Music of the soul

I attend two small groups. Ok - I FAITHFULLY attend one (Thursday night with my wife - and the leader is my pastor, so I'll get some grief if I don't show), and I also have a Saturday night morning men's group that I try to get to, but it's tough. See - I get up during the week at 5am to leave by 6 for work, and I usually am up 6am on Sundays for church, so I would like one day a week to "sleep in" (yeah - like 'til 7:30am!).

Anywho, in men's group we have just been tracking along with the Big Idea guides. Chatting with Nate (leader) a couple weeks back, he mentioned that he received "Blue Like Jazz" from his wife and we will be diving into that when summer ends. The family was in Barnes and Noble a couple weeks ago, so I thought I'd grab the book and start reading - a little head start. We love that store (and Borders, Office Max and Office Depot. Don't ask...). I picked it up the other day to start reading.

Wow.

This book is just amazing. I realized that just 3 chapters into it. It's written from such a personal point of view, and talks in such an everyman sort of way. If you have not read it, I can't recommend it more. Through the first half of the book, I keep thinking "yeah, that's me" and "yup - been there" and other phrases of personal agreement. I do hope the rest of the book holds me and reaches me like the first chapters have. Right now, I give mad props to chapter 7 (Grace). Don goes into his struggles with the notion of grace. Hey - who doesn't. The concept that you get something for nothing is confusing enough. Now factor in natural guilt and then get a gift based on the guilt? That is too much to handle for Don's mind, and my own. Think of a time someone came to you and gave you something out of the blue (no book pun intended). You have a thought that you now owe them back and they tell you "No - no strings attached". You have this complete feeling of confusion and stammer for words. You attempt to offer some compensation for what you've received, only to be politely refused. Then you inevitably ask "are you sure?", sure the giver is either waiting for the right form of reciprocation, or they are just nuts.

That's the gift of grace. God, in His amazing being, gives us grace because He loves us so. We owe nothing except our love and praise to Him in return.

Part of me still thinks He's nuts.

On the tith....er....seventh-ing level: Kath and I are still honoring. We need to catch up on a little debt to God ("little debt to God" - I crack myself up), but are tracking okay. This is the tough time, and I knew it would be. Kath works in a school, but she is contract, so she only earns when she works, and does not have her pay stretched over 12 months like a school teacher would. We are surviving on just my paycheck. And by surviving, I mean not surviving. Time to really hunker down to pull through these lean months. I really need a new job - closer to home and more pay.

----------------
Now playing: "Dialogue (parts 1 & 2)" by Chicago
via FoxyTunes