It takes 30 minutes longer to fly from Detroit to Phoenix than it will take to fly from here to Detroit tomorrow.
I tried to check in online this morning but that didn't work so well. When I got to the screen where I choose my seat it showed one seat available...in the last row of the plane. There were others up front but those were premium seats for an extra $29, a price I'm very willing to pay for a 4-hour flight. Except they don't allow you to do that online. So I'll be at the airport really, really early for that 6 a.m. flight so I can get a decent seat.
I'm taking reading with me. I always do, but this is the first time I've taken a shop manual along. I'm going to read up on the mechanicals of a '66 Rambler American so I'm ready to go to work when I get home.
I also ordered a new book for my Kindle. I don't remember why I put "The Mark Inside" on my wish list several months ago but I must have thought it would be a pretty good read. I'll let you know.
The lily pond is topped off, the rose fence reinforced against those pesky wabbits, and the ailing Palo Verde tree given an extra dose of H2O. I think I'm ready to be gone.
We're about 10 days into the MLB season and I'm still following the Diamondbacks. I'm beginning to learn the players' names and positions and which are the power hitters. Their third baseman is Ryan Roberts. We have a Ryann Roberts at Pathway who, coincidentally, played semi-pro ball until he blew out his shoulder. And the shortstop is John McDonald. Alas, he's an "a" short of perfection.
Christianity is correctly called a faith. Its essential truths reside outside the parameters of empirical knowledge; they cannot be tested and verified through the scientific method. We believe them to be true.
Note: the Greek noun faith is part of the same word group as the verb believe (pistis and pisteuo respectively).
This is why Christ said that those who come to him must come with the faith of a child. Children accept what they're told because they trust (pisteuo) the one speaking.
But there's a difference between childlike and childish. Christianity is not foolish, it is not a "check your brain at the door" faith. It does not shy away from the hard questions or pretend that the struggles aren't both real and very, very difficult. That's why Job, who suffered tremendously in every area of his life did not hesitate to ask God, "Why?!" Or why Habakkuk asked, "Why aren't you doing anything, Lord?" when he saw injustice and cruelty everywhere. Both men were given answers; not necessarily easy answers, but answers.
Those answers are there in the Bible, for those willing to do the work.
Christianity is not best represented by the simplistic slogans and platitudes that make it onto posters and bumper stickers. Frankly, I find those embarrassing. The Christian faith (pistis) is epitomized by the legions of believers (pisteuo) who ask the questions, do their homework, and trust (pisteuo) the One who gives us the answers. Those answers aren't always what I want to hear, but they are truth. And the truth sets me free.
Tomorrow night from Grand Rapids? If you don't hear from me I'm busy enjoying the Norders' company, just about the greatest place to crash on planet earth.
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