Basic Reminder

Another missed post.... Charge it to my head, not to my...actually, I have a better idea. Charge it nowhere. As in do not charge me for it. Instead, notice that I have recognized my lack, and have now come to repay my debt. Therefore, let neither my head nor heart be found in the cross hairs of your disappointment. I come to make my brief and unrelated recompense: I developed a small heat rash this morning. A picture in this post will do it justice, I think. I thought it was something more serious...and contagious. As it turns out, it is more like a _baby_ rash. So, there goes my attempt to tell my mom that I am a man. No adult male with a baby rash on his face has a chance (whatsoever) of asserting his own maleness in the presence of his parents.


Friday evening, I had the opportunity to be with the Youth from Restorers Fountain Ministries International. If you will remember, I had the privilege of teaching the same young people last year, on the topic "What on Earth am I here for?" It was a program that lasted from Wednesday to Sunday, during which we learned that to glorify, worship, know, and love God are among humanity's highest priorities. We also had a debate at that time, of which event I was the judge, as to whether those who were for the topic would win against those who opposed it.

So, this past Friday, I decided to survey the most quintessential element of Christianity: the gospel. I also asked questions concerning one of the gospel's layers, if you will. That is, salvation. The first question I asked was, "What is the gospel?" to which I received almost no response. I was, on one hand, shocked at the possibility that these young people had no idea how to voice their thoughts on the gospel. The only answer I heard went to the tune of, "The gospel is something that enlightens us spiritually, and something that helps us." On another hand, especially after having heard that most vague statement, I was deeply troubled that perhaps these few young people actually have no conception of the message about Jesus Christ. Here in Nkwanta, the Youth of a particular congregation are called upon to work; clean the sanctuary during the week and before Sunday service, clean the area around the church building, and organize the chairs for different events. They may jump right into those activities with any amount of enthusiasm, but when the dust has cleared, quite literally I might add, the same Youth do not even know the basis for which they are working. So on yet another hand (for, you see, I have three hands (I do not, in fact, have three hands)), I sensed a great desire within myself to let 'em know what this Jesus-following life is all about, starting with the answer to my question.

"Jesus."

Jesus is the gospel.
(For the sake of this medicine I took earlier today, which has sleeping side effects that are now in effect. I will end the post here.)

Live in Love.

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Taller in the Afternoon

What does it mean to run from shadows? I am fairly certain that there is a perfectly philosophical reason for it. There is probably a psychological one as well.

That describes my latest quirk in general; now for the details. I was going to feed the dogs one evening, and flinched a little when I saw a gecko running into the house as I opened the door. It was only an inside gecko, though, so I easily resumed my course of action. There is the rub. There was no gecko. As I reevaluated that brief experience, it soon occurred to me that the outer doorknob had been silhouetted by the sun's rays.

That is not too uncommon, I suppose. There could plausibly be someone else who has gone through a startling brush with a shadow, even on a number of occasions. I might just chalk it up to the regularity with which I meet geckos and other creatures, within and beyond these four walls.

Friday afternoon, for instance, I had just finished sweeping the floor after we fixed our ceiling (just your average poorly installed job). As I went to put up the broom in the corner, I crossed a ray of light with the handle. I quickly and cautiously (and briefly, fortunately) slowed my pace to see what new creation I was beholding, before realizing the silliness in what I had done.

I am not sure whether it is a symptom of age, however early; or of sheer genius, since that is an adequate evaluation mine intellect (if only in my own eyes, and that only every now and again); or if there is a more sensible and readily available reasoning behind what I have been experiencing for the past month or so.

What of you? Any new findings as you study yourself? Have you made a practice of self-examination? If not, I suggest you begin at once, and continue indefinitely. You may be surprised at who you find. I am going to keep searching for any explanation or purpose attached to what has become my own kind of shadow dancing. If you remind me, I will be sure to let you know of my progress, if any.

It is 2013, after all. New Year's resolutions abound, even almost a week after that one midnight countdown.

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