Geoffrey's Notebook

 I've been realizing that who I am in Christ, who I've been called to be as His servant, is not who I am this moment, and I've repented "in dust and ashes." Shall I press the magic prayer button and suddenly walk in my "full measure"? As I repented, leaning on the life of Christ to now live by, does that mean that my outward abilities will match up with who I find myself to be in Christ? It hasn't worked that way so far. I'm about to run a Spartan race far beyond my ability. When I signed up for this 10k with 25 obstacles it was impossible but was a vision of where I think I should be at with exercise and health. I wanted to be able to run a 10k at a 10min pace - not an amazing thing but impossible not long ago. I wanted to be able to do 100 pushups, 10 pullups, and sit-ups, etc. When I started out toward this I could run a mile and that was after a long while of training up to it. Now I run a 5k in the mornings with little G just for half of a p...

  Do we really understand what environment is? Oftentimes we blame the environment and claim that it makes a person what he is; yet let us see that only a weakling is made by his environment—whereas a strong person controls or makes use of his environment. Joseph had been taken out of the environment of his father’s love and put into another environment which was so mean, so base, and so low. He had become a slave in another person’s house—a very difficult environment, indeed. Whereas a weakling would have been crushed by such a circumstance, Joseph, instead of being crushed, rose above his environment and ruled over it. —Stephen Kaung  Geoffrey's note: I probably need to explain something about this quote in case it sounds odd or off. When I first heard this, it caught my attention because of the word "weakling," which was a little shocking to hear though good use of it. The teaching of this man-of-God is the same as Paul the apostle "when I am weak, then I am s...

I don't believe I've ever read Psalm 38 until just 10 minutes ago. It is for the depressed, "to bring to remembrance," as the inscription says. It is meant to be read through tears. Though I may have searched through this text one hundred times, it was just now that I finally could "sing" this psalm. I am depressed; I am bowed down beyond measure; I go mourning all the day (v.6) And as it goes on, the depressed heart is free in the light. The reality of what is happening in the soul is expressed. Words are given for the thoughts and sorrows on the mind, and the feelings of the soul. For my loins are full of burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am faint and broken beyond measure; I roar by reason of the agitation of my heart. Do you have a reason for your depression? I had the old question on my mind as I opened my Bible tonight, "Why so downcast, O my soul?" (Psalm 42:11) I know that verse, but this time it was a real question f...