Category: Theological Rant
Lent: Day 17
What is your relationship with God like?
I waited patiently for the Lord; and the Lord inclined to me and heard my cry. The Lord drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
The Lord put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever. For evils have encompassed me without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, until I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt. Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.
Psalm 40
Lent: Day 10
What is one thing you own that you should probably throw out?
Stephen Colbert, “The Colbert Questionert.” 2021.
Possession, idea, or both?
I was a pipe smoker for thirteen years. After I quit, I boxed up my collection of pipes, lighters, and the small humidor. Back then, it was probably worth about $500. I don’t think I’ll ever take up pipe smoking again, but I can’t seem to let go of the stuff.
Hope is the cause of suffering in the world. I adopted an idea of hopelessness, intellectually and emotionally, as part of my worldview the third year of college. I know that may be shocking or abrasive to hear from a minister. I might be more “fit” for my vocation were I to embrace hope again. I think hope and guilt have a similar motivational value one time. After that, both are baggage you carry around the rest of your life based on an outcome. So, why not act, no matter what, when it is in your power to do what is right, because it is right. Still, hopelessness is probably something to let go.
