Confession time: earlier this year, I signed my husband and myself up for a 100-150 mile bike ride with our local chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis society. My desire? To be able to ride with him, and both of us ride with my Dad, who rode 150 miles in the MS Ride for me last year. How it came across (or even the real motivation behind it)? Me manipulating my husband to do what I wanted him to do, something I find myself guilty of in a thousand ways - though with God's grace, he is helping me become a better wife.
With that said, it has been stunning to see the commitment and, while he would never call it this, PASSION my husband has developed over the past few months training for this ride. Even with the immense responsibility he has at work, watching him put his bike on the rack to head out for a training ride with my dad and others, or riding for hours on the stationary bike when it's 175 degrees outside or weather doesn't permit, eating healthier ... all of it creates in me a sense of awe, pride in my husband, profound humility that he, my dad and others would commit to such a grueling endeavor to support those living with MS, and an overwhelming thankfulness that I am not the point of the story. My husband's desire is to bring glory to God through this ride - and while loving and supporting his wife in the pattern of Jesus loving his bride, the Church, is absolutely God-honoring, as is taking care of his body - it is wonderfully freeing to release my husband from my burdensome expectations and, instead, support and respect him as he pursues Christ.
It's a near certainty that if I say to my husband, "I'm so proud of you!!!" one more time, he may actually crack/explode/spontaneously combust. Not entirely sure of the psyche behind it, but he just doesn't do all that well with compliments. So I'll say it on here, and then I don't have to witness the fallout ... I am so, so, so proud of my husband. Not because he is perfect, but because he is my husband. And because he is willing to engage the holy discontent that God's Spirit puts in all of our hearts, and strive - through Christ's strength - to run the race with perseverance, whether that means becoming more and more of a servant husband or simply refusing to remain static and instead pursue maturity as a follower of Jesus.
And now comes my shameless plea for your help. I hoped to be able to ride as well, but it seems that that is no longer a possibility. There is a link at the bottom of my blog to click on my page for the MS Ride on September 24 & 25, which will soon be changed to a link to Brad's page. I am also including it here, and making a heartfelt request that you check it out and consider supporting him if you are able.
MS Society - Bike MS Breakaway to the Beach
Even more shamelessly, I ask for your prayers - for Brad and my father's safety during the ride, for our marriage, which is touched by the effects of this disease daily, and for my husband and myself, that we would continue to grow in our love of our Savior and for each other, and that in ALL things our lives would boldly proclaim, TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Time Stand Still
It's July already? For real, though?? And before I blink my eyes we will be into August already ... it does seem an inescapable aspect of getting older, no matter how gracefully you do it, that the passage of time seems to move at supersonic speeds and we find ourselves saying phrases like, "Was that REALLY a year ago?" or "We've been married FOUR YEARS ALREADY?" That last one is actually a statement expressing excitement and thankfulness on my part, just to be clear (though I shall not presume to speak for my husband :)
So I missed the month of June, from a blogging perspective, but my beloved and I did celebrate four years of marriage (just the beginning!); Father's Day with my daddy who is precious to me - I love opportunities to honor him for being such a good father; and reluctantly, it must be said, my birthday that took me yet another step closer to the looming BIG 40.
The end of June marked two years since I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. What the future holds for me, for my husband, whether we will be able to have a family, I do not even pretend to know. The other day, I had an unexpected conversation with a lovely lady who told me that her husband has been living with MS for almost 40 years - he is now in a wheelchair and has been declared legally blind. Have thoughts of that happening to me crossed my mind? Yep. She asked me, very matter-of-factly, "Do you ever wonder, 'Why me?'", telling me that she has wrestled often with that very question when she looks at her husband. My honest answer in response was simply, "No." I told her that from the time I was diagnosed until now, my thought has always been, "Why not me?" If Jesus could step into time and onto this mortal earth in its fallen, broken state and submit himself willingly to his Father's will, go to a horrific death by the infamous Roman torture device of crucifixion to be slain for my sins, how could I possibly complain about having MS, cancer, or anything at all?
Has it been a struggle? Absolutely. Does it grieve my heart to know the burden it places on my husband? Without a doubt. Do I know, barring a miracle cure or a new heavenly body, that this body will continue to deteriorate in ways that I simply have no control over? Certainly. What simply takes my breath away is that when Jesus hung on the cross for six hours, bleeding, suffocating, dehydrated beyond imagination, gasping for air as he pushed himself up on the nails driven through his feet, he CHOSE to take all my sins and provide the restitution that I could never achieve on my own. Nearly 2,000 years before I was even conceived, he chose to be the sacrifice for me, knowing that I would sin against him - the perfect and holy God of the universe - and yet loving me so much that he offered me a way to be reconciled to my Heavenly Father. I really can't get over it (and hope and pray that I never do) - though I had not yet sinned, being not yet born, he paid it all ... my past, present and future sins. What astounding love, what breathtaking mercy and such amazing grace.
So I do "boast" in my weakness, insomuch as it brings glory to God - and continue to be humbled that he trusts me to point to his strength at work in me, his joy magnified in me, and his transforming work in my heart that allows me to grow more and more into the image of Christ. And there is joy - oh, so much joy. Not to be confused with happiness, as joy and happiness are not synonymous terms. There is happiness too ... laughing with my husband, sharing our hopes and dreams for the future, finding pleasure in the things that we were created to enjoy. There are also "dark nights of the soul." Will I ever experience the joy of motherhood is a question that can easily push me into one of those dark nights. But always, always, there is joy in all circumstances.
It is my prayer that, as time marches on and the earth keeps spinning on its axis, we who live in this fallen world with all its discouragement, happiness, disappointment, treasured moments, betrayal, friendship, anger, forgiveness, hate and love, will take hold of the joy set before us - with Jesus as our source and our example - and never, ever let go.
So I missed the month of June, from a blogging perspective, but my beloved and I did celebrate four years of marriage (just the beginning!); Father's Day with my daddy who is precious to me - I love opportunities to honor him for being such a good father; and reluctantly, it must be said, my birthday that took me yet another step closer to the looming BIG 40.
The end of June marked two years since I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. What the future holds for me, for my husband, whether we will be able to have a family, I do not even pretend to know. The other day, I had an unexpected conversation with a lovely lady who told me that her husband has been living with MS for almost 40 years - he is now in a wheelchair and has been declared legally blind. Have thoughts of that happening to me crossed my mind? Yep. She asked me, very matter-of-factly, "Do you ever wonder, 'Why me?'", telling me that she has wrestled often with that very question when she looks at her husband. My honest answer in response was simply, "No." I told her that from the time I was diagnosed until now, my thought has always been, "Why not me?" If Jesus could step into time and onto this mortal earth in its fallen, broken state and submit himself willingly to his Father's will, go to a horrific death by the infamous Roman torture device of crucifixion to be slain for my sins, how could I possibly complain about having MS, cancer, or anything at all?
Has it been a struggle? Absolutely. Does it grieve my heart to know the burden it places on my husband? Without a doubt. Do I know, barring a miracle cure or a new heavenly body, that this body will continue to deteriorate in ways that I simply have no control over? Certainly. What simply takes my breath away is that when Jesus hung on the cross for six hours, bleeding, suffocating, dehydrated beyond imagination, gasping for air as he pushed himself up on the nails driven through his feet, he CHOSE to take all my sins and provide the restitution that I could never achieve on my own. Nearly 2,000 years before I was even conceived, he chose to be the sacrifice for me, knowing that I would sin against him - the perfect and holy God of the universe - and yet loving me so much that he offered me a way to be reconciled to my Heavenly Father. I really can't get over it (and hope and pray that I never do) - though I had not yet sinned, being not yet born, he paid it all ... my past, present and future sins. What astounding love, what breathtaking mercy and such amazing grace.
