storm

before i start, some of you may have noticed the large amount of wedding announcements in the last month (2 so far). I'd like to add another: Congratulations to Amanda and Dan on their upcoming December wedding. You are some of the few brave souls who decide on an engagement shorter than 6 months. Kudos, guys!

Another thing: if you haven't heard the new Passion cd (Everything Glorious) -- please go buy it. It's really good. I was very skeptical at first. It's pink. What is good that is pink? However, I have since matured from such views, and it's my new favorite CD, along with my newly aquired appreciation for Hillsong United, and David Crowder Band's BCollision. (Incidentally, if you like banjos, you should buy the aforementioned item.)

Wow. that was a long sentence. Sorry. Onward and upward.

Storm.

I've ben thinking a lot about storms lately. Perhaps this is because there has been one for the last two nights in a row. I can't figure out why I love storms, and yet, when I hear thunder, my heart RACES. It's not like I'm scared of it. I like it. (or do I?) I was driving home as the storm was coming in on Monday night, and I watched it light up the sky from a distance, knowing it was coming, but not here. Last night, I was sitting in my room reading when the thunder started -- a large rolling sound following the brilliant light.

The sound is amazing, and I smile every time I hear it. Somehow, I love these displays of God's power, however they still make my heart race. Maybe it's this: incredible power can destroy me. There's just something about that storm that seems similar to God: he's good and yet he's terrifying. I love him, and yet I fear him. I've been reading through the prophets. Oh yes, God is to be feared. All that love and justice and power and mercy and absolute perfection all rolled into one person.

In one of their songs, Jars of Clay has a lyric: do I want shelter from the rain, or the rain to wash me away?

For me, I love the storm. And maybe a little fear is good....