simplicity and purity

war, children, and the Bible

2012-01-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

Because my children and I are studying Joshua in Sunday school, one of the themes that needed to be addressed was war and God, or "holy war." Some Grade 4 to 6 teachers would not ask their kids to grapple with the theology of war, but why not? They know war happens now and in Bible times, therefore they need to interpret what they hear through a Biblical lens. We greatly underestimate children's ability and stunt their spiritual growth when we simply repeat the "famous" stories they've heard (boring them to death), instead of introducing them to the endless treasure trove that is Scripture. When we teach the great themes and ideas behind the stories, creative Bible study methods and everyday applications to issues of morals and ethics, we remind them that the Bible is the source of everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). But my topic is holy war, and I digress.

I was not sure how to prepare to teach about holy war, as I have not studied the topic a lot myself. To address this topic, I used resources from Spokane Bible church's website. Tod Kennedy has a fairly simple introduction to understanding a Biblical theology of war. If you aren't American, brace yourself for a few eagles, stars, stripes and Bush references. But really, it is a good resource. See the web page here, or the powerpoint pdf here. I based my notes for the kids on some of the Biblical truths Tod shared.

As I thought about this topic, I remembered a letter to the editor which I found in a newspaper a few years ago. I photocopied it because it was one of the best secular statements I had ever heard on war. The words below are from the English philosopher John Stuart Mill:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

I leave it to you to check the links above for more details on what I believe is quite a Biblical view of battle, but I think Mills' comments are insightful. For the years since I read this quote, I always carried this in my mind: worse than war is self-centred apathy which fights for nothing.

The timeline I keep on my classroom wall with key events from eternity past to eternity future is often a useful tool for framing truth in the context of the history. Today we talked about how war did not exist before sin entered the world, and will not exist when Christ rules in the Millenium, and after sin is forever put away. The visual really seemed to anchor the truths for one of my fifth graders, as she wondered at many years of history marred by war. By referring to the timeline, she recognized that the peaceful years are the years when God makes everything right, and the tumultuous years are years when Satan has much sway over our world system.

I also teach my children with a list of the key attributes of God on the wall. When our conversation about sin and war somehow led to "What happens to babies who die?", it was so helpful to have God's character traits on the wall and to remind the children that whatever God does, He is always fair, loving and perfect.

It is great when I can see the wheels turning in their heads, as they plug information into the framework of their knowledge of the big picture of history and the character of God. I think they enjoy a unique, unexpected topic, too.

The timeline reminded me too that we weren't made for war. As I prepared to teach the children, I came across Isaiah 2:1-5. Go ahead, click the link. Isaiah describes a beautiful time in the Millennium when the Lord's temple will be established, and the peoples of the earth will come to Him to be taught by Him. We see Christ as the perfect law-maker ("the law will go out from Zion"), judge ("He will judge between the nations") and peacemaker ("[He] will settle disputes for many peoples"). The result?

They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

Isaiah presents a picture of hope that would soothe many hearts, if only they knew and believed. As Isaiah 2:5 says, "Let us walk in the light of the LORD." Our children need to understand the big picture, to fit their developing theology of war into the big picture of past, present and future. Joseph Mikael says, "The most valuable tool in your study of God's Word is your knowledge of the rest of God's Word." As we teach the greater framework, we create a place for each new truth to fit. When we help them to understand life through a Biblical viewpoint, we remind both them and ourselves of this great hope: this hurting world is not going to hurt forever. Our God's character never changes. His Word is rich and full of truth. So let's teach them, even about the not-so-child-friendly things. It's better that they hear it from us.

you will suffer.

2012-01-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him..." — Paul (Phil. 1:29)

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." — Paul (2 Timothy 3:12)

Scripture teaches that suffering and persecution are integral to being a committed follower of Christ. The successful Christian life isn't the one where suffering is avoided, but the one where we suffer for Him as He suffered for us. Does this sound radical? I guess it is. But so is Biblical Christianity.

I don't usually follow John Piper, but someone posted the video below on Facebook. It echoes some of the things that have been on my mind and challenges me. I hope it challenges you, too.

Here's a quote from the video, and then the video itself.

