Good

I read: 1 Timothy

When I focused in where I did yesterday, I kind of regretted not focusing somewhere else. Luckily, today's focus chapter gives me that opportunity. Here's the key verse: "And don't worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it's good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you." Going back a chapter we also find this: "[These liars will] tell you not to eat this or that food--perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by Christians!"

Word of the day? "Good." Amazingly, it's not an easy thing for me to remember that everything God has created is good, but it says so right here and alllll the way back in Genesis when he made the whole freakin' universe and called it good! And why did he make things like this good? For our enjoyment! Our lives are to be vital, vibrant things, seeking the good in life and constantly giving thanks for all the good that we continually experience throughout the day.

My girlfriend loves food. I know I like a lot of certain foods but she loves food. We kid about it a lot, especially her cravings whether it's for Quaker Steak wings (which we ate last night [Yes, there are two QS&L's in Charlotte now!]) or lamb stew from Ri-Ra (which is pretty amazing) or a whole gallon of Rocky Road ice cream she finished off in 4 days flat (I think it's a gallon, whatever those standard size cardboard ice cream tubs are). I tease her a lot but her behavior is affirming the goodness of the gifts God gives us.

So, the message here is what? Glorify God and enjoy him. That's the chief end of man, after all. But don't stop there: enjoy his creation with all you've got. Of course, there should be self-imposed limits here (like eating all that ice cream in 2 days); moderation is always necessary, as is prohibition for you underagers who would possibly show this entry to your parents and say that I told them to buy you wine ;) But within our freedom of Christians, let's use it boldly and with a glad heart. If you don't believe me, check out what Solmon has to say in the 9th chapter of Ecclesiastes, one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible:

Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,
Drink wine with a robust heart.
Oh yes--God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
Dress festively every morning.
Don't skimp on colors and scarves.
Relish life with the spouse you love
Each and every day of your precarious life.

Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange
For the hard work of staying alive.
Make the most of each one!
Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!
This is your last and only chance at it,
For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think
In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed.