A Lesson on Sin Inspired by Coffee

Why did I choose to drink the regular coffee for dinner? One can only speculate what was going on in my mind when I made the actual choice. Even I am not completely sure what I was thinking. I suppose my line of reasoning went something like this: “This is what John made and I really want coffee with our breakfast for dinner meal. Maybe if I just have one cup it will be ok. Maybe the caffeine won’t bother me this time.” So basically, I want it and maybe the normal consequences will somehow bypass me.

Hold up.

Isn’t that our justification for sin most times? “I want it. There’s no “good” reason why I shouldn’t have it. Besides, I’m sure any consequences won’t be that bad. There probably won’t be any at all.” Uh, yeah. That’s not really logical is it? All of our actions have consequences and every sin has a consequence that will catch up with us in one way or another.

So back to my coffee story. I drank it, despite my better judgment. And as I lay awake all night because of the caffeine that I was sure would have no effect on me this time, I pondered these thoughts about sin. I pondered Paul’s words about doing the things I don’t want to do, and not doing the things I should. I asked myself again and again why I chose to drink it knowing what it might do to me. And I could give myself no good answer.

Sin is like that. We choose it, again and again, with no good reason to offer for why. We are sinners. That’s why I’m so thankful for Jesus and His Spirit in us to help us make the right choice. Jesus, next time help me choose decaf or none at all!

Thoughts on Intelligence

The Elegance of the Hedgehog
by Muriel Barbery


I will admit it took me almost half the book before I was convinced that I could really comprehend and enjoy what I was reading, but it did lend to some rather complex thoughts. I can't say I really recommend this book but it will teach you some new vocabulary and make you think twice about the world around you.

I have some thoughts on one thought from the book on p166-167.
"I am going to say something really banal, but intelligence, in itself, is neither valuable nor interesting. Very intelligent people have devoted their lives to the question of the sex of angels, for example. But many intelligent people have a sort of bug: they think intelligence is an end in itself. They have one idea in mind: to be intelligent, which is really stupid. And when intelligence takes itself for its own goal, it operates very strangely: the proof that it exists is not to be found in the ingenuity or simplicity of what it produces, but in how obscurely it is expressed."

I found this to be excessively true and quite interesting. I think the human mind is fascinating and we are obviously creatures made to create and explore and acquire knowledge. I think what she describes here is maybe the difference between intelligence and wisdom. Anyone can be intelligent, know alot about something. But it takes someone wise to know how to apply it so it will have the most impact.

I was thinking about space travel and and the exploration of the universe. I can see both sides of the coin. We are born to explore and what more uncharted territory is there than space. I can see how this exploration has benefited us as a society. And yet, how many billions of dollars are spent on this exploration? Enough to feed the world I'm sure. It just seems a little unbalanced. I'm not sure what we are racing towards. It's like we have to keep up with the Jones's because if we don't then...I'm not sure? We get taken over and the country with the biggest guns wins? And this is supposed to convince me that we are intelligent beings capable on our own of doing good?

But I digress. So in conclusion I would just like to say that intelligence is a good thing. But please, don't just flaunt your intelligence as a badge. Do something with it to prove that you deserve it.

I am

I am a writer.

No, I have not published a book. No, I don’t have a column in the local paper. No, I don’t write articles for a magazine. However, I do write. Granted, not as often as I would like, but still, I write. I miss it when I am away too long. The words and thoughts can well up in me until I feel I will burst and can’t get them out fast enough on the page.

I am an artist.

I paint with the vernacular. I am enthralled and delighted by the challenge of taking a thought or idea and expressing it with the brush strokes of the pen (or in my case, the keyboard). My “art” can be simple or complex. It can be realism or impressionism. It can be whimsical, it can be serious. But above all it is my canvas to create as I see fit. There is always something intimidating about staring at a blank page. And then one word after another appears until I am amazed by what’s been brought to life.

I am a reader.

I read for pleasure. I read to learn. I read to think and ponder. Reading is my mental trip to the art museum. There are so many different galleries and types of artwork and they each have their own style and genre. Some works I can pass right by without a second glance and others make me take notice. As I gain inspiration from others “art” it makes me want to continue creating my own.