"Will you join the Son in displaying the supreme satisfaction of the glory of grace in joining Him on the Calvary road of suffering, because there is no other way the world is going to see the supreme glory of Christ today except that we...begin to live lifestyles of...sacrifice that look to the world like our treasure is in heaven, not on the earth.... There never has been an breakthrough unto an unreached place or people without suffering. He paid his life for our salvation. We join Him in that suffering to display the nature of it."

when the peace of God rules

2012-01-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

While in my heart I know the peace of God, in my workplace I have noticed a lack of peace. It is sad that my reminder of the riches I have in Christ is often the dearth of the same in the lives others. The contrast is striking. I spend hours with them every week day, and notice that God's peace in my heart is unlike any they know.

I hear one in particular often fretting:

She goes to bed in the winter checking the forecast and worrying about the drive to work.
She drives to work worrying about potential mechanical problems in her vehicle.
She gets to work and she worries about me, if I'm walking to work ("There have been too many pedestrian deaths this winter") or worries about coworkers if they show up late (concerned that they might be in a car accident).

We might agree that she is a bit of an extreme example. But I hear their other concerns:

health concerns (one illness after another)
housing concerns ("Will we find a place to rent that is affordable?")
money concerns ("I wish I had chosen a career that paid better, so I could retire sooner.")

There's always something. So, they have conversations about their struggles that lead to no great conclusions. They buy lottery tickets with the hope (which even they acknowledge is unlikely) of winning big...as if that would make life easier. In an attempt at positivity, sometimes they say, "I am sure it will all work out fine." But this is just wishful thinking built on no sure foundation. Inside, I see that there's a fuss.

But what a fuss it must be, if you realize that ultimately, you are alone.

Oh, some of them have "significant others" in their lives, but these are boyfriends with no signed commitment to stay with them in sickness or in health. When in a vulnerable stage like pregnancy, they don't know if their man will really stick around, or for how long. Ultimately, there is no human who can ever be there for them in every circumstance, so they are alone. Though I have no boyfriend or husband, I am more secure and well cared for than they are.

They may have parents much closer geographically than mine, but my Heavenly Father is incomparably better. He is always with me, providing, guiding, and being my companion.

Admittedly, my peace is falsely placed, sometimes, in financial margin, good health, human relationships or reasonable rent. Some of the things that have led to my supposed security have simply been wise choices made by my parents or me, instructed by Scripture, like hard work, integrity and fiscal responsibility.

But at the deepest level, I know my peace springs from these truths: My Creator is also my Saviour and Provider. He is good. I can search out the promises of Scripture and find that He will always care for me like a kind Shepherd. What is a car problem, illness or an empty bank account to Him? Watchman Nee, who lived a more difficult life than most, wrote, "God knows what He is doing and there is nothing accidental in the life of the believer. Nothing but good can come to those who are wholly His."

The God of the Scriptures gives peace on the deepest level. The peace purchased at the cross was not just peace with God in a judicial sense, declaring me righteous and fit for Heaven, but peace in an everyday sense. Colossians 3:15 speaks of the peace of God ruling or arbitrating in our hearts. His peace guards my heart and my mind (Phil. 4:7). Entering 2012, may we make these our goals: to allow His peace to arbitrate in our hearts, and to testify of His peace, available to all.

order begins in the soul

2011-12-29T20:30:00.000-08:00

A messy life is usually a reflection of a messy soul. When a person's visible life is chaotic, their inner life is also in disrepair. Or at least, this is my observation. The reverse is not as often true. By this I mean that a neat house, a RSS feed to I'm an Organizing Junkie or carefully-filed paperwork are not sure indicators of a soul is at peace. But mark my words, continual disorder on the surface is harbinger of more serious problems. Just keep your eyes open.

Growing up, I knew two families that stood out as having particularly messy homes. I'm not talking about a bit of clutter here and there. I'm talking rooms full of flotsam; and couches that always had to be cleared of miscellanea before a person could be seated. Important documents that never were filled out. Piles of gifts that never were given. Broken door latches that stayed that way. Let's be serious: it took a special kind of person to want to spend much time in these homes. They were a mess.

