Sunday, December 18, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Boston or Bust
Who would have thought that something as small as a train schedule would cause so much trouble.
My daughter and I were on our way to Boston from Richmond, Va. so she could audition at Emerson. We drove into the Springfield station to catch the Metro into DC. and then on to get the Mega Bus into Boston. Well that was the plan at least; I confused the Metro Center stop with the Union Station stop. We would have had to transfer anyway but I didn't realize that and didn't leave our house early enough. We missed the bus and did not get to Boston.
I felt like such a failure, my child will now have to become a panhandler on the street corner. I cried right there on the train platform not caring who was watching. We regrouped and headed home. When we got back to Springfield Station we saw a friend from church. He shared his own story of missed auditions and how it worked out okay. While stopping in Starbucks we had a nice conversation with a People to People representative. They all were such nice emotional hugs during an otherwise stressful morning.
In the grand scheme of things it all works out, there are other audition dates, in NYC which is closer and Meredith became the parent and told me all the things I tell her when she is needing a pick-me-up. I raised a pretty neat kid. I'm keeping my mind and heart open to whatever God may be saying through this situation.
My daughter and I were on our way to Boston from Richmond, Va. so she could audition at Emerson. We drove into the Springfield station to catch the Metro into DC. and then on to get the Mega Bus into Boston. Well that was the plan at least; I confused the Metro Center stop with the Union Station stop. We would have had to transfer anyway but I didn't realize that and didn't leave our house early enough. We missed the bus and did not get to Boston.
I felt like such a failure, my child will now have to become a panhandler on the street corner. I cried right there on the train platform not caring who was watching. We regrouped and headed home. When we got back to Springfield Station we saw a friend from church. He shared his own story of missed auditions and how it worked out okay. While stopping in Starbucks we had a nice conversation with a People to People representative. They all were such nice emotional hugs during an otherwise stressful morning.
In the grand scheme of things it all works out, there are other audition dates, in NYC which is closer and Meredith became the parent and told me all the things I tell her when she is needing a pick-me-up. I raised a pretty neat kid. I'm keeping my mind and heart open to whatever God may be saying through this situation.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Book of Proverbs should be understood as principles for living, not promises for life
Published: August 6, 2011
Question: How are we to understand and apply the Proverbs if, sometimes, they may not come true?
- D.S.,
Taipei, Taiwan
Answer: There are different ways to interpret Scripture and still honor God's Word. The most common choices are literal or figurative. Some passages we understand to be literal truths; they will happen exactly as they're written. Other verses are figurative, symbolizing greater spiritual truths. Just because something isn't literal doesn't mean it's not true. There's also a third way to interpret Scripture. Certain passages ought to be understood as principles rather than promises. A scripture principle is an ideal rule to strive for. We may or may not reach that goal, but we set it before us as something to live by. A promise is a guarantee that something will happen. Some people have lost faith in the Bible because they claimed principles as promises, and when those promises didn't come true they blamed God.
Much of the Book of Proverbs should be understood as principles for living rather than promises for life. In the first 7 verses of Solomon's introduction to the book he indicated that these were guidelines to obtain understanding, but true wisdom comes from the Lord. Therefore, some proverbs are the wisdom of men - good advice, but not ironclad promises from God that will come true in every situation. Think of Proverbs as a slice of the truth, not the whole truth for every situation.
Consider Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." That's a good principle to strive for, but God doesn't put everyone in the same mold. There are too many uncertainties of which you have no control. If you do your best to raise your child to love God but he departs from the faith, that doesn't mean God or you have failed. Every person makes their own choices, even when you set a good example before them.
Another example is Proverbs 3:9-10 which says if we honor the Lord with our finances and our tithes, our barns will overflow and we'll always have plenty. That's a principle to follow, not a promise that those who honor the Lord will never suffer lack. If we understand Proverbs as principles, they give us something to hope for but there's no disappointment with God if we don't see them fulfilled.
Now, mind you, if you personally claim certain Proverbs as promises you believe the Lord has given to you, then by all means keep faith in them and wait for God's fulfillment. But, if you've done your best and you still have hardships, don't say God's Word isn't true. Exceptions to the rule do not make the rule invalid in other cases.
