Self Definition

On this day 7 years ago, we witnessed the horrendous tragedy that we now call "Nine Eleven". During a time of silent contemplation as I gathered with a number of colleagues in ministry, I was reminded of something I heard in a Charlie Rose interview with Thomas L. Friedman (author of The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century). In that interview Friedman said something like this:

Since that fateful day seven years ago, we as a nation have defined ourselves through the lens of that event rather than through the lens of the "Fourth of July".

This morning I thought that so often even we as individuals get our self-definition from the tragic events of our lives rather than the hope we have in Christ! Lord help us to know who we are in you, and not be defined by the things that happen to us.

"Deception Pass"

Deception Pass is at the northern tip of Whidbey Island in the state of Washington. While on our vacation out west, Julie & I took a daytrip from the Pass down the length of Whidbey to the the Clinton-Mukilteo Ferry.

Circle of Quiet

Today as I was reading from the Psalms, I came across this incredible phrase in Psalm 94. It's out of THE MESSAGE...

God provides "a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil". (94:13)

Every day, every moment, on every side, we are bombarded by the clamor of evil. Things vying for our attention calling us to look away from what really matters. In the midst of all that our Creator has provided that circle of quiet from which we can draw strength for the day and the resources necessary to live out God's best. Get into the circle!