Living with Hope

It is a fine balance; living with hope, expecting more and better and at the same time being content with what you have. I want to be dissatisfied with what is wrong, not settling for things to remain just as they are and at the same time to be excited by what could and not dissatisfied with the way they turn out at the present.

It has to be hope. Hope allows us to know the best is yet to come and yet to wait patiently since we live with the assurance that it will come. That is why we need our young. They still have the ability to live in the present but to look forward with hope. They can see what is and dream of what could be.

Noah captured this spirit perfectly this morning. We have been getting a hint of fall in the last few days. It has been cooler in the morning, the humidity lessening in its oppression. This morning it was 64 degrees. Also we have had a steady downpour since early morning. As we were getting ready for church Noah said, "If it was only 37 degrees cooler it would be snowing!" If you do not live south of the I30 snow barrier you might not understand the full impact of this expectation. In 17 years in Tyler we have never had a snowstorm and only flurries of snow on rare occasions. It is hope that allows Noah see what could be.

As Christians our hope is not just what could be, be what will. We look to that day. The greatest moment in time is yet to be, but it will come. I will see you on that day.

Song of the Day

I Still Haven't Found What I Am Looking For
U2

Dedicated to the new college freshman. May you dream and hope for what can and will be.

I have climbed highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like a fire
(I was) burning inside her

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I'm still running

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for