What's in a Name?

The first question I had to resolve when I had decided to start blogging was a pretty tough one.

Everyone seems to have a creative blog name; so what could I use for mine?

This may seem like a fairly trivial thing, and maybe it is, but it's significant to me. Perhaps there's a level of vanity in it, but if I want to convey a message, I would prefer it to be consistent throughout the blog.

I wanted something that would reflect both me and what I was trying to show. I ran several ideas around in my head, but couldn't come to anything satisfactory.

I started with ideas based on my usual stance as the minority or dissenting opinion in most of my public discussions, but I didn't feel that such words really went very well with some of the spiritual lessons I wanted to convey.

I then decided that I wanted to use some portion of a Bible passage, but there are far too many good ones or ones that I like a lot for that to be an easy choice.

In the end I decided that the best option was one that reflected something that I believe in and covers a whole spectrum of life:

Romans 9: 16 - So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

These words are from what could be considered my favorite chapter in scripture, and what may be one of the most ignored. This verse in many ways could be considered to be a short synopsis of the point of Romans 9.

I picked it because it showcases one of the primary points of my blog, which is the total sovereignty of God. He shapes the course of the world, in every sphere, and at every level (no matter how high or low). That knowledge should change how we view and interact with the world. I am sure I will be dealing with this subject later, so I won't go into any more detail.

I hope I have now cleared up a question that no one has gotten around to asking yet!

I also hope that everyone now can see the major running theme of the blog.

It is possible that the name of the blog may change later, since that is an option, but it will only be to something that I think is more appropriate for what is covered than what it is now.