Thoughts for January

Like many of my Journey peeps, I've committed myself to a year-long Bible Reading plan. I'm gonna knock this thing out in a year.

In the back of my mind I thought this would also provide a good launchpad for some blogging topics. I've had all kinds of ideas rattling in my head but, uh, it's January 17. No blog post yet.

'til now.

I've also committed to going to bed tonight. So my first installment will be "thoughts" from my reading to date - in outline form:

Wickedness amongst beauty: (see Genesis 13.8-13). I'm intrigued with the narrator's description of the Jordan plain - it sounds beautiful. And yet the author notes significant foreshadowing: "it's before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah." And in case you didn't get the hint, v.13 states that the people of Sodom were "great sinners." I saw the movie Blood Diamond a few weeks ago which brings me back to this notion: wickedness amongst beauty. That's life, isn't it? Profound beauty, but evil so close by. I wonder, even, if my own life is like that. In some ways the most beautiful aspects of my life have been the most besieged. I suspect that, like Lot, my heart settles in places - in dark corners - that are beautiful but dangerously close to nefarious things.

Crazy families: (see Genesis 19.30-38) I love the story of Abram and Lot, Abram and Sara, Isaac and Rebekah. I can't quickly articulate the inbred relationships - but if you're intrigued try keeping track of a family tree. And how much will we read in the coming books of battles with the Moabites and the Ammorites, stories of Ruth the Moabite and so on? I'm reminded again that these people, these nations, these stories - they all stem from broken relationships. Abram's weaknes is highlighted (Abram & Sara juxtaposed against Hagar and Ishmael). The separation between Abram and Lot will also echo for generations. And we're back to that "wickedness amongst beauty" idea all over again.

Common-sense Psalms Sometimes single sentences from the Psalms strike me as painfully obvious. Psalms 4.4 says "When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent...." (Please note: I linked NIV but quoted NRSV.)When I am disturbed - hurt, angry, down, bitter, lonely, furious, frustrated - I am more likely to stray. When we are in those places, those dark, weakened places we should watch out and be ever vigilant. It's OK to curl-up and hide at home ("ponder it on your bed..."), but don't go make matters worse by sinning in that moment. I shouldn't pop-off at my friends or chase relationships that aren't healthy or....any of the myriad self-destructive tendencies that I (and all of us) often tend toward.

Jesus on the Cross - in the Psalms: How have I missed this? Many times I read something and realize that I once was aware but have since forgotten - but I've never noticed this. Jesus' last words before dying on the cross are recorded as Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?, or "my god, my god, why have you forsaken me? (see Matthew 27.45-47)" This I know - I've read, pondered and preached on this. But I've never noticed that these words are a direct quotation from Psalms 22. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O, my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest." But the Psalm continues with a big transition......Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them..." Wow. Is Jesus' cry of lament really a prelude to worship? Wow...