Going Out Without Knowing

“Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another.”~~John Dewey
(BrainQuote)

Today’s word of the day, from Dictionary.com, is redintegrate. In spite of appearance, this word has nothing to do with the color red. It’s a verb, meaning, “to make whole again; restore to a perfect state; renew; reestablish.” Apparently, this is the opposite of “disintegrate.”

Today is Science Fiction Day. January 2 was chosen for the date of Science Fiction Day because it is also the birthday of Isaac Asimov, who was one of the premier Science Fiction authors.

We didn’t eat black-eyed peas, yesterday. I just thought I would get that out there right off the bat. I actually don’t remember the last time I had black-eyed peas, on New Year’s Day or otherwise. No one else in my household like peas, so I rarely eat them. I don’t mind black-eyed peas, but I prefer crowder peas. They have always been my favorite. Do not ask my why they are called “crowder” peas. I have no idea. I do, however, have fond memories of shelling peas in the carport at my Grandmother and Grandaddy’s house.

We didn’t do much of anything yesterday. In fact, the only time anyone left the house was when Christi went out to her car to get the ID number on her XM radio, because her free trial wasn’t working in her new car. While she was out, she decided to go get us drinks at Sonic. We had Rotel dip and chips for lunch, watched an episode of Criminal Minds, then Christi went to the extra bedroom to paint while I played Fallout 4.

Oh, right. Then we all left the house to go eat dinner at IHOP. I forgot about that. After that, we watched several more episodes of Criminal Minds, then I played the game some more.

Christi just left to go use the Groupon for a hot stone massage that I got her for Christmas. We’ll probably go get groceries for her step-dad and mom after that. I don’t think there is anything else planned for today.

On this date in 1962, the folk group The Weavers were banned from an appearance on The Jack Parr Show after refusing to sign a political loyalty oath. The Weavers, founded by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays, were responsible for a resurgence of American folk music, and could allegedly be responsible for the careers of people like Bob Dylan, The Kingston Trio, and Peter, Paul and Mary. You can read more about it in this article.

Today’s birthdays include:

1909–Barry Goldwater, American politician
1920–Isaac Asimov, American author
1936–Roger Miller, American singer
1963–David Cone, American baseball player
1968–Cuba Gooding, Jr., American actor
1975–Dax Shepard, American actor
1975–Doug Robb, American singer, Hoobastank
1976–Paz Vega, Spanish actress
1983–Kate Bosworth, American actress

Doug Robb is the lead singer for the rock group Hoobastank. He turns 41 today. Here is their 2003 hit, “The Reason.”

Tex Ritter, Alan Hale, Jr., Randy California, and Anne Francis are among notable deaths on this date.

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

(From Praying With the Psalms)

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2

Yesterday’s Psalm 1 could be considered a “laser concentration on the individual,” while today’s Psalm 2 could be a “wide-angle lens on humanity.” While God deals with each of us on a personal level, he also has ways that deal with “nations, rulers, kings, and governments.”

“‘O God of earth and alter, bow down and hear our cry; our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die; the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide; take not Thy thunder from us, but take away our pride.’ Amen” (“O God of Earth and Alter,” by G.K. Chesterton)

(From My Utmost For His Highest)

Today’s reading is “Will You Go Out without Knowing?”

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:8

Anyone who has gone out in this way knows that “there is no logical statement when anyone asks what you are doing.” That is a difficulty, sometimes, in Christian work . . . you really don’t always know what you are going to be doing.

When I was in seminary, many young people came from other states to get a theology, music, or education degree. So many of them declared, even when they were just beginning, that they were certain that God would send them right back where they came from, upon receiving their degree. I wonder how many of them actually realized those aspirations. I know that God doesn’t always work in the way that we think he will.

“Continually revise your attitude towards God and see if it is a going out of everything, trusting in God entirely.” Maintaining this attitude keeps us in a state of “perpetual wonder,” as we don’t know what God will do next. But we also must realize how difficult this is, especially if one’s lift is entrenched in religious tradition and habit. We get too comfortable with what we think we know about God, which makes it terribly difficult to “revise your attitude towards God.” (See above statement about young seminary students.)

We might even consider each day’s beginning to be a new “going out,” as we never know what the day will bring. Do we ask God what he is going to do? More than likely, he will not tell us. More than likely, rather than revealing what he is going to do, he will reveal who he is. And wouldn’t that be better, anyway? Wouldn’t we rather know who God is, than what he’s going to do? If we “go out” with this attitude, we will not be surprised at anything that God does.

“You have to learn to go out of convictions, out of creeds, out of experiences, until so far as your faith is concerned, there is nothing between yourself and God.”

Father, teach me to “go out” in this way. You have, over the years, taught me to not depend on traditions and past experiences, but I still need that extra push to go out in complete faith, not knowing what you will do next. May this be a year that I step out in faith to serve you.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 23-24

Come, Lord Jesus!

Grace and peace, friends.