Years later, we learned that these families were (almost literally) covering deeper problems of the heart. Today, instead of the clutter of a home office covered in papers, I hear that their hearts have been torn to bits. Shards of relationships cover the ground and litter the shelves, paying no regard to the Bible on the window sill or the Bible college diploma on the wall. If only the disarray had merely been that of papers and collectibles, not that of hearts and lives.

I have lived with people whose bedroom floors are almost always covered in, well, anything and everything. Once, my brother noted that when he visited the home of a girl he had an interest in, there were empty cans all over the house; general chaos reigned. I told him that this was a warning sign, that was not the type of girl to date. (He didn't pursue her, though for reasons other than my warning). I have become increasingly convinced that when there is simply no desire for order, greater issues than cobwebs and dust bunnies abound.

Order in a home is more than physical or visual order, it is also order behind the scenes, in how the home functions on every level. Mental order, that understands and submits to God-given authority structures and categories. Spiritual order, where Christ is preeminent, as He should be. (Order always implies the use of suitable categories and distinctions). Homes that exhibit order through cleanliness, peacefulness and godliness are the most comfortable and welcoming for souls seeking Jesus. Physical disorder is often just an indicator that other disorder exists.

Notice that I speak of this in generalizations and in the long-term. I cannot make these statements across the board, because there may be a few loving yet disastrous-looking Christian's homes. And we must all know what it is to have a messy house to clean up, now and again. I'm more organizationally challenged than some. But I think that the difference is, when things get messy, something inside of me says this: as soon as I carve out some time, I'm going to clean this up. I don't want to live this way. I know there's something wrong about living in disarray.

When my home is in order, it seems that I have more time to look in on my soul. When I have time to look in on my soul, I am reminded of my need for the "simplicity and purity" of rekindled devotion to Christ. Just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden, neither can the peace brought about by a life that models godly order.

the incarnation and me

2011-12-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

It is Christmas again, the time of year when we talk about the incarnation of God the Son. "Incarnation" means "in the flesh." When Jesus came to earth, humanity finally saw God incarnate: God in the flesh. The classic incarnation passage is John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen...the glory of the One and Only...."

God Himself became in every way like humanity. Well, in every way except one. He was without sin.
Humanity's observation of Him could be likened to the Israelites' observations of the lamb they chose for Passover. They could watch Him, check Him over, see if there was in Him any error or blemish, before He was given as the spotless sacrifice for sin.

What did the observers of the incarnation of Christ find? Peter, who lived closely with Jesus for several years, later wrote that He was "as..a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:19) Pilate's judgment was clear: "I find no basis for a charge against this man." (Luke 23:4) The centurion said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54) No one could find a sin in Him.

One of the many accomplishments of the incarnation was that it proved the perfection of Christ even amidst the struggles of life on a sinful earth. He was in all ways tempted as we are, yet without sin.

We often speak of the incarnation of Christ, but there is a sense in which every Christian evidences the incarnation, as well. Galatians says that "Christ lives in me." I do not know if this is theologically correct to borrow the term for our Christian experience, but humour me a while.

I often think about what it means to "incarnate" Christ in everyday life. I think my struggle with this has been accentuated by the new circumstances I have found myself in at work; management has been a daunting challenge. If there's anything I have learned from working with people who don't know Christ, it is that they observe everything about me, a follower of Christ. At moments when I am most unprepared, they toss out comments which show that they've been analyzing my life.

I have become especially convicted of my need for complete transparency and integrity in every way in the workplace (and the rest of life). This conviction has come both from experience and from the Word. In my Christian corner on a Sunday, I may seem like a good kid. But toss me out in front of the cranky employee, a difficult manager or an especially onerous task, and my flesh is seen, not Christ in my flesh. Sometimes they point out my blemishes, but more often, I'm just painfully aware of the inconsistencies in my testimony.

In my mind there once was a distinct line between ministry and secular employment, clergy and laity. God seems to be working hard to break down that barrier. He's teaching me about how every Christian is in the business of representing, or incarnating, if you will, the life of Christ before a watching world. The truly spiritual man is not the one who has a ministry title, but the one who lives out the life of Christ in every situation, no matter where he is or what he is doing. The Christian who lives out the incarnation.

