On Writing

Some people want to avoid writing as much as possible. Adam Grant sums up my thoughts on the subject perfectly. When I was at Tech I avoided classes that involved writing papers, even though I wrote for the school newspaper in high school. Only when I got email twenty-two years ago did I start pecking out my thoughts, then editing and re-writing to develop my random thoughts into more organized insights. These days there are few things I enjoy doing more. I know my writing quality is far below that of others. My actual job and duties at home seem to get in the way of spending time writing. Most of these here blog posts are just cobbled together. I don't even know how to end this paragraph. But writing is good. Ish.

Had a dream that Extraordinary Attorney Woo was on the case trying to find out who killed Bunny on Only Murders in the Building.

Ceil likes Woo so much see watched episode 8 a second time. Angie has a good theory about who killed Bunny.

Watched a cute little Netflix movie tonight. In English for a change. Ceil likes the girl meets prince genre.

If your passion overrides God's purpose, your actions become your downfall

Judges 13:1-7 Clay Smith JFBC
Numbers 6 vow
1. Don't drink alcohol or even grapes
2. Don't be around dead animals/bodies
3. Don't cut your hair

V 17 angel performed great things. V 12 parents wondered about their son's future occupation not whether he would walk with God

Samson continually broke these vows. Spirit did work through Samson, usually feats of great strength

Three compromises made by Samson
1. Samson was dedicated but not devoted to God 14:1. Samson did what was right in his own eyes. God brings about His purpose despite our sinful behavior. God is working but Samson making bad choices, getting the honey from the dead body of the lion he had torn up. Samson met the woman in a vineyard, where he wasn't supposed to be. 81% believe in God lowest ever 25% believe the Bible is God's word and should be followed 1 John 2:15-17 do not love the world. Do not be unequally yoked. Not even if he's a good guy. People don't usually / always change.

2. Samson has authority but no accountability. 3:14 He dismissed other authorities, driven by his own freedom, always alone, never with friends. Nowadays personal autonomy is overriding service to God. We see it in our culture today. This ruined Samson's life. Our job is not to police others. Let people into your life.

3. Samson has human power and strength but no purity. Driven by deceit. Entered into his wedding week. Guys come to celebrate with him, but Samson tries to deceive them with a riddle. 14:12-20. Something only Samson knew. Unsolvable. Samson to bride: "why should I tell you?" Inside Samson was strong on the outside, but weak on the inside.

Our character needs to be the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus is everything we long to be. Jesus knew that what looks like weakness is really great power. We need to depend on the Spirit to fight sin and temptation to compromise

From research studies: nowadays a 14 year old will have experienced as much as what a 24 year old would have experienced back when I got out of college. What used to be the maturity level of an 18 year old now isn't reached until 28.