the root of it...

I'm not very articulate today...but i need to get this out...

When something bothers me greatly,
I find the need to persevere, push on, until an answer appears.

It is a process of change, of discovery, & of knowing myself & God better...always

If i were to find a root cause in all of this...
this would be it...

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."
C.S. Lewis

When trust is undermined,
truth is undercut...
"fact" is not examined
nothing is considered important or reverent...
then what are we standing for?

Just because everyone does it...doesn't make it right...
What happened to personal integrity,
self-control, Love, honour...

When we've lost the above...we're subject to abuse...
victims of other people's whims, fancy & fun...
why would you let others abuse you?
Who deals with the fallout? Who has to handle things?
not the perpetrator...but the victim...

W've done ourselves a dis-service when we think the greatest values now are...
laughter, fun, entertainment...
anything that makes us feel good, causes a laugh
& doesn't lead to some uncomfortable confrontations...

But the thing is...
what seemed funny for a moment will have reprecussions...
Reputations are affected,
names & labels will be attached...
having to explain & clarify to people isn't "fun" anymore...
In the end, the cost is high...

have we become such a short-term people,
that we've completely missed the main point?

All it takes is a pinch of yeast to make the dough rise
Sin is that way...
When sin is left as it is...unrevealed...
it will grow...
compromise & complacency will crowd out Love.

Knowing a person & believing the best in them is great...
But it doesn't mean defending wrongdoing...
When right or wrong is an issue,
it should be dealt with...

People are important, & the way we love them reflects our Love...
Loved us, so He gave us free will...
everyone knows that well and claims that!
But they forgot something else too...
He gave us the bible to know His ways,
& the Holy Spirit to lead, guide
& to prompt us with His still small voice

"The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred"
C.S. Lewis

Freedom is ours to exercise,
but we are not supposed to exercise it in a vacuum.
That's where we go wrong many a times.

"There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to waste on jokes."
C.S. Lewis

Moments like yesterday & today make me wonder if what i do is worth it...
If a speaker of truth has to confront (care-front) to bring truth to light...
you'd think...there'd be more than...well...more than what i'm feeling now...
But there isn't...the feeling of dispair...of...disappointment...weighs heavily

When our job is done well...there is no applause, no pats on the back...
frequently...no thanks even...

& in those moments when things don't go well?
Well...who can fathom what goes through man's thoughts...

No wonder...
Jeremiah, prophet, writer of Jeremiah & Lamentations
Loved deeply, urged the people not to turn their backs on God...

he's most known now as the "weeping prophet"

...the anguish of Love

Elijah, man of God, challenger of Baal...
Slaughtered the prophets of Baal, then ran from Jezebel...
his cry in the desert...one of asking for death as a prize...

...the despair of Love

Jesus, God Himself, Holy, Perfect...did miracles
Did no evil, challenged wrong, endured riducule, mocking...
At Gethsamane..."If you are willing, take this cup from me"

...the sacrifice of Love

I wonder how God can take it...