Sunsets

When sorrow's tide ebs o'er the breach
and sun has set beyond your reach
do not follow sister where it goes
where deep seas and dark nights grow
go instead into the east
where intuition points you least
where night is here and dark with doubt
and paths are fraught with fears throughout.

To tread this way you must be brave
and none is promised to pass unscathed
all face weakness, loss, and grief.
Here doubts oft arise about relief
and though right now you have no peace
set your face unto the east.

Follow the stars set up on high
and when dark clouds conceal them from your eye
the One who loves will be your guide.
For He has never left your side.
For when sun set upon his day
and all who loved him went away
He chased no sun, he did not run
Oh Sister, we have such a one
who when the world did love him least
set his face unto the east.

So walk where he has gone before
Let your hope to flee no more
and fear not all that lies in store.
Just as the sun once did descend
night must also come to end.
Press on, dear sister do not now cease
For dawn will break upon the east!

The Cross

I am reminded today of God's faithfulness to provide for all his children. He is serious about providing for all of our needs. Especially for our deepest need, which he provided for in the cross of Jesus Christ. I do not know that I will ever know the depth of my need for the cross, but today I am keenly aware that I do indeed need it take away my guilt and sin. It is a humiliating thing to realize that this is love, not that I ever offered anything to my God, but that he bled, hung on two pieces of wood, and died in the sight of scoffing men whom he created with his thoughts. It is these men for whom he now has loving thoughts towards and, if they will come and humble themselves to accept his death, he will exalt them to be with himself where he is now raised.

"On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
With its light cast upon this dark way
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
As it leads me to glory one day

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share."

When you know not what else to do, then sing...

Who is a God like you?

I am utterly struck by the beauty of the gospel...  It is not a gospel of words, but of actions.  Not a gospel of understanding but one of intense mystery.  It is the gospel of a king and judge who unrelinquishingly shows compassion and favor to those who have never done a good thing.  It is a gospel of passion, of life, and of bloody death.  It is the gospel of how the eternal unchanging binds himself for the sake of love to die the death of the frail for the sake of their treason against himself.  It is totally incomprehensible and senseless and yet majestic, perfect, glorious.  It is precious and scandalous.  It costs us everything and nothing to believe.  We need but come, but we must come. 

"God has consigned all to disobedience that he may mercy on all.  O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?  Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?  For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be glory forever.  Amen."

I love this...

This is probably the funniest thing I've seen this week.

What I want my life to be about...

Found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

Anti-Meridian

Brave Saint Saturn's new album comes out today. Their last one, The Light of Things Hoped For is one of my favorite albums of all time. I really like what I hear of the new album, check it out at bravesaintsaturn.com

Long long way...

It happened slowly
Feet falling hard on the pavement
Eyes reaching into the distance
Towards empty sunsets

-Danny Stephens of Smalltown Poets

Such is the way of things...