there's a chill in the air and i'm thinking about foolishness tonight: "for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. for it is written: 'i will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent i will frustrate.' where is the wise man? where is the scholar? where is the philosopher of this age? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? for since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was prached to save those who believe. jews demand miraculous signs and greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both jews and greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. for the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." (1corinthians 1.18-25) it's been a long time since i've been willing to give up what appears to be rational and enlightened and intelligent thought for the sake of Christ. it sounds crazy to do things like pray for deliverance and ask people if they want me to lay hands on them and to expose my deepest relationships to others, inviting them to hold me accountable to true wisdom. but the Spirit just seems to keep jumping out of the intellectual fence that i keep trying to keep him in. so, i give up. i'm taking the fence down. daniel wrote of foolishness today, too. he was introduced to my cincinnati family this past weekend. i won't subject you to all of the wide-eyed, awe-inspiring details, but it seems safe to say that he endeared himself to the people i respect most, and i think they're hoping he's going to stay around for awhile. i know i hope so. yikes! did i write that out loud?! all i know is that this man is teaching me what it is to have a pure, passionate heart. leadership and character like that is rare and precious, and i will not take it for granted. dear jesus, don't let me take this for granted! along those lines, i won't be focusing all of my writing on daniel. but i do ask that, if you pray, you'll pray wisdom and restraint, truth, clarity and joy for us. thanks! my practical duties are calling now, but i'll leave you with a few things i plan to visit here this week... ...how growing up mennonite has influenced me (i haven't forgotten you, annonymous commenter!) ...concrete ways to make myself more accountable to the community in my life (a.k.a. "to move or not to move") ...acts 5 sweet dreams, dear ones!