Ben Orenstein really hits the nail on the head with this post. It is a great demonstration of the importance of using an Intention-Revealing Name. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who struggles with naming things according to purpose. It’s not as easy as it sounds. As programmers, we are often so focused on the implementation that it’s hard to switch gears to think about intention.

Code that says why it does

This was a great talk by Sandi Metz. I’ve started reading her book and look forward to getting deeper into it. This video is full of 100% solid advice on object-oriented design.

Go Ahead, Make a Mess

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Luke 8:35

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Mark 5:20

Here comes a group of people to see what this Jesus fellow has been up to. Upon discovering that Jesus had delivered this long-afflicted man they are frightened at the demonstration of his power. Later, when the man recounted to others his story people were astonished.

These observers were not expecting that the interaction between Jesus and the previously possessed man to be different than the interaction that the many others had had with him. They expected the man to still be crying naked cutting himself amongst the tombs. Boy, were they surprised!

As an aside, notice the world’s solution to this man’s problems. They tried to bind him. They tried to tame him. What a picture of man’s attempts at self reform! It has the same results. Man can’t bind his sinful nature. Man can’t take his depraved will. Man needs the delivering work of Christ wrought in his soul if he will ever be free.

Let’s now reflect what the difference should be between the reaction of the villagers and the reaction we have to a mighty and marvelous act of Jesus. These people expected the situation to be normal; they expected things to be unchanged. When you see Christ at work in someone’s life, what do you expect?

Experience shows that when Jesus is at work things don’t remain normal. Christ changes lives. As those who have witnessed the power of our savior, should we not expect that his standard operating procedure is in the amazing? Is it not a life unchanged that we should be more troubled by?

I enjoyed this video of a presentation done by James A Rosen. I’ve tried something similar on a smaller scale and would like to see what this ended up looking like.

Carson: On the Path from Big-Ball-of-Mud to SOA

Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

Psa 119:27

People love to talk. Hours can pass by unaware when folks are engrossed in a good conversation. To support our desire to talk in November 2011 there were 331.6 million cell phone subscriptions in the US. What amazed me is there are only 311.5 million people according the the census published months earlier. People want to make sure that you can give them a ring anywhere they might be.

With all that time spent talking, let me ask you this probing question; “What are you talking about?” The psalmist desired of God to understand the word of the Lord. He declared that when he was made to understand that he would speak of the wondrous works of our awesome God. Is your dialog filled with recounting the mighty and marvelous works of the Lord?

If the answer is no then maybe it’s time for you to get back into God’s word. The more you learn about our God, the more words of praise will leave your lips and ascend unto his ear. Saturate your mind in the water of the word, so that your speech blossom with adoration for him.

Are his works not wonderful to you? Are they not worthy of your mention? What is it that you are talking about?

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:1

The apostle Paul is writing a letter to the church that was at Ephesus. As was custom, he begins by introducing who he is and who he is writing to. This is Paul’s standard letterhead; It is shared with the majority of his epistles. I imagine you would be apt to read right over this verse.

Notice though what Paul is saying. He is an apostle by the will of God. His position wasn’t his choice. Paul claimed to be the chief of sinners. Before the Lord saved Paul, he was church enemy number one. The God who saved Paul, also called him to be a apostle.

If you were to sit down to pen a letter to the church at New Canaan what is it that you would claim you are by the will of God? The same Lord that placed Paul in his position has a purpose for you as well. You have a place. You have a role. You have a ministry to perform to the glory of God.

Paul was certain that God had made him an apostle. We also don’t find where he disputed his place. Paul accepted that God had the authority to choose where he served. Have you accepted the job that God has called you to do? Have you tried to circumvent God for a duty that you’d be more inclined to?

Child of God, there is something God wants you to be. What are you by his will? How will you start your letter?

