As of now, it’s pretty much all GK Chesterton quotes. I’ll start adding some variety soon but for now if you’d like to see them:

Shared Quotes notebook: http://www.evernote.com/pub/wejrowski/bw-quotes

RSS: http://www.evernote.com/shard/s10/pub/1182494/wejrowski/bw-quotes/rss.jsp?max=50&sort=2&search=

I added asterisks to the quotes I especially like.

Many of us (Christian, or not) have heard many times people say things like, “There is a reason and purpose behind everything.” Or, especially in hard times, people may say that there is a purpose behind it, though maybe we just don’t see it. You will grow/learn from it…. There must be a reason behind this…. I just need to trust that there is a bigger purpose here. I just talked to a friend, who was going to marriage counseling. They told him,

That’s a pretty satisfying statement right there. But if God chose that… what else did he choose? Where do you draw the line between what we choose and what God chooses/purposes? Why am married to this woman? Why did this person die? Why did I get into this car accident? Why did I go to this university? Why am I sitting next to this polka dotted pillow at the Coffee Plantation? A lot of Christians would explain many of these situations (ok maybe not the polka dotted pillow one) as being something purposed by God, that he has a plan it it that we just may not see at the time. While I would never say this is not ever the case, I definitely don’t think it is always the case that God purposes all these things in our lives, and think that it even can be detrimental to do this.

Where the idea may come from

I think this idea comes from (for Christians) the idea that God is all powerful, sovereign, and from various passages like these:

If you know elsewhere where this idea may come from post below!

It is definitely true that there were a lot of instances in the Bible where things happen for a reason and where, even, Biblical people labeled things as being from God. Now, to a certain extent, if God is all powerful and does sustain ALL, then in a certain sense, he is the cause of… everything. But did he purpose everything? I don’t think so. I think it is skewed to say everything has a purpose; and possibly even detrimental to have that view. Why?

(1) It’s not Biblical

- For starters, a good reason not to believe something is if it’s simply not true. While God does have much purpose and say in many instances in the Bible, I think, overwhelmingly, God gives man the ability and even responsibility to make choices, and take chances. One of the first charges to man is to “rule and subdue the earth.” And throughout the Biblical story, humanity makes decisions that have drastic implications. People kill one another, rape others, have affairs and children that completely change the course of humanity. In many instances God makes a decision to do something, and because people simply ask him to do something different… he does. He changes his mind and actions because of our choice. ( I need more of a convincing argument here…)

(2) It Can Cause Disappointment and False Hope

- If one is to assume that God has a purpose behind everything this idea is very optimistic and can cheer one up. But over time what could happen? One could try to figure out what the purpose in something was, and be left extremely disappointed and frustrated when they don’t find one.

(3) It Provokes Laziness

If we assume (and pretty selfishly so) that God has a purpose for us in everything, and has a specific direction for every choice we make, we limit our choice and responsibility. We can start looking for answers, and wait in fear that we may make the wrong decision, until God gives us one. Get into that habit of thinking and you could become a pretty lethargic person.

Side note

Not to say that we should start making decisions right and left without seeking guidance. If we believe in the God of the Bible, than we should be people who do seek his guidance before all else. I always think of Isaiah when I think of this. God often says in the prophets things like, “If only you would have sought my counsel!”

I think there is a definite balance between taking responsibility, being a human, and making choices, and (as Christians) asking God for direction.

(4) It’s Self Centered

I think that’s self explanatory…

Free will in the Bible

I don’t think everything has a specific purpose, because God throughout the Bible gives humanity choices, and he even changes his actions depending on their choice. He charges them to fill the earth and subdue it. He changes his mind because of the plead of the people. He gives the people conditional consequences… dependent on their action. I also think it just is not logical to say that everything has a purpose. In a certain sense, I think, you could say that everything has a purpose in that it points to God (or something like that). Or that God can work everything for the good. But that is very different than saying that everything has a purpose.

