"A Long Obedience in the Same Direction"

It seems that "blogging" has fallen by the wayside lately. I just noticed that I forgot to post my Happy New Year wishes to you! So, I just copied the letter I sent to family and friends. I'm not sure who, if anyone, still reads this. But it by some chance you are my friend/family, and I didn't mail you a letter, this was our greeting to you as we closed out 2008 and started looking forward to 2009.
To catch up:
I spoke with Ginger this morning and Sophia is now in round 2 of her second chemo. routine. (this one is a double dose.) I am greatly looking forward to finally seeing them tomorrow. Please, keep praying for this dear family. Only God knows the future outcome of all this and as we wait for it to unfold, it has been a daily reminder for me to remember that this world is not our home - we are only passing through. Life is a day by day walk of faith, with hope in God alone for our future.

Today is a new day! We are trying to get back in the routine of school, I am on a deadline to get bills in the mail today, finish taxes and be ready for church tonight, then pick up Dan at the airport at 11:30 tonight as he returns from Texas. But I want to take a minute and tell you about a new book I'm reading.

I was just given a book that I think I need to read. Christen gave me "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" (subtitled - "Discipleship in an Instant Society") by Eugene Peterson. I am only one chapter into it, and know that this is what I need to focus on at this point in my life. I've been kind of in a rut lately, for lack of a better word. My back has been hurting, I'm behind on many things, there are some spiritual issues in my life that I've been trying to tackle head one. (I know...whine, whine, whine....even as I write these sentences I'm tempted to say to myself..."would you like a little cheese with that wine?" cheesy, I know. : )
Just having the reminder from this author that life is a long journey - filled with ups and downs - obedience as well as disobedience, etc. has given me new hope this week. Mr. Peterson wrote this book 20 some years ago and it was just reprinted. It is based on the Psalms of Ascent - Ps. 120 - 134 (Also the passages that we just finished studying in Beth Moore's Bible Study on the Psalms) Now I always hesitate to share a book before I've read it all - but I've also come to learn that life is fragile and unpredictable. Who knows if I'll even finish this book? I'll share a few quotes that have stirred my thinking today:
"Religion in our time has been captured by the tourist mindset. Religion is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. For some it is a weekly jaunt to church; for others, occasional visits to special services....The Christian life cannot mature under such conditions and in such ways."
"Frederick Nietzsche, who saw this area of spiritual truth at least with great clarity, wrote, 'The essential thing 'in heaven and earth' is....that there should be long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living." It is this "long obedience in the same direction" which the mood of the world does so much to discourage." p. 17
"Repentance is not an emotion. It is not feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your own life and be your own god; it is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had, or could get, the strength, education and training to make it on your own; it is deciding that you have been told a pack of lies about yourself and your neighbors and your world. And it is deciding that God in Jesus Christ is telling you the truth. Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing the same old things, thinking the same old thoughts. Repentance is a decision to follow Jesus Christ and become his pilgrim in the path of peace." p. 29-30

Two passages from Hebrews will be in my thoughts today:
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..." Heb. 6:19a
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Heb. 12:1-3

I'm praying for you on your journey!