Calming the (inner) storm

Thank you to the Skit Guys (based in Oklahoma) and Worship House Media for making this powerful reminder available.

Light Shines (a video)

This video is perfect for Easter but for an any-day reminder too. Light shines in darkness.

Thoughts on Good Friday (a poem)

Sorrow's no more than a season
That cradles a measure of hope in its weight.

For only after tasting tears
Can we savor the triumph of dawn
     The sweetness of surrender
          The sharp perfection of joy.

Only after heads are bowed
With grief-hung burdens too heavy to wear
Can we lift eyes to a new day
     In wonder of shifting, growing, enticing light
          Captivated by the swelling song of morning.

Only after feet are mired
Bogged in the weight of realities
     not always our choice, but always our pain
Can we know the strength of a dream
     Spur hopes locked in chains
          And respond to the voice of the dance.

There may be pain for a time
     but joy comes with the mourning
          If only we wait.

A Sunday story

Easter is on its way again and I love that this video combines the story, the highlights and some imagination in portraying the Easter story again. It's a story that is ages old and yet ever new for the telling.

Getting things in the right order

I was reading in 1 Chronicles 22 the other day about the preparations King David made for the building of a permanent temple for the Lord. He knew that he would not be the one to build it  (see 1 King 7) but it was still a heart's desire for him and so he set to work gathering the materials his son Solomon would need to get to work. Before he was done, he'd gathered 3750 tons of gold, 37,500 tons of silver, bronze and iron that couldn't even be measured there was so much of it, wood and stone galore. He'd also a list of craftsmen ready to start the work when Solomon became king.

And then he did something profound. He gathered the leaders of Israel and directed them to help Solomon in this huge task with these words:

"Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord." (1 Chronicles 22:19)

When were they to begin? After they had spent time seeking God. Not just a quick prayer before picking up the spades, but after spending both time and energy devoted to seeking Him.

And that struck me as a good place to start. No matter what we have planned or dreamed or been preparing for. First, spend time seeking God.

And the best news?

It works.

How do I know?

Well, I think Proverbs 16:3 is the lesson that Solomon learned through the whole experience:

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

 

Devout Duplicity

This is a rather broad statement but I'll make it anyways:

 Christians might be the biggest problem Christianity faces today.

How many times have we heard people outside the church comment on the person inside the church as their reason (excuse?) for not giving their life over to Christ? For not entering into a relationship that offers them life? I don't think that even we, as Christians, have to look many pews over (or possibly even past our own seat) to find church attenders that:

     - are unfaithful to their spouse, either in practice or through pornography
     - abuse their children
     - take payment under the table so they don't have to report the income on their taxes
     - use God's name as a curse, or even worse, use it as a place holder in conversations without even noticing
     - spend their time criticizing and undermining pastors, family and friends
     - drink in excess
     - generally live a private life that doesn't match up with their public one.

In fairness, let me say that there are many wonderful Christians who live a whole-hearted life for God. But for those looking to find a flaw in the faith, let's be honest and say they probably don't have to look far.

I don't think, though, that this phenomenon is uniquely Christian. It might be clearer to say:

Humans might be the biggest problem God faces today.

How many times did God rebuke the priests (and the nation) that didn't uphold his laws in the duties of their office or the privacy of their homes? I think it's simply human nature. I think we could look at any major world religion and find people that say they accept its teachings but live a life that ignores it.

It happened with the religious leaders of Jesus day, too.

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. (John 18:28, NIV, emphasis mine)

 We know the expression about having our cake and eating it too, and that's exactly what was happening here. The Jewish leaders had been looking for ways and means to arrest Jesus for days, weeks and months. Caiaphas, the Roman-appointed high priest, made no secret of the fact that he wanted Jesus dead. They brought false charges and lying proof. They manipulated (and ignored) the legal system of the day. They broke the law to get their way. BUT even in their scheming and their ambition to see Jesus phony trial come to a death sentence, they still wanted to preserve their appearance of piety. They wanted to be able to sit down and eat the Passover meal - one of the most important celebrations of their year. And so they stood outside Pilate's house with murder in their hearts and the law they had written in their backbones.

I have to shake my head at the image of these men sitting down the next day to take part in a feast that was meant to remind them of God's mercy through the blood of an innocent sacrifice, when they had just sacrificed an innocent man but would never see the mercy his death offered. I suspect the dark circles under their eyes that day came not from a late night of trials and meetings, but from inside, a shadow of the darkness in their hearts. But to a casual outside inspection, they still looked righteous as they lifted the cup and sang the songs of Passover.

And God granted them the grace of time to change their minds and accept the sacrifice He sent on their behalf.

Still, too many times we try to live that way too. Saying one thing, living another. More captured by the religious rites than the relationship with God. Keeping our faith in the closet beside our best Sunday shoes. And not seeing it as a problem.

But God loves us enough to give us time to make a better choice.

I don't want to live that way.

What about you?

NIV Bibles for preteen boys and girls (a review)

Two Bibles for pre-teens (ages 9-12) are available with some unique age-focused features.

