a state of war

As of right now, I have officially woken up, eaten breakfast, drunk a latte, and taken a terrifying final (and I hope totally knocked it out of the park). Right now I am listening to the Holes soundtrack and... blogging, of course! Tonight I leave for home... I think. It is snowing again, but hopefully that won't affect my flights. Please keep my travels in your prayers!

In other news, I like basketball. I am going to share with you a little secret of mine. I have always enjoyed thinking about basketball as a small war, full of strategies, strengths, weaknesses, and small skirmishes. For example, when a player on the opposing team has the ball, I am hyper-alert, ready to stop her shot. When she does shoot, I particularly like blocking her shot. To be honest, I enjoy blocking people because it is cool and makes me feel like a pro, but I also let out my held breath and think, "there you go, team. I just stopped an enemy shot from even being fired. Now it is up to us to do some damage." Perhaps a little morbid and weird, but I think fairly accurate. Anyway, regardless of whether I have an overactive imagination, this attitude gives me an almost super-human power of concentration, intensity, and focus during games. I use battle mode to my advantage.

I want to share with you another perspective, that of Ed Welch, quoted in one of John Piper's sermons. Here is what Mr. Welch (Mr. Ed? I just undermined your view of him, didn't I? Please try to listen to his point without seeing a talking horse. Haha. Now what will you be thinking of the entire time? I know how your mind works, and I just made fun of it.) has to say.
In all seriousness:

"There is a mean streak to authentic self-control. Self-control is not for the timid. When we want to grow in it, not only do we nurture an exuberance for Jesus Christ, we also demand of ourselves a hatred for sin. The only possible attitude toward out-of-control desire is a declaration of all-out war. There is something about war that sharpens the senses. You hear a twig snap or the rustling of leaves and you are in attack mode. Someone coughs and you are ready to pull the trigger. Even after days of little of no sleep, war keeps us vigilant."

Are you at peace with sin in your own life, or have you declared war upon it and entered a total attack mode? I urge you to never adopt a peacetime mentality toward sin!! When Sin knocks, do you welcome him in and perhaps let him warm his toes by your fire? Are you even aware that it is Sin you are entertaining? I challenge you to saturate yourself with God and his Word. Then, through the wisdom you have learned from the Bible, you will be able to recognize Sin in whatever form he takes, and you will be able to fight him. You will look at an idea or worldview or philosophy or plan and immediately think, "that is sin. Here he comes. Lord, help me resist him!" Be vigilant. Know what sin looks like, sounds like, feels like. Sharpen your senses so you can identify sin, and when you notice his presence, react! Do not let him slip past unnoticed into your life and actions and attitudes! You are in a state of war. Be diligent, be pure, be holy, be vigilant.