I was involved in Winona State’s Spring Dancescape this past weekend and took photos of a dance that one of my friends is in!
Re-imaged
Warning: May contain computer terms and/or references that may cause potential decrease in brain function
In the world of geek-dom, in which I only occasionally reside, there is a term used by us computer techies that refers to the erasing of a computer hard drive and restoring its image. The hard drive of a computer is basically the component that stores all the information that makes a computer useful. The process of erasing and renewing is referred to as “re-imaging”. In this process all current software is erased, files are removed and the data on the computer is reinstated to its original factory fresh state. This process allows a user to start from scratch with out any prior problems and the ability to re-program the computer so that it can function at its maximum running capacity.
A computer image in simple English words is like the blue print for how a computer functions. For PC users common names for images are Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. For Mac users, common image names are: Tiger, Snow Leopard, and the upcoming Lion. These are all basically structured environments for information to be stored and accessed through programs. If I haven’t lost you yet, I shall continue.
Every computer image is designed to be compatible to certain software. Computer games are a great example. A computer game that works in Windows 7 will most likely not work on a computer that is running Windows 95 (an ancient stone age version of windows). So trying to run old software on a new image or new software on an old image results in failure of that software’s functioning capability or a significant decrease in the quality of its process. This most often results in a very frustrated user and/or a very tired computer! So why is this important you may ask? It’s important because it’s an analogy of us being created in God’s image.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; make and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27
God created us to function to a certain capacity. When we try and run the wrong “software” we experience a range of difficulty. If we are infected by a “virus”, lust, gossip, anger, bitterness, it results in the destroying of other programs that are trying to run on our image. A computer is designed to run a certain way and be compatible to the right software. In the same way God designed us to live a certain way so that we could live to our full potential. When we try and run “software” that isn’t compatible with God’s image we have a malfunction.
The powerful truth to all of this is that God forgives us and “reimages” us in a way that gives us the opportunity to start over again and be renewed! No longer do we have to hold on to our bitterness, our disappointment, our past mistakes or even our present failures. In God’s eyes we are His kids and He wants us to do great things MORE then we want to do them!
My encouragement to you is to remember who your maker is and honor His intention in making you. We are designed to live for Christ! Don’t waste your time and effort trying to run “software” (activities or lifestyles) that take away from God’s design for you. Allow God to “reimage” you and give you a clean start! We are made in God’s image, let’s honor Him by being the best representatives of who He is that we can be!
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18
My girlfriend and I have this continuing battle of who can surprise each other the most. I raised the bar a little bit with this years Christmas gift. I designed a “12 days till Christmas” gift. Each day she had a small present to open and it lead to the final gift which she had to come see me for. I surprised her with tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra show in the Twin Cities the following night. I may not have set the record of biggest surprise in the world, but for my girl I won bonus points for an amazing night! 
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6
My girlfriend Ali and I really enjoy driving together. She has officially declared me her chauffer, so when we have a destination to head to I’m elected captain of the steering wheel. On our ventures we have three ways of occupying the time: listening to music/podcasts, looking at the scenery or having deep intellectual conversations. Being the deep thinkers that we are, we enjoy analogies and similes in describing how to view certain subjects and/or perspectives. By likening objects or activities to ways of life we find it easier to relate to different trains of thought.
We invented a new game the other day while we were journeying back from her parents place to Winona. The way we play is by giving a person a verse or a biblical topic and creating an analogy out of it. Ali was the brains behind this brilliant activity and surprised me by asking me to give an impromptu sermon on the verse typed above. I looked at her in surprise, but quickly put my mind and heart to work forming a unique thought to share. Ali was quite intrigued with what I was coming up with saying and held a slight grin on her face. What came forth from my vocal chords was quite surprising for only thirty seconds of prep time and I wanted to share this thought with you.
An art museum contains many unique and intricate works of inspiration derived from a spark of creativity in an artist. There are many different kinds of art displays. Some artists create very realistic renditions of people, places and things where as others choose the route of abstract expression. One tourist might examine a painting and interpret one message, and another on looker might come away with something completely different. Neither one is more right or wrong then the other, what really matters is what the artist meant.
Faith is like an art museum in that each of us views it with a different perspective. All of us come from different backgrounds, religious practices, schools and family traditions. Every one of those factors creates a perspective that only we can share. God has an eternal depth to His character. There is no way to classify God’s personality type. He simply is Himself. In order to understand God we can’t rely on our own interpretation or even other people’s interpretation, we can only rely on the definition He gives us through His word.
Just like an artist knows the reason behind his creation, God to knows the reason behind His creation. If we stop at where our understanding is limited to, then we will miss the depth of God’s character, for it goes beyond our capability to understand. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a message of urgency. This passage pleads for us to surrender our understanding to God and allow Him to guide our paths, or way of thinking and our faith. One cannot know the truth about a piece of art with out the artist providing an explanation, the same is true for the life we’ve been giving. We can’t possibly understand the road before us with out the creator giving us directions.
That five-minute speech inspired a good conversation between the two of us and impressed upon both of our hearts to step back and look at our perspective on things. How are our thoughts, actions and feelings reflecting our faith in Christ? Do we submit to His understanding or trap the scope of His character in a box so we can contain who God is. As we continued down the highway, our thoughts rolling by like the lines on the road, we were challenged to submit our understanding to God and accept His understanding instead. Hope you enjoyed that snippet from the adventures of Sky and Ali!
