http://www.christiancentury.org/

• Top Notes: Crisp White Cotton, Clean Linen, Green Pear, Juicy Tangerine
• Mid Notes: Lily of the Valley, Fresh Orange Blossom, Blue Freesia, White Cotton Blossom, Dewy Jasmine
• Dry Notes: Ocean Musk, Soft Sandalwood, Vanilla Bean

This is the scent profile of my favorite perfume. I'm putting it here for safe keeping.

1 Corinthians 3

New International Version (NIV)

The Church and Its Leaders

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

My friend Rob Floyd wrote this and I am sharing it on this blog today so I can find it when I need it. His style of writing is so smooth and concise and deep. I think this is beautifully written and so thoughtful. Enjoy~

I'm often amazed at what we teach in our churches on the topics of creation and eschatology. We become so dogmatic in our approach that we, in effect, blind those over whom we have influence and limit their ability to think and understand or even interact with the world around them.

But far worse is the realization that a dogmatic approach to these topics diminishes ones understanding of the intent of the creation story in the first place. The creation story drives to a specific purpose in its communication - and arguing against science is not it. Neither is it about defending Biblical 'science' - far from it. The core message of the creation story is that the sovereign God of the universe created us so that we could know Him and that He could know us. Kind of His kind.

Every action that occurs after Genesis can be summed up with the understanding that the object of God's affection consistently betrays and rejects Him and, in response, He perpetually finds a way to restore them to Himself. In essence that is the message of John 3:16 - for God so loved us that He provided a way (His Son) that we could be restored.

We waste precious time and energy fomenting arguments around things that amount to 'how many angels can dance on the head of a pin' where creationism is concerned. We miss the opportunity to establish a solid foundation of the heart of the message and instead create entire systems of thought that are not only beside the point but are usually grounded in willful disregard for intelligent discussion and understanding. Even worse we miss what is probably really happening in that moment and squander it in meaningless debate.

On Mars hill Paul engaged in debate with the intelligentsia of his time and shortly afterward, in 1 Corinthians 2, he penned these words: ...When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

I Then Shall Live

I then shall live as one who's been forgiven. 
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid. 
I know my name is clear before my Father; 
I am His child and I am not afraid. 
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother; 
The law of love I gladly will obey. 

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion. 
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too. 
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges; 
I'll dare to see another's point of view. 
And when relationships demand commitment, 
Then I'll be there to care and follow through. 

Your Kingdom come around and through and in me; 
Your power and glory, let them shine through me. 
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor, 
And may Your living Kingdom come in me. 
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor, 
And may You feed a hungry world through me. 

Amen, Amen, Amen

-Gloria Gaither

Wright Night

Last night my Mom, my husband and I drove to Alexandria, Indiana to Gaither family Resources for a Wright Night Concert. Woody & Vonnie Wright have been hosting these events monthly and every event has a different theme. In the back of the building where the shop and cafe are is a banquet room that is perfect for these intimate gatherings and are set up dinner theater style.

Last night they featured The Gaither Trio and all of the music and the stories they brought were so beautifully and lovingly presented. It was a very special evening and I do believe everyone there laughed and cried, the hallmark of a Woody Wright presentation. Woody, who obviously knows what he's doing, had his friend Mike Owens play the piano while everyone sang along to a medley of the most beloved Gaither choruses which are without compare. And I thought we all sounded pretty good, it was obvious everyone knew all of the words and there was a sweet spirit in the room.

And, to make it all the more wonderful, Mary Ann Gaither Addison was there and was invited to the stage to tell some stories and she even sang of a couple of songs with Woody and Vonnie, which was so special. Woody lovingly prepared a touching video presentation which he shared throughout the evening as well. I picked up a copy of Woody's cd Bluegrass Gospel Favorites which is a cd of bluegrass renditions of Gaither songs, so good!

Needless to say, we had a wonderful time and will remember it always. I have to say, the pot roast they served last night was seriously delicious, the room was full of happy people, God's love and sweet music, like the sign says, Welcome to Alexandria!