Ya dig

"I feel that art has something to do with the achievement of stillness in the midst of chaos. A stillness which characterizes prayer, too, and the eye of the storm. I think that art has something to do with an arrest of attention in the midst of distraction." - Saul Bellow

Hey so, I painted a plate.. based off of one of L&S's swag I tried to do my own.  It's being donated to the "Cambodia Silent Auction and Dinner" fundraiser for the youth missions trip to Cambodia as well as my coy fish plate.

hmm.. so news has it that the leader of Al Qaeda: Osama Bin Laden has just been killed by U.S militants. Crowds cheering, chanting, waving flags of patriotism in the air to represent the freedom and the strength of the United States of America. Yea it was a fight of good vs. evil, but to what extent do we tell ourselves "sheesh its a good thing im not as bad as him! he deserved it!" At first I found myself saying that same sentance, but then stopping and realizing what i had previously heard in todays sermon regarding this kind of situation. 

In Matthew 5:43 it says “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Also, in John 8:1-11 it tells a story about a woman caught in the act of adultery. As her accusers bring her before Jesus trying to trap him into saying something off or against the law of Moses. His response was, and even to this day and in this situation, life changing. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

As I look back at these two sections in the bible i realize that my comment about "at least i wasnt as bad as Osama" seems foolish. "For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. No i haven't murdered anyone, but what about adultery? Coveting? Slander? I got off my high horse to see that , yes the fight of good vs evil is prevailing and yes the bad guys are losing, but how will i respond to myself? Because i wasnt as bad as him, im set in heaven? im rambling and i may get in some trouble, but respond with your ideas and thoughts. im open!

Thanks..

Tanner