Some thoughts I like from Brian Andreas

I don't know how long
I can do this, he said,
I think the universe
has different plans for me

& we sat there in silence

& I thought to myself
that this is the thing
we all come to
& this is the thing we all fight
& if we are lucky
enough to lose,
our lives
become beautiful
with mystery
again

& I sat there silent
because that is not
something
that can be said.

different plans

_____________________

trying to follow
in the footsteps
of the masters,

but it's a lot harder
than it looks because
even though they had
the same size feet
as us, they weren't
looking down
the whole time
while they walked
to make sure
they were
doing it right

strict followers

Kingdom of Heaven

"What is God trying to tell us about the kingdom of heaven through Jesus' use of simile?" This question was posed after reviewing all the instances in Matthew where Jesus talks about the "kingdom of heaven."

Parables. Stories. People relate to stories. You can understand the point of a story without really having to put the moral into words. Kingdom of heaven. Something of great value. A little goes a long way? No. It takes time, but a small revelation of truth can effect a change in someone. But not a change, that doesn't convey the full gravity of the effect. A transformation. A restoration. A re-creation. Its counter-intuitive at times. It demands obedience. It requires forgiveness and grace. You must seek it. You must wait for it. A waiting that requires action and preparedness. Those who seek it will find it, bus even then it comes at a great price. But it is worth it. Oh, is it worth the price! People will be drawn into the kingdom by the truth and power of it's love. But it needs workers. It needs those of us who have been transformed by its grace to set our lives aside and say, "Here I am, send me." If not us, then who will go?

Here's to advancing the kingdom,

than