Faith...by Val

G.O.S.P.E.L.

2012-02-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

I recently posted a video that has swept the net. I've been spending some time thinking about the message of the video and have, perhaps, more questions that come to mind the more I think about it. I still admire the passion of it, but am not sure I wholeheartedly would agree with the underlying message of it. I don't think Jesus and religion pose an either/or situation. (If you read my review of Viola's Revive Us Again the portions about experiencing Christ through the body are connected to that train of though.) And, I will confess, my inner editor saw a few hiccups the first time through. But that's nitpicking ...

This one, however, never ceases to amaze me. Both in message and in craft, it is exceptionally well done.

Some powerful language for a powerful God of redemption:

"Give God His breath back. You owe Him."

The Gospel Story Bible (a review)

2012-01-16T13:11:00.001-08:00

In this cross between Bible and storybook, Marty Machowski has taken 156 stories from both the Old and New Testament and presented them in a simple, one-page format, both colorfully illustrated and with simple questions to help prompt a little deeper understanding of the story. Where Machowski differs from most children's Bible-based storybooks is that each story points clearly and intentionally to the story of Jesus - the gospel story.

In The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments Machowski chooses stories that can be read by any age group - simple enough for parents to share with younger children or beginning readers - and ends them with a short thought about how each story connects to God's larger plan of salvation through Jesus. Machowski also provides the relevant Bible passage for further reading, and 3 questions to help think through the story presented. The introduction also includes suggestions for using the Gospel Story Bible with different age groups. The publisher, New Growth Press,also has published a children's ministry curriculum as a companion to this book (not reviewed).

Beginning with creation (of course), Machowski moves through the Old and New Testament even into the epistles to show the plan of God unfolding, from the need for salvation right through to the effects of salvation in the early church stories. And each faithfully points to the person of Jesus as the culmination of God's plan. While a few statements like "Today, Jesus is our ark" may need some explanation, overall the connection is clearly and simply made.

The overall visual appeal of the book is wonderful. Full vividly colored pages with retro-feel illustrations by A.E. Macha give lots for the pre-reader to explore, and excitement to the turning pages.

While it may appear focused towards children, the Gospel Story Bible is really applicable to any age group or level of Christian believer. It makes connections through out Scripture in a rather unique way that can introduce Jesus to the new believer, or can prompt further study for the long-time Christian. It's a unique telling of the gospel story.

Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group.

Religion vs. Jesus (Spoken Word)

2012-01-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

Turbulent Days

2012-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

In looking at the life of Absalom this morning, I was directed to several of the Psalms that King David (Absalom's father) is thought to have written during the time when Absalom was rebelling against his father's leadership. Keep in mind, that this didn't just mean arguing about his curfew - Absalom was deliberately working to undermine David's position as king and to take the kingdom from him. Absalom wanted to be king, even at the cost of his dad's life. The story can be found in 2 Samuel 15 & 16.

While reading through the Psalms listed, I came across this statement in my Bible's footnotes for Psalm 63:

"His [David's] actions closely paralleled his beliefs during those turbulent days."
(NIV Life Application Study Bible, p. 891)

"Turbulent days" seems like a bit of an understatement. Rebellion on both a familial and a national level, personal and professional betrayal, running for his life - days were indeed "turbulent" for David. His own sins with Bathsheba (adultery and murder) were still bringing daily consequences to both his family and his nation.

But then this thought occurred to me - turbulent times will always reveal our true beliefs. Our actions can't NOT parallel our beliefs because under pressure, we become less aware of the facade and more focused on survival. And what we do to survive will always be based on our deepest beliefs.

We're beginning a new year. For many, 2012 is a year they are facing with real apprehension - whether because of Mayan prophecies or presidential elections or the economic situation, they are anticipating bad things in the weeks and months ahead.

And I think people's actions, just like in 2 Samuel, will reveal what they truly believe. Those who believe they are on their own and control their own destiny will be scrambling to be sure they are "okay". Whether that means bettering their financial position (money will save me) or seeking relationships (it's not what you know, it's who you know), these people will be looking for external safety.

Those that truly believe that God is sovereign will also be acting on that belief, trusting God to provide, to know what's best and to lead them day by day. You will see them step out in faith, rest in His promises and talk to Him when they don't know what else to do. And I believe you'll see both types of people within the church and outside of it. Because sometimes it takes turbulent days to reveal what you truly believe.

"Those turbulent days" revealed in the end that David fully trusted God to be his source of provision, safety and peace. They also revealed the Absalom, in spite of being popular, was foolish, self-centered and weak.

What will 2012 reveal about you?

Triple Dog Dare/Truth & Dare - devotionals for kids (a review)

2011-12-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

As parents, we want our children to learn for themselves the habit of reading God's Word and for putting what they learn into practice. Two new devotionals aim to do just that - Truth or Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Girls by Ann-Margaret Hovsepian, and Triple Dog Dare: One Year of Dynamic Devotions for Boys by Jeremy V. Jones.

Both published by David C. Cook, these books aim to not just encourage the habit of devotions but also to encourage the living of devotion. Each includes a Scripture passage for the day, a short application idea, a place for response or thoughts, and a couple tips for making it happen. Some of these are entertaining, like "Tell your buddies to punch you in the arm if you complain about a teacher" in the devotional about respecting authority, others are more involved like the Weekend project ideas that include art, activities or action ideas. Both versions include fun graphics, pages marked with days of the week to help stay on track and an interesting range of topics that are applied to every day situations.

Truth or Dare, the girls' edition, makes more use of visual elements, like puzzles, graphs or charts that can be filled in, the boys' less so. A non-reader may find the boy's version a little less compelling in this respect because it looks more word-heavy, and the font on the devotionals is quite small in comparison to the rest of the page. But if used with some parental involvement, the ideas are definitely geared to boys. Another small consideration is that while there is plenty of room to write responses and ideas, the paperback binding makes putting this into practice a little awkward as the book doesn't want to lay open.

Both devotionals cover a range of topics and all are handled discreetly and appropriately for the age groups. Overall, I give them two thumbs up!

Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.

Hallelujah Chorus from Quinhagak, Alaska

2011-11-17T16:15:00.000-08:00

Having grown up in a place with decided winters, this project makes me smile for a multitude of reasons!

Mixed greens for a healthy diet

2011-08-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

In my career as a freelance writer, I've interviewed a number of dieticians and nutritionists, and when talking about healthy living, a topic that comes up often is vegetables. In fact, the very first article I ever wrote was called "Is Salad Ruining Your Diet?".

Did you know that 1 cup of iceberg lettuce only has 8 calories? But eating only iceberg lettuce won't give you all the nutrition you need for a healthy body. Mixed greens (and, of course, other food groups) may have more calories but they also carry a variety of trace minerals for better overall health. And in my opinion, some of the other varieties of lettuce taste better too.

How does that relate to my spiritual health?

I was reading in Hebrews 10 and came across this passage where the author (generally assumed to be the apostle Paul) is encouraging the church to persevere in their faith. And it struck me as a funny co-incidence that much of his advice begins with "let us". (I don't think it's much of a strain to hear this as "lettuce", do you?)

So what are the "let us"s that Paul recommends? Is there a mixed greens component to the Christian life?

1. "Let us draw near to God ..." (vs. 22)

This should be so obvious it doesn't need explaining but let me just expand a little. As a Christ-follower, we need to be near to Christ so that we see who we are following, where He is leading us, and what He is leading us to do. Being near to God is being in close communication with Him so that we are attuned to His voice and direction. How do we draw near to God? Through regular time with Him - reading His word (the Bible), talking to Him through prayer, and listening for what He has to say.

2. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess ... " (vs. 23)

God is faithful and when we hold on to His promises for us, we hold onto the God that made them, too. Which in turn helps us draw near - see how this works? :)

3. "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds ... " (vs. 24)

I like this section - Paul is saying "Let's be deliberate about encouraging each other to live the life Christ called us to." Let's think about how we can prompt each other forward in living out our faith. And I think one of the ways we do that is in the section that follows:

4. "Let us not give up meeting together ... " (vs. 25)

We can't be "spurring one another on" if we're not spending time with one another. Paul goes on to mention some people of his time that were "in the habit" of not getting together. I doubt he meant just getting together for lunch a couple times a year. I think it includes church on Sunday (or Wednesday or whatever day your church meets) too.

Do you have to go to church to be a Christian? No. But you lose some of those "trace minerals" of the Christian life by not being there. No church is perfect but every Bible-teaching church builds qualities of Christ that we can't experience anywhere else.

Author Frank Viola makes an interesting discussion of the ways God communicates, one of which is through His body (the church). He paraphrases 1 Corinthians 12:6 as follows: "The one true God speaks through a variety of different ways via His one body." Viola goes on to say "...Christ never reveals his whole mind through an individual. It takes a body of believers to lay hold of his mind together." (Revive Us Again, p. 23) Imagine all we benefit from worshiping and learning and doing life together.

5. "Let us encourage one another ... " (vs. 25b)

I find it interesting that Paul says we should be together at the starting point (spurring each other on) and at the finish line. As believers together, we are asked to keep each other focused on the task of "love and good deeds" (vs. 24) but also be there to cheer each other on as they happen. Yet another benefit that we would never get alone.

So, if our goal is a healthy and vibrant Christian life, Paul provides the "grocery list" of things that will help us grow in our faith and grow together as Christ's body. It's a matter of not just surviving as a Christian but of choosing to thrive as a Christian. "Lettuce" do our best to keep these things in mind as we work through each day.

Flight Plan (a book review)

2011-06-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation has started and that means that, for many people, the reading list gets beefed up as people anticipate some leisure time either home or away. For those in ministry, it can also include having some time to look ahead to fall ministries in a variety of age ranges.

Flight Plan: Your Mission to Become A Man would fit either situation. For a dad that wants to be intentional about leading his boys to manhood, or for a ministry worker that wants a solid program for the young men in their care, Flight Plan offers a solid "field guide" for covering topics relevant to growing boys today.

As a mom, I like the information they present, the "boy-centric approach" and the level of integrity they encourage in both men and men-to-be. Covering issues from making smart choices to understanding risky ones, physical growth to spiritual growth, Flight Plan uses practical illustrations to explain concepts that could, if not handled in a setting of interaction, fly right over the head of some boys. For example, in talking about drugs and alcohol, authors Burns and Brady use the idea of a high-power engine. In a BMW, with an experienced driver, the risk is much lower than if that same engine was put in a go cart and given to a new driver. They compare boys' growing bodies to the vehicle, pointing out how there is a difference in the ways a teen body and an adult body will react to drugs or alcohol. (And they aren't encouraging using drugs or alcohol, by the way.) They also offer very practical recommendations for responsible behavior, like not having internet access in a bedroom to minimize the risk of getting involved in pornography.

This book is designed to be used in a group setting - offering discussion questions and different application scenarios at the end of each chapter. For younger groups (middle school), it would probably be best to offer excerpts in a group setting as the book itself is rather text-heavy according to many teen resources today, although photos and bullet points to help lighten it slightly. For high school or college ages, it would work very well as a complete participation study. It would also be a fantastic resource for a parent and child study at home.

With a mix of Scripture, familiar examples and peer input from well-known public figures, Flight Plan provides a wealth of material to guide boys to manhood.

Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group.

Revive Us Again (a review)

2011-06-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

While on a long flight last week, I took out Frank Viola's "Revive Us Again: Living From a Renewed Christian Script."

Viola explains in his introduction that "I expect that during the course of your reading, you will say in your heart, "But of course!"" and for much of the book that was the case. Things that were frequent observations, or accepted traditions, are examined with a fresh eye to the practical ways those thoughts or habits might play out in the church - for good or for bad.

For example, Viola looks at the notion of claiming "The Lord told me":

"What I'm addressing here is the tendency of many Christians to announce that God has told them something ... I've routinely watched God get credit for things that He never authored and blamed for things He never imagined."

With a blend of Scriptural examples and practical insight, Viola goes on to point out that in the New Testament, people don't talk like that. And neither should we. Or how often have we heard (or said) "I'll pray about it." What does it typically mean? Nothing. Viola specifically avoids judging people but does point out that we need to take responsibility for the statements we make. In each chapter, he goes on to address other key areas where similar traditions or habits might need a careful re-examination.

As suggested by the legal pad cover design, the writing is clear and, in spite of a couple strained analogies, straight forward and generally easy to follow. With a clear outline and plenty of Scripture to back up his observations, Viola takes a good look at the cliches of the Christian life and challenges us to walk (and talk) intentionally into the life God has for us as believers.

