Reflections

I received some news yesterday. My Aunt, by association not by blood, who played a pivitol role in bringing me to a relationship with Christ, shared the news of her parents passing, both within the last three weeks.

She'll be visiting from Hong Kong in July to witness the dedication of Naomi, her first granddaughter. I hope to catch up with her, and her husband during their time here.

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I'd spent a good portion of my trip with my head in the books. Being on the road -- planes, trains, and automobiles -- allowed me much time to nurture the book worm in me.

Here is a snapshot of where my mind ventured during the four weeks abroad.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I didn't particularly enjoy it -- in terms of plot, characters, and particularly subplot overtones -- though it is good 'can't put me down' light holiday reading. Having been to the Louvre and Paris four years ago meant I could visualise the setting of the story, which was fun.

The Call by OS Guiness. This is a great read. I highly recommend it. Deeply honest, and challenging. The notion of calling is an interesting one. I wanted to quote a few pertinent passages, but I've since lent the book out to Chel.

Ruth. What a woman!!! I aspire to be like her.

Ecclesiastes. I found studying this book beneficial, though I have read it in the past, mostly in passing or in bits and pieces. It's always been a book that's fasinated me. I do recommend reading in it in it's entirity, not necessarily in one sitting, but read in chunks and meditated on, as a whole.

Obadiah. It was fasinating to see the history that shapes this book. The significance of inheritance really stood out, and particularly how that ran parallel to the inheritance we have today. Reading this book fired a stronger desire within me towards the old testament.

Malachi. Faithfulness. It's amazing to see God's love and faithfulness to his promises. The notion of relationships came out strongly in this book, and made me realise that it is a theme that flows through the entirity of the bible. This brought about a greater realisation and appreciation of the signifcance and value found in marriage.

Daniel. I've only read half of Daniel. So far its been a good read. Lots happen, so there has been alot to take in.

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Romans 7:1-6 - An Illustration From Marriage

Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.

So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Ah, I love meditating on scripture. It makes my heart sing. The above passage really hit home one day, can't remember the excat day now, but it was a while ago, maybe six months or thereabouts.

I was reading Romans straight through. The first six chapters set the right tone and context in bringing forth this illustration. Romans is such an awesome book. It's so amazingly rich!

As is Acts, which I read on the weekend, well, actually I only focused on the parts where Peter and Paul give their sermons/talks. Oh and I also read Micah from chapter four onwards, as a verse caught my attention on the CMS letter I received during the week.

I divert.

Either way, when the penny dropped on the above passage, so did the dimension of my perspectives, not only regarding marriage, but more importantly on my relationship with God.