say something

this morning i woke up at 7:45 and couldnt go back to sleep, my mind has been wandering ever since.

epiphany #1- 1cor 4.10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! we are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless….” and it goes on–back to verse 9 “it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena.” does this not sound to you like Paul is talking to the modern church? where on this earth did we get the idea that God would make our lives good?!!??!? we are called to be put on display as fools. “i met Jesus, and he messed me up.”-shane claibourne

epiphany #2- “be still and know that I am God” (and you are not)….what a new perspective fatalism puts on this verse. we rush around like the little plate spinning man in Terminal, trying to keep all of our plates in the air, when guess what?! we arent keeping them there at all, God is. quit rushing around and know that you cannot accomplish anything,only God can.

this particular epiphany inspired the first song i have ever written:

lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not
if every piece will fall without me
let them fall
as an offering at your feet
lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not
you hold my life
in the palm of your hand
and only when i quit trying
can i stand
lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not
lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not

so there it is…

now a whole series on epiphanies from the sermon on the mount…

are you aware that three of the eight beatitudes are anti-war?
.7 blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy
.9 blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God
.10 blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

5:23 says dont offer a sacrifice to God unless you are reconciled to your brother (you know the ones we are bombing in iraq)

38-48 says turn the other cheek, pray for your enemies, and give more than is expected of you.

6:19-24 says store up treasures in heaven not here.

and 25-34 says dont worry about what you wear or eat. we know that one right. seek first the kingdom. well we play at seeking the kingdom, but do we quit worrying about what to wear?

so here’s my idea. when i am very sick i am miserable, and i take medicine that works contrary to my body to relieve the symptoms, but mostly the doctor says to rest and get a lot of liquids. so i was thinking, Jesus said the law and the prophets rest on the two greatest commandments; love God, love your neighbor. if we spend our energy on loving our neighbor perfectly (like our Father is perfect) and tackle any imperfection in that area tenaciously with prayer i propose that we wont have to worry as much about not killing him, stealing from him, or having sex with him. likewise, and perhaps more practical; if we wholeheartedly on conquering our fleshly temptation to worry about our wordly physical needs we wont even have to think about staying abstinate, or not being hateful.

here is the plan, and where the title of this post comes in: next time you go out to buy a lovely piece of clothing to refill your wardrobe (which i am not denying is from time to time necessary) instead of paying 35 dollars for a pair of jeans that you will take off as soon as you get home everyday, instead buy a pair of five to ten dollar black scrubs pants. they will match everything, they will be inifinitely comfortable, and they are not revealing in any way. if you need a shirt go to the little boys (or mens) undershirt section and buy a package of 4 black, gray or white tshirts for 6.48. they are shaped best anyway, and any design you can find on the internet and trace onto a piece of stencil paper you can paint on it. if you need to look nicer, instead of rushing to find the trendiest silk camisole, go to the pajama department at walmart and for 1/3 of the price get a cotton one (much more comfortable) that looks essentially the same only longer. if you need nicer bottoms, buy a twin sheet in the back (doesnt even have to be the requisite 200 thread count; sew the ends together foldover a waistband and put a drawstring in it. dont buy another pair of blister rubbing black heels!!!! splurge and spend seven more dollars at payless to get a pair of genuine leather almost skin coloered capezio ballet slippers that are just like the feet God gave you only tougher on the bottom. i refuse to buy into the new age philosophy that one needs a two hundred dollar pair of highly supportive shoes to be a steward of the body that God gave you. every three or so generations a brilliant man does 20 years worth of research and becomes famous by putting out a book that says the human body is the most flawless design in the universe. i think that our feet can take care of themselves if we quit babying them.

-josephine