Theology

First of all ~ HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! We at this Foskett house have had a wonderful day first anticipating, then preparing and then enjoying a huge feast with friends from church and My Mom & Dad (woo hoo!!!). We would like to wish you all a VERY Happy Thanksgiving and joy in the anticipation of Christmas. May God make His love for each of you known in tangible ways in the weeks ahead.

Mom & Dad are here from South Dakota ~ they arrived last Thursday and will go back to Sioux Falls next Wednesday. It has been so much fun to have them here. We were able to show them the Multnomah Falls and the Vista House on the Oregon side of the Columbia River as well as spend a couple of days on the Oregon Coast enjoying the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean. Other than that it's been a relaxing and enjoyable time. Okay - my Mom did decide I needed to clean out my garage, and my piles of papers in my loft/office are driving her batty because she just wants to help me clean - but other than that it's been very relaxing. (oh the joys of a Martha Mom and Mary Daughter! LOL!)

so you're probably wondering what in the world my title has to do with anything I've written so far, huh? Well, as I said earlier, we had friends from church over to share Thanksgiving with us, and she kept talking about "reformed theology." It got me thinking about theology in general, and what exactly that is. If someone were to ask me to define it I couldn't, but I have an understanding of what it is in my mind. As I thought about it earlier I decided my definition is "someone's attempt at figuring God out." I checked it against the dictionary and this is what it says: "1.The study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions. 2. A system or school of opinions concerning God and religious questions: Protestant theology; Jewish theology. 3. A course of specialized religious study usually at a college or seminary. "

I don't think I'm too far off ~ just not as refined (at least I'm true to my character! *grin*)

So as I pondered the definition I started thinking about what I would tell someone if they asked me about the theology I "buy into." I don't think it's the answer they would be looking for, but it's pretty simple ~ here it is: "Jesus loves you. He loves you so much He gave His very life for you. It may seem much more probable that He gave His life for the person next to you who didn't make the foolish choices you did, or hasn't lived the life you've lived, but that's a lie. He died for YOU. He did die for that person, too, but He didn't die any more or less for them than He did for you. Our very lives were created for His glory ~ and we have the opportunity to have a personal, REAL relationship with Him if we choose to do so. (that's where some people's theology comes in and starts to argue ~ to me it's not worth arguing about. All I'm saying is you've gotta ask Him in. Period.) If we don't have the desire to get to know Him better or how to go about it, and we ask Him to help, He will. He longs for a relationship with you, and He will give you the knowledge, the understanding, and speak to you through the Bible in order to direct you in answer to your question. His desire is for each of us to know Him. We can discuss different ideas and different thoughts, but when it comes down to the brass tacks I find only one truth ~ the perfection we all long for in ourselves is actually found in the very One who created us. And that to me is worth pondering."

One of our friends tonight, as we went around the table sharing what we were thankful for, said, "I'm thankful for the Holidays because they cause us to stop and reflect on all we have to be thankful for." He's a brilliant man. I pray that as you stop and reflect on all you have to be thankful for you can grasp the depth of love the very One who created you has for you. Actually, I think that's pretty impossible to do ~ every time I think I can put a limit on it He supercedes it and amazes me with the fathomless depth of His Love. And He loves you no less.

Happy Thanksgiving ~ if you're alone remember you are truly never alone. If you are surrounded by loved ones (or not so loved ones) remember there are those who wish they could be with someone and you have much to be thankful for. If you have a roof over your head remember those who have none. If you have loved ones to call or say Happy Thanksgiving to remember there are those who for the first time are going through the Holidays without a loved one. If you have food to eat remember those who are working to give us that food. If you have the opportunity to say grace and speak openly about what you think remember those in foreign lands who are fighting for that freedom. If you have the comfort of living in security and safety remember those who live in fear of what the ruler of their country will do next ~ or what their enemies will scheme to do in the name of their god. If you have the ability to see the beauty of God's creation wherever you are give thanks for there are those who will never see the beauty in your corner of the world ~ or may never see...period. If you have heard people laugh, cry, talk or sing today stop and listen ~ there are those who cannot hear and wish they could ~ there are those who need to be listened to and are not. Finally, if you have the opportunity to tell someone you are thankful for them do not pass it up. You may never have that opportunity again.

God bless you all~
Happy Thanksgiving!