Oddly Godly

 January 20th is a day in our country where our newly elected President takes office. It marks a new regime so to speak and a new set of ideas. After such a tumultuous inauguration I think all of America is familiar with what inauguration is. This inauguration day I decided to (ironically, but unintentionally) start a new journey. I started a prayer journal and a new routine to keep my prayer life alive. If you've read previous posts you'll know prayer is always a challenge for me but with the journal the ideas just burst out. I've felt closer to God these 8 days than I have in a while. I don't use a template or anything I just let whatever comes to mind and heart flow out. If it's petition or praise or questions I let it flow to the pages. I feel like I'm being more genuine with God than ever. It's freeing to know I can let these things out and bring God glory at the same time. It probably looks like the ramblings of a lunatic but it's a balm to my hear...

 A couple of years ago I bought a Bonsai Palm tree thinking I'd trim it each day and be really peaceful. Not only did I not trim it everyday but I doubt I've ever trimmed it. I set it on my patio and largely forgot about it. My Mother-In-Law moved it to the front yard in its pot to move it into the sun. At first I was angry because, after all, it's not supposed to be growing too much that defeats the purpose but in the end my laziness outweighed my irritation and it stayed there. In fact it's still there. I did try to move it for our lawncare guy but to my surprise and dismay it not only was far bigger than I remembered but it had grown roots through the pot and into the ground. It is now planted there pot and all probably forever. I know how plants work and the fact that it was constantly fed by our gutter downspout and the sun I should've known it would dig itself in. I just always thought it would be temporary. Just until I could move it. Just until I had enough....

These uncertain times seem to draw many people's attention to God. It seems to be a beacon to the world that we need something more than just government policy. We need God. This in itself is wonderful and quite possibly the reason God hasn't snapped His mighty fingers and rid the world of all evil in a moment. It is, however, a two edged sword. A lot of people start to watch for signs of the end instead of soul searching repentance. On top of this many have only a suface or somewhat skewed understanding of scripture especially in circles that focus heavilly on the so-called "end times." One thing we miss out on as 20th century Americans is understanding of 1st century Christianity or, even more importantly, ancient Judaism. The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom that is timeless and relevant to all people and all cultures. The wisdom, however, is often derived from the understansing the original audience was given. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a drea...