Once again, I’ve enlisted the aid of a “guest blogger” for tonight when I can’t think of anything original that’s worthwhile. It’s from Frederick Buechner about the Beatitudes of Jesus from Matthew 5:1-12.

“IF WE DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW but were asked to guess the kind of people Jesus would pick out for special commendation, we might be tempted to guess one sort or another of spiritual hero—men and women of impeccable credentials morally, spiritually, humanly, and every which way. If so, we would be wrong. Maybe those aren’t the ones he picked out because he felt they didn’t need the shot in the arm his commendation would give them. Maybe they’re not the ones he picked out because he didn’t happen to know any. Be that as it may, it’s worth noting the ones he did pick out.

Not the spiritual giants, but the ‘poor in spirit,’ as he called them, the ones who, spiritually speaking, have absolutely nothing to give and absolutely everything to receive, like the Prodigal telling his father ‘I am not worthy to be called thy son,’ only to discover for the first time all he had in having a father.

Not the champions of faith who can rejoice even in the midst of suffering, but the ones who mourn over their own suffering because they know that for the most part they’ve brought it down on themselves, and over the suffering of others because that’s just the way it makes them feel to be in the same room with them.

Not the strong ones, but the meek ones in the sense of the gentle ones, that is, the ones not like Caspar Milquetoast but like Charlie Chaplin, the little tramp who lets the world walk over him and yet, dapper and undaunted to the end, somehow makes the world more human in the process.

Not the ones who are righteous, but the ones who hope they will be someday and in the meantime are well aware that the distance they still have to go is even greater than the distance they’ve already come.

Not the winners of great victories over evil in the world, but the ones who, seeing it also in themselves every time they comb their hair in front of the bathroom mirror, are merciful when they find it in others and maybe that way win the greater victory.

Not the totally pure, but the ‘pure in heart,’ to use Jesus’ phrase, the ones who may be as shopworn and clay-footed as the next one, but have somehow kept some inner freshness and innocence intact.

Not the ones who have necessarily found peace in its fullness, but the ones who, just for that reason, try to bring it about wherever and however they can—peace with their neighbors and God, peace with themselves.

Jesus saved for last the ones who side with heaven even when any fool can see it’s the losing side and all you get for your pains is pain. Looking into the faces of his listeners, he speaks to them directly for the first time. ‘Blessed are you,’ he says.

You can see them looking back at him. They’re not what you’d call a high-class crowd—peasants and fisherfolk for the most part, on the shabby side, not all that bright. It doesn’t look as if there’s a hero among them. They have their jaws set. Their brows are furrowed with concentration.

They are blessed when they are worked over and cursed out on his account he tells them. It is not his hard times to come but theirs he is concerned with, speaking out of his own meekness and mercy, the purity of his own heart” (Frederick Buechner, Whistling in the Dark).

Happy Groundhog Day!

Well, that depends on whether you’re a fan of winter and groundhogs.

This time around, that fat little groundhog stuck his little head out of that hole in the ground and saw his shadow, so that means six more weeks of winter.

Or it could mean that spring comes in mid-February, like it did last year. I still think that groundhog from last year was smoking something.

Today also marks the 35th anniversary of the passing of my grandfather on my dad’s side. I still miss him, even though my memory of him is fuzzy. I was only 10 years old when he died.

Still, he’s part of the legacy of a good family that I’ve been blessed to have.

As for the groundhog’s prediction, it sure felt like it today. I made the mistake of having some sweet iced tea with my dinner and paid for it all the way to my car. Lesson learned.

So to sum it all up, it’s cold out, winter’s here for a while, and I’m feeling very blessed anyway.

As I’ve said before, February is my birth month. Ordinary, normal people take one day to celebrate their birth, but I have never once been accused of either.

I feel I got a little gipped in the birth month category with February being only 28 days long (or 29 if it happens to be one of those leap years).

I intend to milk my birth for all its worth. After all, I have managed– with much grace and lots of luck– to survive this long. That’s worth throwing a party or two for.

So as usual I will be accepting all forms of payment and gifts and adoration. I will try to do as many spontaneous, fun things as time will allow.

“The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him” (Dwight L. Moody).

I wish I could remember every detail about tonight’s sermon from Michael Boggs at Kairos tonight. Instead of photographic memory, I wish I had phonographic memory, where I could remember every word. Or maybe I could just take notes next time.

The gist of it is that joy is defined as love that expresses itself in obedience.

Obedience is not a popular word in this current time. It’s definitely a non-PC word. We’re taught that we only need to obey our appetites and desires and that no one can tell us what to do or how to do it.

True joy comes from a desire to please God by doing what He says. You heed the words of Jesus and take His yoke upon you only to find that His burden is light and a joy to carry.

Joy involves feelings but it much more than how you feel. It involves happiness but is not dictated by circumstances the way happiness is.

In Nehemiah, it says that the joy of the LORD is your strength. That means that even when my obedience is non-existant and my love has grown cold and my joy is fading that the joy of the Lord will be my strength. Even when I say, “I believe. Lord, help my unbelief,” that in my weakness God’s strength is perfected.

Choose joy. Choose to believe that all that God asks of you is worth whatever the cost, remembering how Jesus endured even the cross for the joy set before Him. Pain and suffering are temporary but true joy is eternal.

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy” (Rabindranath Tagore).

It’s late Saturday evening, and I’m done for the day. I stayed up way later than I wanted because I got caught up trying to beat a level in Candy Crush, the most pointless yet most addictive game ever.

So in place of actual wit or thoughtful commentary, here’s a picture of my cat. Enjoy.

And here’s another.

You’re welcome.

In other words, you need both. That’s why the Bible tells us to speak the truth in love.

With love and no truth, you get enabling. With truth and no love, you get legalism.

Truth + love = transformation.