11.14.2005

Finally

It's going to take all day for it to warm up into the low 70s today, and then once it cools off, it looks like it just won't warm up that much again.

It's about time; I've been waiting months for autumn, and winter is one of my favorite seasons. After all, it's far easier to warm up when you're cold than it is to cool off when you're hot.

In the meantime, 9 days from today is my 28th birthday. Friday night I'm going out with friends for dinner; we're calling it my birthday party. Some have said it's pathetic that I'm throwing my own party, but I don't remember ever having a birthday party. Now that John and I have friends we enjoy hanging out with, people we LOOK for reasons to spend time together, I'm excited by the prospect of celebrating each other's birthdays.

I need to go; the cat's nearly drunk the fish dry again, and I have to get ready for a busy day of subbing.

11.11.2005

Tidbits and Bytes

There's a new blog I'm trying to keep up with.

Full disclosure: It's my husband's. I don't understand most of the nitpicky details, but it's his, so I follow it. ;)

11.04.2005

Musical Musings "Creed" Third Day/Rich Mullins

Artist: Third Day
Album: Offerings II: All I Have to Give
Track: Creed

I believe in God the Father
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
He was crucified and dead and buried

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe that He who suffered was crucified, buried, and dead
He descended into hell and on the third day, rose again
He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God's mighty right hand
I believe that He's returning
To judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe it, I believe it
I believe it
I believe it, I believe it

I believe in God the Father
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord
I believe in the Holy Spirit
One Holy Church
The communion of Saints
The forgiveness of sin
I believe in the resurrection
I believe in a life that never ends

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
I did not make it, no it is making me
I said I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe it, I believe
I believe it, I believe
I believe it, I believe it
I believe it, I believe it
I believe it, I believe it
I believe it


OK, to be fair, this one is over more than just a song, because the song is lifted from the Apostles' Creed, which dates from approximately 150AD, 50 years after the New Testament was finished. The word catholic refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but rather to the Body of believers that is the single, universal church, seperate from denominational divisions.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.


I sat here this morning, listening to music, and I tripped across this one in my playlist, and wanted to listen to it again. I've listened to it before, I love this song, but there was something in it this morning. It laid me open, laid me bare.

Before you ask why, read the creed, think about what it says. Think about the truth at the heart of it. If you're a believer, stop and think about what this creed states about our faith. Can you sing along with Rich Mullins and Third Day as they do? Do you understand that this is the Truth, the Living Word, spoken to us, to make us, and no man could have made it up if they tried?

I recently read Lee Strobel's The Case For Christ. I was a believer before I read it, but I walked away from the experience amazed at evidence I'd forgotten or never considered. In the book, Strobel (or more accurately, his interviewees) points out the reasons why the Bible is trustworthy, why we can have confidence not only in the Historical Jesus, but in his claim to be the Living God, the Risen Christ. If you have not yet, you should read this book.

So, I ask myself; Do I believe in God the Father? Do I believe He made Heaven and Earth? Do I believe in Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Savior, Redeemer, and Judge? Do I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Breath of God? Do I believe that Jesus had a virgin birth from a fallible, human mother? Do I believe that He walked the earth, ministered to the lost, healed the sick, raised the dead? Do I believe that He was innocent, but bore the weight of my failures on the cross, where He died, even as He fulfilled prophecies written centuries before his birth? Do I believe that He was raised again, bearing the keys to hell and death and with the power that overcame both? Do I believe that, after appearances to over 500 witnesses some of whom touched Him, He ascended into Heaven? Do I believe that He will return again someday, and at His return, He will judge everyone, living or dead, including the believers? Do I believe He is who He claimed to be? Do I believe that this is the very Truth of God, sent to earth, sent into time to redeem us to Him?

If you've concluded that I do, you're right. The more important question though, is this: Do you?