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

In the high pace time we live, tiredness is something we all have experienced. It’s likely that very recently with a frazzled countenance you proclaimed to a loved one, “I am exhausted.” Fatigue is a common, early symptom of diverse ailments. There are times in our Christian life when we are not physically taxed, but spiritually drained. Even Elijah came to a point in life where he sat sapped shaded beneath a juniper tree (1 Kings 19:4).

Aren’t you glad that as Christians we have a remedy? We can have rest. Christ offers it to us with only one requirement. We must go to him. He bids us come with the promised result of rest. Are you worn, weak, or weary? Has the circumstances and cares of life burdened you down? Do you feel depleted and spent? Then go to him and you will find rest you need.

He calls us to put on his yoke. He wants to carry the load. How do we take his yoke? We learn of him. Moreover, we learn him. The more we know him, the more we have to rest in. When we learn how he supplies us, we rest in his provisions. When we learn how he supports us, we rest strength. When we learn how he succors us, we rest in his comfort. The knowledge and understanding of our loving Lord provides us footings to rest upon.

Job feared God. When his life was turned upside down and he suffered such great loss, he could worship the LORD (Job 1). He rested in God. You can go to him. You can learn of him. You can rest in him.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

The thermometer on my car’s dash read 108 yesterday. Summer is here. It’s time to go out in the backyard and slap some steaks on the grill. Is there anything more mouthwatering than a perfectly cooked steak?

The secret to a great steak isn’t just on searing it to the right temperature. It’s in the seasoning. You might even have your own patent-pending, award winning secret sauce that you soak those slabs of beef in. It might even contain salt that melts into the meat, drawing moisture with it. Maybe you have an acid in the mix that helps to break down the complex proteins tenderizing the steak. One ingredient I’m sure you use is time. I’ve never seen a recipe for a marinade that didn’t involve time. It might be 1 hour, overnight, or somewhere between. It’s never a quick dip.

Paul is challenging us to marinade our lives with the word of God. Let it dwell. Let it linger. Let the word of God soak into our beings. Let it begin to tenderize our hearts. Let it draw in the moisture of grace and truth lest our lives begin to dry out.

Don’t just dip into it, but dive in with richness or fullness. Fully immerse yourself in the life-changing pages and allow yourselves to develop into something sweeter and well seasoned.

May you live your life consumed by the word of God.

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gal 1:4-5

The proclaimation of Abraham echo in my mind as I read the salutation that Paul inscribed to the Galations. Issac, not knowing that he was it, wanted to know where the sacrfice was for the alter they had just built. Abraham answered, “God will provide himself a lamb.” (Gen 22)

Paul reminds us that that God did just that. Our sins demanded a payment, but the price was higher than we could afford. Like Issac, we needed a sacrifice to take our place. It was through Jesus Christ that God provided himself as our lamb.

What motivated such a wonderful act? It was the will of the Father. Paul wrote to the Romans (9:23) that “he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy.”

Are you a vessel of the Father’s mercy? Have you glorified him for it today?

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:21-23

Nothing is as revealing of man’s true nature as ingratitude. Have you ever seen the horror that comes across the face of a parent who has just watched their child pitch a fit because that expensive gift was the wrong color? Why is it that we have to teach our children to say thank you? No one has to teach us how to be ungrateful.

We as Christians should be a brilliant light of thanksgiving against the black night of the world’s thanklessness. After all, we have so much to be thankful for. God has done so much for us. Yet, the danger of slipping back into the mire of unappreciation seems ever present.

Paul informs us of a group of people who knew God. These were not atheist or agnostics. They were aware of God. However, like the child of the horrified parent, they valued the gift more than the giver. They ended up worshipping images, rather than the living God. The downward spiral from vanity to foolishness all started with thanklessness.

Do you know God? Then take a moment and offer our loving Lord a bit of gratitude. Go ahead and thank God for the blessings in your life. Don’t fail to glorify him. Don’t fail to appreciate and adore him. Don’t become a fool.