So I do "boast" in my weakness, insomuch as it brings glory to God - and continue to be humbled that he trusts me to point to his strength at work in me, his joy magnified in me, and his transforming work in my heart that allows me to grow more and more into the image of Christ. And there is joy - oh, so much joy. Not to be confused with happiness, as joy and happiness are not synonymous terms. There is happiness too ... laughing with my husband, sharing our hopes and dreams for the future, finding pleasure in the things that we were created to enjoy. There are also "dark nights of the soul." Will I ever experience the joy of motherhood is a question that can easily push me into one of those dark nights. But always, always, there is joy in all circumstances.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
~Hebrews 12:1-3
It is my prayer that, as time marches on and the earth keeps spinning on its axis, we who live in this fallen world with all its discouragement, happiness, disappointment, treasured moments, betrayal, friendship, anger, forgiveness, hate and love, will take hold of the joy set before us - with Jesus as our source and our example - and never, ever let go.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Concerning Hobbits, Fellowships and the Art of Self-Discipline
After completing what has become a yearly ritual of watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy - extended versions, naturally - I found my head filled with a swirl of thoughts about hobbits, friendship and loyalty, and a great deal of introspection regarding my own character (most notably, the areas in which I am severely deficient).
Ever since learning of the deep friendship that existed between author J.R.R. Tolkien and author/Christian apologist Clive Staples Lewis, it has never failed to bring a smile to my face when I think of the two of them laughing together, debating each other, challenging one another and encouraging each other. Both were members of The Inklings, a literary discussion group associated with the University at Oxford where members often read and discussed their unfinished works (Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet being among the first novels read to the group). If I ever get my hands on a time machine, one of my many stops will be Magdalen College during the 1930s, where the group often met in C.S. Lewis's room. Though, regrettably, I will also have to don my invisibility cloak to sneak into one of their meetings, as all the members were male.
For my part, I will be eternally grateful to Mr. Tolkien for pointing his close friend, C.S. Lewis to the truth of Christianity. My unbidden smile is, in large part, due to the anticipation of meeting them both one day in heaven, but it is also borne out of the intellectual ferocity of these two men which, at times, put them at odds with each other -- after reading Lewis's draft of The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, for instance, Tolkien was most critical of Lewis's juxtaposition of what Tolkien deemed the realities of this world (i.e., Father Christmas) with a pure "fantasy" world. Again, just my humble opinion here, but it would seem the Chronicles of Narnia have done quite well for themselves over the decades, despite the alleged literary foible by my beloved C.S. Lewis.
And while Tolkien strenuously objected to people's attempts to find allegorical meaning in his novels, it is with all due respect and a preemptive plea for his forgiveness that I engage in just such a task. Fellowship, loyalty, love and self-discipline, all are qualities that shine ever so brightly in both Tolkien's written work and his own life. He knew the absolute necessity of friendship. And it is certain that his most famous published work (if it had made it to publication at all without the support and encouragement of his friends) would have had a drastically different ending if not for the bonds of friendship and loyalty between the characters in his book. For now at least it is a question without answer, but I often wonder if Proverbs 27:17 went through Tolkien's mind during the long hours writing and creating the intricate world of Middle Earth.
It is a treasure beyond value, that friendship which both loves and sharpens as iron sharpens iron. To have a friend who will speak the truth in love is a rarity - dare I say they are fast becoming an endangered species - and accept you nevertheless, just as you are. Successes and failures, warts and all. And yet, we were created for fellowship and for community. True fellowship that goes beyond surface pleasantries and the knee-jerk "I'm fine" response to what may or may not be a rhetorical "How are you doing?" question. Frodo really wouldn't have gotten far without Sam - and neither will we without having the courage to engage each other on the "tough" issues, the willingness to have someone or someones in our life who will hold us accountable, and the ability to drop the facade and trust that our friend will love us no matter how many skeletons are crammed into our closets.
Self-discipline is hard. I assume that's 1) why it is called "discipline" and 2) why the Bible lists self-control/discipline as a fruit of God's Spirit that we will evidence more and more as we grow in the knowledge and grace of our Savior and become more and more like Christ. The continued attempt to do life on our own - to hide the most intimate parts of ourselves - ends in frustration, pain, failure and loneliness, which is what happens when the creation rebels against one of the very things for which it was created. Begging your pardon for the "graphic" example, but imagine trying to use a toilet for a shower and a shower for a toilet - inevitably, you will end up with a wonderfully disgusting mess and, well, you will literally stink.
Ahh, those pesky character flaws of mine ... why is it easier to watch hours of television than to spend 10, 15 or 30 minutes reading my Bible? Why do I spend far too much time engaged in pointless and meaningless activity that has absolutely no eternal significance and yet find it difficult to sustain a consistent prayer life? These are not new questions - certainly I am not the first to ask them, to struggle with them, and to rail against the sin nature that "makes" me do the things I know I shouldn't do. Paul actually struggled with the same things, albeit in a society without televisions, cell phones, internet, gaming, etc.:
Ever since learning of the deep friendship that existed between author J.R.R. Tolkien and author/Christian apologist Clive Staples Lewis, it has never failed to bring a smile to my face when I think of the two of them laughing together, debating each other, challenging one another and encouraging each other. Both were members of The Inklings, a literary discussion group associated with the University at Oxford where members often read and discussed their unfinished works (Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet being among the first novels read to the group). If I ever get my hands on a time machine, one of my many stops will be Magdalen College during the 1930s, where the group often met in C.S. Lewis's room. Though, regrettably, I will also have to don my invisibility cloak to sneak into one of their meetings, as all the members were male.
For my part, I will be eternally grateful to Mr. Tolkien for pointing his close friend, C.S. Lewis to the truth of Christianity. My unbidden smile is, in large part, due to the anticipation of meeting them both one day in heaven, but it is also borne out of the intellectual ferocity of these two men which, at times, put them at odds with each other -- after reading Lewis's draft of The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, for instance, Tolkien was most critical of Lewis's juxtaposition of what Tolkien deemed the realities of this world (i.e., Father Christmas) with a pure "fantasy" world. Again, just my humble opinion here, but it would seem the Chronicles of Narnia have done quite well for themselves over the decades, despite the alleged literary foible by my beloved C.S. Lewis.
And while Tolkien strenuously objected to people's attempts to find allegorical meaning in his novels, it is with all due respect and a preemptive plea for his forgiveness that I engage in just such a task. Fellowship, loyalty, love and self-discipline, all are qualities that shine ever so brightly in both Tolkien's written work and his own life. He knew the absolute necessity of friendship. And it is certain that his most famous published work (if it had made it to publication at all without the support and encouragement of his friends) would have had a drastically different ending if not for the bonds of friendship and loyalty between the characters in his book. For now at least it is a question without answer, but I often wonder if Proverbs 27:17 went through Tolkien's mind during the long hours writing and creating the intricate world of Middle Earth.
It is a treasure beyond value, that friendship which both loves and sharpens as iron sharpens iron. To have a friend who will speak the truth in love is a rarity - dare I say they are fast becoming an endangered species - and accept you nevertheless, just as you are. Successes and failures, warts and all. And yet, we were created for fellowship and for community. True fellowship that goes beyond surface pleasantries and the knee-jerk "I'm fine" response to what may or may not be a rhetorical "How are you doing?" question. Frodo really wouldn't have gotten far without Sam - and neither will we without having the courage to engage each other on the "tough" issues, the willingness to have someone or someones in our life who will hold us accountable, and the ability to drop the facade and trust that our friend will love us no matter how many skeletons are crammed into our closets.
