Quite frequently, I listen to the radio as I am driving, either music or public radio.
When I have passengers, I have a dilemma though. I can enjoy the company of my passengers with small-chat or intellectual discussions, relative to who is actually in the vehicle. Or, I can have the radio on softly to take away unpleasant small-chat but permit discussion. Or, I can wipe out all discussion by turning the radio louder than one can interject with discussion.
Since I do not find conversations awkward and actually invite others to feel uneasy, my real problem is that when the radio is on softly and the song is universally familiar each person is enticed to hum along, not so much as to sing so not to interfere with others.
Said humming may continue for sometime. Everyone knows the song and is clearly eager to sing it, but out of respect for said dilemma #1, the music is not loud in light of the possibility of meaningful conversation. And thus, the humming continues.
At this point, do you turn up the music so as to encourage singing? Or do you leave the music where it is at for the time and permit the humming to continue in case meaningful conversation takes place?
Each of these possibilities is clearly engorged when those in the backseat already cannot hear those in the front.
Maybe you don't analyze such situations as much as I do, but thankfully I have analyzed the situation for you and have no clear distinctive resolution for said dilemma.
Perhaps humming is like praying in your heart rather than out loud; just as meaningful, only presentably startling when you begin to talk to someone while they are engaged in such activity.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tolerant Love
Our society demands tolerance. My God demands love.
If I am to love, I love the truth and tolerate nothing less.
I love by sharing the truth in love.
He has not called me to tolerate; He has called me to love.
His love meant delivering Christ for all people.
His love meant not tolerating the world, that is, sin.
His love meant dying for those He did not tolerate, that is, sinners.
His love meant conquering death for those He did not tolerate, that is, those who pierced him.
His love means reigning eternally for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them heirs.
His love means offering grace and redemption of sins for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them children.
His love means forgiveness and salvation for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them beloved.
Our society demands tolerance. My God demands love.
He came and did not tolerate complacency and ignorance.
The Lord tolerates nothing less than His offering of grace and redemption, truth.
May the same be true of me and my love.
If I am to love, I love the truth and tolerate nothing less.
I love by sharing the truth in love.
He has not called me to tolerate; He has called me to love.
His love meant delivering Christ for all people.
His love meant not tolerating the world, that is, sin.
His love meant dying for those He did not tolerate, that is, sinners.
His love meant conquering death for those He did not tolerate, that is, those who pierced him.
His love means reigning eternally for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them heirs.
His love means offering grace and redemption of sins for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them children.
His love means forgiveness and salvation for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them beloved.
Our society demands tolerance. My God demands love.
He came and did not tolerate complacency and ignorance.
The Lord tolerates nothing less than His offering of grace and redemption, truth.
May the same be true of me and my love.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and I am God." Isaiah 43:10-12
There are not many times in my life where I feel exasperation and desperation, and yet, those are my feelings when I continue to read the news reels about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
Sakineh is an Iranian widowed woman who, four years ago, was convicted of adultery. For that conviction, she has been sentenced to death by stoning, as is customary in this Islamic theocracy. This is not the end of her plight. A month ago, a newspaper in the United Kingdom printed a picture of another Iranian woman, who lives in Sweden, not wearing a head-covering, which is mandated for all women of Iran. However, Iranian officials misidentified the woman in the picture and thought the picture to be that of Sakineh not wearing a head-covering. For this, Sakineh was lashed 99 times in addition to her continued death sentence.
I have heard many stories of the Holy Spirit moving in Islamic culture during the last several years. Revealing Himself to Muslims in visions and dreams, many Muslims have seen Christ without ever knowing some intricate details they envision. CBN produced a short article about the Holy Spirit's work.
Please pray with me for Sakineh, her family, and the people of Iran. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to reveal Himself and that God would make His name known in such a restricted Islamic society where belief in Christ means severe persecution and death. Specifically pray that God would reveal Himself to Sakineh during her imprisonment.
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:18 ESV
There are not many times in my life where I feel exasperation and desperation, and yet, those are my feelings when I continue to read the news reels about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
Sakineh is an Iranian widowed woman who, four years ago, was convicted of adultery. For that conviction, she has been sentenced to death by stoning, as is customary in this Islamic theocracy. This is not the end of her plight. A month ago, a newspaper in the United Kingdom printed a picture of another Iranian woman, who lives in Sweden, not wearing a head-covering, which is mandated for all women of Iran. However, Iranian officials misidentified the woman in the picture and thought the picture to be that of Sakineh not wearing a head-covering. For this, Sakineh was lashed 99 times in addition to her continued death sentence.
I have heard many stories of the Holy Spirit moving in Islamic culture during the last several years. Revealing Himself to Muslims in visions and dreams, many Muslims have seen Christ without ever knowing some intricate details they envision. CBN produced a short article about the Holy Spirit's work.
Please pray with me for Sakineh, her family, and the people of Iran. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to reveal Himself and that God would make His name known in such a restricted Islamic society where belief in Christ means severe persecution and death. Specifically pray that God would reveal Himself to Sakineh during her imprisonment.
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:18 ESV
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