countdown begins

How do I love warm weather? Let me count the ways. But seriously, it's been marvelous this past week. Particularly good for rather uneventful weeks. The past few weekends have been really nice for relaxing and such. Last weekend, I got to spend the better part of Saturday with two of my favorite people, Noelle and Stef. Studied in studio while Noelle worked, went to Figo for dinner (so good), and watched the new Pride and Prejudice. Good stuff. Then this weekend was filled with some homework, a few baseball games, some soccer, and putting together a puzzle with friends. Just lovely. Two great weekends. Today the weather was so nice there was no way I was staying inside.

I'm reading through James now. I like the book of James a lot. I remember way back in my senior year of high school when I gave a talk about James (more specifically about taming the tongue). I told the youth group that the book could have very easily been addressed to me. It's funny how true that still rings. Yet it's for completely different reasons now. Nowadays I'm more struck by James's belief in the power of prayer and his idea of true salvation.

Oh, and there's something I was thinking about today that I want some feedback on. So I've talked before about how I don't always get anything out of communion. Today I felt some of the fiery darts. Somewhere deep in my mind, there is this thought during communion that God is not really loving. It mostly deals with the presence of evil. I start thinking that God is not loving because He allowed for the presence of evil and then was forced to give Jesus as a sacrifice. As though He either screwed up and had to make up for it or he allowed evil so that he could later come and seem like the good guy. Neither of which is very comforting at any time particularly during communion. How do you think about this? How do you settle the presence of evil in your mind? Or what do you see as God's motive in sending Jesus into the world? Believe you me, I have a head full of good doctrine, but there is most assuredly a difference between what you have been told to be true over and over and over and what really rings true in your heart and mind.

Alas, I can't end on such a seemingly dark note. Life really is good right now. Some deep and heavy thoughts but mixed amongst good times and wonderful weather. One more week and I'll be happily relaxing in the fabulous city of Decatur for Spring Break. No pictures for now. Been really lazy about the camera of late.

Happy Monday!