Self-discipline is hard. I assume that's 1) why it is called "discipline" and 2) why the Bible lists self-control/discipline as a fruit of God's Spirit that we will evidence more and more as we grow in the knowledge and grace of our Savior and become more and more like Christ. The continued attempt to do life on our own - to hide the most intimate parts of ourselves - ends in frustration, pain, failure and loneliness, which is what happens when the creation rebels against one of the very things for which it was created. Begging your pardon for the "graphic" example, but imagine trying to use a toilet for a shower and a shower for a toilet - inevitably, you will end up with a wonderfully disgusting mess and, well, you will literally stink.
Ahh, those pesky character flaws of mine ... why is it easier to watch hours of television than to spend 10, 15 or 30 minutes reading my Bible? Why do I spend far too much time engaged in pointless and meaningless activity that has absolutely no eternal significance and yet find it difficult to sustain a consistent prayer life? These are not new questions - certainly I am not the first to ask them, to struggle with them, and to rail against the sin nature that "makes" me do the things I know I shouldn't do. Paul actually struggled with the same things, albeit in a society without televisions, cell phones, internet, gaming, etc.:
For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.There is hope, as Paul says in verse 25: "The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different." Jesus is the hope that sustains us, works in and through us, and loves us perfectly. In his mercy -- in fact, from the very first man when God determined that His creation was not complete, as it was "not good for man to be alone" -- God created us for companionship. With GOD himself first and foremost, and also with others. I don't think the words from Genesis regarding companionship were limited to the union of a man and a woman - we need each other, "as iron sharpens iron." We need to be in community, and we need friendships/fellowships with others will who will love us, encourage us, confront us when necessary, and carry us when we are too weak to go on. Like Frodo, we all need our "Sams."
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? Romans 7:15a-24 (The Message)
Monday, May 2, 2011
To Be Perfect Honest - Book Review
To be perfectly honest myself, I had never heard of Phil Callaway before receiving this book. Apparently he is a rather well-known (as in award-winning) and prolific (as in more than 20 books) author and prominent speaker. The description of the book intrigued me, I won't lie . . . "One Man's Year of ALMOST Living Truthfully." Hard to resist, right? Phil accepted his editor's challenge to see if he could tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth for an entire year, and write a book about it. His editor said, "It will make for a great book." His editor was so right.
Spoiler: The book is written in a diary-like format, and begins on Day 1. Phil makes it all the way to Day 2 before catching himself in a lie. Wonder if I would make it even that far.
Much has been said about the book's humor, and Phil's comedic style in general. And the book IS funny. My husband actually banned me from reading it late at night, due to my sudden - and apparently loud - bursts of laughter while he was trying to sleep. The book is also incredibly convicting, thanks in large measure to Phil's authenticity and transparency. He doesn't hide the "ugly" human nature stuff, although sometimes his descriptions of the ugly stuff can be excruciatingly funny. He deals with hot-button issues such as lying to your spouse, struggling with lust/temptation, addiction issues (he happens to be addicted to Pac-Man, while trying to get his son's friend to end his smoking addiction), prayer, anger/revenge, and, err . . . how to deal (or how not to deal) with Mormons.
Day 82 was a fascinating example of trying to surprise someone (his wife) and resorting to lying "in a purposeful sort of way." In a slightly pathetic attempt to protect the surprise from his wife until the appointed time, he winds up telling multiple lies in rapid-fire succession and then wonders "Why did I need to tell five lies when I could have stopped at one? It's like I'd gone without chocolate for a year and was eating it by the fistful." Day 83 was more of an epiphany day for him. Phil writes: "I'm learning that you should never tell a lie to your spouse, but you shouldn't always tell the truth either. As my dad used to say, 'A closed mouth gathers no foot.'" That's just awesome. He also offers an acrostic that he finds helpful in this regard - THINK:
T--Is what I'm about to tell her True?
H--Is it Helpful?
I--Will it Inspire her?
N--Is it Necessary?
K--Am I Kind about it?
Good advice for all. The book is divided by chapters, and not every day is included (not sure why that is and found myself wondering if Phil simply slept through an entire day or two), but the format and chapter division work quite well. One of the most enjoyable/meaningful/convicting/encouraging parts for me was the inclusion of what the author calls "Honest Confessions" at the end of each chapter. An excerpt from Honest Confession #3 (at the end of Chapter 3: How to Tell the Truth and Still Have a Place to Sleep) reads as follows:
"I didn't want to write about lust. It's easier to appear to have it all together and leave readers with lofty thoughts of me. But this is a book on honesty. When I was a teenager, I thought, If I live to be forty, then this lust thing will vanish and I can live in complete victory like the forty-year-olds around here who look like they have one foot in the grave and the other on a skateboard. Unfortunately, after more than four decades as a believer, I find there are time when I still fail in this area." Phil goes on to say that "few topics bring out the modern-day Pharisees in greater force than the sins of others," and that when he sins, he "confess[es] immediately and gives thanks that the One who called the Pharisees' bluff is on my side." There is more to that confession, but only for the sake of my sleeping husband did I stifle an obnoxiously emphatic cheer upon reading the above portion.
Day 226 was another favorite. Phil received a four-page letter in response to one of his previous books, Laughing Matters. The author of the letter writes, in part, "Where do you read about the apostles trying to make jokes in order to reach people? Do you think they were hated by the world because they MADE PEOPLE LAUGH? The Bible contains no humor, why should you use it?" [Note: I actually choked a bit upon reading that last sentence.] Two days later, Phil found himself still troubled about whether the letter-writer was correct about God's lack of humor, and emailed a doctoral candidate friend about it. Phil's friend provided a lengthy response, and I particularly like his last few lines: "You don't get invited to as many parties as [Jesus] did by sucking on prunes all day. And he hung out with twelve guys. Do you really think they didn't laugh?" Yes, we can debate the theological accuracy of this . . . OR, we can revel in the fact that God has an INCREDIBLE sense of humor. I choose the latter. But then again, I like to laugh.
Certainly, I've read books that were convicting and had humor in them. But never anything like this. The fusion of sheer honesty (including the honesty about slipping up and lying), levity, wittiness and Biblical truth creates a book that is wonderfully readable and more than worth your time. No lie.
At the very least, consider the question - honestly, of course - of how long you could go telling the truth and nothing but the truth? I did, and the answer was definitely not pretty. Either way, if you want some good laughs or laughs plus something more, I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for this book.
LEAD. SERVE. LOVE. - Book Review
LEAD. SERVE. LOVE. by Gregory E. Lang is described on the front cover as "100 Three-Word Ways to Be Like Jesus." If it sounds cheesy, let me assure you that it's not. Unless you are woefully hardhearted, in which case you should buy this book immediately and turn without delay to #45, Soften your heart. And also Romans 2:5. While its cute packaging and small size make for a great gift book, LEAD. SERVE. LOVE is also a good book to keep around and read each day . . . if you want to be more like Christ.
The author's acknowledgements at the end are moving in and of themselves -- and to one friend he specifically gives thanks for sharing "the wisdom and simplicity of a 'three-ology theology.'" I'm just going to go ahead and add my thanks to that person as well, and to the author. With absolutely no idea what to expect when I began reading this book out loud to my parents and my husband while traveling to church, I couldn't help but, well, grin as I read the very first three-word way to be like Jesus: Smile at everyone.
Each three-word phrase is followed by a more in-depth illustration of how, for instance, smiling at everyone shows Christ in us. The opposite page lists several Bible verses that demonstrate the source from which the author draws his inspiration. Of course, some of these phrases could be taken out of context, standing alone . . . not that anything is EVER taken out of context. Which is why I particularly like the format of this book -- if one reads the phrases with the more detailed explanation, along with the Scripture verses provided, the reader is given necessary clarification and Biblical perspective. Translation: if you take these phrases to use for your own glory, rather than for God's, you have done some awfully creative wrangling and probably missed the point of the book.
