I dreamed of stars.
Well, it began with a river, wide and rushing icy blue.
The buildings huddled close
blocking my journey along the path to the water’s edge.
But then, they shook
and swayed with the rumblings of an earthquake.
We fled.
All of us fled into the city
where I saw suddenly and clearly a vast multitude of starry host.
In soul-exploding worship, I fell to my knees
unable to silence the proclamation echoing down from the less than silent stars:
You Are Worthy!
Those who walked beside me joined the refrain
and we worshipped.
Those in the street, whom I did not know, fell prostrate before Holiness
and we worshipped.
Every fleeing person ceased their striving,
the stars cried out their praise,
and we worshipped the One who is Worthy.

I wish I could somehow shake
this lopsided feeling
that I have invested my 10% in you
so I should get
100% return
in the form of
One Happy Life without issues,
but I can't.

my impatient soul yearns to be whole
i need to learn to wait with the ache
instead of chasing frivolous unhealthiness
O Sweet Satisfaction That Is To Come
remind me of my true longing

my heart breaks for you, my sister
death for love
a horrific sacrifice
why did no one rescue you?
have we abandoned compassion?
we cannot take a life
without giving part of our own
we cannot ignore hatred
and think we are unscathed
i kneel in the dust to weep for you

Video: Public stonings continue in Iraq*

I am a fool.
I silence the hopeful whispers of my soul
and drive away happiness.
I wrap myself in chains of fruitless longing
and bind my heart in despair.
What ignorant slave of an evil master
would willingly refuse freedom?

So we now have dollar coins in circulation without the inscription "In God We Trust".
But that's okay.
We don't really need God on our money; we need Him on our hearts.

Two guys are talking to each other, and one of them says he has a question for God. He wants to ask why God allows all of this poverty and war and suffering to exist in the world. And his friend says, "Well, why don't you ask?" The fellow shakes his head and says he is scared. When his friend asks why, he mutters, "I'm scared God will ask me the same question."
Over and over, when I ask God why all of these injustices are allowed to exist in the world, I can feel the Spirit whisper to me, "You tell me why we allow this to happen. You are my body, my hands, my feet."
Taken from Resurrecting Church, a chapter in Shane Claiborne's book Irresistible Revolution