Twelve cherry pits later...

So, I'm supposed to be ready for bed. And I will be, after I share some random snippets.

Jess and I watched the new Indiana Jones movie tonight. As I commented to Jess, "That was relaxing... in a nail-biting sort of way." I enjoyed it, and there were fewer "bleh" parts than I was expecting. I enjoyed Cate Blanchett as the old-fashioned cold-but-clever villain. My favorite continues to be The Last Crusade. Sean Connery is hilarious!

We bought cherries this last weekend. I decided to get in on the last dozen or so before they disappeared. Thus, my post title for the evening.

A verse I've been thinking on the past couple days happens to be one I usually avoid. Simply because it has become cliche to use it: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal 2:20). I wonder if those who declare this to be their life verse have thought through what it means. I know I never had. I ignored it as I looked around for more obscure (and less bandied about) verses. I just recently realized that this verse is saying our life is not our own. That Christ bought us when He died for us. The life (spiritual and physical) we have is His now. For Him to use as He wishes. And since we know He loves us and gave us Himself we can trust Him ("live by faith") with our lives and know that He has our best planned out. I think that's pretty cool.

The Renewing Your Passion conference is (literally) around the corner. The hum of activity will only increase and become more intense as the time gets close. I enjoy the preparation ahead of time - means a change of pace and "input" (to quote a co-worker). It's also quite a stretch for me already. More opportunity to realize and admit I need the Lord to give His grace.

Speaking of co-workers - change is a constant. One of the interns who has faithfully answered incoming calls and emails to the ministry is moving to another department. The need arose as staff were getting sparse. We'll miss having him but he'll just be across the hall.