loveisgreaterthan[dot]com

This morning I had a doctors appointment. I just wanted to go in and check up with my family doctor and let him know I’m on a massive weight loss project, and to see if he wanted to see my on a regular rotation during this process to make sure my body was reacting safely. He did… and we’re going to see each other every three months now. Overall though, he was really pleased that I decided not to do the surgery, and that I’ve lost so much weight already.

Afterwards, I came out to my previous place of employment, Grounded Gourmet Coffee in Walbridge, Ohio for a little coffee goodness, and to get some serious reading done. There is something that is soothing to my soul about being in a coffee shop with a good cup of coffee, the smell of fresh ground coffee beans, the warm and inviting atmosphere… it all works so well for me.

I started my book adventure with “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis… below are some quotes that really hit me hard from what I read today:

• Everyone is attracted to bits of Christianity, they want to pick out those bits though, and leave the rest.
  
• If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are to small.”
  
• For many of us the great obstacle to charity lies not in our luxurious living or desire for more money, but in our fear — our fear of insecurity.
  
• Some are tempted to spend more on showy forms of generosity (tipping, hospitality) and less than we ought on those that really need our help.
  
• The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection.
  
• A cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to Church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute.
• There ought to be two distinct kinds of marriage; one governed by the State with rules enforced on all citizens, the other governed by the Church with rules enforced by her on her own members

All the entries about charity, of course begs the question “what else can I be doing, that I’m not due to my own fears and selfishness” to show Christ’s love to others? Honestly, I’m sure there is a lot. This $1.55 cup of coffee I’m drinking right now, granted it’s free refills, but would that have been better spent buying a double cheeseburger for a homeless and starving guy downtown? The $22 I’m about to be charged from GameFly.com so I can play video games on my PS3, is that really something I need to be doing? Heck, do I even really need a PS3? I understand God wants us to be happy and to have some fun things… but I’m wondering if this is the right time of my life to be pursuing such things.

There are certain things I think I can (rightly) justify and would argue that are worthwhile expenses, so long as I’m using them to further the kingdom… things like that Nikon D80 Digital SLR camera I referred to in a previous post about lust, it may be a stretch to some but I honestly believe something like that could be another tool in which to show some of God’s glory through a passion I believe with all of my heart that God has given me. I don’t think any of God’s glory is showing through my PS3.

I like what C.S. Lewis says about not being content as well. This is something that has been wrecking me lately; that I need to work on how comfortable I feel. I don’t want to become complacent in any aspect of my life, I don’t want to be comfortable, I don’t want to take things for granted… nothing is trivial. I’ve got a lot of work to do and the day I start believing I’ve “arrived,” I hope I have a good Christian friend around to pimp slap me.

Finally, the thought on marriage. Now THAT’s interesting. I could be reaching here, but I think Lewis is a bit ahead of his time (and in the wrong country) writing about this. It’s interesting that here in the USA, Christians are absolutely livid with the idea of legalizing gay marriage (or even civil unions.) Lewis’ belief here, that we should recognize different beliefs held by those who do not claim to be Christians and/or part of a Church, line up closely with what I believe. It is not for us (Christians) to judge and/or decide what is right for people of different beliefs. Sure, I think we can love them, and hopefully over time show them they may want to change their ways, but I think it’s high time we start worrying more about the whole “loving your neighbor as yourself” thing (we’ve got a long way to go), than whether or not a man and a man deserve some of the marriage rights we heterosexuals enjoy.

/soapbox off