custom characters but also allows you to recruit characters you’ve created to join your party.
Simultaneously, I’ve been listening to my own soundtrack made up of various songs compiled onto an “Adventure” playlist. There’s something about playing through an adventure game as your own version of Gandalf while listening to Heart sing
“Try to understand…
“Try to understand…
“Try, try, try to understaaaaand…
“He’s a Magic Man.”
It sees all, let’s you communicate instantly with anyone with a Palantir, pierces through cloud, shadow, earth and flesh, and can be used as a flashlight.
Ever ask God for direction and then flip to a random page in the Bible hoping that it will tell you what to do? Well if you’re asking God for direction on what career to take, and you happen to flip to one of these verses, here’s the career he may have in mind for you…
Revelation 3:8 “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
= Handyman
Ecclesiastes 1:9 “There is nothing new under the sun.”
= Astronomy
Proverbs 6:6 “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!”
= Entomology
Proverbs 11:22 “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.”
= Fashion Consultant
Matthew 7:26 “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”
= Home Inspector
Proverbs 24:13 “Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.”
= Advertising Director
Proverbs 25:27 “It is not good to eat too much honey.”
= Health Advisory
Proverbs 27:2 “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.”
= Ventriloquist
Psalm 23:5 “My cup overflows.”
= Wardrobe Assistant
Benjamin T. Collier's Blog 