*cross-posted from christopherlynn.wordpress.com*

Whew!  It’s almost the end of this week and I’m anxiously awaiting our final days in the office before Christmas.  As I write this, I’m preparing to go to work extremely early - I left a lot of paperwork at the office.  So, before I head in, I thought I’d share a thought with you from Piper’s Desiring God (my current book in-reading):

“By creating a person like Adam, yet very unlike Adam, God provided the possibility of a profound unity that otherwise would have been impossible.  A different kind of unity is enjoyed by the joining of diverse counterparts than is enjoyed by the joining two things just alike.  When we all sing the same melody line, it is called ‘unison,’ which means ‘one sound.’ But when we unite diverse lines of soprano and alto and tenor and bass, we call it harmony; and everyone who has an ear to hear knows that something deeper in us is touched by great harmony than by mere unison.  So God made a woman, not another man.  He created heterosexuality, not homosexuality.” (211) 

 God is working to make unity out of what is completely diverse for His glory!  When we draw together, despite our very disparate pasts / backgrounds, God is glorified. 

 I’m striving for a more simple life.  I’m realizing more and more how each day defines a legacy in my life - how I spend my time, what I absorb, what I tolerate.  Some day (hopefully), I will be married and have children, and, as a man, I’m charged with bringing my children up in the instruction of the Lord and also being the head of the marriage relationship (not in an master-slave way, but a director, leader way - still yet taking my ultimate leading from Christ).  My prayer is that I would live in such a way each day that I’m honoring that future commitment.  However, I have my own commitments/opportunities as a single man, and so I pray that I hold fast to those in the moment.

God shows new glories through my life each day. Just when I think I’m going to be beat up by something or I’m going to dread a certain part of my day - He graciously blesses me with mercies anew. I’ve been a little tired lately, but it’s definitely been a good ride.

For all of those that don’t know, I started teaching CIS 101 yesterday. I felt pretty confident in working with my students and getting them started for class. We mostly covered the syllabus. I did have a moment, believe it or not, where I stood back and thought, “Wow, I’m really doing this…I’m teaching this class.”

I’m looking forward to some major trips in the next couple months. I’ll be up at the Lake of the Ozarks in September to go to a conference for Missouri academic advisors. On the national scene for academic advising, I’ll be in Baltimore, MD in mid-October. I’ll be looking forward to learning more and relaxing as well.

I’ve learned a lot about being a man of integrity and honor in the last few weeks. I’ve not always learned my lessons gracefully, but I have tried to love others wholly, as to reflect a holy God. I’ve had the best read of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy that I’ve ever had in my life. Mostly, I’m learning so much how God’s law was showing His incredible grace and mercy. We must lean upon Christ daily in order to fulfill the law God intended for us.

I believe that God has set me on an amazing journey, and I have amazing tales to tell. My summer was nothing short of fully lived, and I don’t know that I’ve felt unfulfilled in any way throughout this summer (a testament to God working in me).

For now, though, I’m considering sleep. This weekend, while at times trying, was very much spent to the fullest.

For His glory, Chris