Highly recommend.

Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.

The Fitting Room (a review)

2011-05-05T21:58:00.000-07:00

I've just finished reading "The Fitting Room: Putting on the Character of Christ" by Kelly Minter and found it to be a refreshing look at the "virtues" of the Christian life. Drawing her list from Colossians 3:12, Minter examines not just the thought-to-be-holy aspects of peace, forgiveness, compassion, kindness, humility, patience and joy, but also looks at the day to day evidence of a life that is expressing these virtues. Her approach is practical, often humorous and really gives a taste of how these virtues will look as day wear, and not just as characteristics of Christ to be reserved for Sunday use.

Minter promises (and keeps her promise) not to flog the makeover analogy to death but really hits the fact that these are not outer transformation when she says, "I've realized ... There is simply no way to detach my heart from my actions, especially when it comes to the characteristics of Jesus." She is frank about some of her own heart failings and provides discussion questions to try to encourage a thoughtful examination of our own motives or challenges in living a Christ-centered life which will produce these characteristics as an outgrowth of the inner reality.

"The Fitting Room" is not a heavy read but will leave you with a sense of purpose and a better understanding of a life made over to the Master Designer.

Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.

Every nation, every tongue

2011-03-10T19:52:00.001-08:00

A friend forwarded this video taken the day the Word of God arrived in Papua in the Kimyal language. How beautiful to see.

Cleanliness is next to ...

2011-02-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a great housekeeper. (My husband would be the second to admit it.) We don't live in squalor or anything, but I do typically live with what I refer to as a visual filing system. So this quote tickled my funny bone:

Cleanliness becomes more important when godliness is unlikely. - P.J. O'Rourke

Is it odd to find this comforting in a convoluted sort of way? :)

Amazing Grace by Josh Wilson

2011-02-24T23:12:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I posted here, but for today I want to share an amazing rendition of Amazing Grace. I was fortunate enough to see Josh Wilson live last weekend and loved his version of this wonderful hymn.

Who's in your manger?

2010-12-25T21:59:00.000-08:00

One of the central images of the Christmas season is the nativity with the infant Jesus lying in his small manger. It's generally depicted as a sweet family moment with Mary and Joseph looking on, wise men and shepherds gazing in and possibly an angel hovering overhead.

Our church this year did a Christmas drama that took a look at the things that a lot of people currently think about Christmas. Everything from the "good message" of morals to the bah-humbug approach were parodied among a group of mall store owners and customers. It was a fun evening of enjoyable characters.
As I watched, though, it occurred to me that what really was taking place was that those people were trying to put something else in the manger. And in each of those characters I saw someone I know, someone trying to avoid the question of who the event of Christmas is for. I suspect its often because if they really were to acknowledge that that baby was the Incarnate God, life might get very uncomfortable for them. If that was truly God, the things He has to say about their life might mean they'd have to change something. And so they take the warm fuzzies of the season but don't want to step too close to see who is actually in that manger. So reindeer and elves and snowmen and grinches and penguins and polar bears and family and generosity fill the holidays and give them the illusion of celebrating the season without having to examine the Christmas story.

But not everyone wants to avoid the Christmas story.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 8-12)

The shepherds, on getting the news of the manger rushed off to see if it were true. This was a promise they had been hearing about all their lives. And to think it might be true! And in the manger, they found the child.

Throughout the Bible, we see that this baby has a variety of names and roles. But none of those names is St. Nick.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23, quoting Isaiah 7:14)

Immanuel - God With Us. I think it's the most exciting and the most terrifying of God's names. Exciting because God came to be with us. Because He loved us so much He would do whatever it took to be with us. Terrifying because a mighty God can ask anything He wants of me. I suspect God came as a child to help us not be overwhelmed by the fear of a very present God. Usually the appearance of angels or God himself began with a "fear not", and probably for good reason. But make no mistake - Jesus came because He passionately loves you, and wanted to provide a way to be with you forever. That baby is also your Saviour, the only one able to take your sin away and promise a future of hope and purpose.

So my prayer for you this Christmas is that you see Jesus in the manger - God with us - and come to know him as the reason for your season.

Merry Christmas!

Show don't tell

2010-12-12T09:02:00.001-08:00

One of the basic maxims of the writing life is "Show, don't tell." It's often the difference between a writer that can succeed in the writing profession and the one that just never quite makes it.

Today I came across this verse:

"You show that you are a letter from Christ ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." -2 Corinthians 3:3

I suspect that, like writers, our effectiveness in sharing the hope and miracle of Christ's offer of salvation lies in our ability to show, not tell. Words alone may not convince another person of the difference Christ can make. But a life turned over to him on a daily basis can't fail to make the message heard.

Who?

2010-11-29T18:07:00.000-08:00

A friend posted a great thought and I wanted to pass it along:

"God is not who you think He is;
He is who He says He is."

Have you taken the time to find out what He says?

Beautiful - by Mercy Me

2010-11-27T00:31:00.001-08:00

A toothbrush experience

2010-10-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, I was at a fun ladies evening that involved, among other things, chocolate and a panel of four very funny women. I don't even remember what the panel's topic was that evening but at some point, one of the panel members began extolling the virtues of ... her toothbrush. In this particular setting, is was just part of the fun even though she had no particular point to make about the toothbrush except that she REALLY liked it. Quirky, but cute.

I thought of her toothbrush a few times over the next few days. Not because I was thinking of trying the toothbrush but mostly because it struck me as a funny thing to get so excited over. I've been brushing my teeth for many, many years and never had a toothbrush that I felt the need to mention to anyone. It got the job done and that was enough.

Until my dentist gave me one of "her" toothbrushes at my next semi-annual check up. Again, without much though I went home and switched the new toothbrush for my old one. But the next morning, I got a surprise. Everything she had said about this toothbrush was true! It really was a unique sensation to use it and it did a spectacular job. It has become my favorite toothbrush, too!

Oddly enough, her toothbrush also came to mind as I sat in a conference about the Holy Spirit. There was no hype, no over emotionalism, but as the speaker began to share the experience of the Holy Spirit and the Biblical truths of the Spirit, I kept thinking about that toothbrush.

Why?

Because many, many Christians feel the same way about the Holy Spirit as I did about that lady's toothbrush. I thought I had shared the same experience, I thought I understood what she was talking about and I didn't see the reason for the excitement. So I went on with life until the day I really experienced her brand of toothbrush. Not just the usual, run-of-the-mill toothbrush, but one with a truly unique design and application.

So often, we think our experience of the Holy Spirit is the same as everyone else's. We think we understand His work in our life. And when someone has a different experience, we don't get it. It seems unwarranted, or, even worse, un-Biblical. We think they're just experiencing "the tingles." And we walk away, content to live in our run-of-the-mill understanding of the Holy Spirit's work and presence in our lives.

Now, I know the toothbrush comparison is a fanciful one. I'm sure most people will get through life just fine without knowing about this particular brand of toothbrush and will still have teeth left to smile with. And I'm sure, too, that most people in life will get through not missing a personal, real time experience of the Holy Spirit. Or content to let the God-in-us relationship will remain a nodding acquaintance instead of a dynamic partnership.

But maybe we need to be open to the idea that there's something more that's actually worth getting excited about. Maybe, just maybe, the unique role of the Holy Spirit is something we've been missing. I'd encourage you to start digging around and see what God's Word has to say about this part of his character.

I suspect it will become something truly unique and worth getting excited about.

Symmetry in the Psalms

2010-09-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

I was reading last night in the Psalms and came across an absolute delight of literary construction. The Psalms are special that way - they are a unique collection of what might be called journal entries - songs and snippets, with some "diary days" thrown in where the psalmist simply opens his heart and spills it all out. But there are a special few that are a delight because the very purposeful structure adds additional layers to the message. Psalm 132 is one of these "purposeful poems".

Psalm 132

A song of ascents.

O LORD, remember David
and all the hardships he endured.

He swore an oath to the LORD
and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
"I will not enter my house or go to my bed-
I will allow no sleep to my eyes,
no slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."

We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
"Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool-
arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may your saints sing for joy."
For the sake of David your servant,
do not reject your anointed one.

The LORD swore an oath to David,
a sure oath that he will not revoke:
"One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne-

if your sons keep my covenant
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne for ever and ever."

For the LORD has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling

"This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-

I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor will I satisfy with food.

I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her saints will ever sing for joy.

"Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.

I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but the crown on his head will be resplendent."

Watch what happens when you divide this poem and sit the first and second half side by side.

This psalm becomes a conversation between David and God. In verse 2, it says "He [David] swore an oath to the Lord..." and verse 11 responds, "The Lord swore an oath to David..."

Verse 5 speaks of David's search for "a place for the Lord" and verse 13 assures him "the LORD has chosen Zion ..."

Verse 8 invites God to come to his resting place and verse 14 answers "This is my resting place for ever and ever..."

Verse 9 expresses David's hope for God's home "May your priests be clothed with righteousness, may your saints sing for joy" and God answers "I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints will ever sing for joy."

Verse 10 asks for God to remember David; Verse 17 assures him the promises God made to him will be filled.

What does this psalm demonstrate to us? Through its form and through its theme, it is a reminder to us that will we are asking, hoping and praying for God's will in our lives, He is also at work to fill the many promises he has made us.

Psalm 132 is undeniably a thing of beauty.

A thought for the day(s)

2010-09-09T16:45:00.001-07:00

Saw this in a friend's tag line and loved it:

Love Generously,
Care Deeply,
Speak Kindly

& Leave the Rest to God

In a nutshell

2010-09-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we make faith complicated. But there are two simple principles that can govern every action, every thought, every motive of our every day lives. It's this:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. One these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37

That's it. Easy to do? No. Not if I hold every thought, every action, every motive up to this standard. But it's hard to say I don't understand when it's been made this simple, isn't it?

Freedom in Christ

2010-08-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

Living in America we hear a lot about freedom. Being thankful for freedom, fighting for freedom, honoring those who paid the price for our freedom. It's a freedom that sometimes we celebrate while forgetting the price that was paid for it. And one of the ironies of that freedom is how many people take it as license to do many things that run contrary to the freedom they enjoy. They live the freedom but they won't acknowledge the responsibility that comes with it.

Christians too, talk about freedom. Freedom through grace. Freedom from the penalties of sin. Freedom from the law (of the Old Testament). It's a freedom that should be celebrated. Christ's death and resurrection on the cross paid the ultimate price so that we could be free from sin and back in a relationship with the God that created and loves us.

But the price of that freedom isn't simply a license to carry on with no consequences. Paul says in Acts 6:1, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

My concern sometimes is that we, as Christ followers, forget that we still have the responsibility that comes with freedom. But it's not always black and white. Our behavior, our choices still carry some eternal consequences even though we may have the freedom in Christ to do them. While we have no law that forbids them, they can still be sin. And we have the responsibility of being an example to others even while we live in freedom.

"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols?" (1 Corinthians 8:9-10)

Paul is addressing a specific action here but what if we substitute some other choices?

For if anyone sees you _________, won't he be convinced he can __________? (lose your temper, sit in a bar, talk negatively about your pastor, watch an R-rated movie, ...)

Why is this a problem?

"... So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ." (1 Corinthians 8:11-12, emphasis mine)

Ouch.

Let's keep in mind that our freedom in Christ, just like our freedom as citizens of free countries, still carries with it a responsibility to point people to Christ. Let's exercise our freedom accordingly.

Succeeding (on God's terms)

2010-07-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

I was able to visit a favorite church of mine recently and the pastor was speaking on the life of Joseph. As part of the service, we got to this verse:

"... the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:23b)

Well, isn't that nice for Joseph.

But stop for a minute and look at where Joseph is experiencing this success.

He's in jail. He has grown up in a highly dysfunctional family, been sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused of attacking his boss's wife and now sits in jail, working for the warden. He had been responsible and trustworthy and given great responsibilities. But even then, every time it looked like things might be leveling out for Joseph - WHAM! Life smacked him again.

Had Joseph done anything wrong? No. Perhaps he'd been foolish about a few things (see Genesis 37: 5-11) but he hadn't sinned. And yet he still found himself destitute, working for a jail warden, with nothing and no one to rely on but God.

And this was God's idea of success for Joseph.

What can Joseph's story mean for us? Sometimes we feel like we are just getting smacked around by circumstances. It's one blow after another and we don't see how God could possibly be working. (Or we just wish He'd pick another way.) But I would encourage you to have hope. God is still with you as he was always with Joseph (Genesis 39:21). Your very reliance on him counts as success.

