Second Thoughts - Chili Cheese Dogs

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

Yesterday was national Hot Dog day.   Sonic offered their amazing Chili Cheese Dogs for $1.00 each.  I mentioned this in class regretting the I did not have time to go over to the only Sonic in town and avail myself of this opportunity.

I had closing responsibilities at school meaning that I would not be able to leave until almost eleven p.m.  To my delight a student returned after leaving class with a box of Chili Cheese Dogs for me.  His gesture and words were very kind and greatly appreciated. 

It made me more aware of the impact it has on others when we go out of our way to be kind to them.  I want to always be thoughtful and kind.  I am sure I can find more ways to do so.

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."

The Names of God – אלהים, Elohim

Greetings Dear Reader,

In Genesis the first line assumes that God is there.  As Moses penned this he had no idea that he was begging a body of literature that would become God’s written revelation to us of his relationship to us.  Still he assumes that God is God.  He assumes that everyone knows who he means by Elohim. 

This name is plural of the name Eloah which is the same as Allah in Arabic.  The name Elohim denotes the fullness of divine strength and the sum of his powers.  The plural form of this name, when referring to God is almost always used with a singular verb. 

The way in which this is used is interesting.  In Genesis 1:26 there is a seeming contradiction in the use of nouns and verbs.  I do not wish to bore you with a grammar lesson but here it is significant. 

“Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.’”

When it reads that “God said” it is the plural form with a singular verb.  It signifies something very similar to the “royal we” or the plural of majesty.  It is the plural of excellence.  This is significant in Hebrew because it separates the use of Elohim and elohim.  So what?  How does this impact me as one who wishes to follow Christ?

One of the foundational aspects of this faith is that the God I worship, love, and try to follow is assumed to be there.  He does not need an introduction.  In Genesis he creates the stage and steps onto it in his full power and majesty.  He is in himself the embodiment of all that is good.  As Genesis unfolds in the first chapter he proceeds from nothing to all of creation and calls it good.

From then on is the story of how we bring about the corruption of that good and God’s intent to restore it; to redeem it.  My following and my faith can be a part of that redemption process.  As I am being redeemed I can participate in the grand redemption effort.  Making things better and bringing them back to the state of goodness is reason enough to follow this plan.

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."

The Names of God – First Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Names are amazing things.  They have a great deal of power.  If someone knows your name they can communicate in a unique way.  Names have meaning and in some cultures a name changes over time to reflect the person. 

Recently a friend gave me a framed list of some of the names of God.  It is beautiful and hanging in my office as I write this.  It caused me to ponder some of the ways in which God is addressed by others.  If I truly wish to know God then I must consider who he is within the names he provides for us to know him. 

God is limitless in who he is.  Plumbing the depths of this is beyond me, but perhaps through the journey of his names I can learn how to better love him.  Walk with me if you wish.

El Shaddai – Michael Card

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

El-Elyon na Adonai,

Age to age You're still the same,

By the power of the name.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

Erkahmka na Adonai,

We will praise and lift You high,

El Shaddai.

Through your love and through the ram,

You saved the son of Abraham;

Through the power of your hand,

Turned the sea into dry land.

To the outcast on her knees,

You were the God who really sees,

And by Your might,

You set Your children free.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

El-Elyon na Adonai,

Age to age You're still the same,

By the power of the name.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

Erkahmka na Adonai,

We will praise and lift You high,

El Shaddai.

Through the years You made it clear,

That the time of Christ was near,

Though the people couldn't see

What Messiah ought to be.

Though Your Word contained the plan,

They just would not understand

Your most awesome work was done

Through the frailty of Your Son.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

El-Elyon na Adonai,

Age to age You're still the same,

By the power of the name.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,

Erkahmka na Adonai,

I will praise you 'till I die,

El Shaddai.

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."

The Sea - Again

Greetings Dear Reader,

I think that we forget sometimes that the great lakes are more like great inland seas.  I have been to all of them at some point in my life except Lake Superior.   Over the weekend I was granted a surprise trip to the shore of Lake Michigan.  The water was too cold for true swimming but just sitting by the vast water was beautiful.

I sat there for hours watching birds, boats, and people.  I was served an excellent shrimp and salad lunch. The conversation was lovely.  I was reminded of the things that I need to do to recharge who I am.  The vast expanse of something that runs to the horizon always causes me to think.

I thought about life a great deal that day and the things I need to day to assure that it is my life I am living.  If I am to follow Christ with all my heart I must remember all the things that make me better at that.  I must work toward the things that draw me to him being more of my life. 

Time by the sea, a gift that I savor today, has spawned some new thinking and I must think it well.  I must discern how to change the things I must and move forward in doing so.  It would be a shame to waste this gift.

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."

Early Morning Prayer

Greetings Dear Reader,

I wonder Dear Reader what you pray about in the morning.  If you do not please do not be offended at the question.  I do.  Every morning I spend some time talking with God about things for which I am thankful, in need of, or about which I am concerned.  I also pray for my family and friends.

I have had people tell me that prayer does not do any good.  My question is “how do you know?”  Often people will reference an incident  where they prayed for something specific and it did not happen the way they wished it to happen.  Prayer never obligates God to do as you ask. 

I value my prayer time in the morning because it allows me to focus on things that are outside of me.  It reminds me that others have needs.  It reminds me to be more aware of the things outside of my life going on in the world.  It reminds me to love others and be kind to them.  It usually puts my day in perspective.  I also pray for you Dear Reader.