Liberation and Freedom

So what’s the purpose in saying all this? It is unbelievably liberating to understand that God made people to make choices, and not get hung up on either sides—that either we should make all our decisions on our own on a whim, or that we should just sit and wait for God to direct every single step. I think there’s something good in the idea that all (every single thing) things don’t have a purpose; that we decide our destiny.

I think this can also be applied to things like bad habits, sin, struggles etc. It seems like a lot of us act as though our struggles are something we can do nothing about, as if God is plaguing us with it to teach us something. And hey, that may be the case; I suppose it did happen in the Bible. But on the other hand, it seems as though God more so tells the people to… do something, to change things, to stop sitting in their sin and listen to him, to remove the bad influences of others, to burn idols.

Much more thought to be done on this. I’m sure I’ll post some recaps/updates later. Also.. I did write this a couple months ago, and since then found this interesting related post by Donald Miller (read here). In the meantime here are some quotes from GK:

• Looking up words on dictionary.com
• Easily search Wikipedia
• Google Calendar
• Easy email access
• digital sticky notes
• about a million other cool features..

Sticky Notes & Memory

The Pre has a nifty sticky notes application to write anything you would like down. I also found a very cool application called Evernote which is a much more sophisticated, internet based, note taking application. Lately when I think of something, whatever it be (a random thought, idea, reminder etc.) I’ll write it down in there. No longer do I think of a great idea and then completely forget it 5 minutes later.

Lists & Character Growth

One thing I have tried in various forms of doing over the last couple years but it never quite worked out this well is: making a list of personal habits or character traits I want to improve on (e.g. Generosity, being selfless, be intentional, etc. etc.). So over the last 6 months or so I’ve kept a list of these things on my phone, and I’ll check them every so often (1-4 days ideally) and see how I’ve been doing. Most of these I am still terrible at, and will probably have to remind myself for a long time (or forever). It’s a process. But, there are a couple items on there which I’m happy to say I have improved on quite a bit over the last 6 months because of doing this. Character traits, is just one of many applications of this.

Other examples:

• Books you’d like to read
• Intriguing questions to ask people
• Interesting topics to think about when you smoke your next cigar
• Subjects or ideas you don’t understand, then add thoughts to them as they come.
• Blog post ideas
• Food/snack ideas
• Any other miscellaneous or private subject matter
• Todo lists (though maybe this would be better saved for a more sophisticated application than sticky notes—like Things, or Remember the Milk).

Some Deuteronomy 11 Inspiration

Deuteronomy 11 speaks about the importance of reminding ourselves about what God has done in our lives—a concept which is found all throughout the Bible, one which we often forget (ironically, most likely because we don’t follow it). And this idea I think can definitely apply to pretty much anything else… because it works.

If you have any other cool ideas that work for you, share below!

In the past

Some may find this strange, but I enjoy studying and.. writing essays. I am not a very good writer, but it seems to satisfy me to at least attempt to wrap my brain around things through writing. God, the Bible, and Theology have always intrigued me (as I would assume they should intrigue everyone!). God and the Bible are a big mystery when you don’t know much about them (or, I suppose, even when you do!). I never thought of myself as one with coherent thoughts, and much less one who is very smart. But, I am happy to say that through knowing that and struggling to know more, I’ve been able to wrap my mind around a lot and become a much different, better, more content (and even happier) person because of that.

An Attempt to Remember

I try to keep note of the things I learn and study, and lately have wanted to start writing more to help myself process things. Too often we learn things, or read, and forget them a month later because we never wrote them down, or never fully processed them. So this is my attempt to remember… to help myself process things. Because really I know nothing in the scheme of things, and it’s only through struggling through these things that one learns more. I really think I can say that I’ve learned and grown the most when I sit and think about life and God. And by putting this up publicly, I’m opening myself up to the criticism of others.. and I would enjoy to hear yours.. and your feedback (for those few that may actually read this). I may be wrong about a lot, and you can tell me if I am (just don’t be a jerk about it).

So hopefully these writings will be of some interest to at least a few. And if not it will at least amuse myself and a few of my friends.