If you read on in Joseph's story, God was uniquely positioning Joseph and preparing him to lead the entire country of Egypt, along with its neighbors, through a long period of famine. Joseph's position let him save his family (the future tribes of Israel) by being able to provide for them, and let him be reunited with them.

Who knows? God may be preparing you for your greatest achievements yet. Trust Him to have your success in His hands.

Joseph's family story is a fascinating one, with all the twists and turns you could imagine from any afternoon soap opera. If you want to dig further, read Genesis 27-37 & 39-47. Whew! That was a family that knew drama!

Before The Morning (Josh Wilson)

2010-06-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

A large canvas...

2010-06-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

"... We often forget that God is painting on a large canvas. He sees the big picture. We only see what's happening to us at the moment. That's why God allows events to come into our lives—good things and bad things; things that make sense and things that don't.

What you and I may think is harmful and destructive God can use for our good ... He will allow nothing to happen to us that isn't first filtered through His screen of protection."
-Micca Monda Cambell, 6-11-10 for Proverbs 31 Ministries

Overcoming evil (not Hollywood style)

2010-06-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks again to Rick Green at Organized Doodles for this "picture translation."

Taking Him at His word

2010-05-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

There's a remarkable story in the book of John where dad comes to Jesus begging for his son's life.

Once more he [Jesus] visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."
Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."
Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed. (John 4:46-53)

Part of what was miraculous about this story is that this was only Jesus' second miracle (verse 54). There had not been time for His reputation to spread through the area. No healing had been noted so far. Just a case of wine at a wedding. What prompted this man to believe Jesus could save his son?

I'm sure there were a number of reasons. But here, in my opinion, is the real miracle.

The man took Jesus at his word (verse 50). Then he left. That was enough for him. And he got home to find his son whole again.

What would happen if we took Jesus at his word? Here's just a start:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ... But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:22-23, 31)
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15)
...if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

I'd encourage you today to find out what Jesus has said. And then take Him at his word.

"I have heard..."

2010-05-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

"In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

"Yes, Lord," he answered.

The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard..." (Acts 9:10-13a)

When I was reading through this passage the other day, I had to stop right there. Think of the number of responses that can follow this phrase. I realized that in spite of the number of times I've read this chapter, I expected an "I have heard and I'm off to do what you asked," or "I have heard and I'm on it." Something like that.

Ananias chose a very human response. He did not take the attitude "to hear is to obey." Ananias had something he had to clear up with God first.

"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."(vs. 13)

Ananias had just heard from God. A one-on-one, personal message from the Lord. But he did not respond in the manner of Samuel who answered "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10). The voices he was paying attention to at that moment were those bearing the rumors, the news stories, the updates and all the bad news. Not surprising, really, is it though? After all, this chapter begins with Saul "breathing out murderous threats." Ananias had to be very well aware that he was one of the people Saul had permission to imprison or to kill. Whether he was thinking of the risk to himself or just reminding God what was at stake, Ananias had to verify God's request.

"Lord ... I have heard many reports about this man..."

("God, are you sure?")

The good news is that Ananias obeyed. I'm guessing it was probably one of the most difficult things he had to do in his lifetime, even with God's assurance. (Although if you read on, he had quite a time convincing the other disciples not to be afraid of Saul.) And yet, look how his obedience changed the world for all time. Saul went on to become the disciple Paul and one of the most fearless leaders of the early church!

What's the lesson to us?

I think it's this - Ask if you must, but ultimately, go. And you never now how God will use your obedience to change the world.

An old message a new way (Tamara Lowe)

2010-04-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Perspective for today

2010-04-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

"Our weakness and frailty are not merely places of desolation; they are dance floors—holy places where the God of the universe is allowed to freely move in our lives." Mary E. DeMuth

Read the entire article around this quote at Proverbs 31 Ministries

Is Easter nonsense?

2010-04-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

Today marked the end of another Easter season. Churches everywhere sang their songs, presented their pageants, put on their plays and coordinated their choirs. On this day, more than any other, the message of Christ's death and life is shared around the world. And for many people, this Easter Sunday marked the beginning of a new journey as they realized the personal power that Christ's death and resurrection has for them. What an exciting time to celebrate!!

As I was reading through Luke's account of that first resurrection day, I was struck by a phrase I'd never noticed before:

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (Luke 24:1-11, emphasis mine)

I, too, sang in an Easter choir today and I joyed in the power of the resurrection as I sang of the hope and promise that God has given me. Easter Sunday is really the day that makes the difference of eternity. If Jesus hadn't risen from the dead, he'd really be just another dead man. That's it. But his sacrificial death and then his defeat of death mean that we can be truly and forever reconciled with the God that loves us so much He made a way to pay for the sin that separates us from Him.

But how many people sit in churches and to them it just sounds like nonsense? The proof isn't convincing. The words they hear don't seem to fit the facts as they know them. The lives they see around them in that church may or may not fit the expectations they have of people of faith. And they leave thinking it's just nonsense. Maybe the family member or neighbor that came with you left that way. Maybe you're the one that walked out unconvinced.

But that doesn't mean the end of the story.

Let's face it - even the disciples thought it didn't make sense. When Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and the other women came running back with a story of angels and an empty tomb, the disciples - those who had hear Jesus in person explain and predict his death and resurrection - didn't believe it. I doubt those women changed their mind. They had experienced it. The disciples hadn't. Luke even tells us Peter went and checked it out but he didn't go away convinced. He went away wondering what had happened. And who can blame him? It's a pretty mind-blowing reality to have to grasp. It had never happened before in history and has never happened since.

Here's the exciting part though - by the end of the chapter, they believed.

Why?

Because they met Jesus. They saw him, talked with him, spent time with him. They could no longer deny the experience of others because they'd come face to face with the risen Jesus for themselves. And they, too, became so convinced that that "nonsense" was reality that many of them later gave their own lives to share that truth with others.

My prayer today is that anyone that left an Easter service today, unable to believe because it didn't make sense to them, will still meet Jesus. That anyone that didn't go because it was nonsense will still meet Jesus. Come face to face with the message of the cross and be able to see it's promise for them. Because when you truly meet Jesus, "nonsense" makes perfect sense. The things we don't understand take on a whole new significance as he speaks to our hearts and shows us what we've been missing. It is the moment when we, too, can respond to the power of the risen Lord in confidence and trust.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Prayer time

2010-03-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

I often find it hard to keep a regular prayer time going. My intentions are good but my results are not. What results? Not God's results - He has moved in some mighty and amazing ways and I am awed on those times when my prayers have been part of the process. No, the result I most often miss is the part where I listen to hear back from God. It's so easy to go to him with my list of requests and problems and even the occasional demands but how often do I wait to hear what the answer might be?

Not as often as I should. If I talked to my family the way I talk to God sometimes, there's be major trouble at my house. Those relationships would eventually just fall apart.

So it's refresher time.

What is prayer? Prayer is just talking to God. But it's not supposed to be just talking AT God. It's a conversation. A favorite verse of mine is found in Jeremiah:

"Pray to me and I will answer you..." (Jeremiah 33:3a)

Pray to me? Got it. There will be an answer? Oh. So if I don't hear an answer, maybe it's because I didn't take the time to listen.

Sometimes, when people pray, the answer to prayer comes before the prayer is finished:

"Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out..." (Genesis 24:45)

Of course, I know that God's answer may take time to come. Or I may not recognize it as an answer - particularly if it isn't what I wanted. But how often do we miss the answer because we've just rushed our Amens and walked away? Take some time to wait for an answer. Or at least to give God some space in the conversation.

What else can I expect from prayer? How about knowledge? The verse from Jeremiah above goes on:

'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jeremiah 33:3, emphasis mine)

Maybe a miracle?

"Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls..."
(Genesis 20:17)

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." (Acts 16:25-31 - two miracles!)

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

Maybe the assurance that God is listening:

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray." (James 5:13)

"He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea." (Psalm 102:17)

Maybe it's just about obedience.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18, emphasis mine)

"... in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6b)

There are so many reasons to pray. So let's make our conversation with God just that - two way communication - and see what He will do with, for, in and through us.

Martin Luther said, "As it is the business of tailors to make clothes, and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray."

Let's get to work.

Knowledge & belief

2010-03-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

"Human knowledge must be understood to be believed.

Divine knowledge must be believed to be understood."
- Unknown

For a change of pace ...

2010-03-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

... NewWorldSon's "Salvation Station/Borderline." And check out the Horns!

Psalm 150 as a word cloud

2010-02-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

Gone fishing?

2010-02-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been on a beautiful beach but as you get closer to the waterline you see that what's washing up isn't shells and natural wonders, it's dead fish and garbage? Or watched a deep sea diving show only to see boat ruins and trash littering the ocean floor? Or seen the cliche of the fisherman that pulls up an old boot or a tire instead of fish?

Today, those images were brought home to me through Mary Southerland's devotional when she mentioned this verse:

"Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean" (Micah 7:19, NLT)

Are you a "fisher"? Do you go trolling in your past for the sins you've committed or the regrets that you have, constantly bringing them to the surface again? It's a problem many of us face. And it's a powerful tool that Satan can use. We know that God has forgiven all our sins when we confess them to him but we still let them bog us down, snag our joy and tangle our todays. Instead of sailing ahead into God's plan for us, we're snarled in the "swill" behind us.

Today, will you take this challenge with me? Will you meet those sins with the truth of God's word? Instead of revisiting old sins that cannot be changed except through the blood of Christ, turn them over to God and then take Him at His word. Meet Satan with the truth of God's promises. Then sail on.

^"...but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back." Isaiah 38:17b

"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." Isaiah 43:25

"...as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12

Why Did God Give Us Emotions? (a book review)

2010-01-29T22:22:00.000-08:00

In reading through Why Did God Give Us Emotions?: A biblical perspective on what science has discovered about emotionsI have found it to be a much deeper book that originally expected. Author Reneau Peurifoy gives a complete overview of the different aspects of emotions - physical, spiritual, etc - while also putting them in the context of Christian beliefs (or misconceptions).

It is this combination that makes this book stand out from the rest. There are many resources that deal with happiness or anxiety or small slices of the emotional spectrum but few of them are written to address such a complete and balanced view of the role God gave emotions to play in our lives, and do so with a balance of medical knowledge and Biblical insight. Peurifoy also provides some good cautions about relying too much on emotions while giving some very practical exercises and examples of where our emotions can be trusted and where they can become a false guide.

I would not say this book is light reading, if you plan to use it the way Peurifoy intends it with a journal and exercises to put each chapter into a working and potentially life-balancing practice. But as someone that has struggled with an anxiety disorder in the past, I can only say I wish I'd found this book years ago.

Highly recommend.

Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.

Crucified with Christ (by Rick Green)

2010-01-25T11:19:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Rick at Organized Doodles for sharing this.

Jesus is ... soap?

2010-01-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

The Bible is full of images of Jesus - shepherd, Savior, lamb, provider, protector, avenger, the way, redeemer and more. But when was the last time you thought of God as soap?

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. Malachi 3: 1-2 (emphasis mine)

Fire and soap? Isn't God amazing? How else could we say:

"Wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 57:1b

Whiter whites and brighter brights. That's my Jesus.

Star Search

2010-01-14T22:25:00.000-08:00

I love to watch stars. And this may seem like an obvious statement but the best time to see stars is at night. At night, preferably away from a city. In fact, the darker it is, the more stars you see. In the absolute blackness of the country or the mountains, the sheer number of stars is breathtaking.

Of course, there's the other kind of stars - the people that have achieved fame and renown in a particular field (like sports) or industry (like acting). They, too, can be dazzling, and it can be easy to look at their lives with a measure of envy. People go to great lengths to join their ranks - you only have to look as far as open auditions, game shows or reality television.

The Bible mentions the stars around us too. Sometimes it means those placed in the heavens by God's hands. But sometimes it's something else entirely.

Daniel 12:3 says, "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. "

And in Philippians 2:14-16, we are urged "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life ... "

What does this mean? God's on a star search. He's looking for people that will shine as things get darker around them. That will glow with His purpose and his light regardless of their circumstances. That will light the way for those around them and lead them to the source of their light.

Will you shine for Him?

Chronological Study Bible (a review)

2010-01-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

There are many, many types of study Bibles available and each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. But The Chronological Study Bible: New King James Versionby Thomas Nelson provides a rich, multi-layered way to explore God's Word.

