The Outsider

We are all in a process of growing. Whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual we are all growing, like it or not. Changes and challenges are thrust upon without warning. It has been my experience that if the waters are familiar, then I am much more capable of navigating them with out capsizing. However, there is one area that is always especially difficult. For lack of a better word I will call it "special hungry" (Special Hungry - When a person has a great desire to be special to all people or to a specific group of people ). The odd thing about this is that it comes and goes. One day I will sail through with the utmost of confidence and the next I will do something completely ridiculous like punch holes in the hull to lower the rising water level. I have a feeling that this will always be an area of tension with in me, but I know that in those times when I feel the most "special" are when I sit and dine at the table of Christ.

Perhaps you do not struggle with this specifically, but I am confident that there are areas where you do struggle. I would encourage you to spend some time thinking and praying about those things. Sit down at the table with Christ and partake of what is Good, and what is Holy...

"Quotes"

You may have noticed that I have posted a lot of quites on here. Well, the truth is I think the people I have quoted are way better with words than I could ever hope to be. Most of the quotes are from much older wiser men. Who knows how long they rolled these thoughts around in their minds before releasing them into the world for any and all to enjoy. These men spent their time in silence, in prayer, and listening to the Spirit. Perhaps we would do well to follow their example...

Symphony

Compose this life
Be the musician and conductor
The deaf dance at it
Blind eyes weep for color

Compose this life
Be the rhythm and rhyme
A table for traitors
Arms for orphans

Compose this life
Be the heartbeat and love
Death is irony
Life is composed

The Kingdom is Coming

This morning I am overwhelmed with the presence of God. My heart sores into worship and my soul is home for one quiet moment. Here I rest in these eternal arms and I can hardly contain myself. A taste of the glory to come... the cool waters of the Spirit hit the back of my dry throat. It is in this moment that I realize that there is more than this chaotic world in which I find myself. I have forgotten the joy of my salvation and the Kingdom that is coming. And it is coming...

This is not all there is and it is only by the grace of my Lord that I can taste more than the elements of communion. I consume the blood of Christ and His broken body.

To any one who may find themselves reading this: Please know what this life is not all there is to be had. Your struggles and pain are only temporary, for Christ will return in Glory. There will come a time when the burns of sin are slowly wiped away in the cool peace of the Garden. There will be no distance, no obstructions form God. We will find ourselves suspended in the middle of the presence of God and all of character.

Stay encouraged my love lavished brothers and sisters.

No Time for My Soul

It occurs to me that I have no time for the things that give me life. I spend most of my time preparing for what the future holds and become weary in preparation of the life that is to come. This is ironic since this life for which I prepare is what is happening at the very moment that I prepare for it (chew on that one for a bit). There is no time left for my soul to rest and be nourished. Time is borrowed, sacrificed, carved out, interrupted, wasted, and ill spent. Even now I borrow this time from my desk at work. I have come to the realization that if I am to find time for God, time that would allow us to commune, that I have to wage war for it. We have an Enemy and he is very real and does not want me to spend time with the Most High. In this moment I feel the weight of the curse and my own sin. I feel that separation from God and a Kingdom for which my heart aches. You Kingdom come oh, Lord...

In the Beginning

This is my first blog... I want to start by making a promise to anyone who would read Bent Straight. I will not post half-baked thoughts nor will I think myself a genius for the ones that mature into a post. I will say what I have to say in as few words as possible and with great conviction. I will attempt to be honest with myself and anyone who would stumble here.

I am sure that I will think of more things as I go so...here we go!