LOST Theology

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
~John 3:16-18 (The Message)

I don't usually blog about Lost. There is a good reason for that. I really only understand about 50% of what is going on most of the time (and that might be a generous percentage). And, since I don't understand a lot of it, I don't feel the need to subject my readers to my lack of understanding. That being said, we were watching last night and one moment struck me and continues to play over and over again in my mind.


Jack and Ben are in the church, after meeting with Eloise (I am not even going to begin to explain characters or dynamics - that would take a dozen posts and a lot of caffeine) and there is a painting hanging on the wall of Thomas with his hand in the wound on Jesus' side. This is obviously a painting of the moment when Thomas once again believed what Jesus said. The exchange between Ben and Jack went something like this:


Ben told Jack the story of Thomas the Apostle. When Jesus wanted to go back to Judea, knowing that he would probably be murdered there, Thomas said to the others, “Let us also go, that we might die with him.” Ben said Thomas’ claim to fame wouldn’t come from that bravery, but later, when he refused to acknowledge the resurrection. Thomas needed to touch Jesus’ wounds to be convinced.

“Was he,” Jack asked.

“Of course he was,” Ben said. “We’re all convinced sooner or later, Jack.”

Look at that last sentence again: We're all convinced sooner or later.

I can't help but think about God and people when I hear that sentence. No matter what people want to believe, no matter how much they think they're in control and that there is no God, there will come a time when He will reveal Himself to the world. And, at that moment, everyone will be convinced. The time will come, sooner or later.

The key, I think, is to be convinced now - by faith - to simply trust that God is real, God is good, and God is in control. To believe without seeing, to step into a crazy, confusing and chaotic world , trusting that God will never lead you to a place He hasn't already been. That is the key to faith; to be able to trust what you cannot see and love what you cannot touch. And, sooner or later, everyone will be convinced.

The calling of the Christian is to reveal God to a world that doesn't want to see Him. The calling of God on our lives is to be His voice and His light so that we may convince more of His children that He is there and that He loves them more than anyone ever could.

Just a few thoughts - yes, it all started because of Lost last night.

(and does anyone else find it...fitting that the title of the episode was 316? Not just the flight number, but maybe the number of their redemption...what other 316 sticks out in your mind?!?!)

The Written Word

I haven't been blogging much lately, and for good reason. Instead, I have been reading. Those that know me well know that I love to read. I grew up with a book in each hand, and one on the table beside me. I can't remember a time when my mom and step-dad didn't have a book nearby. As a result, reading is one of my passions, one of my hobbies and one of my loves.

For me, there is a place in a book - and it's different in every book - where I suddenly can't put it down. That is the place where I'll gladly stay up for 24 hours, just to know the end of the story. Or, I'll stop talking to people and watching TV and doing anything else, just so I can finish. I love that moment in the story - it's the moment where I'm caught and where the author has successfully transported me from my world to theirs. Some authors are better at this than others. Stephen King, JK Rowling and Lois Lowry create worlds so vastly unique and sweeping that I can't help but immediately feel like a part of the story.

For me, books are like movies. And, when I hit that 'sweet spot' in a book, I can no sooner put it down than I can stop a movie right at the height of the story and just wait until tomorrow to finish.

So, what books have captured my attention and led me to neglecting my blog lately? I checked several out from the library recently, but the two that captured my imagination the most were
Duma Key by Stephen King and City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau.

King has been a favorite of mine for years. Some of his book scare me beyond measure (Bag of Bones still creeps me out) but even the 'horror' of his stories draw me in and make me want to know the rest of the story. Duma Key is scary is some places, but it's more just...haunting...and a really good read!

That City of Ember captured my imagination should come as no surprise to people who know me well. I mean, Young Adult literature is one of my favorite genres! I thought City of Ember echoed my favorite book, The Giver, in a lot of ways. I wasn't sure how I would feel about that at first, but the rest of the story is different enough that it didn't really bother me. I am excited about reading the rest of the series, when and if they are ever available at the local Library.

So, long story short, I haven't been blogging because I've been busy - busy getting lost in a good book. That doesn't mean I don't have things I want to say, it just means I haven't had time to sit down and say them. And I'm okay with that.

Soggy

If I had to sum up the world in one word today, it would be soggy. The foot-ish of snow that fell last week and earlier this week is all but gone. It melted away in the lovely 50-something weather. The ground is wet, the air is wet, the world is wet. It's ugly and gross outside - once the snow is gone, there is just dirt left. But, the positive side is that I got to spend some time outside and got to actually open the windows while I was doing my least-favorite chore - ironing. The world smelled fresh and reborn. I know this won't last, I know that it's only the middle of February (or, more accurately, the beginning of February) but it's making me hunger so much for sunshine and spring - for long walks outside and time reading on the front porch.

Spring, please don't tease - be here to stay!

The Curious Case of the February Blahs

I have a serious case of the February blahs right now! I'm trying to get over it and trying to work through it, but wow. Here's why I'm blah...

• The current temperature outside, according to weatherbug, is -5.
• There are still several inches of snow on the ground.
• It's cold. Really cold.
• Yesterday was the first time the sun had been out in what seemed like forever.
• I managed to hurt my back, so I have been taking medicine, which always makes me feel gross and out of control and grumpy.
• I'm grumpy.
• I'm unbelievably tired (I seriously could have gone to bed at 7:30 last night).
• I haven't been able to work out in over two weeks (stupid back).
• I'm still coughing, but feeling a little better.
• While there are some exciting things happening and coming up, I'm still feeling stuck in a rut.
• I have friends going through hard things and I don't feel like I can help them at all.
• I'm irritable.
• I have a low tolerance for indecision.
• I want to cry, but the tears aren't there.
• I'm turning 30 this year. The number doesn't bother me - it's the introspection and looking back at the first three decades of my life that has me mellow.
• I'm feeling overwhelmed and underwhelmed all at the same time!

BLAH!

Sunshine and Snow

The weather in my part of Indiana has been especially confusing and strange this winter. December we had basically no snow - some ice and wind and a lot of cold, but no snow. Then last week, we got a serious 12 inches of the white stuff in under 24 hours. Today, I'm guessing another 3-4 inches have fallen. And it's cold again. Winter is definitely hitting us hard at the moment. For a place that doesn't usually get much in the way of accumulating snow, it's been interesting.

And, as much as I hate driving in snow and being cold, I have really enjoyed some parts of the last week. First of all, it's pretty outside. I think I would rather look of rolling hills of white snow than dead, brown grass. I would rather see fluffy snowflakes fall than watch storm clouds roll in. I would rather enjoy the sunshine reflecting off snow than ice.

And, for some reason, God has used this wintry week to speak into my heart - to remind me that there are ebbs and flows in every season, and that there is going to be growth and renewal under the cold frost of winter. I have a friend that recently said something about disliking the winter weather, but knowing that the freeze now would make the soil for her garden that much better this spring. That made me think a lot - not about gardens, but about my spiritual life. The times when I feel distant and cold -where I feel like I'm going through the motions and not getting a lot done - when God is still there, but I'm not feeling Him quite as much - maybe those are the dormant seasons in my life. God is using the freeze - the mental, emotional and physical freeze of winter - to prepare me for a new season - a new spring - a new something.

So, I'm enjoying the sunshine - even though it's not very warm today. And I'm enjoying the snow - even though it's covered everything again. It's a time to rebuild, to renew and to wonder what is going on under the surface!