For example, "Encourage Your Friends" could be adopted by many people as simply a good way (and one of many acceptable ways) to live. But by going further up and in, one reads that "No friend is more welcomed than the one who encourages you. Make yourself welcomed. Encourage your friends, and stir them to do good deeds so that the cause of Christ may be made stronger in number. Turn them away from false hope and worldly promises, and you too will be encouraged when together you reach for Jesus. Encourage your friends." This is followed by the verses on the opposite page -- Romans 12:8, I Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13 and Hebrews 10:24. Even if you don't care for the author's "three-ology theology," you can always argue with God's Word. That always goes well.
Some of my favorites are:
Be not indifferent.
Listen with understanding.
Strive for justice.
Swallow your pride.
Live as servants.
Overcome your worry.
Forget the past.
Love without hesitation.
Hold yourself accountable.
Yield to wisdom.
Those are ten of 100 (12, if you include "Smile at everyone" and "Soften your heart"), and one can only imagine how different our families, our communities, our country and this world would be if people practiced even a handful of these. And by people, I mean me. And you. It's easy to nod and agree, and yet quickly proceed listening to our friend or spouse with impatience or distracted attention, rather than listening with understanding. Which is why today and every day, I will cling to the truth in #85: Believe in miracles.
All that to say, my own three-word-ism, while not exactly theological, is simple and wise: get this book!
DISCLOSURE: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
The author's acknowledgements at the end are moving in and of themselves -- and to one friend he specifically gives thanks for sharing "the wisdom and simplicity of a 'three-ology theology.'" I'm just going to go ahead and add my thanks to that person as well, and to the author. With absolutely no idea what to expect when I began reading this book out loud to my parents and my husband while traveling to church, I couldn't help but, well, grin as I read the very first three-word way to be like Jesus: Smile at everyone.
Each three-word phrase is followed by a more in-depth illustration of how, for instance, smiling at everyone shows Christ in us. The opposite page lists several Bible verses that demonstrate the source from which the author draws his inspiration. Of course, some of these phrases could be taken out of context, standing alone . . . not that anything is EVER taken out of context. Which is why I particularly like the format of this book -- if one reads the phrases with the more detailed explanation, along with the Scripture verses provided, the reader is given necessary clarification and Biblical perspective. Translation: if you take these phrases to use for your own glory, rather than for God's, you have done some awfully creative wrangling and probably missed the point of the book.
For example, "Encourage Your Friends" could be adopted by many people as simply a good way (and one of many acceptable ways) to live. But by going further up and in, one reads that "No friend is more welcomed than the one who encourages you. Make yourself welcomed. Encourage your friends, and stir them to do good deeds so that the cause of Christ may be made stronger in number. Turn them away from false hope and worldly promises, and you too will be encouraged when together you reach for Jesus. Encourage your friends." This is followed by the verses on the opposite page -- Romans 12:8, I Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13 and Hebrews 10:24. Even if you don't care for the author's "three-ology theology," you can always argue with God's Word. That always goes well.
Some of my favorites are:
Be not indifferent.
Listen with understanding.
Strive for justice.
Swallow your pride.
Live as servants.
Overcome your worry.
Forget the past.
Love without hesitation.
Hold yourself accountable.
Yield to wisdom.
Those are ten of 100 (12, if you include "Smile at everyone" and "Soften your heart"), and one can only imagine how different our families, our communities, our country and this world would be if people practiced even a handful of these. And by people, I mean me. And you. It's easy to nod and agree, and yet quickly proceed listening to our friend or spouse with impatience or distracted attention, rather than listening with understanding. Which is why today and every day, I will cling to the truth in #85: Believe in miracles.
All that to say, my own three-word-ism, while not exactly theological, is simple and wise: get this book!
DISCLOSURE: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Playing in the dirt.
Otherwise known as gardening, for those plant-whisperers blessed with a green thumb. I am not one of them. My thumb is decidedly the blackest of black. We were able to take a couple of plants home last night for being table hosts at the Annual Miracle Hill Ministries banquet, and my sweet husband even remarked that the plants would surely die. WELL . . .all I have to say to that is, GAME ON. And so, in an effort to prove him wrong (not really), I spent the morning planting a gorgeous red plant with really pretty flowers and a lovely yellow flower plant. Don't ask me what the names are. In the process, I remembered why I loathe gardening. Besides the fact that I am now covered in ant bites, planting the beautiful flowers made me notice all the weeds in the mulch bed and in our lawn. Being me (read that: slightly OCD), I started digging up weeds and very soon had a nice layer of dirt, mulch and, let's not forget, ant bites . . . those little buggers are vicious!! All in all, it was so much easier to plant the beautiful flowers than it was to dig up/tug at/yell at those stubborn weeds.
Although I will probably never enjoy gardening - and we shall see whether the new plants "surely die" or live to bloom another season or two - it does always remind me of my own internal garden, so to speak. God is so gracious with his gifts to me . . . and while I am so thankful for and admire the beauty of them, there are far too many weeds in my heart. To think that God is willing to get dirty and calloused in order to dig out the weeds takes my breath away. Some weeds are fairly easy, of course, and their roots come up with a good tug. But others, whose roots go so deep and seem to stretch endlessly, require hard toil - the kind that leave you with blisters on your hand and an aching back.
It's interesting that God's Word to us essentially starts in a garden - with no weeds! Literally and spiritually. Ahhhh, if only our lawn was like that. The word garden appears in at least 21 books of the Bible - my favorites are the references in the Song of Solomon and Isaiah 58:11. Also interesting is the fact that Jesus spent his last hours praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, before he was betrayed and handed over to be judged and murdered as an innocent sacrifice for us.
He knew it was his last night, and he chose to spend it in one of his favorite places, the garden, talking to his Father. The ultimate act of gardening was done that night by this innocent, blameless God-man in willingly submitting himself to death for the sake of a desperately lost world. In the English Standard Version (ESV), there is no mention of the word garden after the first four books of the New Testament. Why? Maybe Paul, Peter, John and the other writers of the NT disliked gardening as much as I do. Then again, Jesus is very much in the business of weeding, pruning and planting today for those who follow him.
He is the ultimate Gardener. I am so grateful he never gives up on me, no matter how thick and pervasive the weed-infestation.
Although I will probably never enjoy gardening - and we shall see whether the new plants "surely die" or live to bloom another season or two - it does always remind me of my own internal garden, so to speak. God is so gracious with his gifts to me . . . and while I am so thankful for and admire the beauty of them, there are far too many weeds in my heart. To think that God is willing to get dirty and calloused in order to dig out the weeds takes my breath away. Some weeds are fairly easy, of course, and their roots come up with a good tug. But others, whose roots go so deep and seem to stretch endlessly, require hard toil - the kind that leave you with blisters on your hand and an aching back.
It's interesting that God's Word to us essentially starts in a garden - with no weeds! Literally and spiritually. Ahhhh, if only our lawn was like that. The word garden appears in at least 21 books of the Bible - my favorites are the references in the Song of Solomon and Isaiah 58:11. Also interesting is the fact that Jesus spent his last hours praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, before he was betrayed and handed over to be judged and murdered as an innocent sacrifice for us.
He knew it was his last night, and he chose to spend it in one of his favorite places, the garden, talking to his Father. The ultimate act of gardening was done that night by this innocent, blameless God-man in willingly submitting himself to death for the sake of a desperately lost world. In the English Standard Version (ESV), there is no mention of the word garden after the first four books of the New Testament. Why? Maybe Paul, Peter, John and the other writers of the NT disliked gardening as much as I do. Then again, Jesus is very much in the business of weeding, pruning and planting today for those who follow him.
He is the ultimate Gardener. I am so grateful he never gives up on me, no matter how thick and pervasive the weed-infestation.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
The Value of a Well-Placed Comma.
