future before present

i just read an interesting article on teaching children that the Bible isn't really about them, but about Jesus. i've heard this idea often, and have used it several times myself. but something struck me new tonight.

what if we won't be fixed? what if our generation isn't going to get it right? what if, for all our hope and angst, we fail to live up to what we want the church to be? what if we stay broken til God calls us home?

but that wasn't too big a revelation. after all, i know we won't be perfect this side of heaven. but there's a flip side to that coin that i've rarely considered.

what if instead we focused on getting it right for those who come after us? what if our aim was not to make it all right, but to set us moving that way? what if we could take some of our junk to our graves, no longer to disturb the church? what if we could give our disciples a better start than we had?

now a risk is there, that we'd set our hope on a golden age this side of the resurrection, that we'd become like parents who set all their hope on their kids and drive them into the ground in seeking perfection. but maybe by aiming at the betterment of our disciples instead of ourselves, by putting the future before the present, maybe we'll do more good for our King and His kingdom.

maybe that's why the "great commission" isn't about us being better men.

infinite God

timeless Perfection, ever knowing
what to do with no regret;
never shrinking, neither growing,
no hurrying, nor need to fret.

Wisdom of the ages from before the foundation
of the world and its watery deeps
transcending time, unlike creation
which from moment to moment leaps.

eternal Master without measure
not bound by necessity or need,
by grace alone, and for Your pleasure
working all Your marvelous deeds

God alone, in glory dressed
no one can Your equal be
infinite in all Your goodness
holy and completely free

in Your light there are no shadows,
in Your day there is no night.
from Your throne, all blessings flow,
in Your presence, perfect delight.



inspired by a.w. tozer's book, "the knowledge of the Holy"

transition

these next few weeks will be very interesting. i'll be leaving college, after having classes almost non-stop since last summer, and will be missing a ton of people who are coming back for the fall, and some who never left. i'm really excited for the recent grads of the youth group, and i need to remember to keep them in my prayers as they go off to something new as well. i'm learning once again to let go, which i can't say that i like, but i'm learning more and more how awesome it is that God's in charge, writing a story better than i ever could. i'm excited for spending a few weeks at home. i miss casey an awful lot, even though we talk quite a bit, so it'll be great to spend a few days with her. it's been weird only be spending a week or two here and there at home, as opposed to at least normal summers, let alone pre-college days. i'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with the fam. i miss them a lot, too. and the bunch of friends back home. i'm learning to make the little time that we have quality time. and a little time is all we have. i'm getting excited for the fall. i'll be working at tangibl, a small engineering firm north of philly, so i'll putting what i've learned into practice, and making money for it, so that'll be nice. i'll be living with my uncle and aunt, which will be good, and save me rent. i'll be interning at my cousin's church, which will be awesome, and hopefully learning some greek. so it's looking good. bittersweet, as always. i'm in one of those thoughtful moods, i suppose. listened through resolved, too, so thoughts of eternity factor in somewhere. it's pretty crazy, but God is good, so i don't have to know or understand how all this works out, i just know it does. He is so good, He is always faithful, and thank God that He's in control. more to come.