Grokking Gordon

To all who suffer,

Freedom is found in the futility of this world. So is despair. It is one of the enemy’s greatest weapons. It is most effective right before we would shrug off our woes and move into a true lifestyle of faith. Then, we are told we are ungrateful. We are told we are irresponsible. We are told we are behind schedule. We are reminded (as we often also remind others) of the imperfections we possess which are defined by temporal circumstance. We then withdraw back to the world experiencing a temporary reprieve as we are praised by its acolytes.

Am I suggesting that we put off worldly responsibilities so that we may better serve God? No. What I am saying is that we live with an attitude untouched by its burdens!

Alas, the trick is in the doing I suppose.

I think sometimes we forget that God is real. We then place our faith right below what is important. You see, faith doesn’t buy groceries. It also hasn’t helped the woman of my dreams find my doorstep (or maybe she’s really bad with directions). After I grab some food, marry the waitress, have some kids, and put the finishing touches on my kingdom then I’ll worry about faith. Until then I’m just too lonely and depressed. Oh, it’s true, many of us are too lonely and depressed. It’s because we flirt with the futility of mortality and therefore with freedom. We hold such knowledge at bay for certainly its embrace means destruction, right? No. Its embrace means freedom. In this freedom we fulfill our responsibilities but we also find eternal relief from despair. All the while we worship.

Oh, but again the problem isn’t in the understanding. It’s in the doing.

Have heart my friend — you are not alone.

Sincerely,

Gordon

Our world is not filled with answers.  It’s filled with patterns.

Therefore, there is freedom of choice.

You choose to believe nothing, or you choose to believe something.

What do you choose to believe?

Are they the same thing?  When filtered through a dark heart (mine is) are they the same thing?  When we seek one are we truly seeking the other?  Is there a semantics problem here?  How does culture come into play?  I want your thoughts.  Actually, in this case, I covet your thoughts.

*Bonus points for answering in haiku format.

*Double points if you actually reference a bible verse.

“But you know, God did put me there. It wasn’t a change I could see right away, but it turns out the change was in me.”

– The Stylist, Noticed

Two questions from a reader.  Below each question is my simplified answer.

Did Jesus have the potential to sin?

“You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.”  (1 John 3:5 NASB)

Often times the answers in philosophy and theology are a matter of semantics.  Suffice it to say that no matter the circumstance or imagined world he would not sin.

Does being tempted mean one is sinning?

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin…” (James 1: 14-15 NASB)

When we are unwilling to extinguish our temptation, whether it is a fiery dart from Satan or our own flesh, and instead entertain it, then we are sinning.  To be tempted is to live in this fallen world.  To sin is to allow temptation even a moment of acceptance.

…but, until then these are two of my favorite people.  Let us stand together and raise a glass to crazy friends!

I used to think golf was a pure sport.

Thanks for the email Mysterious One/Girl Next Door.  Your surprising identity is safe with me.  I hope my blog continues to be enjoyable.

However, “Well, hello there” was written to the owner of a Toshiba laptop using Google Chrome.  You are not that person.

This is totally something my Mom could pull off.  If only she wasn’t so ethically sound.  Sigh.  Love you Mom!

You used my middle name to find Grokking Gordon on Google.

You spent over 10 minutes looking at what I have written.

You looked at “Letter from David” but neglected “Letter from Matt” and “Letter from Aaron.”

10 minutes?  I can’t get my good friends to pay attention to me for that long.

What did you think?  Did you find it entertaining, insightful, perhaps just a bit strange?

You now know so much about me, and I know so little about you.  Well, except that you use Google Chrome.

Very curious.  Curious indeed.