It is probably a mental illness, this constant need/desire to correct grammar and punctuation. And for those instances (many, I'm sure) where I fall short in this area, feel free to correct my misspellings, etc. Must practice what I preach. And with that introduction, segue to the fact that there are most definitely two distinct groups of people in the world: Group A writes using sparse, if any, commas, while Group B uses commas intentionally - to emphasize, pause, set apart, highlight a certain phrase and/or to follow grammatical protocol. While I am obviously an unapologetic groupie of the second category, as my dear friend and author John Aubrey Anderson said, "I'm very legalistic about grace" -- so no judgment here if you're a Group A type.
Do grammar and punctuation - the order and structure of words - have any application beyond being critical of one's writing? I happen to believe they do.
In COMMAS: The Biggest Little Quirks in the English Language, Andy Gramlich offers some interesting history on the evolution of written language, and both extolls the virtues of the indomitable comma while simultaneously warning against misuse/overuse. "The earliest known examples of actual writing are Sumerian logographs from about 4000 BC. These were simple pictures of objects and symbols representing quantities and time periods. (For tax records!) About 2000 BC, the Phoenicians developed a system of symbols to represent the spoken language, the first alphabet. This alphabet consisted entirely of capitalized consonants and there was no punctuation or even spaces between the words. This sentence would have looked like this: THSSNTNCWLDHVLKDLKTHS Try and sound that out."
"The Greeks added vowels to the alphabet about 1000 BC, making the words much more clear. Although they still had no punctuation or word spacing, this is basically the system we use today and is considered to be one of humanity's greatest achievements. The Greeks also brought punctuation along about 200 BC, and upper and lower case letters around 700 AD. . . . Word spacing and punctuation certainly have made enormous progress in the understanding of the written language but confusion has also proliferated as more complex ideas could now be written and many people underestimate the power of the lowly comma in altering the meaning of written sentences." AHA . . . validation. Of a sort.
Alas, Andy goes on, seemingly endlessly, infinitely, boundlessly, pervasively and thoroughly to warn of the perils of careless, ubiquitous, ambiguous, pervasive, copious, lackadaisical or cursory comma usage. Thankfully, he does offer a few rays of hope to thesaurus-wielding comma-lovers like me:
"[B]efore you dispense with commas altogether, however, remember that commas are required for clarity. This need for clarity is especially necessary in legal documents such as warranties. Consider the plight of the high-rise building owner with a broken elevator. The elevator warranty read: 'This company shall repair or replace worm and gear bearings and housings.' It was the worm and gear that wore out, not their bearings or housings. His attorney ruefully explained that he should have signed a contract that read: 'This company will repair or replace worm and gear, bearings and housings' (Romm, 1984). The owner was responsible for thousands of dollars in repair costs plus attorney's fees, all because of a missing little comma." Yikes. Well ... it seems at least I can blame my comma-obsession on my lawyer background.
To answer my earlier question, YES. Absolutely, yes. Structure, order, design - whether in the universe, in scientific laws and principles, in the human body, or in language - not only point unmistakeably to the Creator of all things, but also have application in that they can help us better understand that which has been created.
Today is Saturday. The world is paused, waiting for the completion of the sentence. Today is the comma between the day Jesus was crucified and surrendered his spirit in the most magnificent and incredible rescue attempt in human history, and the day he rose from the grave, defeating death and sin for all time -- with a hearty kicking-in of Satan's teeth in the process. Friday happened, but Sunday's coming.
Do grammar and punctuation - the order and structure of words - have any application beyond being critical of one's writing? I happen to believe they do.
In COMMAS: The Biggest Little Quirks in the English Language, Andy Gramlich offers some interesting history on the evolution of written language, and both extolls the virtues of the indomitable comma while simultaneously warning against misuse/overuse. "The earliest known examples of actual writing are Sumerian logographs from about 4000 BC. These were simple pictures of objects and symbols representing quantities and time periods. (For tax records!) About 2000 BC, the Phoenicians developed a system of symbols to represent the spoken language, the first alphabet. This alphabet consisted entirely of capitalized consonants and there was no punctuation or even spaces between the words. This sentence would have looked like this: THSSNTNCWLDHVLKDLKTHS Try and sound that out."
"The Greeks added vowels to the alphabet about 1000 BC, making the words much more clear. Although they still had no punctuation or word spacing, this is basically the system we use today and is considered to be one of humanity's greatest achievements. The Greeks also brought punctuation along about 200 BC, and upper and lower case letters around 700 AD. . . . Word spacing and punctuation certainly have made enormous progress in the understanding of the written language but confusion has also proliferated as more complex ideas could now be written and many people underestimate the power of the lowly comma in altering the meaning of written sentences." AHA . . . validation. Of a sort.
Alas, Andy goes on, seemingly endlessly, infinitely, boundlessly, pervasively and thoroughly to warn of the perils of careless, ubiquitous, ambiguous, pervasive, copious, lackadaisical or cursory comma usage. Thankfully, he does offer a few rays of hope to thesaurus-wielding comma-lovers like me:
"[B]efore you dispense with commas altogether, however, remember that commas are required for clarity. This need for clarity is especially necessary in legal documents such as warranties. Consider the plight of the high-rise building owner with a broken elevator. The elevator warranty read: 'This company shall repair or replace worm and gear bearings and housings.' It was the worm and gear that wore out, not their bearings or housings. His attorney ruefully explained that he should have signed a contract that read: 'This company will repair or replace worm and gear, bearings and housings' (Romm, 1984). The owner was responsible for thousands of dollars in repair costs plus attorney's fees, all because of a missing little comma." Yikes. Well ... it seems at least I can blame my comma-obsession on my lawyer background.
To answer my earlier question, YES. Absolutely, yes. Structure, order, design - whether in the universe, in scientific laws and principles, in the human body, or in language - not only point unmistakeably to the Creator of all things, but also have application in that they can help us better understand that which has been created.
Today is Saturday. The world is paused, waiting for the completion of the sentence. Today is the comma between the day Jesus was crucified and surrendered his spirit in the most magnificent and incredible rescue attempt in human history, and the day he rose from the grave, defeating death and sin for all time -- with a hearty kicking-in of Satan's teeth in the process. Friday happened, but Sunday's coming.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Good Friday Musings & a little randomness on the side
A while back, some dear friends from church recommended the book Love & War by John and Stasi Eldredge, and we took them up on their suggestion.
Well, actually, I bought the book - it's like an OCD thing, buying books - and read the prologue to my husband - though I'm not sure getting choked up or bursting into sobs every other paragraph counts as "reading". It didn't for him, and from that point on my husband assumed READING OF THE BOOK duties. Now truth be told, I do have a few stubborn obsessive-compulsive streaks . . . which reared their ugly heads several times while the love of my life was graciously reading to me - lack of inflection, leaving out words, mispronunciation, etc., all irritated me. At several points, I do believe that in His kindness, God smacked me over the head hard enough for me to realize that my husband and I were reading together, growing together, spending quality time together, and he was doing this for me. This timeless reiteration of the fact that IT'S NOT ABOUT ME helped tremendously with, well, getting over myself.
The experience of reading Love & War together was priceless **random thought #1: I find it ironical that Visa commercials have managed to decrease the value of that word** and the book itself was pretty amazing. We both want to read it again, but we gave it to my sister and her husband for their first anniversary. Since my brother-in-law told me it was in their "stack of books to read," does that put the code of Indian Giving Rules & Regulations into immediate effect, entitling me to surreptiously retrieve the book on our next visit to Kentucky? I only jest. Truly, hope they enjoy it as much as we did. Plus, it will be my husband who steals it back. Just kidding, guys, really! ... or am I??
