For the Love of God and his Creation

delve deeply,
pondering beneath the surfaces
to smaller and more profound bits.

think widely,
dancing with the systems
functioning beyond our control.

seek God's face

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Resources
Thinking in Systems
The Glory of Jesus Christ: The Way Forward in the Dialogue Between Religion and Science


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“But God…Rescues and Transforms”

we so focus on "by grace through faith"
that we miss Paul's focus:

made alive
with him,
raised up
with him,
seated
with him.

Christ.

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Resources
"in Christ"
"in him"
"in whom"
Sermon: “But God…Rescues and Transforms”

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Truth in the hands of Twelve Strangers

lives in shambles,
self-inflicted
and circumstantial;

soiled laundry aired before strangers,
deciding the fate of one
and of the other.

arguments made.
stories examined.

verdict.

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Liturgy (Definition)

a set and sequence of procedures prescribed for public worship; practiced overtly by so-called liturgical churches and covertly by so-called non-liturgical churches; often considered unchangeable

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For Further Reading
"Christian Liturgy" on Wikipedia
"Liturgy" on Wikipedia
"Liturgy" on New Advent
Liturgy: worship that works - spirituality that connects
Presbyterian Directory for the Public Worship of God
"The Work of the People: Liturgy for Non-Liturgical Churches" on The Worship Community

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Favorite Spices and Herbs

• Smoked Spanish Paprika
• Fresh ground cinnamon
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Ginger root
• Fresh basil
• Fresh or dried rosemary
• Fresh peppermint
• Fresh Italian parsley
• Fresh cilantro

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RE: An Epistemology of Belief in a Skeptical Age

how is it that culture has become so dour,
yearning for the negative?

skepticism runs rampant,
dressing in wisdom's clothes
and many
toddle mindlessly after.

===
Resource:
Full of Grace and Truth: An Epistemology of Belief in a Skeptical Age

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How committed am I willing to be?

passing truth to those who come after,
a life of just, merciful, God-loving evidence,
doing God's will,
guarding God's will,
step-by-step,
day-by-day,
walking and pointing.

===
Resource
A Legacy Continued

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There's a bit of a lull in the blogging...

...due to the fact that I'm participating in the duty and privilege of the US jury process.

I'll be back later.

update 6/22: still on jury duty, but I'm back to blogging
update 6/23: jury duty completed yesterday after a very quick deliberation.

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"And you were...but God..."

dead no longer
deceived no longer
doomed no longer

all from that wondrous, "But God..."

and yet,
how the living soul
stumbles
on death's echoes.

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Resources
Ephesians 2:1-3
Sermon Notes: Your Condition: Dead, Deceived, Doomed

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My Utmost for His Highest--day one

my best,
always partial,
sometimes broken,
given freely,

ordered under him,
shaped to his standard,
bounded by his character,

stumbling often,
i am lifted,
held.

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Resources
My Utmost for His Highest

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Urg! (Definition)

a unit of work accompanied by an often verbalized, affective expression, communicating discomfort, dislike, irritation, or plain ol' poor attitude; occurrence often increases with fatigue.

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Women in Higher Education: Informing Scriptures

The Women of "Women in Higher Education Summer 2009"

1. Genesis 1:26-28;1-3; 3:6; 38
2. Exodus 1:15-21
3. Numbers 6:1-3; 27:17-19
4. Judges 4-5
5. Ruth
6. 1 Chronicles 12:32
7. Esther
8. Psalm 126; 130
9. Proverbs 11:14; 24:5-6; 31
10. Isaiah 40:28-29; 50:4; 54:1-6, 10, 11, 14, 17; 55:10-12; 60:1-2
11. Lamentations 3:21-24
12. Matthew 15:21-28; 23:37
13. Mark 7:24-30; 14:3-9
14. Luke 10:38-42; 13:34
15. Acts 7:9-10; 28:30-31
16. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
17. 2 Corinthians 3:23-24; 12:9
18. Galatians 3:26-29
19. Ephesians 3:7-10; 4:11-16
20. Philippians 4:4-7, 11-13
21. 1 Timothy 2:8-15 (11-12)
22. 2 Timothy 2:15
23. Hebrews 5:7-9; 11:22
24. Hesed ("steadfast love") search
25. What would you add?
    

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NOTE: The above passages were brought forth through personal and communal reflection, as we worked through some difficult issues, finally arriving at the determination for hopeful, persistent obedience to Christ in the places where we are. As a personal note, might I add that this was a fabulous way to begin the Ph.D. program!

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Thought Questions for Lectures

1. What are the speaker's main points?
2. How are they supported?
3. What are your questions?
4. How does this lecture relate to other things you are studying?

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Properly responding to the obvious

surrounded by wordless proclamation
shouting God's power,
God's divinity,
still so many stop their ears
and hum an obscuring tune.

so see,
wonder, and
worship.

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Resources
Psalm 19
Romans 1:18-20

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Silence

...happens to a blog when the blogger takes a Ph.D. summer intensive course.

Regular blogging should return next week.

For those who need a fix :-) here are the two top posts via post rank (see the sidebar)

• “If science is a way of uncovering the details of God’s creation, then it may actually be a form of worship.” - Collins
• Twenty-five Biblical and Theological Resources
  

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Come, Grow, Change

"Change is good."
the people agree;
the words dwell on their lips
as time passes:

"Change is painful."
with gentle correction,
student instructs the teacher.

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Mike and Jill Lowery, Missionaries to the Democratic Republic of Congo
Matthew 28:16-20

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