This is awesome...

http://www.topix.net/content/ap/2007/06/new-zealand-4real-not-a-childs-name

Surprised By Joy

Ever read "Surprised By Joy" by CS Lewis? Great book. If you haven't read it, I recommend that you pick it up. Here's the thing...Paul says, "I have learned to be content no matter what the circumstances." Now, I can't echo those words-- I struggle with a lack of contentment every day. ("I need a Range Rover", "I want a six pack (Abs, not beer)", "That guy is a better worship leader than me"). In other words, I am still learning complete contentment. But, I would say that my life for about the past 2 years has been marked by joy. Now, circumstances have been good for the most part, but there have been struggles as well. But, when all is said and done, I would say that I experience joy-- deep, lasting joy-- daily. Joy marks who I am. I don't know how I arrived there (not that I've completed anything-- I hope you know what I mean), I just feel like joy is a staple in my life. I struggle with discontentment, sure, but I experience all kinds of joy.

So, question of the day: How does one experience joy? What does one do (or not do) in order to experience joy?

A new day

Here's the deal, I'm going to try to post more often. No one really reads this, but I'm going to post more often anyway. So, here's what I'm thinking about today...

what is repentance? does it imply that one's life/behavior has changed, or does it simply mean grief or sorrow over sin? what comes first, repentance or faith? are they the same? are they different? is repentance a requirement for salvation or does salvation generate repentance? when Jesus says, "repent and believe", what, exactly, does he expect his hearers to do/feel/think? change their mind about sin or act differently or say, "i'm sorry" or feel differently? and, if repentance is simply a change of mind, does that change of mind necessarily imply a change of behavior? for example, could i "change my mind" about the importance of saving money but stilll not save? and, if it does imply a change of behavior, what happens when someone says, "i repent" but then there is no behavior change? (i.e. what about the person who says, "once i thought saving money was lame, now i think it's of utmost importance, but i still don't do it."? does that demonstrate a lack of repentance initially or a turn from repentance eventually? help me out here...