A latte with a side of ... Bad Theology

This morning after hitting the gym before work, I drove through Starbucks to pick up a pumpkin spice latte. (So basically, the latte and my workout balanced each other out!) Each Starbucks cup has an author or quote from someone in the media. Here was today's:

The Way I See It #58
I have faith. Faith in our wondrous capacity for hope and good, love and trust, healing and forgiveness. Faith in the blessing of our infinite ability to wonder, question, pray, feel, think and learn. I have faith. Faith in the infinite possibilities of the human spirit.
-James Brown, Emmy-winning sportscaster and co-host of FOX NFL Sunday.

The problem with this statement is that there is no good in us apart from Christ. None! God imparted righteousness to us at the cross when Jesus took our sins as his own. Therefore, our faith should not lie in our capabilities, knowledge or the "human spirit," but the blood that was shed for us and the redemption we receive as a result.

It says in Proverbs "there is a way that seems right to a man but at the end of it is the way of death and destruction." Are we as Christians listening to the world's wisdom or way of thinking instead of relying on scriptures? Wake up each day with His glory and His renown on your mind and lips and you will see more and more of yourself die. And there's so much freedom in dying to self!

"So I say to you, live by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature ... But if you are living by the Spirit, you are no longer under law." Gal 6:16-18

"Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

"God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything." 1 John 3:20

A Vagabond Song

When my mom saw the poem I posted last time, she searched around to find this one. My brothers and I memorized it when we were in elementary school ... and I still remember the rhythm in which I recited it... it paints a great picture of Autumn.

'A Vagabond Song' -Bliss Carman
There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood-
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maple can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.

Autumn Fires...

"Autumn Fires" Robert Louis Stevenson
In the other gardens

And all up the vale,

From the autumn bonfires

See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over

And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes,

The grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall!

Overheard at the BGCT...

...

1. "I just got this in my spam folder, 'John Edwards just admits to fathering Clay Aiken's baby!' " Debbie Puett.

2. "Stephanie, I have been trying to find a picture to represent 'True Love Waits' for the Power Point slide, but we can't find any archived. Can I ... ya know ... take a picture of you with your True Love Waits ring. You could be posing, looking at your ring. Maybe I could get a picture of you or Doug signing a comittment card." (Yes, I have one from back in the day. And yes, I'm the office virgin.*) Again, Debbie Puett.

Both were good chuckles.

*And not ashamed to say so!