Today I was sitting at my desk at work crunching numbers on a spreadsheet and listening to a recent chapel broadcast from Cedarville.  The song that was sung for special music was amazing and the chorus just rang in my head over and over again:

Heal the wound, but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar
I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don’t take pride in what I bring
But I’ll build an altar with the rubble that You’ve found me in
And every stone will sing of what You can redeem

Currently Listening The Worship Collection By Jeff Deyo see related

Today as I was reading the headlines on a news website, I saw something that read roughly "Iran's religious conservatives look to solidify power at the polls."  I must admit that at first glance this headline encouraged me.  It wasn't until I began to read the article that I realized how wrong I was.  The "religious conservatives" in Iran are those who adhere strictly to Islam.  The article goes on to call the moderates the "enemy" and suggest that the entire state should be ruled by Islam.

After reading this article I was taken back for a few minutes.  I thought about how oppressive it must be to live under Islamic law, especially for women.  I thought about my support for a "Christian nation" and wondered what it would truly look like.  I wondered if any nation should really be run by a religion.

I don't know that I've totally decided.  I can think that a country ruled by Christian values would include much more forgiveness and less violence than an Islamic state.  At the same time, Christianity should not be something that is forced on people- we can leave that to Islam.  I seriously doubt any "conversion" made under duress. 

For the above mentioned reasons alone, I don't think I would be in support of a Christian governed nation.  I would however be in full support of a nation built on the values and principles of Christianity. 

Perhaps if I had been born 50 years ago I could have experienced this.............

Currently Listening Bleach By Bleach All To You see related

Isaiah 40:8 says "The grass withers, the flower fades,
                            But the word of our God stands forever.”

Currently Listening Our World: Fallen By Flame World View see related

The worthlessness of riches....

Proverbs 23: 4-5  "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."

I had these couple verses highlighted in my Bible and came across them today.  It turns out that God knew that was exactly what I needed to read.  I am in the middle of what us accounts like to call "busy season".  I have worked many hours in the last few months.  I was confronted by my fiancee the other day about the amount of hours I've been working.  I tried to use excuses like "the work's got to be done" and "if I don't work late tonight it will be another night later this week".  I don't think either of these responses got at the heart of the problem. 

See, the problem is that I am a people pleaser and that I am drawn to financial gain.  Neither of these are things I am proud to admit.  My bosses put heavy demands on me, but part of that is because I've allowed their expectations and accompanying praise change my lifestyle.  If I really don't love accounting, why do I continue to find myself at work at 9, 10, or even 11 at night?  It is because I am "wearing myself out to get rich" just like Proverbs advises against. 

A quote I read today says something like: "People often spend the first half of their lives wasting their health for riches and the later half spending these riches trying to buy back their health".