As the name suggests, the Chronological Study Bible orders the books of the Bible according to their place in history - or at least as closely as the writers were able to place them. They state quite frankly that some books or passages are difficult to place accurately, or that some are open to debate. But seeing how the various passages link together gives some fresh insights into the cultures and situations these books were addressing.

One of the real strengths of this Bible is the types of information it provides. Insets liberally scattered throughout add to the picture by addressing food & drink, architecture & building, industry, politics & government, geography & environment, science & technology, health & medicine, and beliefs & ideas of the relevant times and cultures. These snippets give some remarkable insights into the related passages.

Also included are transition areas - information that helps bridge the move from one passage to another. Time lines and time capsules, non-Biblical historical documents and much more information is provided throughout. Color maps and illustrations also add to the context of the Biblical passages. And, of course, there are plenty of indexes, topical studies and a concordance available as well.

The topical references become invaluable as sometimes different commentary sections will cover the same passage but with a slightly different focus. The net result is that it's hard to be sure you've found all the relevant material in just reading through the passage and the surrounding information. But through the many tools offered in this Bible, you will be sure to find much to add to your understanding of the passage you're studying. I might also add a couple different translations (NKJV is a more literal or word-for-word translation) just to round out some word studies or concept passages.

Overall, this is a tool that will help you dig deep into your Bible study. I might not recommend it as a daily reading Bible just because there is so much material that it's easy to get distracted from the actual passage, but as a study tool I would place the Chronological Study Bible high on the recommended list.

*This review was written through the Thomas Nelson Blogger review program. The Chronological Study Bible was supplied for review purposes but no other compensation was provided.

Waiting to see

2009-12-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

My favorite Christmas story is not found in the beginning of Luke 2. While I enjoy the story of the shepherds and the manger scene, this part of the story is my absolute favorite:

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." (Luke 2:15-38, NIV)

Two years ago, I was also waiting to see at Christmas time. After years of being very shortsighted, I finally scheduled a lasik procedure and was in the pre-operative time frame where I had to wear my heavy, thick glasses for a few weeks. Without my glasses, I could see nothing of the lights and colors of the season - just a massive blur around me. With my glasses, I could see, but I also felt the burden of that ability. My nose hurt and my ears ached from the weight of those "lightweight" lenses. But the excitement of knowing that was going to change gave me the patience to go through that season of waiting. It was going to be a thrilling moment when I could see without any help again.

Both Simeon and Anna had been waiting for a special moment, too. For years, they had felt the burden of their nation's sin and their nation's oppression. For years, they had hoped for the redeemer God had promised through the prophets. For years, they had watched and waited.

And they had to know it wouldn't be long now. Simeon had been told he would live to see the Christ and he knew he was closer to the end of his life than the beginning. Anna, living at the temple for many, many years, also waited for this momentous occasion.

How often do you suppose they scanned the crowds that went through the temple each day, wondering if this might be the day? The temple was a busy place, with animals, worshipers, priests and merchants all crowding around doing business. (Remind you of malls at this time of year?) How often do you suppose they searched the faces around them, waiting for that nudge that told them this was the one?

And then they saw. I am sure that they were among the few that did. But Anna recognized the child of this humble couple as the redemption of Jerusalem. Simeon, prompted by the Spirit, met him and praised God for him: "My eyes have seen your salvation." All their hopes were realized in one eight-day-old child visiting the temple because they recognized the One they had been looking for.

And, really, that sums up my prayer for you this Christmas. I pray that in all the hustle and bustle, the people and the noise, the business and the pleasure that you will see those moments of eternal significance; that you will see the child in the manger and recognize Him for who He is; that you will recognize the love that prompted such an amazing story. And that you, too, will say to God "My eyes have seen your salvation..."

Merry Christmas.

Two Stan Toler books (a review)

2009-12-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

Stan Toler is a story teller. And nowhere is it more apparent than in this pair of his books, God Has Never Failed Me, But...: He's Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Timesand The Buzzards Are Circling, But...: God's Not Finished with Me Yet. Each book is filled with stories, quotes and snippets that illustrate the challenges and sometimes laughable dilemmas we can get find ourselves facing.

Toler's writing is light, engaging and an easy read even though the topics he covers may not always be so. My only difficulty, if I was to name one, is that sometimes there are so many stories, they jump from one to the next without maintaining any tangible connection to the topic of the chapter. On occasion it reads more like a Coffee Perks, or one of those snippets-and-quotes papers you find in a diner and it becomes a conscious effort to remember what he is talking about.

But on the whole, both books are worth the read simply because they do treat life with an eye to the humorous that can be found in any situation. And sometimes we have to be able to just laugh at the ironies of life.

Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.

Past sins

2009-12-02T22:34:00.000-08:00

At Bible Study tonight we were in Genesis 44, the story of Joseph and a trap he laid for his brothers. There are a lot of things to learn from that story (and a couple things I have questions about) but this verse struck me tonight. Judah is answering on behalf of his brothers when Joseph tells them they are free to go if Benjamin becomes his slave as the penalty for having stolen a cup. And Judah replies:

'We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.' (verse 20, emphasis mine)

Here's the thing - in today's terms this was a pretty dysfunctional family. Four mothers, twelve brothers, one father and all the rivalry you could imagine tossed in at both the parental and the sibling level. One of the ramifications of this tension was that one day, in a white hot rage, the brothers sold Joseph as a slave.

I cannot imagine that they thought Joseph would have survived the trip with the men that bought him, or even if he did, that he would have survived for twenty years in slavery. That day, they didn't care. Slaves were a commodity, and were not likely to get the best food, the best treatment, the best chances at living to a ripe age. And so to their minds, after twenty years, Joseph was dead. Period.

They watched their father grieve, watched him turn to Joseph's brother to be the favored son, watched how protective he was of Benjamin and eventually had to argue for their very survival against the strength of that one relationship. For twenty years, they had lived with their choice from that desert day. It would seem that they never shared that secret with their parents, but by the time they stood before Joseph, they'd been carrying that guilt for a long time. And they've run out of excuses,

"What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt." (verse 16b)

In fact, while Judah still doesn't tell the truth of what happened to Joseph, he made this double-edged promise to his father (and reports it to Joseph),

"'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!'" (verse 32b)

Do you see the irony? Judah had already been bearing the blame for the loss of a brother. He had no idea that there may be no need for that burden of guilt. He was convinced that his brother, Joseph, was dead, and there would be no way to be rid of the guilt.

Until Joseph revealed himself to them.

Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." (Genesis 45:3-8a)

So let me ask you - is there guilt you've carried because you assume there's just no option? Choices you've made, people you've wronged and it's simply not humanly impossible to make it right? You've committed the crime, now you'll just have to do the time?

Let me assure you that Jesus is waiting to reveal himself to you. And when he does, you will find that he can take that mess and take the guilt and take the past and redeem it. Judah and his brothers couldn't undo what they'd done when they sold Joseph but they could accept Joseph's forgiveness and the hope he offered them.

And you have the same choice. You can't change the past, but you can let God use it to change the future. Turn it over to Him and let Him "use it for good."

Who prayed for Saul?

2009-11-20T08:19:00.000-08:00

Have you been praying for someone's salvation but it seems like there is no hope of them coming to Christ?

I was thinking about this as I read again the story of Saul. Not only did Saul show no signs of believing in Christ, he was actively trying to crush those that did.

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem."(Acts 9:1-2)

Here's my question: Do you suppose that anyone was praying for him?

The only recorded prayer we have anywhere near Saul occurred at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. As he was being stoned to death, Stephen offered this prayer, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (vs.60). And we learn in verse 58 that Saul was among the "them" covered by this prayer.

What impact do you suppose this prayer had on Saul? We don't find out at the time but Jesus had already instructed his followers:

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

I hope that there was someone that acted in obedience to Jesus - not just praying for the persecution to stop, but that Saul would also come to know the Jesus that he was so opposed to. And if you remember the story of Saul, you know that he was dramatically changed! Not only did he no longer persecute Christ-followers, he became one of the most ardent preachers of the gospel in history.

I know many people who prayed for decades for someone and perhaps they never did know for certain that the person of their prayers ever became right with God. Others have seen those prayers answered after a long season of pleading with God.

It may be someone in your family. It may be a boss or a civil leader or news maker you don't even know that seems so openly hostile to your relationship with Jesus. But we are encouraged to pray. We are encouraged to pray for those in leadership over us.

Don't give up. God still answers those prayers. And who knows what that person will do for God's kingdom if they come to know Him?

All joy?

2009-11-17T22:46:00.000-08:00

Once again, I've been thinking about suffering. How many people cause it. How many people endure it. How much of it there seems to be. Many people have made some good points in sharing their views about suffering and God's role in it, others have simply used it as an excuse to dismiss God.

This has been forwarded to me several times so let me share it with you. Sometimes it helps to see there may be a purpose in it.

(My apologies to whoever originally created it - I'd give credit if I could but I've not been able to find any source for it. Thank you for depicting it this way.)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (ASV)

It's Your Love (Hillsong)

2009-11-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

Knowing our limits

2009-10-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

Is the shortest way always the best?

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17)

This verse helped me realize something today. God knew the limits of the Israelites those many years ago. He realized that war with the Philistines would send them running back to Egypt. (Even with his presence and protection, they threatened to a few times anyways!) But He knew that running back to Egypt would mean running right back into slavery, which was never his plan for them. So He took them by the longer route around the Philistine nation.

Why is this so reassuring?

Because God knows my limits, too. Sometimes it feels like God is taking me on the long route - maybe even through a desert time. But it is helpful to know that even in the desert, God has me on a path that allows for my temptations, my personality, my well being. He knows what dangers may lay on the "short cut". And He knows my limits.

"There isn't any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape." (1 Corinthians 10:13 GWT)

Even if it is the long way around.

True religion

2009-10-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

I blogged a little while ago about some people that questioned God. I still appreciate their honesty in bringing their "puzzlements" to Him. And one of the biggest questions that has been asked for centuries is still "How could God allow ... ?"

I think that part of the answer lies in the fact that God has given each of us a choice. We choose to follow His guidelines for life, or we choose to ignore them. And almost always, those choices affect more than just us as individuals. The ripple effect leads one sin to cause a LOT of misery, suffering or strife for those around us. Those choices are man's, not God's.

But there's also another side. What about this?

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" Hebrews 6:10

He is watching the work we do for others. Now I don't want to suggest that I'm advocating an entirely social gospel but there are definitely directions in God's Word about helping others - both friends and enemies (see Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 4:32, Luke 6: 27-36). Think of the Good Samaritan. Think of Dorcas and the early church elders. We don't earn our salvation but our salvation does bring an obligation.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows who are suffering and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:29 (NIV and NAS combined)

In times like these, there are plenty of people that need help. Even in the good times, there are people that genuinely need a hand. And there is always injustice to be found. So much that we can't hope to solve it all by ourselves.

But perhaps it isn't that the world is full of injustice or need because God is unfair. Perhaps it's that they are waiting for us to do the work He gave each of us to do, and reach out to them.

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry."
~ Isaiah 58:9-11 (MSG)

God is not unjust. He has put the people in place to do the work that needs to be done to correct injustice and to help the suffering. God is not always "allowing" the suffering. He's waiting for the people He's called to step in and make a change.

What has He asked you to do?

Pointed remarks

2009-10-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Here's something to think about today -

"Do not pay attention to every word people say or you may hear your servant cursing you -- for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others." (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22, NIV)

The Message puts it like this -

"Don't eavesdrop on the conversation of others. What if the gossip's about you and you'd rather not hear it? You've done that a few times, haven't you - said things behind someone's back you wouldn't say to his face?"

Remember

2009-10-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

I attended a banquet last night and the speaker made this point:

The Hebrew word often translated "remember" isn't just a matter of recall. It's active - more like "recall, and then act accordingly".

I also came across this thought on-line:

"The word translated “remember” (zah-khor) means more than merely recalling something past, but suggests actively focusing the mind upon something in the present.

In Hebrews 13:7, the verb for "remember" is set in parallel to "consider ... and imitate."

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." (emphasis mine)

In Canada, last Monday was Thanksgiving Day. In America, it's still coming up. It's a time when we typically remember and are thankful for the good things in our lives. Things like family or a home or good friends often come to mind. But the speaker's comment last night got me thinking. Remembering the things we have to be thankful for should not only be an exercise in looking at the past, but should also be a way to plan ahead.

For instance, we remember God's provision.

If we're going to "act accordingly" maybe this will mean trusting God the next time we're feeling in a tight spot. Maybe it means being more generous to someone in need, knowing God will provide for us too.

