Bloodfest: light v dark

"You are the light of the world."

+ + Matthew 5:14a + +

Light has no opposite.

When light and dark are in contrast to each other, dark loses. It's really weird when you think about it. If you go into a dark room, it is dark because the light has been blocked out, maybe with walls, doors, or blinds and curtains. Night is really just the earth blocking the sun. Shadows are merely an object eclipsing a light source.

So what is darkness?  Simply it's the absence of light. 

In thinking about it there are a few things I can think of that follow this pattern. Cold is not the opposite of hot, it is absence of it. Science teaches us that when energy is introduced to an object it's particles move faster thus it heats up. So cold is just a lack of heat. The principle is that there are some things that do not have opposites, instead what we think of as opposite is really just one thing in greater or lesser levels. (FYI: I think this conversation is at some level relevant with good and evil.)

Have you ever played hide and go seek in a dark barnyard or the woods? If you have I'm sure you've sat in a shadow and watched barely breathing as a person walks inches from where you're hiding. They couldn't see you because you were not in the light, they were. I've hid in places at night where during the day, I'd be be easily seen. 

There are some interesting parallels between this and what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount when he says we are the light of the world.

• first it means that the darkness cannot stand up to the light. 
  
• second, it means that darkness is really just an absence of the light. 
  
• it also means that the issue with defeating darkness is an issue of shining the light into the darkness.
  
• we like it in the darkness because we can hide there.
  

sermon on the mount set to melody

Ever try singing it? I'll admit that I have only tried it once...man, it took a long time. But, it was definitely a great "immersion practice" we are all getting the hang of right now.
The video here is a recording of the song called "Your Love is Strong" performed and written Jon Foreman, lead singer of Switchfoot. In the past 9 months, he has released 4 solo EPs, which I highly recommend - since we're on the topic.
Back on the topic track here, this song is his own version"Our Family Prayer" & other parts of the Sermon set to beautiful melody.
CHALSIPADAJEDA - maybe use it in addition to your daily immersion in the text. Go find 99 cents in the cupholders of your car and hit up iTunes. much love.

i can't sing and can't play a guitar

the reading has made me think about becoming a worship pastor. for years i thought that I could never be a worship pastor for two reasons: 1.) I can't sing 2.) I don't play an instrument.

but after the reading that I have done in the packet, i've begun to think, maybe the people who limit a worship pastor to simply a person who can play an instrument and sing are the people who have a poor mindset. worship is so much more than just musical elements (not to say they're not important).

i think we should have worship pastors who can't sing nor play instruments