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If you were to ask me to give a definition of a Christian I should say that he is one who, since believing in Christ, feels himself to be the happiest man in the world and longs for everybody else to be equally happy! (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, quoted in D.M Lloyd-Jones: The First Forty Years)

From Francis Schaeffer:

On the basis of the fact that there is going to be total redemption in the future, not only of man but of all creation, the Christian who believes the Bible should be the man who - with God's help and in the power of the Holy Spirit - is treating nature now in the direction of the way nature will be then. (Pollution and the Death of Man)

Found on my friend Ken's Facebook page:

I believe what really happens in history is this: the old man is always wrong; and the young people are always wrong about what is wrong with him. The practical form it takes is this: that, while the old man may stand by some stupid custom, the young man always attacks it with some theory that turns out to be equally stupid. (G K Chesterton)

Ever since we could choose a home phone service provider, I've found myself beguiled by cheaper deals. You name it, I've probably tried it. And I've suffered through:

• bundles that include high-speed DSL service that doesn't work
• echoes on the phone line, like we're talking through a tunnel
• misspellings of my last name (is Dash really that hard to spell?)
• almost losing the phone number we've had for 17 years
• misplaced orders (the orders that got lost only took 15 minutes to make)

This morning I talked to someone who asked at the end of the call, "Have I answered all of your questions?" He seemed surprised when I said no, but it's true. And sadly it's almost what I expect now.

You've heard the definition of insanity: trying the same thing and expecting different results. Therefore, I'm insane when it comes to local phone service.

I'm in the middle of a nightmare with one service provider now, and if it doesn't work, I promise you I'll go back to Bell regardless of the price. And if I ever change again, I give you written permission to shoot me*.

*Permission applies to watergun or taser only. Consult your lawyer for legal advice before proceeding.

I generally don't have much trouble sleeping. No conscience, to quote my Dad, who I'm sure meant to say that he had a clean conscience.

This morning, though, I woke up around 4:00 after having a strange dream. I couldn't get back to sleep, so I eventually got up and did some reading.

I came across this in part of my guided prayer time:

Once you have rid yourself of the fear of the oppressor, his prisons, his police, his army, there is nothing much they can do to you. You are free. (Nelson Mandela)

Kind of reminds me of something Jesus said.

A lot of us probably spend way too much time worrying about being hurt by others. Mandela's quote was a pretty good kick in the pants, even if the kick was received a little too early for my taste.

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." (Proverbs 27:6)

I've had the most bizarre couple of weeks. I've had some deep conversations with some friends. They haven't been the most comfortable conversations I've had, but they have been life-giving.

I don't like conflict, and I've found few people who do. But I am discovering that some love me enough to eventually wade in and tackle the tough issues in an atmosphere of grace. As a friend of mine says, they are loving enough to be truthful.

Basil Pennington wrote:

We are broken persons and live in broken communities in a state of brokenness. We are alienated from ourselves and from each other. We do not readily fit together. We are like a bunch of porcupines trying to huddle together for warmth, who are always driven apart out of fear of the wound we can inflict upon each other with our quills.

It's easy to remain in this state of alienation. I'm grateful for friends who love me enough to risk authentic friendship with me despite the risk of getting poked with a quill. Thank God for these friends.

From Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders:

Robert Louis Stevenson once called the attitude of safety and security "that dismal fungus."

...More failure comes from an excess of caution than from bold experiments with new ideas. A friend who filled an important global post in Christian outreach recently remarked that when he surveyed his life, most of his failures came from insufficient daring. The wife of Archbishop Mowll said, "The frontiers of the kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution."

Mission is not a burden laid upon the church; it is a gift and a promise to the church that is faithful. The command arises from the gift. Jesus reigns and all authority has been given to him in earth and heaven. When we understand that, we shall not need to be told to let it be known. Rather, we shall not be able to keep silent. (Lesslie Newbigin, Mission in Christ's Way)

Our task is the opposite of distraction...The question that must guide all organizing activity in a parish is not how to keep people busy, but how to keep them from being so busy that they can no longer hear the voice of God who speaks in silence.

When you have had one of those take-this-job-and-shove-it-days, try this. On your way home after work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by the Q-tip Company. Be sure that you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the drapes, and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy. Change to very comfortable clothing, such as a sweat suit and lie down on your bed. Open the package containing the thermometer, remove it, and carefully place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken. Take the written material that accompanies the thermometer. As you read, notice in small print the statement: "Every rectal thermometer made by Q-tip is personally tested."

Close your eyes. Say out loud five times, "Thank you, oh thank you, that I do not work in quality control at the Q-tip Company." (quoted by Mark Buchanan in The Rest of God)