We remember a time that we didn't follow God's prompting.

If we remember and "act accordingly", the next time we feel that prompting we will follow through (and most likely see God do something remarkable).

We remember a time we gave in to temptation and sinned.

If we remember and "act accordingly", we will be much more aware of the consequences and make a different choice the next time we face that temptation. Think of it as "live and learn".

Why is this important? Well, for starters, God continuously reminded his people to remember. He asked them to do this in order to build their faith, to strengthen their commitment to Him and to teach to those young enough to not have seen the constant pattern of God's work in their lives. And we are reminded, too, to remember (John 16:4, 2 Peter 1:15, Revelation 3:3, Matthew 16:9, Mark 8:18). Because as we see time and time again throughout the Bible, the truth of this saying is evident -

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
- George Santayana

So remember, and act accordingly.

A fun one

2009-10-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Ransomed and precious

2009-10-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

A friend passed along this reminder the other day. I'm not sure what translation she used but it was such a timely reminder for me as we'd had several types of disconcerting news all in the same hour. I hope it will bless you too.

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you go through deep waters and great trouble,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire
you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
You are precious and honored in my sight,
and I love you." (Isaiah 43:1-4)

My schedule

2009-10-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

I keep two calendars in my office - one is the "to-do" calendar with appointments, meetings and other events listed. The other is a "have-done" calendar. I use it to track in note form what I accomplished each day in my career. Having an office at home means sometimes those lines get blurred so this helps me stay clear about what happened each week.

Today as I started my day, this verse came up in two separate areas.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

Prepared in advance, huh? How interesting that God has a to-do calendar for us too. Planned ahead. Ready for us to show up and get the job done.

Let's make sure we leave space in the day for His appointments.

Grand stuff indeed

2009-10-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

The Bible (of course) speaks marvelous truths to us about the character and nature of God. And I very much enjoy the variety of ways those truths are presented. There is story, history, parables, romance, mystery and more, including some very literary passages. Consider this:

"[God] spreads out the northern skies over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing.

He wraps up the waters in his clouds,
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.

He covers the face of the full moon,
spreading his clouds over it.

He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters
for a boundary between light and darkness.

The pillars of the heavens quake,
aghast at his rebuke.

By his power he churned up the sea;
by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.

By his breath the skies became fair;
his hand pierced the gliding serpent.

And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper we hear of him!
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"

Job 26:7-14 (emphasis mine)

Jeremiah's complaint

2009-09-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the prophecy books of the Old Testament can be tough going. It can be hard to fully understand what (and who) the prophets were addressing as they wrote. And there is some pretty rough language there, too.

But what I always appreciate about the writer of the Psalms, the prophets or Job, is when they really speak their mind to God. Like this:

"You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?"(Jeremiah 12:1)

These men were honest. They were asking the questions that are still being asked today. "God, where's the justice? Why do you allow this?"

But along with that is the certainty that God can take their questions. He's open to our doubts and our questions. We can say whatever we need to say to Him. He's big enough for that too.

Poetry & faith

2009-09-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

Found a very cool quote on a favorite blog. I think it has something to say on the matter of faith in God, too.

"Poetry is sane because it floats easily in an infinite sea; reason seeks to cross the infinite sea, and so make it finite.... The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens. It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head. And it is his head that splits."

G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Therefore I have hope ...

2009-09-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days (weeks, months, years) when everything just seems to be wrong? I think it happens to almost everybody at sometime. Life can be pretty overwhelming some days.

But then I was reminded of something very simple but very important when I read this:

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

Lamentations 3:21-26 NIV

Christianish (a book review)

2009-09-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

I don't normally review two books this close together but I couldn't wait on this one.

I began reading Christianish: What If We're Not Really Following Jesus at All? and was amazed. Mark Steele tackles (like many others) a look at the forms of religion that we often pass off as "being Christian." There can be a lot of concessions we make - often with good intentions, but with the net result of portraying the Christian life as less than it should be. But what Steele manages, where many often fail, is to ask the hard questions without setting himself outside the problem. He admits that "... the chance that everything we each believe about Jesus is 100 percent accurate is not very likely" but still takes a frank look at some of the ways we handle the beliefs we hold. His examples are down-to-earth, accurate, surprising and sometimes hilarious. And they serve very well to illustrate the middle ground that we often try to hold even though we may be on the wrong road entirely. Rather than just a pointed finger, Steele offers the switch to create some of those "light bulb" moments that can be life changing. It's an invitation to "ditch the ish" and be part of an exciting Christ-centered adventure.

Christianish is destined to become a well-worn favorite on my bookshelf and I highly recommend it for yours.

Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group

Make Love, Make War (a book review)

2009-09-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

Brian Doerksen has written a variety of well-known contemporary worship songs and in Make Love, Make War: NOW Is the Time to Worship, he gives a “behind-the-scenes” look at 12 of the songs he has written or co-written over his music writing career.

As this book opens, it reminded me of a cross between a literature class and a personal memoir. Passages like

“Musically the chorus was anchored around the root note and chord to signify that the trisagion is at the center of it all. I then experimented until I found that the right melodic anchor for the action words of the verse was the F note – the fifth degree of scale”

may be informative but in no way drew me into the book's context of worship. The line-by-line analysis of word choices, while interesting, were also difficult because I was not familiar with all of the songs he includes. (Perhaps an accompanying CD would have been a helpful option.) It isn’t until later chapters that he transitions to the stories behind some of the songs, and through them begins to really reveal his heart about the role of worship in different aspects of church life and personal spiritual growth in a compelling manner.

Songwriters and worship leaders will find certain aspects of this book more applicable than others. The songwriting tips at the end of each chapter, or his reference to certain song formats that are not explained for the lay person will no doubt carry more impact for musicians. However, Doerksen still manages to touch on some of the key components of worship that apply to all, and may serve as a personal challenge to reconsider the role of worship in a Christ-like life.

Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group.

The Butterfly Circus (a Doorpost Film Project)

2009-09-01T00:09:00.001-07:00

I cannot begin to explain how deeply this touched me. The film is 20 minutes and I encourage you to take time to watch it. What a message of hope and a reminder of the unique design God has given each of us.

The hedge

2009-08-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

I was reading a couple nights ago and as so often happens, a single word really caught my attention:

Satan was talking to God about Job and Satan says this:

"Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?"

(Job 1:10)

I love the idea of God's hedge. I have a hedge around my yard that provides privacy, shelter, protection and beauty. God's hedge might look like mine, or it might look more like a bristling row of angelic warriors, ready to do battle. We don't know what that hedge is made of. But we can still know it's there.

There are times I count on the hedge. It's good to rest in God's protection. But as the story of Job continues, we also know that Job's faith didn't depend on the hedge. Even when it felt like God's protection has been stripped away, he didn't turn his back on God.

The questions of why God allows evil, or the problem of pain, or why "good" people suffer are questions people have struggled with for a very long time. But in those moments when it feels like we're not sure of God's presence, or that we're under attack, I hope that you too can find comfort in knowing that God still has his hedge around us and that nothing gets through without His consent.

Adiaphorism

2009-08-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to A Word A Day and every day, Monday to Friday, a new word is delivered to my inbox. Some are exciting, some are obscure, some are fascinating. One of the words this week was

adiaphorism
(ad-ee-AF-uh-riz-uhm)

Meaning: Tolerance or indifference, especially in the matters of religion.

The editor's note added that "Adiaphorism is the idea that things not specifically prohibited by the Scriptures may be treated with indifference (i.e. they are permissible)."

Now I had never heard this word before but it struck me that I should have. Tolerance and indifference in religion are all too common these days. Some churches, in trying to find the line between cultural relevance and Biblical teaching seem to have decided that a spot of adiaphorism is the safest way to go. They like the definition of tolerance that says "leeway for variation from a standard." In a sense, tolerance has become indifference. (For an interesting discussion on tolerance, visit Wikipedia's page on toleration.)

The attitude becomes "let's cut ourselves a little slack, after all God is love." Or worse, it becomes "All roads lead to God." And so we can pick and choose the bits of religious habit or teaching that makes us comfortable or happy and simply ignore the rest.

Do you see a problem with that?

I'm afraid I do. God's word makes it clear that indifference is inadequate. And that He can't tolerate sin. I think we need to be wary of adiaphorism by getting more familiar with God Himself. Know His heart of love but study His holiness, too. Don't be as concerned with how much deviation from the standard you can have. Instead get to know The Standard by heart.

Secondhand Jesus (a book review)

2009-08-19T00:05:00.000-07:00

Glenn Packiam, in Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith, joins a growing number of authors addressing “authentic” Christian faith, challenging people to look beyond the customs, habits or traditions of Christianity to the Holy God that wants to know and love each of us individually.

Beginning with a moment when his own foundation was shaken (Packiam refers to it as a “what the heck?” moment), Packiam combines his personal experience with the stories of the ark of the covenant to demonstrate how operating from a rumor of God - an assumption about His character or his role - plays out in real lives both modern and historical. It’s a unique weaving together that he eventually brings to a crux when he asks, “But what exactly does that look like? How does that work in the real world?”

Packiam’s style is a blend of scholarship, Biblical reference and personal experience. Some of the personal anecdotes were too far beyond my experience to be able to really connect with the challenges that spurred this journey for him, but with some thought I could usually find a comparable personal situation that related to the chapter's theme. I did find it interesting that in reading through the book, I could put it down at the end of a chapter and not be sure I’d grasped Packiam’s point, but then the concepts and examples he’d used would come readily to mind in conversation after conversation during the days that followed.

For many Christians this book would serve as a challenge to re-examine their Christianity and the role God is truly playing in their faith. For others, it may serve in the sense that an annual visit to the doctor does – a chance to double-check and make sure things are still on track. There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter to help with personal application or it could even be used as part of a small group study. Either way, Secondhand Jesus will be faith-changing if you take the time to think through the challenge Packiam presents.

Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group.

Too funny to pass up

2009-08-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

I gotta tell you, I love this joke:

A priest, a minister and a rabbi walk into a bar. The bartender looks up and says,

"What is this - some kind of joke?"

(Ba--dum- dum) Insert laugh track here ...

Those church words

2009-08-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

There are words we toss around in Christian circles that are rich in both concept and meaning but sometimes for those outside those circles or just new to them, they can sound like so much jargon. Even to those of us that use them, they can become rather cliche. But with a little time and attention, those words express different aspects of the lavish love God has extended to us. For example, Paul writes:

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. (Romans 3:22-25a NIV, emphasis mine)

Here are some of my favorite ways to define a few of those words:

Righteousness - "Right standing" with God - we are "put right" with God

Justification - "Just as if I never sinned." - we are made right again before a holy and just God.

Grace - "God's riches at Christ's expense." - Christ's sacrifice paid the whole price to make us co-heirs with him, something we can neither earn or deserve. (see Romans 8:17)

Redemption - "bought back or claimed" - Just as you must redeem a gift certificate to claim the prize, God redeemed us and claims us as his own. There's ownership in redemption. We become God's own.

Atonement - "At-one-ment" - we are brought back to God's original plan of relationship through Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

Think about these words and let them amaze you with their story of God's extravagant love.

Where will the music take you?

2009-08-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

I did this drawing a couple years ago titled "Where Will the Music Take You?*" I don't often comment on my purpose or intent in creating my artwork but in this case, I remember I was playing with a new medium and working on an idea for a jazz poster. In the end, I was content with how it turned out.

Music is one of those things that talks straight to my emotions. It so often carries me away in a swirl of harmonies that I can't have it on when I'm writing or doing other work I really need to focus on. I think that's probably what was going through my mind and my fingers as I worked on and named this piece.

Then last Sunday, we read in Matthew 24: 31

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

In this passage, Jesus was talking with his disciples about the end times, those days just before He returns again to earth for the last time. I know there can be a lot of discussion about the hows, whos, whys and whens of His second coming, but what struck me was this: That trumpet call will be the signal for our eternity. As that trumpet's brassy note rings across the heavens, some will be gathered up and others will be left behind. For those who have accepted Christ's work on the cross, it will be a song of triumph and freedom. For others, it will mean they've ignored Him one too many times.

So I want to ask you, when that final trumpet sounds, where will the music take you?

If you're not sure, there are a couple links on the left under "Questions?" that can get you started on the path to certainty. Please don't wait too long. That trumpet might sound any day now.

*"Where Will the Music Take You?" copyright VJCoulman, 2007.
Prismacolor pencil on Crescent matboard, 18" x 24". All rights reserved.