Just as Satan many times attempted to thwart the incarnation of Christ, he and his legions still arm themselves against those who would incarnate Him daily. Hence the Christian's uphill battle to live a life of purity, consistency, wholeness. The world, the flesh and the devil arm themselves against us. I am asking God to shine His light in every corner of my life and leave nothing out. To consume my flesh and show Himself in my life, so that when others see my life (which they really do), they would see Christ's life.

As I've thought about Christians as the continuing incarnation of Christ in this world, I've been thinking about places where the good news of Christ is especially unwelcome. This is the wonder of the incarnation of Christ in us: He cannot be removed from us. He is our lifeblood. He is our hope of glory! Let them do what they will.

Incarnation. God came to earth in human flesh, so that He could also redeems us and live in our human flesh. That He could save and indwell us, enabling us to continue to "incarnate" Him to the world. It scares me little, because while my actions are supposed to show Him, they often show sinful me. But also, it makes me thankful. By His incarnation, I have been given life eternal. Within me dwells God Himself! That is a truly merry Christmas!

church: a love story

2011-10-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when you fell in love? You were so excited. It was all sunshine, rainbows and dreams (or so they tell me).

Have you ever considered the many parallels between long-term human relationships and your relationship with your local church? I remember when I first started attending my church—a warm place in a city where I knew nearly no one. They extended love and lunch invitations to me from day one. Soon they were my extended family. The Bible studies were insightful, the congregation caring. I was in love and our first months and years were so good—I knew this was God's chosen church for me.

I have been attending my local church for more than four years now. But one day some months ago, something unexpected happen. I found myself at my computer, googling other churches in my area. I noted the name of one that sounded like it might be good. I stopped. When did this happen? When did my love affair with my church cool off to the point that I was entertaining thoughts of leaving it? Where was the love I felt a few years ago?

My interest had jaded. At first that man's jokes were funny, but now they're just lame. I realized that one lady, well, she always does that annoying thing, and she doesn't stop. Sometimes they forget to thank me for something I've done! One unforgiven frustration compounds onto another and suddenly petty differences are a big deal.

(I should here insert that I'm not saying that there is never a time when you should leave your church. There are times when it is the right thing to move on. But as Joshua Harris says, too many of us have become church "daters" instead of having long-term relationships with our churches. We're selfish, independent and critical. The moment things don't go our way, we pout or hit the street.)

What keeps me in love with my specific, local church? It is the assurance that God has brought me to church. My church and I met over unique circumstances. I could not believe them to be coincidences. Until He gives me peace about doing otherwise, or moves me elsewhere, I continue to believe that He brought me to this community for His good reasons. Just like a marriage, I made sure the essentials were in place before I committed. My commitment is to the church "as is", not with designs on completely changing it.

It has become trendy to say that you "love Jesus, but don't like the church." So, what keeps me in love with the Church universal? It is the knowledge that Christ loved the Church, and that to love Christ is to love His Bride. Elizabeth Elliot says, "Love is not a sentiment. It is a fiery law: 'Thou shalt love.'" Not loving the true Church is not an option.

When I'm feeling discontent with my local body of believers, it often coincides with feeling disconnected from them, as well. I find that as I spend time with them, serve with them, grow with them, that the connection becomes stronger. When I am able to overlook my annoyances with others, and forgive, I watch our relationships put down deeper roots. Shoulder to shoulder, we build a history that we couldn't have if we switched churches every time the going got rough.

Serving your church can seem thankless. But I have been encouraged sometimes as I've looked at old photo albums of people from church. I see that twenty years ago, they were showing hospitality to the church, and they still are. The man I know to have grey hair appears with brown hair and a thick moustache, and he's serving in a different capacity, but serving heartily. I hear the stories of the man who sacrificed half of his holiday time every year to serve at camp. As I learn their history, I know that I can't be the only one who's sometimes felt overwhelmed or under-appreciated, but their stories shine as examples of faithfulness to me. Christ laid down His life for the church, so should I. They are my flesh and blood.

