Blog

Symbols are used to remind us of ideas. When we see a Swoosh, certain things come to mind. When we see the Golden Arches, certain things come to mind. Symbols were used before the days of mass-marketing. For many centuries, the cross, the anchor and the fish have been used as reminders of Christianity. That’s not wrong but the symbols the Lord gave us are known as “ordinances,” they are His prescribed memorials.

Remember? I know I’ve brought this up before but that statement that “words will never hurt me,” is so wrong. Words are from the heart, so words have meaning. Words carry a certain weight depending on who they come from. Generally, the closer we are in a relationship, the more the words weigh. If they are words of blessing from someone close, they really bless!

Some of you will recognize that phrase as the title of an essay written by C.S. Lewis. If you have never had the privilege of reading it, take an hour at some point in your day to stop and meditate on this classic piece of writing. You might not grasp all the concepts, but you will be better informed for having tried, and if you apply what he wrote, you’ll be becoming a better person and a better friend. Both in and out of the church, people have recognized that character is not given at birth, it is formed by our life choices.

Some people love surprises. I’m not one of them. When I’m going to get a snack and I ask Diane if she wants anything, sometimes she’ll say, “Surprise me.” I don’t say that. It’s not that I’m never surprised. I’m surprised quite often. I think I know how things are going to be and then they go another direction and I’m surprised. I like predictable better than surprises but that doesn’t mean my life is predictable.

That’s the title of a book by J.B. Phillips. In the introduction he wrote, “Many men and women are living, often with inner dissatisfaction, without any faith in God at all. This is not because they are particularly wicked or selfish or, as the old-fashioned would say, “godless,” but because they have not found with their adult minds a God big enough to “account for” life.