Latest musings, while have a wifi connection, on rest and work.

I have recently read Pilgrim's Progress for the first time. As I read, I couldn't help but feel like John Bunyan was such a genius. The story of a man named Christian who meets with all kinds of people, temptations and trials on his journey through the narrow gate, on the straight path to God's Holy City is an allegory that rings true on so many levels.

At face value, the story is so enjoyable! As Christian meets and hears of people such as Legality, Faithful, Talkative and Atheist I found myself rooting for him inside like it was a Steelers vs. Cowboys Superbowl. Add the fact that he woefully left his wife and sons who would take no notice of their sin and the story tugs on the heart strings like crazy!

Also, almost anyone can relate to the symbolism in the story. I think even an unbeliever could gain much from the way Bunyan lays out the representation of the issues in this world. People, towns and paths all have a name that makes clear both what it's like in the story and what it represents.

Then I found myself take in another step deeper. This is where I began to feel like John Bunyan was a super-genius. As your read this allegory and pay attention to the initial symbolism, you begin to recognize that there is a gargantuan (I just found out this is a real word, so cool) amount of theology AND you can start applying it to your life. One would be hard pressed to find a type of person, trial or temptation that the author didn't include in either the first or second part of Pilgrim's Progress.

One of the first ones that stuck out to me was an arbor that the Lord had placed midway up a long steep hill. Christian made the mistake of falling asleep there instead of taking his rest and getting back to work. I immediately realized that God has given me arbors such as this, much like Jesus' places of desolation while He walked this earth. He has given me the mountains where I feel his arms around me so well, the church in which I grew up, and Seattle where Mars Hill and the city fit me so well. My temptation is to emotionally or physically sot in those places and never leave. But I realized that Jesus called me to different work for now and those places are not for living; they're for rejuvenation.

I encourage you to read the book and see how much God can speak to you through it. Honestly I think the reason Pilgrim's Progress is so great is because of the abundance of doctrine and theology in it. When a book contains so much of God's Words applied so well, how could you go wrong.

Secondly, I encourage you to look at your life? Are you sedentary where you should be hard at work? Are you working when you should be allowing the Lord the refresh you? Stop and praise Him for your blessings and then focus on what He wants you to do for Him? In what ways should you be working on furthering His Kingdom?

I hope you can learn from both Christian's and my struggle with complacency and avoid the discontent what both myself and this fictional character experienced.

<3

Inspired by Margaret. Again.

Wile browsing Margaret Feinberg's page, I found her asking once again: what do you love about Jesus? I also found a blog on "making it" in the writing business. Her thoughts were honest and brief. In short she says its difficult and blogging is a good start. Since one of the things I love most about Jesus is something I've wanted to write a book about for some time, I think I'll briefly blog about it.

The are at least fifteen instances in the New Testament in which Jesus is described as going up to the mountain, or to a desolate place as the ESV calls it. Some of these are the same instance in more than one Gospel, but I can't but help thinking that makes it even more noteworthy.

Readers, I've shared before that I did much of my physical and spiritual growing in the mountains. But I cant help but feel like there's a bigger and better reason that I connect with my Savior so well there. We were made for that kind of communion and intimacy with Him. While I'm worshipping on the crag there are others doing the same on a beach. Still others sit on a barren plane and pour their hearts out to the Almighty.

I truly believe that we function like a race car would on unleaded when we attempt to be fruitful Sons and Daughters without good alone time. Anyone who has developed a consistent quiet time will tell you that it's miserable to go without it. Martin Luther once said that He was so busy that he absolutely must spend three hours a day in prayer. What a concept!

What would happen if we treated our busy lives like that? The more obligations we have; the more time spent in intimacy with the Source?

I challenge you to go out of your way to spend at least 30 minutes a day with Him this week. If you already do, double your time! See the difference! Read, pray and listen. Be comfortable with the stillness of His presence. The enemy will try and talk you out of it, but if you persevere you will feel rejuvenated even in weariness. and you will intern be dangerous for the Kingdom.