Random thought #2: recently I cut out a coupon (quite proud of myself for that), saw that liquid fabric softener was on sale, actually remembered that I had a coupon for fabric softener ... and we all know that coupon plus sale means it's like you're really getting money back instead of paying for it (working hard on eliminating THAT logic from my brain). Long story longer, I bought the fabric softener. Upon reflection, I realized it was the first time I had ever used liquid fabric softener. Upon further reflection - every time I smell my clothes, to be exact (it sounds weird, but I assure you it's not) - I have decided that henceforth, I shall always use liquid fabric softener if possible. It really IS like a breath of fresh, spring air.
So, having enjoyed our first "reading together" experience, we have recently embarked on Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. This time my darling is even letting me read some of the chapters (or one of the chapters, that is; we're only on Chapter 3). Very excited by this. Even more excited when he doesn't fall asleep as I am reading. In Chapter 2, the author recounts an old rabbinical story about how the spot for God's holy temple was chosen. Random thought #3: Chapter 2 was read with superb inflection, impeccable grammar and pronunciation to an enthusiastic audience and wild applause. Okay, that didn't happen. But for my part, at least, I really liked the story:
"Two brothers worked a common field and a common mill. Each night they divided whatever grain they had produced and each took his portion home. One brother was single and one was married with a large family. The single brother decided that his married brother, with all those kids, certainly needed more gain than he did, so at night he secretly crept over to his brother's granary and gave him an extra portion. The married brother realized that his single brother didn't have any children to care for him in his old age. Concerned about his brother's future, he got up each night and secretly deposited some grain in his single brother's granary. One night they met halfway between the two granaries, and each brother realized what the other was doing. They embraced, and as the story goes, God witnessed what happened and said, 'This is a holy place - a place of love - and it is here that my temple shall be built.'"
The author goes on to say "The holy place is that spot where God is made known to his people, 'the place where human beings discover each other in love.'" The second chapter starts out with a quote from Katherine Ann Porter: "[Marriage] is the merciless revealer, the great white searchlight turned on the darkest places of human nature." Pretty sure my husband gave a verbal "Amen!" when I read that.
Random thought #4: Don't you just love driving a different route than the everyday, normal one, especially if it takes you on a road you've never been on before? Going to a home visit last week from the office rather than my home, I ended up on an expanse of highway I had never previously traveled. The 20-something miles on that road were some of the most beautiful I've seen since moving to the sovereign state of South Carolina (Random thought #5: SERIOUSLY!! It never rejoined the Union after the Civil War).
So what if our marriage - or future marriage, for those who are single - reflected our "ministry of reconciliation" that Paul sets forth in II Corinthians 5:18? How about the reverse - what if our marriage contradicts this message and ministry? Gary Thomas writes that when the latter occurs, "I have sabotaged the goal of my life: to be pleasing to Christ and to faithfully fulfill the ministry of reconciliation . . . If my 'driving force' is as Paul says it should be, I will work to construct a marriage that enhances this ministry of reconciliation -- a marriage that, in fact, incarnates this truth by putting flesh on it, building a relationship that models forgiveness, selfless love, and sacrifice."
Sacred Romance is markedly different in tone than Love & War. But I am excited to see where this road that I've never traveled before leads. And the road after that, and the road after that ... Disclaimer of sappiness: It is so much better traveling the road together with the man I committed to love and respect for a lifetime. Not always easy, but better.
Random thought #[whatever]: My pastor just tweeted that he ordered a grande (aka medium) coffee at the Starbucks in Clemson and they gave him a Venti (aka incredibly freakin' large cup). And I quote, "FINISHED IT!! Now I'm JACKED UP on caffeine!" Oh dear. Note to self: pray for tonight's Easter service, and pray that Perry doesn't bounce off the stage.
Well, actually, I bought the book - it's like an OCD thing, buying books - and read the prologue to my husband - though I'm not sure getting choked up or bursting into sobs every other paragraph counts as "reading". It didn't for him, and from that point on my husband assumed READING OF THE BOOK duties. Now truth be told, I do have a few stubborn obsessive-compulsive streaks . . . which reared their ugly heads several times while the love of my life was graciously reading to me - lack of inflection, leaving out words, mispronunciation, etc., all irritated me. At several points, I do believe that in His kindness, God smacked me over the head hard enough for me to realize that my husband and I were reading together, growing together, spending quality time together, and he was doing this for me. This timeless reiteration of the fact that IT'S NOT ABOUT ME helped tremendously with, well, getting over myself.
The experience of reading Love & War together was priceless **random thought #1: I find it ironical that Visa commercials have managed to decrease the value of that word** and the book itself was pretty amazing. We both want to read it again, but we gave it to my sister and her husband for their first anniversary. Since my brother-in-law told me it was in their "stack of books to read," does that put the code of Indian Giving Rules & Regulations into immediate effect, entitling me to surreptiously retrieve the book on our next visit to Kentucky? I only jest. Truly, hope they enjoy it as much as we did. Plus, it will be my husband who steals it back. Just kidding, guys, really! ... or am I??
Random thought #2: recently I cut out a coupon (quite proud of myself for that), saw that liquid fabric softener was on sale, actually remembered that I had a coupon for fabric softener ... and we all know that coupon plus sale means it's like you're really getting money back instead of paying for it (working hard on eliminating THAT logic from my brain). Long story longer, I bought the fabric softener. Upon reflection, I realized it was the first time I had ever used liquid fabric softener. Upon further reflection - every time I smell my clothes, to be exact (it sounds weird, but I assure you it's not) - I have decided that henceforth, I shall always use liquid fabric softener if possible. It really IS like a breath of fresh, spring air.
So, having enjoyed our first "reading together" experience, we have recently embarked on Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. This time my darling is even letting me read some of the chapters (or one of the chapters, that is; we're only on Chapter 3). Very excited by this. Even more excited when he doesn't fall asleep as I am reading. In Chapter 2, the author recounts an old rabbinical story about how the spot for God's holy temple was chosen. Random thought #3: Chapter 2 was read with superb inflection, impeccable grammar and pronunciation to an enthusiastic audience and wild applause. Okay, that didn't happen. But for my part, at least, I really liked the story:
"Two brothers worked a common field and a common mill. Each night they divided whatever grain they had produced and each took his portion home. One brother was single and one was married with a large family. The single brother decided that his married brother, with all those kids, certainly needed more gain than he did, so at night he secretly crept over to his brother's granary and gave him an extra portion. The married brother realized that his single brother didn't have any children to care for him in his old age. Concerned about his brother's future, he got up each night and secretly deposited some grain in his single brother's granary. One night they met halfway between the two granaries, and each brother realized what the other was doing. They embraced, and as the story goes, God witnessed what happened and said, 'This is a holy place - a place of love - and it is here that my temple shall be built.'"
The author goes on to say "The holy place is that spot where God is made known to his people, 'the place where human beings discover each other in love.'" The second chapter starts out with a quote from Katherine Ann Porter: "[Marriage] is the merciless revealer, the great white searchlight turned on the darkest places of human nature." Pretty sure my husband gave a verbal "Amen!" when I read that.
Random thought #4: Don't you just love driving a different route than the everyday, normal one, especially if it takes you on a road you've never been on before? Going to a home visit last week from the office rather than my home, I ended up on an expanse of highway I had never previously traveled. The 20-something miles on that road were some of the most beautiful I've seen since moving to the sovereign state of South Carolina (Random thought #5: SERIOUSLY!! It never rejoined the Union after the Civil War).
So what if our marriage - or future marriage, for those who are single - reflected our "ministry of reconciliation" that Paul sets forth in II Corinthians 5:18? How about the reverse - what if our marriage contradicts this message and ministry? Gary Thomas writes that when the latter occurs, "I have sabotaged the goal of my life: to be pleasing to Christ and to faithfully fulfill the ministry of reconciliation . . . If my 'driving force' is as Paul says it should be, I will work to construct a marriage that enhances this ministry of reconciliation -- a marriage that, in fact, incarnates this truth by putting flesh on it, building a relationship that models forgiveness, selfless love, and sacrifice."