A form of godliness

2009-08-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

I was listening to a familiar passage of scripture when a particular phrase caught my attention. You'll probably recognize the passage:

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. "
2 Timothy 3:2-5 NIV (emphasis mine)

I have a vintage dress form that stands in my studio. In a past career, I was a seamstress that specialized in bridal and formal wear. I loved taking a flat fabric and giving it shape and style. Tailored suits still catch my eye and I love to see novel and imaginative touches worked in or on fabric in all sorts of styles.

I don't have as much time to sew these days, so my dress form will occasionally display a vintage suit, a formal gown or a fun jacket. Why? Because it doesn't look the same on the hanger as it does on the dress form. Because the form fills it out and makes it look better. But I also know that if I take it off the dress form it will not stand on its own. That garment will never serve its intended purpose until I put it on a living, moving body.

I think some people are content to display their faith like I display certain outfits. I may have done it myself on occasion. We dress up our faith to make us look good, to let people think there is substance under the surface. We want "the look" of a good Christian.

But if we really examine it (or worse yet, if someone else does) that show of godliness is hollow. Just like the emperor's new clothes, there's no substance. It might fool a few people, but it won't stand up to the close scrutiny of daily life. There is no God at the core of it. That nasty list above might be all too visible if that's really what's underneath. Just like the garments I put on display, the "form of godliness " may look the right shape but it ultimately cannot stand on its own.

But that's the power of true godliness - truly having God fill our lives - it puts substance behind our faith. It helps us fulfill our intended purpose. It helps us stand. It shapes us - past, present and future - as we let God use us for what He intended.

Ultimately, a hollow faith is merely foolishness (see verse 9 of the passage above). So let's not just display the form of godliness, let's keep God at the core and let Him fashion for us true robes of righteousness. It's better than being the dummy in the window.

With All I Am (Hillsong)

2009-08-03T23:49:00.001-07:00

This has been a favorite song of mine for some time. Beautiful, simple but powerful. I hope it strikes a chord with you too.

Designer Women: Made By God (book review)

2009-07-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

The issue of women in ministry can be a divisive one and there has been much written on the subject from very disparate perspectives. Ruth Tuttle Conard, rather than argue whether women should or not, skips the argument and instead goes straight to the fact that women were used by God throughout history.

In Designer Women: Made by God, Conard looks at ten (11 actually) women from the Bible and the extraordinary way God used them in their unique settings, circumstances and personalities to be part of His plan. As she says, “These women, as leaders and strong examples in varied facets of life, did not act because there were no good men, but rather because they were good women, created in God’s image, gifted by God and working in obedience with their Maker.”

Conard’s tone throughout this book is warm, supportive and reminiscent of a chat across the kitchen table. She has faced the “hoops” that many women in the church face when trying to exercise their gifts and still is confident in God’s desire to use women to advance his kingdom. Too often, it is easy to become strident or militant when defending a woman’s place in the church, but Conard avoids that pitfall and focuses on the qualities of the women God used in extraordinary ways through the Bible. She encourages modern women to develop those same qualities to prepare for God’s opportunities and in the last chapter recommends some tools to do just that. She also footnotes her work for those who want to study further.

Conard does take a brief look at some of the “problem” passages of the Bible, that are frequently used to downplay or dismiss women in ministry or leadership and, again, provides some recommended titles for those that want to explore further. But as she so excellently points out, “ there are some who will probably keep laboring over the minutiae of certain words and customs and never come up with the perfect answer to all of this. … What is extremely fascinating to me is that this continual battle over women does not seem to have caused any problem for God and how he designed his daughters. … God is still creating baby girls, all over his world, who grow, confess Jesus as Savior, and are given spiritual gifts from the complete list of gifts, as the Spirit wills, even while men and women continue to say that it just isn’t possible!”

Highly, highly recommended.

Review copy provided by The B&B Media Group.

Fear itself

2009-07-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

I've been reading through the The Chronological Study Bible: New King James Versionpublished by Thomas Nelson. It's got all sorts of archeological and cultural notes along with the ordering of the Scriptures by their time frame, rather than the traditional canonical orderings.

One of those tidbits caught my eye today. On the passage relating to Exodus 15, with the victory songs of Moses and Miriam, the writers of this particular note make this statement:

"Terror, or fear, was assumed to be a separate substance which went before the deity, defeating enemies even before the god arrived."(p. 87, "God Among the Warrior Deities)

Those who are familiar with Franklin D. Roosevelt's inaugural address in 1932 might recognize the same sentiment: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

How often do we let fear defeat us? We're afraid things might not work out so we don't even try. We let fear or uncertainly slow us down when we've been given the go-ahead. And yet one of the most common injunctions in the Bible is "Fear not."

Maybe today we need to buck the trend that dates all the way back to ancient times; to see fear as something in and of itself that is capable of defeating us. Instead, let's remember,

"I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (CEV)

The B-I-B-L-E (or something like that)

2009-07-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is one of those things that circulates through the internet every once in a while. But it might bring a smile to your face today. Or a challenge - can you spot the mistakes?

The (Children's) Bible in a Nutshell

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats.

Jesus also had twelve opossums.

The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount.

But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

__________

My apologies to the original writer of this piece. If I knew who you were, I'd let people know. But thanks for sharing it.

Bill's problem

2009-07-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

During a Bible study last night, the pastor made this observation based on his years of counseling:

"If Bill and Mary have a problem,
and Bill and Joe have a problem,
and Bill and Bob have a problem

... then Bill's the problem."

Hmmm. Sometimes one of those gauges for your internal health is your external relationships. It can also be a quick way to do a spiritual inventory. Take a look at the people around you and how you are getting along with them.

How are you doing?

^"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
Romans 12:18 NIV

"Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time."
Hebrews 12:14-15 (The Message)

Do and do; rule on rule...

2009-07-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've been reading in Isaiah and came across this set of verses:

"For it is:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there."

(Isaiah 28: 10)

The same thought is repeated again in verse 13 of the same chapter:

"So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there --
so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured."

Does that sound familiar? It sounds like religion to me. So many people have been hurt or trapped by a set of rules that they equate with their faith. Some have completely been derailed by their experiences in a church. Others still labor under a system of "rule on rule," thinking that its the only way to please God or to earn their salvation.

And the alarming part is that Isaiah is speaking about the prophets and priests of his time. Isaiah shared this before the Mishnah or the Koran or Catholicism or Protestantism or many of our other current religions were even around!!

The Mishnah, for example, added to the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament or books of the law) 63 treatises to guide the daily living of the Jewish peoples. Of those 63 treatises of the Mishnah, 2 entire treatises detail proper conduct for the Sabbath. One of those treatises, Shabbat, lists thirty-nine classes of prohibited actions - things a conscientious Jew cannot do on the Sabbath. They are further elaborated so that there are in fact several hundred prohibitions just for the Sabbath. And the whole of the Mishnah (all 63 treatises) is further detailed by the "commentaries" - eighty volumes of explanation that make up the Talmud.*

Now don't think I'm only picking on Judaism. Not at all. How many other religions regulate when you pray, who you pray to, how much you give, how short your skirt should be, if you kneel or stand or raise your arms to worship, who you do business with or any of the other myriad of RULES that have been added to God's plan of redemption and the expression of His love.

What's my point?

Be aware that the rules are no substitute for knowing God. Yes, He places authorities in place, He provides His word to guide us, and He still hates sin. His law, however, is not just the rulebook. It's an expression of the lengths He has gone to because He loves us and doesn't want sin to separate us from Him. It's a Father guiding His children. Because more than anything, He wants to know us personally, intimately, and wants to shape us into the person He designed us to be. Don't get so tangled in the rules that you miss His heart.

*Much of my information of this paragraph is based on an overview given in Designer Women: Made by God, by Ruth Tuttle Conard which I plan to review at another time but recommend.

Hidden treasure

2009-06-26T09:00:00.001-07:00

I was reading Matthew 13:44 today and was struck by something that I hadn't really considered before.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field" (NLT).

I can understand the idea of hiding something until I have the money to buy it. More than one woman has moved an item to the back of the rack or shelf until she can come back and hopefully find it there. Especially those one of a kind items. But here is what I saw today:

"In his excitement, he hid it again..."

It occurred to me today that sometimes we find that treasure and then we leave it hidden. I doubt very much that the man in Matthew bought the field and then left the treasure there to gloat over. Considering that he'd sold everything to buy it, he'd probably need a little ready cash. Besides, the Bible clearly says he was excited about it!

But do we sometimes hoard our treasure? It can be unnerving to share Christ with people that we think will be skeptical or just might think we sound weird. We sometimes don't say anything because we assume they won't be interested. Or, even worse, maybe, we assume they know - that they've heard about salvation and have already settled things with God. So we sit contentedly with our promise of an eternal kingdom and leave it hidden from view.

It's a treasure that can be shared. The price was invaluable and is more than others can afford to pay. So don't hide it. Let them know that this treasure can be theirs, too.

Consider the ant

2009-06-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

We have an annual problem at our house. Tiny little black ants will find their way into our house through openings I can't even see. It's a real day wrecker to hear someone call "There's ants in here!" It can be any room in the house but when they find food, watch out! One ant will become a hundred ants in no time at all. And after several times emptying the pantry and throwing out food they'd found there way into, I've had it with the ants.

Last night, I was reading my Bible and came across this verse:

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
Proverbs 6:6 (NLT)

Ants! Here, too! My first reaction to the lesson of the ants was not a positive one. I wouldn't consider being like an ant an example of wisdom. Persistence, perhaps (can you say an ant is pig-headed?); obnoxiousness, certainly; troublesome, you bet. At this time of year, they are more a picture of sin than wisdom to me. One bad habit, one little concession, one relaxing of the limits and before you know it, there's a lot more sin to be dealt with. And the longer you take to deal with it, the bigger the problem is.

So I suppose I can take a lesson from the ants today after all. The best way to avoid being over run is to deal with it as soon as you notice one.

Maybe I'll have to look at that passage again in October when they've slowed down again...

A nugget - atone

2009-05-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to a vocabulary newsletter that sends out a word each week day. Lots of fun and unusual words come through.

Today's word was "atone." It's a word we hear in Christian teaching and sermons. Christ's death atoned for our sins. His resurrection completed the work of atonement. But have you really thought about how much is packed in that one word?

Here it is:

ETYMOLOGY:
From the contraction of the phrase "at one" meaning "to be in harmony".

Because Christ died for us, we can be "at one" and "in harmony" with God.

Wow.

I know the plans...

2009-05-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

One of the popular verses among Christians right now is Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This a great thought. They are comforting words. They are written on graduation plaques, sympathy cards, passed from friend to friend during difficult times, prayed over others and cherished during troubling circumstances.

Can I suggest that many people read it this way? "Let me share the plans I have for you," says the LORD, "plans to make you prosperous without a care in the world, plans to give you hope for the future."

It's not quite the same thing, is it? A speaker I heard this weekend reminded us that God says "I know the plans ..." God knows His plan. We might not always get to see it. But as we learn to trust in His plan, whether He shares it or not, we will have hope. Not hope like we're standing with our fingers crossed or tossing a penny into a wishing well, but hope that is an expectation, a confidence. And we can have the confidence that He is working for our best, not for our convenience. Our hope, our trust, our confidence must be firmly rooted in the Plan Maker or our future will look bleak indeed.

Can I also make another suggestion? We can't hold this verse up as a promise of God without reading the rest of the passage. God was writing specifically to the nation of Israel that was living in exile.

What do I see? I see some expectations that God had for the people who needed to be assured of His plan for their lives.

"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29: 5-7)

Go ahead, He says, participate in family and community life. Pray for your city and work for peace. But then He reminds them of the most important part - without a relationship, without knowing the God who held their days, without knowing His word and His voice for themselves, they could not have the same hope for their future. They would be deceived by the voices around them. Just as we can be deceived if we not go straight to the source ourselves.

"Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD. " (Jeremiah 29: 8-9)

But here's the best part of the Jeremiah 29 promise:

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD..." (Jeremiah 29:12-14a, emphasis mine)

What difference does it make? The Amplified Version calls it "hope for your final outcome." And that's when I remember God's plan to "prosper" me. His plan is for me to spend eternity with Him - in a mansion, no less! So I'll trust the Plan Maker to know what's best for me and hold my expectation in Him.

Not sure you have that expectation? Here's a great place to learn more about God's plan to give you the hope and the future that He planned for you.

