Who Does it Serve? ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I stated at the begging of this jaunt, we all serve someone.  We all serve something as well.  The task is know what we are serving and why.  The goal is to understand who we serve and if we intend to use our brief life to serve that.

In serving we gain understanding of our needs and see more clearly the needs of others.  When we serve good and right we make the path better.  We make the journey stronger.  We enrich others when we carry the heart of servant into all we endeavor to accomplish.

What I must do in all me efforts is serve Christ.  Nothing is too small or so insignificant that it cannot be relegated to the service of Jesus.  Following him means in all things.  Following him means that I serve the needs of the Gospel.  It means that all my pursuits; professional, leisure, and mundane must pass through the filter of following Christ.

So in all things Dear Reader I ask this thing.  In all things I seek to do this thing.  It is in the following and serving of Christ alone that every other thing becomes good.  It is in faith that I follow.  It is in love that I seek to evidence that following.  Purity, righteousness, holiness all follow the great command to love.  It is love that must drive what I serve and who I serve.  It is in Christ alone that I take this stand.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ Dreams

Greetings Dear Reader,

We all have dreams.  Some of us chase them.  Some hide them.  Some are blessed to live them.  Some of my dreams I share with others.  Some I keep hidden even though I build on them.  I have lived a few that have then been shattered.

It is good to have dreams.  It is also dangerous.  We are intended to have desires in our hearts of what we wish to have, do, and become.  The fulfillment of dreams requires the proper alignment of work, will, and providence.  It is in the pursuit of dreams that we find the steam to run our life engine.

We must consider who our dreams serve.  If they serve only our interests then they will never satisfy even if attained.  They can fuel our efforts but cannot sustain us if they feed only us.

I pursue the dreams that serve others as much as possible.  I desire to attain dreams that will outlast my brief time upon this stage.  Fueled by hope and faith I also try to delight in the one I follow so that my dreams align with him.  Sometimes the fuel feeds thin.  Sometimes the engine feels overworked.

The great dream that I share with you Dear Reader is to be free to craft tales daily for you.  I long to spend my hours in the day working to weave stories that draw you home.  The key is asking who the dream serves.  If it serves others then it is a dream worth dreaming.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ Working our Jobs

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am blessed to work a job where I get to make a difference.  The work I do benefits those with medical needs and those who cannot afford medical care.  The work I do is not on the front lines but it is the engine that drives the supply chain.  It is in knowing this that I see who my work serves.

It moves me that so many people work jobs that they hate.  I often ponder what the world would look like if people pursued avocations that they loved.  After family our profession consumes our lives.  We exchange pieces of our life for money so that we can provide for family.   That would be a much richer exchange if that time were spent on something about which we care. 

I work daily toward things I care for most getting my time.  If I am to follow Christ properly then I must give my time to things that matter.  If I work simply for money then life does not work.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ No Rusty Swords

Greetings Dear Reader,

Depending on the lighting the human eye can distinguish around thirty shades of gray.  Our minds can, it seems, create infinite shades of gray when it comes to moral and social issues.  In some areas there are shades of gray.  In some there are not.

I am not going to dive too deeply into the areas that I consider black and white.  What I do want to think through is that we seldom have neutral actions.  As someone who believes that all of this has a higher purpose I realize that what I do serves either darkness or light.  What I think, what I say, and how I act is either good or evil.

No matter whether you believe as I do or not every action serves good or evil.  There are no secular issues.  Even our minor choices serve our own desires or a greater purpose.  When we align our desires with what is good then we serve good.  When they are aligned with our own self-interest.

We are in a battle for everything.  We are in on a battlefield where there are no rusty swords.  What I choose to do with my time and resources serves either darkness or light.  If I choose to be neutral about something because it is hard then I am serving darkness.  Jesus is all about love that is vibrant and sacrificial. 

We are invited to serve the Light.  We are invited to fight for what is good.  We are invited to live when we come and die.  Everything I do serves our Captain or the enemy.  It serves the darkness or the Light.  On this battlefield of life there are no rust swords. 

No Rusty Swords – Michael Card

Don't you know the battle's raging

And you got to join the fight

There's an army of the darkness

And an army of the Light

There's a side that fights for Satan

And a side that's for the Lord

And on this battle field there are no rusty swords

And on this battle field there are no rusty swords

Christ has made the final move

So our side is sure to win

He became like us so we would have

A chance to be like Him

It seems strange so many fall back

When the victory has been won

You just need to ask yourself

Which side you're on

Don't you know the battle's raging

And you got to join the fight

There's an army of the darkness

And an army of the Light

There's a side that fights for Satan

And a side that's for the Lord

And on this battle field there are no rusty swords

And on this battle field there are no rusty swords

There's a fact you need to understand

Before you join our side

You need to know when Jesus calls

He bids you come and die

He's invaded Satan's kingdom

And He's claiming all His own

When the battle's over

He will lead us home

Don't you know the battle's raging

And you got to join the fight

There's an army of the darkness

And an army of the Light

There's a side that fights for Satan

And a side that's for the Lord

And on this battle field there are no rusty swords

And on this battle field there are no rusty swords

And on this battle field there are no rusty swords

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ Music

Greetings Dear Reader,

I love music.  My two hundred gigs of mp3’s covers everything from classical to a sampling of some of genres like air pop and space trap.  There is not a genre or style that I follow.  Rather I choose songs that I like.

