tan time think time.

well it might still be in the 50's in the mornings, but the sun has finally decided to make a semi-consistent appearance in the great pacific northwest. i had last friday off, so katy and i decided to catch some of the first rays of the season from her porch.

while we laid there soaking up the sun, we talked about her baby popcorn and my internship, relationships and fellowship, hearts, sin and its consequences. we talked about how we bristle at cliche christian phrases because so often they are said in such a trite, off-handed way. tossed around in a manner that almost disregards the magnitude of the sacrifice that gives them validity and truth. "don't be afraid, God is with you." true, God is with us (deut. 31:6). true, believing that and knowing how deeply it is true can and does take away fear. but to ignore that there is fear in the first place is to minimalize the good news of the gospel. it was a gloriously scandalous sacrifice that made that possible; it's only when we realize what we are rescued from that we can understand the depth of love that it took. "the Lord has a plan for you." true, the Lord is sovereign and knows exactly the path that each of us will take. true, this is a truth to rest in, especially in an unpredictable world. but to ignore the fact that we have been given skills and abilities to seek the Lord and make decisions would be irresponsible and at times even lazy. furthermore, to ignore or excuse sin, hurt, and heartache with those few words would be a shame. Jesus who hung on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins is the reason that we can rest in those words, because that sacrifice shows us the depth of love of our Heavenly Father who is purposeful, good, and sovereign over our lives.

it was a good thing for me to think about, why i bristle at those kinds of cliche things. it opened my eyes to my own pride. because even as i write out what i think about them, i know that i am clueless to even be able to comprehend their implications, which are rooted in beautiful, simple, biblical truth. i bristle when they're tossed around because i feel like it diminishes the sacrifice that makes them worth anything. in all reality, sometimes they are said in a way that is completely genuine, as i have found myself doing on occasion. so perhaps i'm actually being totally arrogant in my assessment of them. i'm thinking about taking a class through my church on how to counsel people with the truth of the gospel. not in any kind of formal counseling way, but just to be able to speak the truth of the gospel to people in a way that is tangible and makes a difference, rather than repeating a phrase to them that, while it my be very true and very valuable, is hard to apply in its abstract nature.

these are the kinds of things that katy and i talk about while tanning. i'm thankful for a friend like that.

two hours later, on our way to run errands, we found out the pool was open. bummer. next time we know better than to park it on the concrete!

i also baked up some cinnamon rolls for community group, homemade from scratch. it's a rare occasion that i go all out and make them, because they take some time and effort. but cg is worth it :)

yum yum yum.
that's all for now.

love,
tracey