God's priority

2009-05-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

I saw a great thought today:

“The quickest way to the front of God's line today is to let someone else in front of you.”
-Rachel Olsen, Proverbs 31 Ministries

I had a chance to practice this thought yesterday. Let me be quick to admit, I didn't pass the test with flying colors. I did the right thing but my attitude was not that of Christ. It still isn't. It still rankles that I had to give up something I wanted to let someone else be "first." I don't want it to bother me but my reaction has been surprisingly strong (and childish).

Is there a lesson in that? Maybe. I'm glad the God I serve doesn't have the same attitude I do. I'm so grateful he gave up everything in order to put me first. And it wasn't just me. Everyone I meet, He put first. Every person that has been or will be born he put first. So how can I still hold so tightly to my "rights"? I think I need to let go of my own importance - my own self-centeredness - and practice His perspective instead.

Good thing He's there to help with that, too.

"If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
- Mark 9:35

Christianity and gymnastics

2009-05-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

I was watching a gymnastics class last week and had a lesson brought home to me.

I am always, of course, amazed at what these girls (and boys) can do. I have never been that flexible and probably never will be. Gymnasts can bend and roll and balance and stretch in marvelous ways.

But during practice I noticed some of the girls having trouble with the skills they were practicing. They couldn't quite get their cartwheels up straight, or they couldn't quite flip themselves up and over the bar. Or they'd get half way around and get stuck upside down.

The problem, I realized, was one of commitment. Now don't get me wrong. These girls are committed to gymnastics. They show up week after week and do the drills and the stretches. They do their best to follow their coaches' instructions. They are committed to their sport.

But some of them don't seem to understand that to fully accomplish their skills, they need to throw themselves into the movement. They need speed. They need to abandon themselves to the forces controlling their bodies.

Do they understand centrifugal force and gravity and range of motion? I doubt it. But the bold and the fearless master their skills quickly while the timid girls simply don't build up the momentum to carry them through the skill. And so they struggle, trying to do it themselves, within the boundaries of what they are comfortable with and don't take advantage of the possibilities available to them. They actually make it harder with their reservations about committing to their flights across the mats, around the bars and through the air.

How many Christians are guilty of the same thing? We go to church every Sunday. We have our times of Bible reading and prayer. We give to the needy or help our neighbors. But somehow we feel we are struggling in our faith or in our impact for God's kingdom.

Is it possible that it's our reservations that are holding us back? We're worried that God will ask us to do something that goes too fast or where we can't see the end result or that will feel "out of control". So we hang back, not fully committing to whatever God is asking us to do. We stay in our comfort zone and the limits of what we understand. And because we do, we never experience the thrill of achieving great things for God.

Maybe its time to abandon ourselves to God's way. It may feel like we're on our heads instead of our heels sometimes but when we trust ourselves to God's plan, we'll be able to do "more than we ask or imagine." It's time to commit, not just to the sport, but to the possibilities.

A review - The Noticer

2009-04-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

I recently read a new book that is being released today. It's called The Noticer by Andy Andrews and it's an interesting read. To begin with the subtitle from the cover intrigued me - "Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective." By being in the right place at the right time, the character Jones speaks wisdom into the lives he encounters by offering a change in perspective. And while the wisdom Jones shares is not very original, Andrews presents it in an easily readable and engaging manner.

I suppose it's not surprising that a book about perspective used two perspectives to tell its story. The Noticer is either the story of a man that changes lives (Jones) or a man whose life has been changed by Jones (Andy). It's never entirely clear which character is the "main" narrator. The change in point of view can be confusing as can the split attention to two different characters but overall this story still serves as a gentle prompt to take stock of our situation and the habits we may fall into that can jeopardize our relationships and our dreams. I have no doubt that some of the situations Andrews describes will hit very close to home with some readers.

Along with the book, Andrews wants to begin "The Noticer Project." His hope, he says, is that when each person takes the time to notice and to thank the people in their lives who have been instrumental on our journey. He says "By noticing those who have made a difference for you, you not only acknowledge their contribution, but I bet you will fain a new perspective on your own journey." His challenge is to "notice" 5 of the people that have had the greatest positive impact on your life and to let them know by thanking them.

Andrews' goal is certainly one worth noticing.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

When, Lord?...Oh, then.

2009-04-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

I came across this adaptation of Matthew 25:41-43 today. It's one of those "Ouch" things.

I was hungry

And you formed a humanities club to discuss my hunger.

I was imprisoned

And you went to your chapel to pray for my release.

I was naked

And you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick

And you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless

And you delivered a sermon on the shelter of God's love.

I was lonely

And you left me alone to attend church.

You seem so close to God but I am still very hungry, lonely, and cold!

~ (Author unknown)

Is it a surprise that as we rush through our day, we might pass people that need our help? Even in this story, the people - both those that he commended and those he didn't - asked Jesus "When did we do this?" Do you suppose Jesus' answer brought to their minds specific faces? The beggar they passed every day on their way to the temple? The children in tattered clothes unprotected from the cold or rain? The smile that came as a prisoner ate the small meal they'd brought? Their answer affected their eternity.

I'm sure I've missed chances too, and I want to use this text as a reminder to do better when these opportunities are brought my way. I have to say, it doesn't sound like it will always be comfortable. But I also don't want to be standing before God saying "When was that?"

What about you?

Do you know Him?

2009-04-06T23:01:00.000-07:00

A getting day

2009-04-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

I was listening to a young man pray today and this phrase caught my attention:

"... and thank you that it has been such a getting day."

Hmm. My first reaction was that it was a rather self-centered sort of gratitude. I mean, it's not supposed to be all about what we get, right?

And then he continued. He was thankful that his dad was getting better, that he was getting an education, that we were getting to go to church, that someone was getting recognition for their work ... and I realized he was right.

It has been a getting day.

Faith is a funny thing

2009-03-20T17:25:00.000-07:00

"Faith" has become a pretty generic term. When I refer to my faith, I'm referring to my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But faith can be in anyone or anything. I might have faith that my favorite football team will turn around their losing streak. The stock market has lost faith with their investors (or the faith OF their investors). My faith in the odds of air travel might keep me getting on airplanes to travel (although that faith has been shaken a little lately). President Obama refers to himself as "a man of faith" but it would seem that no one's quite sure what faith that might be. Faith has been reduced to a personal proclivity or opinion.

But when those "faiths" have nothing behind them, it's very difficult to be "faithful" to them. Ravi Zacharias, in his book Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message, makes this statement:

None of us live comfortably with a vacuous faith. There ought to be both substance to our faith and an object of our faith.

I want a substance to my faith. If God is not big enough to place my faith in, then He's simply not big enough. Here's some definitions of faith that I like:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1

"...a secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will."
-dictionary.com

"Faith is a confidence in the person of Jesus Christ and in His power, so that even when His power does not serve my end, my confidence in Him remains because of who He is."
-Ravi Zacharias

The "In" Crowd

2009-03-11T21:08:00.000-07:00

A pastor I was listening to recently made this statement:

"Religion, by its very nature, attempts to define who's in...and who's out."

I once lived in a neighborhood that was quite new. We were the first owners of our house, as were most of our neighbors. It was a very small community but rapidly expanding and our neighborhood had been the first in the start of what would become quite a housing boom. And what I found interesting was the attitude that many of the homeowners in our neighborhood (not the long time residents of the town, though) regarding the status or requirements of the even newer homes being built and what those people should be able to do or not to do. There was much talk of preserving the rural nature of the town and not overburdening certain systems but what it boiled down to was a simple (and un-neighborly) message. The attitude was very much "We're here; now close the door."

It reminded me of junior high. There was the "in" crowd. And there was everyone else, left to form the friendships they could among the misfits (at least that seemed to be the attitude of the "in" crowd.) The "in" crowd was very confident in their position but definitely placed a line that few could cross before joining their ranks. It was a position of privilege, and the only way to maintain the status was to limit the number of people allowed.

That's not an encouraging thought. Do religions make it that hard for people to find God when they are looking for Him? Unfortunately, yes, often they do. And it seems that for centuries Christians have been doing the same thing. Jesus was very harsh in his statements to the religious rulers of his day:

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in." Matthew 23:13 (ESV)

Does this mean that we can't tell people about God's plan for their life and the need to accept Christ's payment for the enormous debt of sin that each of us carries? Do we need to be preaching an "everybody's in regardless" message? I don't think so. But sometimes it might mean that we need to remember that in the end each person will stand before God, not us, to give account.

Instead of trying to be the judge, we need to remember we are the former convict that can offer guidance to the person facing a life of imprisonment. Instead of a nose in the air, we could be offering a hand of help. As the pastor summed up, we who have been rescued should be the first to join the search and rescue team. Not just to say "I told you so!" and leave them in their situation but to offer to bring them home to the love of a Father who is waiting for them. The grace and mercy that saved us are available to everyone.

None of us deserves to be there but rest assured, there's plenty of room in the "in" crowd. Let's make sure that we make that clear.

A thought for today

2009-03-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."
2 Chronicles 16:9

It never ceases to amaze me that God comes looking for us. He seeks us out before we know Him. He prompts us to come aside and be with Him. He looks for us to provide the strength we need when we commit to His way. Do you need strength today? I do.

Eve's choice

2009-02-27T07:30:00.001-08:00

I received an interesting devotional today by Mary Southerland. She was talking about temptation. I obviously don't want to copy her devotional but it raised a couple of interesting side notes.

The two biggest temptation stories of the Bible are Eve's in the Garden of Eden and Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. They present two different outcomes to temptation. Eve gave in; Jesus didn't. The difference? I think it's the way they understood and used God's Word, and the way they communicated with God.

Eve knew God had said something about the fruit of one tree but when the crunch came, she didn't know exactly what.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " Genesis 3:1-3

Is that really what God had said? Not quite.

"And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."Genesis 2:16

She had the general message right - it was a tree in the middle of the garden, and death was on the line. But she added to it too. Suddenly, the focus was not on the variety and abundance of what was available to her but on the one thing that was not.

Kind of like dieting makes that donut look more appealing just because we know we shouldn't eat it.

Or the way tithing is hard because we look at the amount in the 10 percent column instead of the 90 percent available to us.

Jesus, by comparison, also knew what God had said, but he didn't add to it or try to rationalize it. When Satan came to him, Jesus answered him with God's Word and nothing else.

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he [Jesus] was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "Matthew 4:2-4

Had God really said that? Yes. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " Matthew 4:5-7
Is that was God's Word said? Yes. (Psalm 91:11, 12; Deuteronomy 6:16)

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' " Matthew 4:8-10
Really? Yes. (Deuteronomy 6:13)

The other thing to notice is that both Eve and Jesus talked with God regularly. Eve got to commune with God in the beautiful setting of the garden every day. But Eve didn't take time to talk to God about Satan's temptation. Do you suppose she might have made a different choice if she had? We can't say for sure, but we do see that Jesus, even after spending 40 days fasting, was much better prepared for Satan's insidious suggestions.

Eve ate when she wasn't hungry. Jesus didn't eat when he was.

Unfortunately for Eve, giving in to the temptation didn't get rid of the temptor. He was still there when God came later to the garden to talk with Adam and Eve. But notice what happened when Jesus relied on God's Word when tempted:

Then the devil left him and angels came and attended him (Matthew 4:11)

Let both Eve and Jesus be a reminder. Temptations will always be available to us but we can be prepared to face it. By knowing God's word and talking with Him both before and during a time of temptation, we can be much better prepared to avoid the pitfalls.

A green light on miracles

2009-02-20T22:16:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I think we miss miracles because we're not looking. Sometimes I think we miss miracles because they are small (in scope or in size, not in importance). But sometimes we see them and that changes our whole day.

Today my day started with a miracle. I got up on time (okay, that was a miracle but not the one I'm thinking of) but somehow ended up running a bit late. So I was driving to work and a little concerned that I'd cut it too close. I'm the teacher this week so it's not like they could start without me.

As I drove towards the first set of traffic lights I would encounter, I looked ahead and saw that the green left-turn arrow was already on and there was only one truck proceeding to turn. "Nuts," I thought, knowing I'd miss the light and have to wait for a rather long interval to catch the next one.

Now, understand - I've been driving through this traffic light for a month now. I know the pattern it takes in the morning. And so I sighed and resigned myself to a longish wait at that intersection.

But then the miracle happened. As I drove towards the light, it didn't change. And it didn't change. I even started to slow down, expecting it to change. I mean, I know the pattern of this light, right? And there was no way I was going to make it.

