Days 199-201 - Love begets love

Had an opportunity today to bring a friend to an appt. in Wauwatosa. She showed her love back with this exciting lunch:

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in Wauwatosa, WI presented this exciting dining experience. Roasted Beet Salad with goat cheese, balsamic dressing and garnished with greens was a treat. The entrée is a Crab tower surrounded with succulent chunks of mango and avocado. Pretty too isn’t it!

I keep asking who am I to find offense with a few printed words. Is the meaning what they seem and if so should I toss this book (The PAPA Prayer) in the trash? I have to admit that although I find the concept of the four steps of this book spiritually based in that they so similarly line up with the concepts presented in The Lord’s Prayer , I do not believe I would pass it on to another person – in part because of the words at the bottom of page 119 and in the middle of page 120 introducing the next chapter and ‘step’ of what Crabb calls the PAPA prayer. But there it is in big letters – purge yourselves of anything that blocks your relationship with God. The author’s words – and order of words. Chapter 16, ironically explains somewhat that NO ONE CAN PURGE ANYTHING FROM THEMSELVES. Perhaps the author was desperate to spell PAPA with his prayer plan, I don’t know, but he correctly states that recognizing who we are talking to makes us feel “impotent and humbled” and “we realize we have no power”… and that our part is to be willing to “recognize and confess the obstacles” between ourselves and God.


Once again I feel like yelling, finally! - It’s when he says ‘come to God to be purged of sin’

Then what comes next in Chapter 17 makes me want to skim the rest…As he completes the sentence - be purged of sin we can “release what’s holy” –

He seems to be referring back to an earlier comment he made that the very shekinah glory of God rests within our center. Since that unusual comment is not clarified, one can only assume that he means since we are created in the image of God, the stamp of our designer is on our soul. With that I agree, but only to the point that it causes us to seek that which is holy. We cannot possibly find anything within us that is holy (all our righteousness are as filthy rags, there is not one righteous, no not one).

I’m starting to feel like Winnie the Pooh here – saying “Oh, bother” every few sentences.

Like Brad shows in the previous post, God first gives that holy desire – the want to. To obey, to desire His character and will as a life-constant. Only God can do that, and finally Crabb gets it right (or perhaps I should say finally makes it clear) saying if we are trying on our own to work at being holy “we might as well quit now.” Instead he encourages an application of Leviticus 11:44 –  to consecrate ourselves to the Lord.

So what would that mean? Well, wanting more to see where I am wrong than my neighbor. Being aware or sensitive to God’s law and character. Living intentionally. Purposely setting ourselves apart to a relationship with God first, and then others needs before our own. It’s a decision to LET God work in and through me, following the work of Christ as He said, “Not my will, but thine.”

Back home again - Lime Marinated Chicken and Sweet Peppers brightened up the lunch table, and

A Blueberry Waffle was just the right touch for a light evening meal.