I approach every song in the same way.  Frist, I ask if I like the sound.  Even if I do not I will give it an honest listen if it is recommended by someone.   I have been surprised by genres that I thought I would not like.  In them I have found a gem or two that gave me a feel for that style and what it had to offer.

There is also a core to my music world that is familiar and dependable.  There are songs that I go to when I need courage or comfort.  There are songs that take me to worship or celebration instantly. 

My primary filter after taste is the message of a song.  I ask a couple of simple questions and the answers are the filter.  The first is “where is this song trying to take me?”   The second is “Is that someplace I want to go?”  This is the filter that lets me determine who the music serves.

I refuse to go someplace that does not serve Christ.  Many interpret that to mean that only “Christian” music is acceptable.  This is a lie.  There is too much beauty and tragedy in the world to relegate music only to songs directly focused on Christianity.  The filter must be Christ but he is in everything that makes the world worth being in.

My music choices must serve to draw me closer to Christ.  It must transport me to the place intended by the artist and I must find Christ in that moment.  This is how music serves.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ Arguing

Greetings Dear Reader,

I wonder why we cannot get past this.  Arguing from a position of anger or pride serves the self.  It is never the arguing that forges the peace.  It is never being right that matters.

What we do when we argue is destroy the other person.  We use whit and words. We often shout and belittle.  We sink to our lower selves.  It becomes winning over substance.  It becomes being the one who is heard instead of listening. 

It does not matter if it political, social, or personal.  Arguing does not serve to create peace or foster love and trust.  It creates rocky ground.  It can do irrevocable harm.  It can turn to hatred and violence. 

I am not supposed to argue.  I am required to be able to present a reasonable explanation of my hope.  I am supposed to oppose evil.  None of that requires me to argue.  I must serve the truth not my pride or fear.

In social and personal discussions I must never argue.  I must speak the truth in love.  I must refuse to engage when baited.  Even when others are wrong about me I must be kind and patient.  It is in love and patience, speaking the truth that we win.  It is too easy to argue.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ “Sorry”

Greetings Dear Reader,

It seems as a society we are increasingly poor at accepting responsibility for our transgressions.  We do not spend time with our faults to acknowledge and redeem them.  Instead we excuse, ignore, or dismiss when we wrong others.

Recently I watched someone who claims to follow Christ launch a tirade of anger and slights at a coworker.  When someone pointed it out the person simply said “sorry” and moved on to another topic. 

When we wrong another person saying “sorry” is rarely anything other than self-serving.  A genuine apology and request for forgiveness serves the wronged person.  Anything less serves to get us out of embarrassment or responsibility for our actions. 

I want to eradicate this habit from my life.  I never want to just say “sorry” when someone deserves my attentive understanding of how I have wronged him or her.  I do not need to overdo it when I do something small.  I should, however, err on the side of being attentive to accidental sleights instead of dismissing them.

If I am to love others I must embrace the humility required to serve them and Christ by owning and mitigating my wrongs.  I cannot serve Christ by just being “sorry”.  I must rather have genuine sorrow for my wrongs and not merely dismiss them.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ Our Words

Greetings Dear Reader,

Last week a coworker attached me personally over a disagreement regarding a way to proceed with a work task.  I was surprised how quickly anger and insult replaced civil discussion.  Then again I used to be like this.

My words are a dangerous weapon.  I have worked hard to choose only words that are kind and honest.  I still fail.  I do not always choose the right words.  I do not always choose the right feeling to express.  I give lease to the wrong words.

Metering what I say through asking who it serves is a solid way to gain more ground in this battle.  It is in the constant vigilance over who I serve that I can learn to more wisely choose what I say. 

Who does each word serve?  Who will benefit from the sarcastic remark or thoughtless jab.  Who I am kind to matters.  What I say always matters.  Keeping in mind that every word should serve the Gospel helps.  Knowing that I am accountable for even every idle word should motivate.  

In pondering who it serves when I speak I can be more aware of the words that come out of my mouth.  I can better monitor who my thoughts serve I can better control my words.  If I guide my words to only serve Christ then they will be filled with love and kindness.  I will fail but I must work at it with every thought.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Who Does it Serve? ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I prepare my heart and mind for Holy Week I consider the benefits of all that Christ has given us.  He has made sure that we have guidelines as to how we are to serve the Father.  The primary way to serve is love.  That is clear.  Everything else is built upon it.

What about the other things we do?  Perhaps asking who our actions and attitudes serve will help discern if those actions are wise and profitable.   Everything we do serves someone. 

This means that I must ponder my attitude about the things I do, the values I hold, and even my preferences.  When I feel slighted or angry evaluating the source can be maintained by asking who it serves.  When others are offended by what I do I must evaluate before I defend.  I must ask who I am serving.

I am going to walk through this with an eye on who I am supposed to serve.   In setting myself apart for the celebration of the resurrection I will examine who is served by what I think, say, and do.  Please join me Dear Reader.  I hope in serving the Father through self-examination that I can serve you as well.

Gotta Serve Somebody - Bob Dylan

You may be an ambassador to England or France

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world

You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage

You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage

You may be a business man or some high-degree thief

They may call you doctor or they may call you chief

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are

You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk

You may be the head of some big TV network

You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame

You may be living in another country under another name

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are

You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a construction worker working on a home

You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome

You might own guns and you might even own tanks

You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride

You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side

You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair

You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk

Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk

You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread

You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy

You may call me Bobby, you may call me Jimmy

You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray

You may call me anything but no matter what you say

Still, you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

You're gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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