In the eye of the beholder

I just worked away a solid portion of my life generating a custom data set from World Bank data. It is beautiful. Tomorrow, I get to play with it!

Turning Pages

So... I've never really liked to read. As a kid, I pretended to love reading because that was what smart people were supposed to love, and reading was a sure, quick way to impress teachers. And, I guess I sort of enjoyed it for a few years. But, as I got older, I learned to despise it.

I have always enjoyed a good story. So, if school required that I read, I read. And, usually, I liked what I read. It's the act of reading itself that has never appealed to me. Sitting in one place, staring at one page or set of pages, for a long time. Maybe that's it: it takes a long time. I am not a fast reader. Reading comprehension has never been my thing. I get bored staring at the same few paragraphs until I understand what they say.

A few months ago, all that changed. I LOVE reading. I cannot put down a book. An e-book, that is. The option of reading on my phone has absolutely changed my life. I love my Kindle App. I cannot explain the phenomenon. I do not understand it myself. But, I like it. I have turned a new page in life, and I finally am who I always wanted to be: a reader. It's pretty cool.

So, when you look at that list to the left of my 'Recent Reads,' be impressed. I am.
-mo

Under Construction: about this blog

Since this blog has experienced a recent resurgence of author (that's me) activity, and since I finally have my first official "follower," I am in the process of updating the looks of things around here.

I'm keeping the dandelion background. Dandelions remind me of the days when simple things, like blowing those little seeds everywhere, were all it took to vanquish my cares. Also, one of my favorite cheesy education posters has a background of dandelions and says, "Dandelions are my favorite flowers because they refuse to stop growing." I loved making fun of that poster on Mrs. Strickland's door in high school. Cracks me up. But, it's stuck with me, and I suppose some truth rings through the cheese.

New name: Moville was another throw-back to high school days. A missionary I met in Chicago called me Mo-lissa, and my SBC friends have called me Mo since. I like it. But, it doesn't perfectly describe my hopes for this blog. So, I'm keeping Mo but renaming Moville. (In case you're wondering about the web address, a couple of other guys we met in Chicago decided my name should be Cookee. No idea why, but that still makes me laugh.)

Gentle Whispers: In 1 Kings 19, Elijah is afraid and depressed and needs a savior. God meets him where he is and, with a gentle whisper, reminds Elijah of his worth, his value as a servant of God to his people. Those who know me well know I struggle like Elijah to stay out of that cave of despair. But, God is faithful to meet me there when I call. This blog has been and is a record of some of God's gentle whispers, reminders of his faithfulness, of my worth, and of life's incredible value. To any regular or random readers, I pray you hear God in these gentle, yet powerful, whispers of hope.
-mo

Love Wins

I just finished reading Rob Bell's controversial book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. I read some stuff about the book before I read the book itself, and I was under the impression that I was supposed to disagree with him. Not only that, but I should now be proclaiming him a heretic.

In actuality, while he and I do not seem to see eye-to-eye on every point of this book, overall, I cannot disagree with him. As I wrote several posts ago, I do believe in the all-transcendent LOVE of Jesus. In contrast to what Bell seems to write, I do believe hell is a literal location reserved for those who have yet to accept this love. But, I cannot reject the notion that God's love is big enough, eternal enough, eventually to rescue all from hell.

This is by no means a universalist argument. The Bible clearly makes the case that no one deserves God's love and that Jesus is the only way to forgiveness and salvation. But, as a Christ-follower, as one who understands the significance of living freely forgiven and transformed by God's grace, should I not rejoice at the thought that all will one day - in this age or in the age to come - experience this same freedom, forgiveness, and transformation through Christ?! No one will get there without Jesus, but, if everyone, of his/her own freewill chooses life through Jesus Christ, HALLELUJAH! PRAISE GOD! AMEN. Let it be.

Finally, I really love Bell's depiction of salvation as accepting God's story for our lives, abandoning our own. Is that not what true confession, repentance, submission (three steps that pretty well sum up the Sunday school definition of salvation) are: to agree with God about who we are and who He is? To accept God's story. Beautiful.

-mo

motivation

don't have much. and the internet's as slow as dialup. that doesn't help.

the good, the bad

had a great day at school. watched a guy try to pick up girls for a good thirty minutes straight. after one rejection, he sat down and said, "i got all day, man." free and priceless entertainment!

tonight's meeting schedule got changed as soon as i walked in the home door, and now, i'm home alone for another long evening of homework. looks like this week's shaping up for five such nights. oh, well... RedBox...

Happy Pi Day

Krust Old Skool Sunday! gettin down with some krab legs! #too_white

Prayer for Peace

Found this prayer on my computer tonight. I prayed it on December 29, 2008. The prayer has been answered and is still being answered daily. The LORD has done it again!

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God.

You are able.

You are able to do exceeding abundantly above all that i ask or think, according to the power that worketh in me. (Eph 3.20)

Wow.

You are the one, true, all-powerful God. And what is more: you work your power in me to accomplish beyond what i imagine.

Teach me to lean on that power in my weakness.

Your grace is sufficient, and your strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12.9)

I have this confidence: whatever i ask according to your will, you hear and grant. (1 john 5.14-15)

It is your will that, as far as it depends on me, i live at peace with everyone. (Rom 12.18)

So, here's what i ask:

Work your power in me for peace.

Powerful peace.

Powerful peace among my friends.

Calm our restless minds and hearts, that we may no longer over-think our own or others' actions. Make us comfortable being natural.

Minimize our noticing the things that annoy us about each other.

Minimize our feeling the need to defend ourselves.

Teach us to love and to live lovingly. Remove jealousy and competition for friendship. Convince our hearts that strengthening of bonds among others does not mean breaking or weakening of our own bonds. Help us to rejoice as others' friendships grow.

Help us forgive. But, above that, help us never to offend, never to need forgiveness. Make us quick to confess and repent both to you and to each other.

Guard our words, and reign our tongues, so our conversation will be only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph 4.29)

Make of us peacemakers.

Be our peace.

Powerful peace.

We have tried individually and collectively to fix the hurt we have inflicted on our friendships. It is clear to me that we cannot heal. I am done trying. If peace happens, it will have to be from you.

For this reason I kneel before you, Father, from whom your whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of you, God.

Now to you, who are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to your power that is at work within us, to you be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

(Eph 3.14-20)