And then the lights on the through lanes changed to yellow - but still the arrow stayed green. I was now at decision time - do I stop or not? Will it change before I hit the moment of decision? As my foot hesitated over the brake pedal, still the arrow stayed green and the through lanes were about to flick to red. And still the arrow was green.

So I turned. And just as I completed the turn, the arrow changed to yellow, then red.

Now I know angels didn't appear (or did they?), and trumpets didn't sound but it was unexplainable and it was a particularly encouraging blessing to me.

That's a miracle.

Building cathedrals

2009-02-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

Lifetime guarantee

2009-01-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

One of my most-used Bibles has started to fall apart. The pages from 1 Samuel to Hebrews can completely lift out in one separate section. Now in theory, I don't have to worry because this Bible came with a lifetime guarantee. Sounds good right? But I have begun to realize how pointless that is.

Maybe you wouldn't have a problem with just turning it in and getting a new one. But my Bibles holds memories. There are notes in the margins, dedications in the front, verses underlined and bookmarks at significant passages. The feel of its cover and heft of its pages are all familiar friends to me. And except for the removable section, it is in quite good condition. It is, in fact, a book I can't just give up for a replacement. I think I can repair it with "Yes" glue (yes - that is the product name), an adhesive I regularly use in art projects and more. Once it sets up, its a very strong hold that can't be broken without damage to the item it's holding.

Do you suppose the publishers of this particular Bible understood that I wouldn't be able to give up my Bible when they offered their lifetime guarantee? Not in any way am I accusing them of underhandedness but really, think about it. If you know it's not going to happen, it's a pretty safe offer to give.

I'm glad that God's lifetime guarantee isn't subject to the same dilemma. It's a take-it-and-take-it offer. All we need to do is say "Yes" and we are stuck to Him in a way that can't easily be separated.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

It's permanent on God's part. And that's a lifetime (and beyond) guarantee.

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

So I'm going to go fix my Bible. It's not going anywhere.

What is worthless?

2009-01-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

I was reading in my Bible the other day and came across this verse:

"They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do. 2 Kings 17:15 (NIV)"

Now maybe this is a coincidence but the other book on my bed stand is a book on decluttering your home and your life. And this author talks a lot about STUFF and how most STUFF is worthless and still this STUFF controls our life. And if I was going to be totally honest, he's right. Some of those things that I thought were so important while standing at the store I couldn't get a nickel for in a yard sale. Some of it was bought under the influence of friends (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?) Some because I was trying to keep up with a decorating or fashion trend. There was always a justifiable (at least to me) reason to add that to my STUFF. But now they just sit. They've passed their usefulness to me (if they ever had it to begin with) and they are worthless but I still spend time and energy sorting, storing and moving it from place to place.

And then I read that verse, "They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless."

Ouch!

I may not worship the stuff stacked around me like I worship God, but I've still been giving it prominence in my life and priorities. And the warning of this verse is that I may become just like it - not worth the price that was paid for me and useless to the one that bought me.

So excuse me - I gotta take some things to Salvation Army...

God's strength

2009-01-21T06:23:00.000-08:00

I started a new job yesterday and part of it is getting up much earlier than I am used to so that I have time for the commute and arriving on time to be prepared to begin the day. Like any job, there are pluses and minuses.

But on top of a new (early) routine, I spent time in the middle of the night caring for a sick family member. I would never begrudge them that care but the reality is that this morning I am exhausted and facing another long day. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it.

And then I found this in the middle of a morning devotional.

"He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak." (Isaiah 50:29 NLT)

Good. I'll be able to do this after all.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day

2009-01-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Today is National Sanctity of Human Life Day and for the first time, I attended our local pro-life event.

I am pro-life and have always been, but I also always have a hesitation about public pro-life events. My efforts and support have typically been behind the scenes. Maybe it's a concern about possible conflicts. Maybe it's my "Canadian" reluctance to be vocal about my opinions and most deeply held beliefs. Maybe it's the worry that my emotions might get the better of me. Or maybe it's just cowardice.

Today, the emotions did come. As part of the event, 50 white crosses were placed in the ground to signify the 50 million babies that have been lost to abortion in the US in the past 36 years. I have had to grieve my own unborn children and those crosses stirred many emotions again. One million babies per cross. Fifty million mothers struggling with difficult emotions and decisions and grief. Fifty million. In terms of the emotional, psychological and economic cost to this nation, that's an appalling number.

It breaks my heart - for the babies killed by abortion each year, for the women caught in circumstances that make it seem like their best choice, for the women caught in the aftermath of abortion, and for the men and women struggling with fertility issues and a difficult adoption process who also suffer because of abortion.

I could say a lot about my view of the abortion debate and the many stands that people hold. Lately, I have watched the discussions of assisted suicide and euthanasia take many of the same turns. But the verse that keeps coming to my mind presents another side:

"Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it."--Numbers 35:33b

We are so fortunate that Christ shed His blood on behalf of the ones who shed this innocent blood and that each one of us is covered by his atonement regardless of our sin if we choose to accept it.

But it is still our responsibility to speak up on behalf of those that are being silenced by abortion. To love those hurt by abortion. To wisely confront the epidemic of abortion. To present Christ with a purposed but gentle regard for those that support abortion.

It's time to stop polluting our land.

Butterfly wings

2009-01-16T10:43:00.000-08:00

I had an unexpected visitor in my studio a few days ago.

I was working away in a (very) quiet house, when suddenly I heard a sound like paper rustling. At first I thought it was just paper being moved by an air current from the heating system. But that didn't seem right - it was too random for that. Plus the furnace wasn't on.

Thought #2 - maybe it was outside. Okay, but then it came again and it definitely WASN'T outside.

Thought #3 - Great. I've got mice.

I finally screwed up the courage to go over and investigate and couldn't believe it when I saw a butterfly trying its hardest to get out the window of my French doors! The papery sound happened when the blinds would push back against a paper-wrapped mat board that was leaning against the door. The butterfly would fall to the floor when its wings gave out, then climb up the paper wall and try again.

A butterfly?

It's January!

I have no way to keep a butterfly in my home anymore (gave away the butterfly house) and I was afraid it would really damage itself inside so I trapped it in a glass and took it outside. Keep in mind, its Oregon. Houseflies are still buzzing around, hummingbirds winter over here and the sun was shining. It seemed like a better alternative that having it struggling in my windows until it died from exhaustion.

Outside, I sat the butterfly on the deck rail in the sunshine and instantly it snapped its wings flat and held them there. Odd, I thought. Maybe it's really a moth. I really didn't think so but one of the first things children learn in telling the difference between moths and butterflies is that moths fold their wings down and flat and butterflies fold them up and together. It lets them hide from predators because the underside of their wings is usually much less colorful.

Not this butterfly. It's wings stayed flat open. It might fly a few yards, and then it would land again (sometimes even on me) and snap those wings wide open.

And then it occurred to me. It needed the warmth of the sun and the fresh air to rebuild its energy and stamina. It was using its wings like little solar panels. And because it was doing that, I could see the beautiful colors in its wings that might otherwise be hidden. Against my dull lawn and the leafless trees, that butterfly was a spot of color and joy and the promise of spring.

Can I tell you the lesson I learned from this butterfly?

Very often, as Christians, it is far too easy to keep our wings folded - to try to blend in to our surroundings and keep our beliefs to ourselves. Particularly when we are in a difficult situation or feel like we're just struggling to survive, we "close up" so that we won't draw attention to ourselves.

But we have something beautiful to offer. Even when we feel a little ragged around the edges or feel completely out of place, when we open ourselves to the world around us that is when we are best equipped to reflect the beauty of Christ in our lives. And a life that is shining with God's design can be a spot of color and warmth to those that are surrounded by a drab and hopeless existence.

My theory is that this butterfly came into my studio as a chrysalis on some chairs I was given. In the warmth of my home, it hatched ahead of nature's schedule. But I also think this butterfly was a God-sent reminder that He made me to reflect his nature in the place he has sent me to fly. And as I draw on His strength, I will shine, too, with the reflections of His love, His mercy and His warmth to the world around me.

It's time to open my wings.

Clearing out the cobwebs

2009-01-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

I was cleaning house yesterday and decided it was really time to sort out some of the stacks that had accumulated over the busy months of November and December (and the busy years of 2007 and 2008, if I'm really going to be honest). I pulled out furniture, cleaned windows, took the blowdryer to silk plants (don't ask), wiped cupboard tops and dusted areas that probably have been sitting for quite some time, to judge by the number of cobwebs.

Now some people enjoy housecleaning. They'll say things like "I really feel like I accomplished something" or "It relaxes me". I, on the other hand, see it as one of the more pointless activities I can do in any given time slot. Why? BECAUSE IT ALWAYS NEEDS DOING AGAIN. Sometimes almost immediately. I'll just finish the dishes and before I've hung up the tea towel, there's another spoon in the sink. Ack!!

But I know it has to be done. So I invited some friends over for dinner (motivation is key) and started to clean to prepare for their visit. And as I was wiping out the cobwebs from a hidden corner of the living room, I thought of this passage from the Bible:

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12: 43-45 (NIV)

I thought, Boy, if I just substitute the word 'spider' for 'demon', that would be an exact description of what happens in my house. I chase one spider out and seven more move in and start spinning.

Of course, there is a spiritual application as well. It's not enough to think we've "cleaned house" and then let our old habits and attitudes creep back in until the corners of our hearts, minds and souls are filled with cobwebs again. We should regularly come to God and have a 'spiritual spring cleaning' to be sure that our house is clean, put in order and then OCCUPIED with God's own presence.

'Cause guess what? He's coming to dinner (Rev 3:20) and I want to be ready for him too.

"Message received"

2009-01-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

I was sitting in church the Sunday before Christmas and as part of the service, the pastor asked us to take a moment to silently pray for those serving in the military and for families that would have people away from them this year because they were serving.

Always a good idea, by the way.

So we bowed our heads and a hush filled the room for some 30 seconds. Then out of the stillness came a small, slightly tinny voice.

"Message received."

My first response was a quick grin that someone had been busted with their cell phone on in church.

But my next was amazement at the very tangible reminder. Prayer is really that simple: we pray, God gets the message. Done. And He starts to move.

Wow - "message received."

Worst present ever?

2009-01-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

We've all been given presents that weren't really what we hoped for, right? I remember going through the Sears catalog every year at Christmas and marking all the toys or craft kits that I REALLY wanted. Under the tree? I think I got one of those "tagged" toys once. I remember getting two coffee pots as wedding presents. Neither of us drink coffee. I remember giving my mother many cheesy gifts that I picked out as an enthusiastic 8-year-old - and 10-year-old - and 13-year-old. And after this Christmas season you may be wondering how to get rid of that monstrosity from Great Aunt Ethel without hurting her feelings. Or what your spouse was thinking when they picked out that exercise mat/fuzzy purple sweater/power saw/_______(you fill in the blank).

But I had to shake my head in amazement when I read about this wedding present from a dad to his daughter:

"Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife."

1 Kings 9:16 NIV

"A burned out city with bodies lying in the streets? Gee, thanks, Dad..."

And then it was left to Solomon to rebuild the city after he had married Pharaoah's daughter. "Gee, thanks, Dad-in-law..."

I have to say that I'm glad God's gift to us was something better. A mansion in an eternal city vs. a charred city. Salvation vs. destruction. A loving relationship vs. a debt of obligation. And it's one size fits all.

Thanks, Father.

Changed lives

2008-12-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

What do you need God to do in your life?

He can.

Your story is one of the most powerful things God has given you. If He's done this kind of work in you, can you help introduce someone to the same God that changed your life by sharing that story? Think about it, pray about it, do it.

"God with us"

2008-12-25T21:37:00.000-08:00

"Immanuel or Emmanuel or Imanu'el (עִמָּנוּאֵל "God [is] with us" consists of two Hebrew words: אל (El, meaning 'God') and עמנו (Immanu, meaning 'with us')"
(definition taken from Wikipedia)

There are many names and titles given to Jesus. Some are prophetic, some descriptive and some symbolic. Over 100 names throughout the Bible refer to him and they all reveal a unique aspect of his personality or role throughout history and in our present lives, too.

One of my favorite names, particularly at this time of year, is Immanuel - "God With Us." How reassuring, how victorious, how humbling that thought is! And yet it sums up the whole of Christ's purpose in being born to this world. He stepped across the void that separated us from God so that God could once again be "with us". I found a very good reminder of why this had to be at http://www.orlutheran.com/html/immanuel.html if you want to think more about it.

But it also begs a question this Christmas Day -

Now that he's with us, what will you do with him?