Stuck in the back of my brain.

Something is weighing on me. It has been bugging me all day, stuck in the back of my brain. It was President Bush's use of the word "moderate" in his State of the Union Address. It is fine, and I do not mind him using it, but the word just stuck. It disturbs me.

Who ever said that moderation was the chief end and highest achievement of man? Why is it that mediocre feelings, commitments, and beliefs are praised as high virtue? What is it about half lived convictions that people find so attractive? It is noxious. What kind of life is that? What have halfhearted convictions ever achieved? Just enough conscience to take the meaning and fun out of life ...and just enough cowardice to bring guilt, discontent, and misery.

If Truth is really true, then it can always be carried to its furthest logical conclusion. Why bother believing something if you have to close your eyes to its end? If I profess to believe something, I do not want to get half way down the road and suddenly say, "Well, I just can't go there."

Although diametrically opposed to their most basic presuppositions, I find that I can respect the intellectual honesty of the Dadaists or Thomas Hardy, over lukewarm, half hearted professions of Christianity.

Revelation 3:14-22 reads:

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.'"

I do not want to be spewn out of the mouth of the Living God. I want to be passionate. If Jesus Christ is really Truth incarnate, if the whole Word of God is true, then I want to live it to the hilt. I want to follow Truth to its farthest logical conclusion. I want the truth to consume me.

There is no closing my eyes, no looking the other way, no hoping He won't ask me to go there. There is no looking back once my hand is to the plow. There is no saying "This was not part of the deal." There is no saying" I'll give you everything, just don't ask for this."

Truth fears no inspection. It will not wither under closer inspection. It does not fall apart when questioned. And if what I think is truth shatters under the scrutiny of God's word, then praise be to He who enlightens my darkness. The Lord is my Light, my Lamp, my unchanging Rock. He is the I AM. There is no question which threatens True Truth. And there is nothing to fear from its pursuit, for Truth is always hand in hand with Mercy.

"Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed."
-Psalm 85:10