Sacred Romance is markedly different in tone than Love & War. But I am excited to see where this road that I've never traveled before leads. And the road after that, and the road after that ... Disclaimer of sappiness: It is so much better traveling the road together with the man I committed to love and respect for a lifetime. Not always easy, but better.
Random thought #[whatever]: My pastor just tweeted that he ordered a grande (aka medium) coffee at the Starbucks in Clemson and they gave him a Venti (aka incredibly freakin' large cup). And I quote, "FINISHED IT!! Now I'm JACKED UP on caffeine!" Oh dear. Note to self: pray for tonight's Easter service, and pray that Perry doesn't bounce off the stage.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Oh, Eve . . .
First of all, I must confess that more than once I have uttered words blaming Adam and Eve for their poor choice that landed us in this mess.
In doing the Bible in a year plan on YouVersion -- awesome resource, by the way . . . can be downloaded to your phone as well with all kinds of different reading plans -- I am currently in the midst of Leviticus and all the laws pertaining to ordination of the priests and sacrifices. One might say that I'm knee deep in blood and guts, along with a few other things. And one would be right, figuratively speaking. For whatever reason -- perhaps the fact that I don't eat red meat and/or the fact that I have never been a farmer, with the exception of our one year stint living out in the county ... which was pretty much limited to waking up and finding a cow in our front yard and getting highly annoyed with the neighboring rooster's broken alarm clock (3 pm crowing, really??)-- I am having a hard time stomaching some of the more graphic details. Kind of like when my husband tries to sneak the giblets into the stuffing at Thanksgiving (and for those of you who think that's normal, stop it!! I beg you.). Or the time when my sister and I were young and our mom decided to serve liver for dinner, disguised as "beef nuggets." Ah, the stomach turns just thinking about it. Quite frankly, it is a relief to move on to the New Testament and Psalms. And drink my marvelously-red-meat-free Vanilla Chai soy protein drink.
Which I think is the point (moving on to New Testament, that is, not my drink). Adam and Eve did live in perfection - no sin, no death, no blood and guts, clothing-challenged, and in direct fellowship with God, who walked with them in the garden. And they screwed up. MAJORLY. It is always easy to point fingers and blame the first couple for the world's ills, until I wonder if I would have chosen any differently. Hindsight is an awesome thing, and also provides many of us ample ammunition to attack others' decisions and choices. I'm quite relieved that God has no need of hindsight; rather, in His foresight/wisdom/omniscience/mercy, God provided a path back to the garden of perfection. The path is messy and bloody and difficult and painful, because we are still walking in this world. But ALL of the Bible points to Jesus, who loved us enough to become our bloody sacrifice once and for all, and who loves us so much that he will walk the road with us to the end.
And the end is not the end, but the beginning of things restored - a new heaven and a new earth. I do so love grand, epic stories, and being one character woven into the tapestry of THE grand, epic story ... well, it's actually incomprehensible. Whether viewed in hindsight, foresight, or now sight, GRACE is AMAZING.
In doing the Bible in a year plan on YouVersion -- awesome resource, by the way . . . can be downloaded to your phone as well with all kinds of different reading plans -- I am currently in the midst of Leviticus and all the laws pertaining to ordination of the priests and sacrifices. One might say that I'm knee deep in blood and guts, along with a few other things. And one would be right, figuratively speaking. For whatever reason -- perhaps the fact that I don't eat red meat and/or the fact that I have never been a farmer, with the exception of our one year stint living out in the county ... which was pretty much limited to waking up and finding a cow in our front yard and getting highly annoyed with the neighboring rooster's broken alarm clock (3 pm crowing, really??)-- I am having a hard time stomaching some of the more graphic details. Kind of like when my husband tries to sneak the giblets into the stuffing at Thanksgiving (and for those of you who think that's normal, stop it!! I beg you.). Or the time when my sister and I were young and our mom decided to serve liver for dinner, disguised as "beef nuggets." Ah, the stomach turns just thinking about it. Quite frankly, it is a relief to move on to the New Testament and Psalms. And drink my marvelously-red-meat-free Vanilla Chai soy protein drink.
Which I think is the point (moving on to New Testament, that is, not my drink). Adam and Eve did live in perfection - no sin, no death, no blood and guts, clothing-challenged, and in direct fellowship with God, who walked with them in the garden. And they screwed up. MAJORLY. It is always easy to point fingers and blame the first couple for the world's ills, until I wonder if I would have chosen any differently. Hindsight is an awesome thing, and also provides many of us ample ammunition to attack others' decisions and choices. I'm quite relieved that God has no need of hindsight; rather, in His foresight/wisdom/omniscience/mercy, God provided a path back to the garden of perfection. The path is messy and bloody and difficult and painful, because we are still walking in this world. But ALL of the Bible points to Jesus, who loved us enough to become our bloody sacrifice once and for all, and who loves us so much that he will walk the road with us to the end.
And the end is not the end, but the beginning of things restored - a new heaven and a new earth. I do so love grand, epic stories, and being one character woven into the tapestry of THE grand, epic story ... well, it's actually incomprehensible. Whether viewed in hindsight, foresight, or now sight, GRACE is AMAZING.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Walk while you have the light.
I used to labor under the impression that walking into walls, cars, doors...basically anything and everything...was normal. At least for me. Two years ago this June, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which helped to explain a lot regarding my lack of balance, dizziness, etc. (or it may be that the walking into walls is just a product of my natural grace). My neurologist told me to be very careful about walking in the dark - he said it would disorient me and throw off my balance even more than "normal."
Today is Palm Sunday, and I am still wearing the red Hosanna bracelet that was given out at church months ago (and not to digress, but yes, I do clean it). I'm a little embarrassed at my ignorance up to that point, not knowing the actual Greek meaning of the word "hosanna." Growing up in church, I thought it an exclamation of praise only, inextricably linked with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem the week before his crucifixon ... the Sunday that has become known by many as Palm Sunday. So I was surprised, and grateful (it's always better to have the correct knowledge - I'm funny that way) to learn that "hosanna" is based on a Greek word of the New Testament derived from a combination of two Hebrew words of the Old Testament, pronounced yaw-shah. It means means to save or deliver. The other word is naw, meaning pray. Or, as John Piper has stated:
"[I]f you look in a Greek dictionary to find what it means, you know what you find? You find that it is really not originally a Greek word after all. The men who wrote the New Testament in Greek ... just used Greek letters to make the sound of a Hebrew phrase. ... Our English word 'hosanna' comes from a Greek word 'hosanna' which comes from a Hebrew phrase hoshiya na. And that Hebrew phrase is found one solitary place in the whole Old Testament, Psalm 118:25, where it means, 'Save, please!' It is a cry to God for help. Like when somebody pushes you off the diving board before you can swim and you come up hollering: 'Help, save me . . . Hoshiya na!'
Actually, it all sounds Greek to me. Or Japanese, really. But what a thought that the people were actually crying out/praying for Jesus to save/deliver them, and that he willingly became our deliverance. I still wear my bracelet to remind me that I can't (and don't want) to do life in my own strength. The God who created the cosmos stepped into time to become a mortal man. The God who spoke the Sun, the moon, the planets and galaxies into being actually walked on this dusty, decadent earth, felt all the emotions and pain that I feel (and more), and STILL loves me and calls me to follow him, even though it was for my sake that Jesus bore that pain. He could have opted out. It always amazes me that he didn't.