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."

A Disappearing Daughter

Greetings Dear Reader,

My Daughter Christmas and I often go shopping together.  We will be walking along talking and enjoying whatever it is we are seeking.  Christmas gets excited about the most interesting things.  We will be at the farmers’ market or walking down the street when every once in a while she disappears. 

We will be walking along.  I will look over to say something and she is just gone.  I retrace my steps to look for her and she is already in the midst of helping someone in need.  She will be fetching something off of a high shelf for a short person.  She will be helping someone carry packages.  She will has twice been caught returning a lost child to its mum.

There is this thing in her that sees needs and rushes to meet them.  She is driven to be kind and compassionate to others.  He spirit thrives on small acts of help and assistance.  I find this one of the very Christ-like things in her.  It is an encouragement, delight, and challenge.

I am challenged when I see this to be more aware of the needs of others.  I am driven to be as aware and to act as she is.  Once again, I find that seeing the good in someone else pushes me to be a better man and to follow Christ more closely. 

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."

At the End of Self

Greetings Dear Reader,

First let me be clear that I am not there.  I have a long way to travel before I see the beginning of the end of my self-absorption.  I want to be selfless but I get in my way.  I know that the more I put this part of me away and give myself to others in good ways the more universal good I can do.

What does it take to get to the end of self?  First I have to daily remind myself that I am not my own.  As my feet hit the floor each morning I have to remember that the day is a gift to me from God.  I have to put that in perspective of what God wishes me to be doing.

I have to treat every interaction as an opportunity to be selfless in some way.  Every conversation must contain my best efforts at showing love and kindness to others.  Every person has needs that I can reach into and meet in some way.

I must also let others do the same for me.  I cannot be selfish even in my selflessness.  I must allow others to be selfless as well.  If I model this then perhaps others will follow suit. 

What gets in the way most of the time is worrying if my needs will be met or if I will get what I want.  There is a difference.  Either way I get in the way of selflessness by trying to get what I want.  The truth is that if I simply do not worry about it and continue to strive for the needs of others then Christ assures me I will have what I need.

If I do not believe that Christ will supply my needs then I will not be as selfless.  So an element of selflessness is faith.  Again faith is required to do something I need to do.  It seems it always comes back to faith.  So getting to the end of self requires faith.  I am OK with that.

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."

Things I Need

Greetings Dear Reader,

We speak of so many things in terms of need versus want.  So often the things we need are more important to us when in fact we do not need them, we want them.  What we want too often takes precedence over what others need as well.

I would consider for a bit the definition of need that works better if we are looking for an accurate representation of need in our culture.  I would submit that in our culture when most people express that they need something they are expressing a discrepancy.  Their “need” is actually a discrepancy between that which exists and that which is desired.  “I need a new video card” actually means a new one is on the market that is better than my currently functioning one.  We are taught to be dissatisfied with what we have and to need a new one.

I wonder how often we squander what we have in resources on things we do not really need.  It seems that if I focus on what I truly need I spend less and waste less.  As we begin our annual household purge I am keenly aware of things I thought I needed that have not been used.  I hope this year as I purge my home I can also purge my mind of the need for things I do not need.

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."

On Gratitude

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have so many things to be thankful for.  This week I am reminded of how deeply blessed and rich I am in the area of food.  I am keenly aware that from a world perspective I live in luxury when it comes to this.  Still there are things that I get to enjoy for which I am even more thankful.

Today I feel so grateful for Georgia peaches, key lime pie, and Chick-fil-A Sandwiches.  I have gotten to enjoy all of these over the last few days and in addition to the blessing that having them is, I am reminded of how much I truly have.  I live in a world where I do not ever need to worry about my next meal. 

It is not wrong to enjoy these things but it is wrong to do so without considering those who are in need of common necessities.  I have students who struggle to provide food for themselves.  If I enjoy my luxuries without doing something to help the needs of others then how can I truly say that I am following Christ?

It is not wrong for me to enjoy these things but I must keep room in my blessings for remembering and caring for the needs of others.  There is no place for me to enjoy without gratitude and understanding of the needs of others.  I do not really see the depth of any blessing from God if I do not see it in light of his overall provision.

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."

Every Relationship Requires Change

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the areas in which we fail as humans is thinking that we will not change for this or that person.  While it is right that who we are should be what people love and accept, we do change for every relationship in which we take part.  Whether it be family, friends, or lovers we change some things in order to accommodate the needs of those people.

If we are honest we know that we do this and yet so often we refuse to see the change required in us to have a viable relationship with Christ.  We would be horrified at someone who wanted all the benefits of a relationship with us without incurring any of the responsibilities.  Yet this is what I do to God when I refuse to change the things in my life that are not healthy or right.

If I do not accept that this, like every relationship requires that something change in me then I am being selfish and self-deceptive.  I cannot put my own wants ahead of the needs of others and expect to be following Christ.  In the same way I cannot put my desires over the things Christ needs of me and believe that I am giving my best to the relationship.

I have seen people walk away from Christ because the Gospel demands that we change things we do not wish to change.  People will decide that it is too hard to forgive, to love, or to accept someone else.  The choice will be made to walk away from the relationship with Christ rather than abandon things we want.

Every relationship requires change.  When Christ asks me to change he is doing it for my own good.  Every choice to avoid this change is a rejection of Christ.  I must embrace these changes if I truly wish to follow.

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."