God Rest Their Souls

May 11, 1981 Bob Marley Died
September, 28, 1991 Miles Davis Died
November,24 1991 Freddie Mercury Died
June 10, 2004 Ray Charles Died
December, 25, 2006 James Brown Died
June 25, 2009 Michael Jackson Died

These are but some of the names to have left this world in relatively recent times.
The people mentioned above are some of the most talented musicians, performers, and artists of our time.
There are many more names that deserve to sit amongst such talented human beings, many of which have died.
This loss of extraordinary talent leaves such a vacuum in this world, and there are too few to fill it.
Artists like Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Tina Turner still remain, but these people are of a generation past.
In my generation, i dont see the same talent, and im worried for the future.
Todays celebrities are exactly that, celebrities, seekers of fame not seekers of excellence, the talent of the past sought that excellene, had those high standards, and left audiences screaming for more.
John Lenon, one of the most loved and respected men on the planet.
But where are they in my generation.
In a generation of self gratification to the extreme, where fame is its own talent, where do we look for the hope.
Miley Cyrus, Souljah Boy, Taylor Swift, The Jonas Brothers?
The future looks grim for the culture of this world.
There are signs of hope, John Mayer, Amos Lee, Eminem, Justin Timberlake.
But too few to warrant security, i fear we have lost what true hope was left in the world, or are loosing it to fast to replace.
The world ahead may be a dark one, if someones voice doesnt light the way.

Bible College

I attended a young adults group at my church last tuesday just gone.
I decided to give it one more go, as i had decided to not attend it because it was a tad to social for my liking.
A leader of ours, was speaking about God and how his Grace extends not only to us in the form of eternal life.
But also in the form of predicaments... situational Grace.
God who changes circumstances.
Now i attend bible college in Nz, and as such have acquired a small amount of theological knowledge, and immediately had several "buts..." to this issue, to quote a lecturer of mine "What God does sometimes he doesnt do all the time"
That God althoug he could change circumstances, due to him being both 100% just and 100% merciful must abide by the law. E.g the cross, the law is that the price for sin is death, the mercy and justice is that although the price was paid, it was paid by Jesus.
and my explination for why God didnt drastically change circumstances was that He must abide by his law, Freewill.

I shared this to little reaction and little understanding i believe.

Then the other explinations of the room were as follows.
God lets us have these experiences to test us
" " to strengthen us
Gods Grace wouldnt matter if we were perfect, these times serve to make Grace needed.

I couldnt believe their responses, they werent correct... theologically they were wrong.
My understanding of God...but then i stopped...right there.
MY understanding..... ME

I looked around and thought to myself... sure, i may be correct, theologically, but theology doesnt account for the mystery of God.. it doesnt account for his command of the cosmos.. of the creation of light.... of the breathing of stars.

What i had witnissed was (as i like to call it) small town faith... Faith born of a human understanding of God.
not a scholarly...mathmatical, structured, predictable understanding.
But an understanding of A+B=God
Thats the danger of learning about God.

You learn ABOUT him... Not from Him

I remember the first...............time i saw your face
I remember the first...............time you took my breath away
on that late summer evening sitting down on the porch, i remember you and the shirt that you wore, the shine in your eyes matched the stars in the sky and i thanked him for you

Ooooo

I know her face
...But not her taste

I know her sound
...Yet not where she is found

I know my heart
...Yet not her mind

Her beauty lifts my eyes, as the moonlight pulls the sun from its slumber
As the stars fade, the light still remains
The dawn brings with it a new promise
Of the same beauty that i know
That is distant, yet every near.
I see her, and i smile, i talk to her and i smile
My heart beats... does she know
Can she know...
I want her to know, the rush
Whether we are kindred, or i am of my own

The fear, the thrill