of sarah edwards and religious affections

“They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is beloved of that almighty Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on him — that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to be raised up out of the world and caught up into heaven; being assured that he loves her too well to let her remain at a distance from him always. There she is to dwell with him, and to be ravished with his love and delight forever. Therefore, if you present all the world before her, with the richest of its treasures, she disregards it and cares not for it, and is unmindful of any pain or affliction. She has a strange sweetness in her mind, and singular purity in her affections; is most just and conscientious in all her actions; and you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this great Being. She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind; especially after those seasons in which this great God has manifested himself to her mind. She will sometimes go about from place to place, singing sweetly; and seems to be always of joy and pleasure; and no one knows for what. She loves to be alone, and to wander in the fields and on the mountains, and seems to have someone invisible always conversing with her.”
- Jonathan Edwards' on Sarah Edwards

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A dinosaur just walked into my room and wanted to sign on his AIM screen name
I said Heck No you tyrannosaurus Rex, you get your own freaking PC
Then he told me
this
really
sad story.
So I let him use it. 

indie was a brachiosaurus

today
i want to speed travel
on a brachiosaurus -
to an indie city's art district
and play chess
with a homeless man
who tells me of his fortune 500
business,
and how i should invest in stocks.

spontaneous decisions

this is the face my mother is going to give me when she see's my most recent addition 

[nose piercing]

biblical femininity + you

a friend sent me this email, i thought i would share.
+++++

ive actually been thinking about our definitions and perceptions of femininity alot.
I went to an orphanage yesterday run by a woman, Tammy. Something about it seemed peculiar to have her leading and raising these kids by herself. I mean there were interns and other adults, but she basically served as dad and mom and pastor, visionary and the complete gusto behind the entire operation from the very beginning. She is in charge of their spiritual needs, their discipline. Shes basically a single mom for 46 kids, ranging in age from 20 to 2. I dunno. It was incredible to see the Lord at work here. At first I was just feeling out the place and getting a gist of what goes on, and i felt weird but i didn't know what it was. And then it hit me that she didnt fit a mold of "biblical femininity."  And I wondered if she would have been encouraged and supported by our christian reformed culture. I dunno. Still trying to process all of what i saw and experienced yesterday. I see your concerns very clearly: what about missional living, what about loving the poor. Is God just as pleased with 80 dollars on a haircut "serving your husband" or toward feeding and clothing children in uganda.

Well? Whats the deal here? Whats actually more biblically feminine? This butch, seminary graduate, single lady running an orphanage? Or a quiet housewife wearing Ralph Lauren who's sacrifice is nonreturnable modest clothing? Both?

+++++

what do you think?

in a similar challenge, check out this francis chan message.

eighty-six + sparks are flying

yesterday i went running around my neighborhood.
five point seven miles. yes, it surprised me too.
around the four mile mark, i saw a sweet elderly couple
holding hands, it was so sweet.
while passing, i told them these thoughts.
he said, "i've got to... so she doesn't get away from me!"
i told them that was a gift, and that it is rare.
on my home way past them again,
the sweet lady said,
with child-like enthusiasm,
"i hope you have someone to hold hands with..!"

what beauty.

photo courtesy of sigur ros - hoppipolla

last night:: initiation into secret societies

well, i can't tell you, can i?