“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.”

~Albert Einstein

"I want to take the word Christianity back to Christ himself, back to that mighty heart whose pulse seems to throb through the world today, that endless fountain of charity out of which I believe has come all true progress and all civilization that deserves the name ... I go back to that great Spirit which contemplated a sacrifice for the whole of humanity. That sacrifice is not one of exclusion, but of an infinite and endless and joyous inclusion. And I thank God for it."

~ Julia Ward Howe

So true...

"Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we'll find it."

-Sam Levenson

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."

-C.S. Lewis

The accomplishment of a day isn’t so much about accomplishing goals but abiding in God, and this is the thing that needs remembering. -Ann Voskamp

"The challenge is not merely to pursue righteousness, but to prefer righteousness."

-John Piper

You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you.

You have to go to them sometimes.
-From Winnie the Pooh

A new day...

A new day has just started in South Dakota...

I realize what a poor, pitiful sinful person I am and it is only by the grace, love and mercy of God that I am not consumed by my own arrogance, evil, passions and pride each day.  I walked a little prayer trail today behind a Lutheran church that is made to look like a 900-year-old stave church in Norway.  I caught myself critiquing the statues on a prayer trail!  I realized it was time to pray...reflect...and then of course, blog.

In the sanctuary of the church was a small (about 18 inches square).  I had assumed (always dangerous) that this was the confessional booth.  My companion assumed the same.  When we heard the audio guide, however, we were shocked and humbled.  It was the window for lepers to come and receive Holy Communion in the days just following the Christian displacement of Nordic paganism in the Scandinavian nations.

Lepers?  Yes, lepers.  Just like in the times of the Scripture.  Just like there are today in India and other parts of the world.  Just like there are other groups of people that we treat as "unclean" in the good ole United States. 

The social outcasts. 
The poor. 
The different. 
The curious. 
The boring. 
The smart. 
The dumb. 
The strange. 
The queer.
The straight. 
The colorful. 
The colorless.
The anyone who isn't exactly like me and mine.
Me.

today was...

Good music.  Good friends.  Out of Crockett for awhile. 

Less drama.  Two good meetings today.  Talked with good friends. 

Made a few new ones.  Was rebuked by a true friend I didn't know. 

Scolded by a busybody.  Had unity without Unity. 

Just for Today. 

Just for Today. 

Just for Today.

"If you want to spend eternity with Christ perhaps you ought to start spending some time with Him now."

-Todd Sanderson