The Faithgirlz! Bible was first released in 2007 and now has had its first update. What I particularly like about this particular Bible is that it is addressing issues like character and self-perception at the age where it's still possible to offer what I consider a pre-emptive strike. Girls at the preteen age are still willing to believe they are unique and special even in their search to belong, and this Bible gives a balance to both desires. With features like "Oh, I Get It" or the introductions of each book, the truths of the Bible are open to them, while "Is There a Little _______ In You?" and "Dream Girl" help them see a connection between the people of the Bible and their own choices and decisions. My personal favorite is the "Bring It On" features, that look like a personality quiz and give different passages to explore for different answers.

As a companion Bible, the NIV Boys Bible has some "boy-centric" offerings like "Grossology" and "Makin' It Real," both giving a current day perspective to the events of the Bible. And the "What's the Big Deal?" sections are great for providing personal application even at this preteen, gotta-wonder-what-they're-thinking stage. And "Words to Live By" provide eye-catching highlights scattered throughout. Great introductory material for each book of the Bible and interesting facts scattered throughout too.

Two final observations:

1. The font in both Bibles is not black. In the Faithgirlz! version it is purple with lots of pink highlights and artwork; in the boys it's blue with gold accents. This will probably not be an issue for 99.9% of readers but for a small minority it is something so be aware of if you consider purchasing it.

2. The sound of the binding makes me wonder just how durable these Bibles will be over the course of time. Hardcover, of course, should hold up well to use but again, it's something to be aware of when investing in a Bible that will (hopefully) take a lot of use. Of course, only time will tell if that's a real issue or not.

Either version are nicely geared to their age group and I also think would work for a shared family devotional time, or even for adults that want a little extra information in their daily study. There's some fun stuff behind those cool covers!

Review copies provided by The B&B Media Group.

Easter Stories

It's very easy to let any Bible story be a story only. But the truth of every Bible story is that they involved people - people that made good choices, bad choices, personal choices, eternal choices. People - not just characters in a story.

A project I've been very excited (and slightly nervous) about is writing a script for Good Friday that takes 5 Bible characters and places them as people who have seen Jesus die, and to present their stories and their perspectives - as people.

Why? Because I think that sometimes it's too easy to dismiss their stories because "I would never do that" or "What were they thinking?" But sometimes only time gives perspective to our actions and we can't know for sure how our character will respond in moments of decision.

This particular script is called "3 Days" and you're welcome to attend if you're in the area.


If you can't make it, here's another skit that gives a taste of those personal stories.

Contributing to a better past

Whether your past has been an idyllic past, a problematic one, or the usual combination of good and bad, your past shapes much of who you are each day. And the past keeps filling up because like it or not, the "present" is a very fleeting pointer on the timeline of our lives.

I was reading in 2 Samuel the other day and came to chapter 13 which contains the tragic story of Amnon, one of King David's sons, who was so consumed with his own wants that he raped his sister Tamar and then discarded her. What caught my attention this time was not the two siblings involved so much as the role of their father, David. The Bible records

"When King David heard all this, he was furious." (vs. 21)

And then silence.

Nothing more is said about David's response to this crime against his daughter and we read on to find that her brother, Absalom, ultimately takes revenge on Amnon.

It's possible to speculate all kinds of reasons for David's lack of response here. Perhaps his own sins mocked him at this point (after all, he was an adulterer and murderer himself); perhaps he felt guilt because he had sent Tamar to Amnon that night; perhaps it was that the state of his kingdom had him too fully preoccupied to give it his attention. Whatever the reason, David did nothing, and it led to the ultimate loss of another son*, the irreversible disgrace of a daughter, and the unsettled loyalties of his kingdom.

What's the lesson to learn here?

The NIV Life Application Bible makes this observation:

"Parents contribute good or evil by action or inaction in the lives of their children." (page 467)

As a parent (and as a person), David is a prime and public example of how both action and inaction contributed to a negative past for his family. His were actions that affected the past of both his own immediate family and a nation as a whole. Do we know the ripples our own actions (or inactions) are capable of carrying?

It's a pattern today to assign blame and with it to try to pass off personal responsibility. And while there may be reasons we can pinpoint that color our thinking or have shaped our character, it's also time to take up the responsibility of the impact we have on those around us. Each word, each action, each response (or lack thereof) puts a mark for good or for bad on someone's past. If we are contributing hurt and criticism and doubt, some else's past is going to be the worse for it. And if our silence or inattention misses an opportunity for correction or for encouragement, the effects may be just as detrimental.

But the good news is that it's never too late to try to contribute to a better past for ourselves, for our families and for each person we come in contact with on a daily basis. Jesus promises to make all things new and David's psalms often express the wonder and the faithfulness of God's forgiveness. It doesn't mean God makes all things perfect - there may be time and effort that is necessary to healing harm done by our past - but He offers a solid foundation for building a better past.

Let's put the past in perspective and be intentional about making it better for everyone we encounter, both in what we do and in what we don't do.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11)

*Absalom ran away after murdering his brother, remained in hiding for three years, then returned but was forbidden the king's presence, led a rebellion against his father, and was ultimately killed himself by a supporter of David. And David's response to Absalom's crimes almost cost him his army's support, too.

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

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)

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 throughout 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)

Turbulent Days

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)

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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

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