The Scandal Behind Awe and Wonder

OK Lord, so we are having this blog talk thing together, you and I. A sweet conversation as to your beauty and the joy of knowing you. And when I think of you, I think of the greatest scandal of all.

It's not that we are not unaware of scandal, they are all around us. We just don't seem able to contain them, let alone prevent them. They are the headlines. They are the people in congress or down at city hall. They are round the corner. They are our hearts. They are my heart. Until you came along Lord. You, the greatest scandalon of all. For Paul writes your cross is a stumbling block to the religious. Yep, it really is. People that merely strive to look cool -- in a religious sense. Caught up in rules, regulations, performance, always seeking to get better, better, best. All that pharisaical garbage that can look pretty authentic at first glance. But as you know only too well Lord, the actual wording is more along the lines of, to the religious your cross was the scandalon of all scandals. Your grace -- nothing short of mind boggling. Your love -- astonishing. Your joy, yep, likewise.

I remember years ago telling a college roommate that I had become a Christian and was thinking about going to seminary. He blurted out something like, "No. Impossible. The last thing the world needs is another scandalous TV preacher."

He was close Lord, perhaps he even nailed it. For as great as my scandals were and are, my scandals don't even come close to the greatest scandal of all time. For the scandal of your heart that you love and forgive even yet me, drawing me and all of us close this day and for all eternity is the greatest scandal of all time. Pure love. Pure grace. Pure joy. Pure beauty. That is you. That is so you.

Awe and Wonder Sightings

How have you had a fresh glimpse of God lately? How did he wow you? How were you awed by his beauty? Was it his heart of love? Perhaps it was his pristineness -- his purity-- his altogether exotic wholly other nature. Or perhaps it was is mercy and grace. The richness of his kindness in giving you your children, let alone life. His humility via the cross. Body broken. Blood shed. The beauty of his tapestry called the Word. His presence all around and in you -- the ultimate mysterion of all mysterions. What was it about God that so blew your mind you were struck dumb by the splendor of his glory -- that filled you full with awe and wonder and love for him?
Cheers in the name of the Beautiful One

The Ultimate Hedonist

As much as humans are wired for pleasure, as much as we seek it out, as much as I would like to think that Christians are the ultimate hedonists. . . well, we don't even come close.

For the ultimate hedonist is the Hedonist of heaven, Christ Jesus, who scripture says, for the joy set before him, he endured the cross, that it pleased the Lord. . .

Is there any more soul-boggling scripture? For it reveals that the heart of God is so very good, so very pure, so very loving, that for the pleasure of an intimate relationship with you, me, and yes, the world, God endured the cross. That by his stripes we might be healed, that we might know the beauty of the Almighty. That we might dance in life before his Throne. That's just so you Lord. So very you.

Awe and Wonder Sightings -- Fall 2009

Here in Colorado we have it so incredible. The beautiful blue sky, the clouds ever changing. Need I say, the mountains. Ah, the mountains. The crystal streams. The peaks jutting forth. The meadows. The elk. The moose. The bear. The ever changing seasons. I love the seasons. I love the rapidly approaching fall with its crisp cool mornings and evenings, the leaves now hinting at the colors to come. The clouds are beginning to flatten pointing to things ahead. It is in the fall that so many trees pour their heart out, becoming aflame in various shades of red and the like. So many trees doing their finest to portray the tree of life, that is the cross, their bright red leaves spilling to the ground. The pilgrimage of all pilgrimages, the pilgrimage of his blood. The pilgrimage of his love to us. For we are forever indebted to the Roman Guard who thrust his spear into the chest of God that all might see there exists no greater heart, no greater love. The love of your Royal Lover of heaven. Feeble musings of awe and wonder of the Beautiful One in this, the fall, of the 2009th year of our Lord.