Instead, Jesus told his disciples "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." John 12:25-28 (emphasis added)
A crowd had gathered at that point, and they responded to Jesus' words with a challenge (the ESV says "the crowd answered him"). I'm going to assume from the context of this chapter that the crowd was being cheeky, ornery and/or cynical. "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"
Jesus' response was the exact opposite of what I would have said to the cheeky buggers ... probably something along the lines of "You obviously don't care, so I'm done with you." Instead he said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going." John 12:34-35 Remarkably, he warned them and offered them hope.
Walking in the darkness is a dangerous exercise, physically (particularly for people who are horizontally challenged like me) and especially spiritually. Why would we fumble around in the dark, tripping over obstacles/traps in our path, when we could simply turn on the light and walk in it?
God, save us/deliver us from the darkness!
Today is Palm Sunday, and I am still wearing the red Hosanna bracelet that was given out at church months ago (and not to digress, but yes, I do clean it). I'm a little embarrassed at my ignorance up to that point, not knowing the actual Greek meaning of the word "hosanna." Growing up in church, I thought it an exclamation of praise only, inextricably linked with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem the week before his crucifixon ... the Sunday that has become known by many as Palm Sunday. So I was surprised, and grateful (it's always better to have the correct knowledge - I'm funny that way) to learn that "hosanna" is based on a Greek word of the New Testament derived from a combination of two Hebrew words of the Old Testament, pronounced yaw-shah. It means means to save or deliver. The other word is naw, meaning pray. Or, as John Piper has stated:
"[I]f you look in a Greek dictionary to find what it means, you know what you find? You find that it is really not originally a Greek word after all. The men who wrote the New Testament in Greek ... just used Greek letters to make the sound of a Hebrew phrase. ... Our English word 'hosanna' comes from a Greek word 'hosanna' which comes from a Hebrew phrase hoshiya na. And that Hebrew phrase is found one solitary place in the whole Old Testament, Psalm 118:25, where it means, 'Save, please!' It is a cry to God for help. Like when somebody pushes you off the diving board before you can swim and you come up hollering: 'Help, save me . . . Hoshiya na!'
Actually, it all sounds Greek to me. Or Japanese, really. But what a thought that the people were actually crying out/praying for Jesus to save/deliver them, and that he willingly became our deliverance. I still wear my bracelet to remind me that I can't (and don't want) to do life in my own strength. The God who created the cosmos stepped into time to become a mortal man. The God who spoke the Sun, the moon, the planets and galaxies into being actually walked on this dusty, decadent earth, felt all the emotions and pain that I feel (and more), and STILL loves me and calls me to follow him, even though it was for my sake that Jesus bore that pain. He could have opted out. It always amazes me that he didn't.
Instead, Jesus told his disciples "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." John 12:25-28 (emphasis added)
A crowd had gathered at that point, and they responded to Jesus' words with a challenge (the ESV says "the crowd answered him"). I'm going to assume from the context of this chapter that the crowd was being cheeky, ornery and/or cynical. "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"
Jesus' response was the exact opposite of what I would have said to the cheeky buggers ... probably something along the lines of "You obviously don't care, so I'm done with you." Instead he said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going." John 12:34-35 Remarkably, he warned them and offered them hope.
Walking in the darkness is a dangerous exercise, physically (particularly for people who are horizontally challenged like me) and especially spiritually. Why would we fumble around in the dark, tripping over obstacles/traps in our path, when we could simply turn on the light and walk in it?
God, save us/deliver us from the darkness!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
THE FINAL SUMMIT - book review
From the back cover: "David Ponder is back --- and this time, the fate of mankind may be in his hands."
The Final Summit was my first introduction to both author Andy Andrews, and his "everyman" protagonist, David Ponder. Readers of Mr. Andrews' book The Traveler's Gift (2002) will be familiar with David Ponder and his time traveling adventures; however, the easy prose and background information makes it more than possible to read The Final Summit as a standalone. I read this book with no expectations, other than the categorization from Thomas Nelson Publishers that this book fell under "Spiritual Growth and Christian Thought." By the end of the book, I was certainly thinking, but it was certainly not along the lines of spiritual growth.
More or less, the book starts out with David Ponder contemplating his life after the recent loss of his wife, along with the possibility of ending it all. Characters are briefly introduced in the prologue, presumably to help demonstrate the exemplary man David Ponder is, and then are gone as quickly as they came. David is alone in his sky-rise company/home, "pondering" how to go on living without the love of his life, and nostalgically rehashing his previous time-traveling journeys, the persons he met on those journeys and the Seven Decisions or principles they helped David acquire.
The archangel Gabriel appears to David in what can only be described as a rather underwhelming encounter, and explains that David is needed to lead a summit of fellow travelers in order to save humanity from disaster - i.e., Gabriel hints that God is losing patience, and might once again "wipe the slate clean" and start over, as He did with the Flood. There is only one solution, according to Gabriel, that can save the human race before time runs out and David, along with selected advisers, are permitted only five attempts to come up with the two-word answer. The question: "What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?" Predictably, David and cohorts Winston Churchill, Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln, Eric "Red" Erickson, King David and George Washington Carver offer five answers to the question, all of which are wrong. At literally the end of the sands of time, and having failed in their five attempts to answer THE Question, a Civil War hero shouts, "Do something!" Lo and behold, the answer is found, humanity is "saved" because Gabriel allows David & Co. to argue the merits of "doing something" (versus not doing anything). The archangel allows them to put their answer to humanity's successful pathway into "A Personal Declaration," which sounds like something one would hear at a personal motivation seminar.
It was interesting and entertaining to read some of the historical background pertaining to various characters, such as Eric Erickson. On the other hand, the account of King David was mildly disturbing at best. A man who relied on the God of Israel for his strength and salvation since he was a shepherd boy and was called "a man after God's own heart," offers up self-discipline and "control over oneself" as the answer to the proposed question, as well as the explanation for how he was able to kill the lion, the bear and the giant Goliath. Seriously?? King David's character even states that when he disciplined himself as a shepherd, then as a warrior and a young ruler, and even as a father, his "life's results were predictable. I killed a giant. I led armies. ... I was a good father when I disciplined myself." This King David bears little to no resemblance to the David of the Bible, who attributed his strength, power and successes to God alone. And when did God EVER promise us predictability?
There were several times in the book where the weaving in of political ideology became as distracting as a gnat you keep swatting at but can't quite manage to hit. The author tends to oversimplify the entire World and compartmentalize it to the United States, and thus his statements about Adolf Hitler's rise to power seem a bit odd and out of place with the self-help cadence of the book - almost as though one had accidentally switched radio stations and ended up on talk radio. "During a time of economic uncertainty in a nation of people desperate for identity and longing for better times" ... "[t]his man of the common people--as Hitler called himself--stood up, looked them in the eye, and lied. He promised more and better and new and different. He vowed rapid change and swift action." James Michener does a far better job revealing the layers of identity crisis, mythology and power vacuum that led Germany and others to embrace the ideals of Aryanism and succumb to Naziism and a despot/mass murderer.
More frustrating than the lack of cohesiveness - is it historical/political/spiritual/self-help/comedy/fiction - is the fact that The Final Summit is described as "Spiritual Growth and Christian Thought." Had I read this book without that categorization, it would have been far more palatable. As it was, however, I kept turning pages waiting to see the Source of Truth acknowledged, the realization that "doing something" is meaningless without the redeeming work of Jesus Christ (the entire time I was reading, in the back of my head was Jesus' answer to the religious establishment in response to their question of what was the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your mind, and all your soul; and the second is like it - to love your neighbor as yourself). Love was mentioned by one of the Travelers, as were charity and a few other, errr, Biblical mandates, but they were quickly passed over.
There's so much to be said for proper packaging - and this book fails in a large sense because of how it is marketed. While I cannot speak for Andy Andrews' other books, comparing him to C.S. Lewis and Alfred Hitchcock is absurd at best. Read it as a self-help novel, and it will be fine.
DISCLOSURE: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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