I read A LOT

One of my professors said he is believer that "you will never have more time to read as you will in graduate school, so I take it as my responsibility to give you wide variety of things to read to broaden your mind."  Hmm, well, there aren't enough hours in a day to complete the assigned "broadening" and sleep.  Anyway for this particular class I had to read Civil Society by Michael Edwards.  I recommend it for anyone interested in foreign aid and political movements, but the point of today's blog is to compare a few things I've read lately.  Don't tune out, I promise it's interesting, only one of the entries is from a class book!

At its best, civil society is the story of ordinary people living extraordinary lives through their relationships with each other, driven forward by a vision of the world that is ruled by love and compassion, non-violence and solidarity. - Michael Edwards, Civil Society

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Jesus

At some level, we all share such longings.  This world may be full of pollution, war, crime, and greed, but inside us-all of us-linger remnants that remind us of what the world could be like, of what we could be like.  You can sense such longings in the environmental movement, whose leaders yearn for a world preserved in its pristine state; and in the peace movement that dreams of a world without war; and in the therapy groups that try to reconnect broken strands love and friendship.  All the beauty and joy we meet on earth represent "only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited." - Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God quoting C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." - Revelation 21

The Civil Society book is basically all about how organizations try to create a "society that is civil."  Governed by community, movements for democracy, egalitarian principles, etc. etc.  These things are all great, I pray that the church takes a more active role in pushing this though.  As followers of Jesus, we have a responsibility to heed the Sermon on the Mount and share the Kingdom on earth.  We won't be perfect, but the good news is that "there is a light that is coming for the heart that hold on.  There will be an end to these troubles, but until that day comes, still I will praise you, still I will praise you."