- Dr. Tom Lovorn is pastor of God's Storehouse Baptist Church in Richmond. He writes a weekly column on religion. You may send him your Bible questions in care of this newspaper or via his website at www.tomlovorn.us
- D.S.,
Taipei, Taiwan
Answer: There are different ways to interpret Scripture and still honor God's Word. The most common choices are literal or figurative. Some passages we understand to be literal truths; they will happen exactly as they're written. Other verses are figurative, symbolizing greater spiritual truths. Just because something isn't literal doesn't mean it's not true. There's also a third way to interpret Scripture. Certain passages ought to be understood as principles rather than promises. A scripture principle is an ideal rule to strive for. We may or may not reach that goal, but we set it before us as something to live by. A promise is a guarantee that something will happen. Some people have lost faith in the Bible because they claimed principles as promises, and when those promises didn't come true they blamed God.
Much of the Book of Proverbs should be understood as principles for living rather than promises for life. In the first 7 verses of Solomon's introduction to the book he indicated that these were guidelines to obtain understanding, but true wisdom comes from the Lord. Therefore, some proverbs are the wisdom of men - good advice, but not ironclad promises from God that will come true in every situation. Think of Proverbs as a slice of the truth, not the whole truth for every situation.
Consider Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." That's a good principle to strive for, but God doesn't put everyone in the same mold. There are too many uncertainties of which you have no control. If you do your best to raise your child to love God but he departs from the faith, that doesn't mean God or you have failed. Every person makes their own choices, even when you set a good example before them.
Another example is Proverbs 3:9-10 which says if we honor the Lord with our finances and our tithes, our barns will overflow and we'll always have plenty. That's a principle to follow, not a promise that those who honor the Lord will never suffer lack. If we understand Proverbs as principles, they give us something to hope for but there's no disappointment with God if we don't see them fulfilled.
Now, mind you, if you personally claim certain Proverbs as promises you believe the Lord has given to you, then by all means keep faith in them and wait for God's fulfillment. But, if you've done your best and you still have hardships, don't say God's Word isn't true. Exceptions to the rule do not make the rule invalid in other cases.
- Dr. Tom Lovorn is pastor of God's Storehouse Baptist Church in Richmond. He writes a weekly column on religion. You may send him your Bible questions in care of this newspaper or via his website at www.tomlovorn.us
Read more: http://progress-index.com/news/book-of-proverbs-should-be-understood-as-principles-for-living-not-promises-for-life-1.1184525#ixzz1UGZhjvXG
Saturday, July 23, 2011
My birthday is not until August and my bestest friend Mary will be in California for most of August, so we got an early start on the fun. I am a firm believer in month long celebrations. I love anything (tasteful) Elvis and the cookbook is my favorite. What a blessing it is to have friends that really know you and don't mock :)
Monday, June 20, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Exercise
Originally uploaded by bpcolumbus
Been going to the gym and working out with weights. My arms and legs are stronger and even have some muscle definition. Every time I move my arm or leg, I can feel my muscles contract. There's a tensing that reminds me, hey you're alive and actively engaged in what's going on. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our spiritual lives were working in the same way? Every time we met some one our spiritual muscle would contract and we would be a blessing rather than criticle or worse yet, totally ignore them? We should feel the "burn" of pushing pass our spiritual comfort zone. If we are not exercising our ears to listen for God's voice every day, we can become weak and ineffective in God's kingdom. He can not use us if we are not strong enough, and we need to be strong enough to face life's challenges. My challenge is to develop the habits that will produce consistentcy , which will produce change and growth in my life.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Poetry: The Lesson - by Dr. Maya Angelou
I keep on dying again.
Veins collapse, opening like the
Small fists of sleeping
Children.
Memory of old tombs,
Rotting flesh and worms do
Not convince me against
The challenge. The years
And cold defeat live deep in
Lines along my face.
They dull my eyes, yet
I keep on dying,
Because I love to live.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
NEVER-SEEN: MLK & the Freedom Rides - Photo Gallery - LIFE
We should never forget those who have gone before us and try to find our own area resistance and work to make it better.
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