2 things

OK, two things completely unrelated.

1. Can anyone tell me if the words "holy" and "complete" are related? Pastor Rinden mentioned in the sermon today in reference to Hebrews 12:18-24 (You have not come to a mountain that can be touched....but you have come to Mount Zion) that it was in the perfect tense, which means that it has happened. We have reached the mountain and are now standing there. The rest of the sermon was very good but my mind wandered to the meaning of perfect tense, which from my latin days means that the action has been completed. Completed also being a good definition of perfected. Matthew 5:48 says "be perfect as I am perfect" makes more sense when you think about it as "be complete as I am complete" (e.g. because I have completed the work, you too can be complete). Leading also to the idea that "it is finished" means "it is completed", "it is perfected". Here's where my question comes in. Does I Peter 1:16 "be holy because I am holy" mean the same thing? Is the holiness we're called to the same as the completeness we recieve?

I should really pull out my greek dictionary and my references, but really don't know which box they are in now. Any help would be appreciated.



OK, point 2, which as I said is not related in any way. I'm re-reading David Sedaris' book "Dress Your Famiy in Courderoy and Denim" he is very funny, but I won't go so far as to recommend it, as the language and topic matter in parts of his writing is offensive. (you don't know it, but I debated a long time about writing "somewhat offensive", but isn't offensiveness a subjective thing? It either is or it isn't?) Anyway he has a passage about looking for a home in France and all the regrets he has regarding the one chosen. Soon after purchasing his first apartment (not just renting) in Paris, he travels to Amsterdam and visits Anne Frank's home. His first (maybe only?) reaction to the place, is that it's the perfect set up and would be an ideal home. I'm quoting the next two paragraphs verbatim as it expresses my thoughts about finding the "perfect" new home

At the risk of sounding too koombaya, I felt as if I had finally come home. A cruel trick of fate had kept me away, but now I was back to claim what was rightfully mine. It was the greatest feeling in the world: excitement and relief coupled with the giddy anticipation of buying stuff, of making everything just right.

I didn't snap out of it until I accidentally passed into the building next door, which has been annexed as part of the museum. Above a display case, written across the wall in huge, unavoidable letters, was this quote by Primo Levi: "A single Anne Frank moves us more than the countless others who suffered just as she did but whose faces have remained in the shadows. Perhaps it is better that way. If we were capable of taking in all the suffering of all those people, we would not be able to live."

He did not specify that we would not be able to live in her house, but it was definitely implied, and it it effectively squashed any fantasy of ownership.

Just had to share, especially after yesterday's trip to Ikea where I definately felt the "giddy anticipation of buying stuff". I've got lots of ideas for how I want to make the house perfect (i.e. complete). Isn't it good we have a Sunday after a Saturday where we can be reminded of what true perfection is?

Lots here, congrats if you read to the end. I assume this is just me journaling, but if anyone has thoughts about this/these, I'd love to read your comments.