October 25, 2006

• “My idea of God is not a divine idea. it has to be shattered time after time. He shatters it Himself. He is the great iconoclast (note from Rachel: lovely word, eh? iconoclast?). Could we not almost say that this shattering is one of the marks of His presence?…And most are offended by the iconoclasm; and bless are those who are not. ”

  “When i lay these questions before God i get no answer. But a rather special sort of ‘no answer.’ it is not the locked door. it is more like a silent, certainty not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook his head not in refusal but waiving the question. like ‘peace, child; you don’t understand.’ Can a mortal ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Quite easy, i should think. All nonsense questions are unanswerable. How many hours are there in a mile? is yellow square or round? probably half the questions we ask–half our great theological and metaphysical problems–are like that. And now that i come to think of it, there’s no practical problem before me at all. i know the two great commandments, and i’d better get on with them.” (note from Rachel–I LOVE IT! too true, too true.)

  “And, more than once, that impression which i can’t describe except by saying that it’s like the sound of a chuckle in the darkness. the sense that some shattering and disarming simplicity is the real answer.” –C.S.Lewis (A Grief Observed–since i finished reading it, i had to add a couple more quotes.)

  “If absolute obedience to Him is the inspiration and force of every movement of my life, then HE will pledge Himself, by a duty as deep as His own nature, that whatever is asked will be granted.” –E.M.Bounds (The Necessity of Prayer)

  Jake came by the youth center yesterday. he sat himself down in the office and decided we were going to have a conversation. i was working on the computer and didn’t pay much attention until i felt a nudge say “Rachel, he does not know how to say ‘i need to talk’…and that is what he needs.” Mrs.Wood joined when we got into how relationships are never 50/50. the point being, God never gives less than 100% with us. that is our goal and example. sometimes you don’t have ANY STINKIN reason to give 100%…and yet you have all the reason in the world simply because that is how God gives to us. i got more out of that than Jake did. gosh that is deep. Jake stayed and ended up talking with James too…stayed through Bible study and then got his bike stolen…my first thought was “yikes God, give him a break!” as we often think when we see someone struggling and then the straw breaks the camel’s back. so i don’t know…what God is trying to do in his life…but i trust Him. please keep him in your prayers. Also for Howard…he left school, came to the youth center (we didn’t know anything was up) and then left…his mom called later, telling us she believed he was running away. again. i didn’t see him yesterday…

  and then of course my weekly DEEP Kindergarten conversation (always done during big group when everyone is *listening*). Treasure (she is black, African-American, or whatever you call a cute girl that is some shades darker than me) turned to me and said: “Look! i am all mixed up! Brown and vanilla! (turning her hands over)…You are mixed up too…you just have the vanilla part first.”

  • 2:22 pm
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