A Challenged Train of Thought

There is this fantastic ruler known as God that we've been given the privilege to call our very own Father. He created us, in fact not only did he create us but he also created everything there has ever been and ever will be. He's a master artist. Imagine Da Vinci or Michelangelo, Beethoven or Mozart, and then multiply their genius and skill by the largest number you can think of and this still won't even come close to touching on the skill, genius and depth of the One who created the masterpiece that we live in and take part in. That's the God we serve, the God we GET to call our Father. The Father who, imagine this, sent His one and only son to die so that our broken relationship could be mended. No earthly father who truly loved his son would ever let his son willingly die for something; he'd rather give his life so that his son could live. But Jesus Christ offered and God granted His permission, knowing it was Him and only Him who could fill this role. This is the God we serve, the God who calls us His children, who wants to be in a relationship with us, to be our best friends.
Now here's the thing I've been challenged with lately. Why after all this grace, mercy, love, blessings, well let's face it the list could go on forever, after all this why do we find it acceptable to live a mediocre, comfortable, luke-warm, average, non-radical, half hearted life and relationship with God? How can we do this? Why aren't we so thankful for the blessings and grace he's shown us that we are completely on fire with passion for Him? The goal of our life is to become more like Christ, to be filled with His love and glory to the point where people will look at us and not see Clark, or so-and-so, but Jesus Christ. I want to live consumed by this love, this light, and this truth. I want to be a beacon of love, light and truth in this dark, depraved and wicked world. A world consumed with taking care of #1, getting what’s mine, self-centeredness. I want to be so in love with Jesus that I no longer care what other people think about me. I'd be totally loving and transparent with every person I meet, so much so that after meeting me they'd be so shaken that they'd ask why I'm so different, and that they question the life they're living and the things they've put their faith and trust in. I want to become a fool in the eyes of this world, a fool for Christ. This is all I can offer Him for the grace He's poured upon this sin filled sorry excuse for human being. I fail at this everyday, but the great thing about being a Christ follower is that our lives are second chances, so I will keep on trying. This is how I want to change, this is how I want to live my life, and serve my God.
In 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 it says, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then , no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”
In 1 Corinthians 4:10 it says, “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!”
The man that carried a big stick, Theodore Roosevelt once said:
“It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena … who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

Gregg Levoy said:
“Jesus promised those who would follow him only three things … that they would be absurdly happy, entirely fearless, and always in trouble.”
Herman Melville says:
“He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the test of greatness.”
Helen Keller stated:
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

Late Night Poetical Fires

Midnight approaches, and five tightly bundled shadows collect the necessities: notebooks, wood, and their witts. They set off down the dark road, breathing in the freezing air, and chatting away, with the crystal clear skies and gloriously bright moon and stars lighting there way. Upon reaching the frozen pond, one started to prepare a fire, missing one handy material: paper. A few blank sheets were torn from notebooks, and went up in futile attempt at starting the dense wood. Another ran back for blankets and paper, the others gave up on the fire and munched some food waiting. The frustrated boyscout's mind kept turning till it laid eyes on the leaves. "These are dead, these are dry. They should burn." A few handfulls were snatche up and taken to the small amount of embers left from the last futile attempt. A couple crumpled leaves were gently place over the embers and a gentle breath blew life into the embers. They glowed bright, and after a few more breathes ignited into flame catching the leaves. More and more leaves were slowly added, more breath blew in providing much needed oxygene. The flames grew brighter as they devoured dead leaves and licked their way around kindling. Slowly but surely the wood caught flame and sustainted the flame on their own. Skills and ingenuity were the key and bright flaming success was the result. Five shadows gathered round the meager flames that were trying to ward off the icy claws of the cold, and illuminated faces looked up into the wide open sky, and the shadows began to share their poetical works. Thoughts they've put down on paper, graceful stanzas flowing from within. Thoughts of life, love, pain, and faith were shared. Then they just sat and stared. Stared at the fire, at the moon and the stars, the frozen pond, and the depths of their mind. Finally the fire was scattered, dirt was kicked upon the glowing coals, and the shadows melded into the dark, shivvering their way home.