Genesis

1 - So Wednesday night in the midst of all of the storms I was stuck sitting on a plane in the middle of the msp airfield and as I saw the winds whipping the rain against my window, the captain came on one more time to "update" us that our safety was paramount and we weren't leaving until what appeared to be the worst storm he had seen in all of his years flying had passed. (Yes, great comfort to be stuck in the middle of an open field in a metal container.) When we finally took off there was a band of about 20 minutes when I sincerely placed an urgent prayer that God guide our plane as it rocked through the sky.

And the question running now through my head is what does fearing God feel like in comparision to that sort of fear?

What I've enjoyed about the last sermon series and this one so far is the ability to think of these topics that I've heard my entire life and to "explore" them. It also has helped to have things to ponder over the week. I'm interested to see what the coming weeks will bring. I think it will be interesting to see if there will be more discussion?

This maybe terrible to say...
I was walking down the aisle of Northwestern Bookstore this week and it amazed me the number of books written about the search for God - maybe the reason there isn't that much of a fear is that many are still on a quest to validate that He exists?

Maybe that's a challenge to ponder - or physically commit to - What do we need to help develop our relationship with God and each other? How does being a member of Woodbury Lutheran fit in with that development? (Comment this)

2 - I was affirmed by the sermons allusion to the name we bear, and that we are not perfect but forgiven. How important that is when we are trying to explain to others what makes our daily walk so fruitfull and alive. In times of our life like college many think that we are just acting or that they could never live this perfect life; but with those closest to me I like to share with them how the temptations of the world can eat away at me and how important it is to have support from the body of christ, to depend on someone like God to forgive me and strengthen me. (Comment this)

3 - I think that what we say is who we are. The commandment says, you shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. I am guilty of misusing the Lord's name. when I do, a wave of guilt comes over me. (I believe it is the Holy Spirit cringing at my choice of words.) It is not something that should be taken lightly.

If we misuse the Lord's name and don't try to change our habits, doesn't that say something to who we are? If we take this command lightly, then why not change all the commands to fit society's "tolerance" to changing times?

I think what really does it for me is when I hear my daughter's friends - who are 5 and 6 - get angry and misuse the Lord's name. It's amazing to me that our society thinks it is acceptable to use His name when we are angry - ah, but let's take the pledge away from our public schools because we use "God" in the pledge!!!!! (Comment this)

4 - It does seem like society's trend is to use the whole idea of CHANGE as an easy excuse and it takes one person to either continue the cycle or break it. That's one of the challenges that seem so simple in theory but daunting when you think of the whole of the problem.

Has political correctness also been the culprit of a willingness to be more vocal about our Christian belief in direct contrast with the multitude of others trying to "protect" their right to not believe?

God planted in each of us a heart that knows His Will. At the same time he created Free Will. Was this so that we individually would need to make an effort? (Comment this)

5 - Our free will is temporal only. We are spiritually dead at birth and nothing we do can change that. (Comment this)