God hasn't brought me to my church simply to be served and happy. We all still carry sin natures, and that means that all of our interactions will not always be happy. It is through our interactions with Him and one another that He can mould each of us into His likeness. In his book Stop Dating the Church, Joshua Harris uses Spurgeon's analogy that a disconnected Christian is like a good-for-nothing brick. It can't do much alone, but as part of the building or temple that is the church, it contributes to a cause that can only be achieved through loving community.

"Going away is easy. Do you want to know what's harder? Do you want to know what takes more courage...? Join a local church and lay down your selfish desires by considering others more important than yourself. Humble yourself and acknowledge that you need other Christians. Invite them into your life. Stop complaining about what's wrong with the church, and become a part of a solution."

(Joshua Harris, Stop Dating the Church, pp. 60-61)

I can't say it any better.

on battling apathy

2011-10-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Crunchy leaves strewn on the sidewalk, frosty mornings, river-valley strolls and chai lattes. Autumn is here, in all its glory. As is my church's tradition, on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend we hosted a Bible conference. It is a busy weekend, full of sermons, turkey, sunshine and conversation.

Our speaker's chosen topic was Titus and his sermons made me uncomfortable. Truths from the Word filled pages of my journal, but more than that, they cut into my heart. Two of the key themes in Titus are sober-mindedness and good works. Truly, the two go hand in hand. All believers are taught to be "live soberly" (2:12), which means "to reserve your mind for that which is important." Once the believer's mind is reserved, what should it apply itself to? Titus teaches that "those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works" (3:8) and "be ready for every good work" (3:1).

What does Titus' message of sober living and good works has to say to me, at age (almost) twenty-six. Twenty-six? Even as I type that, it looks old. When I realize that it will soon be ten years since I finished high school, or five years since I started my current job, I realize that I am no spring chicken.

When seasons change, it often causes me to think about the passage of time. There are beautiful things that come with growing up. But one of the worst things about getting older is how easy it is to become complacent in areas where you were once more "zealous for good works" (2:15). You've tried something a few times, and seen no noticeable results, so you quit trying. Relationships that once thrived and seemed so central to your life cool off and disappointment ensues. It is too easy to settle for 90%. To trade prayer and Bible reading for extra sleep. To become—let's admit it—bitter. To become jaded.

I easily become complacent in my personal life.Who would have thought that I'd be battling to find time in my day for Scripture reading? This is not because I have no time, but because I expend it in other ways. I don't reserve my mind for that which is important. While I say the Word should be my meat and my lifesource, too often I'm just grabbing the lite, to-go version, with no time for digging deeper. And my prayer life? Let's not even go there. Unimportant, temporal things easily take priority over Bible reading and prayer. Am I getting old and lazy?

Sometimes helping at church feels so yesterday. After teaching quite a few years of Sunday school or designing lots of flyers, I am tempted to want to kick back and relax. I want to sleep through the early service or slough off additional responsibilities. I've done my share, right? I meet young-ish people who "used to lead youth group" or "used to teach Sunday school" but now do nothing to serve their local church (whether public or behind-the-scenes). How close am I to that in my heart some days? While it is not wrong to cut back or asses how best to use my time, sometimes my attitude is so selfish and cold.

At work, I find that my attitudes are often less than Christlike. I "pilfer" my employer's time (Titus 2:10) and answer back (2:9) instead of "adorning the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." I hang my head at how many times words have come out of my mouth that were not edifying. After a good Scripture bath and conviction, I'm reminded of how I need to improve, but too quickly I go back to blasé. The words and attitudes I see in myself at work evidence a heart in much need of a Saviour.

Some days I've been discouraged. I've seen the grey, the clouds, the dreariness. I'm not content being so apathetic, but I'm not zealous, either, and it is not comfortable on the fence. But here is the wonder of it all: amidst my struggles, I find a merciful, gracious God who runs to meet me when I come to Him in repentance. If anyone would be justifiably jaded, it is Him, with me. Yet whenever I finally come to Him, He fans the flames of this cold heart through the very things it struggles to reserve itself for: the Word, prayer, fellowship with other believers and good, old-fashioned, hard work.

How can I battle apathy in my personal life, in my work, in my church, and in every area? First of all, I need a change of mind about my apathy, and must confess my sin to my great God and Saviour (Titus 2:13). After that, for me, the answer lies in discipline. I know that if I don't make definite choices, and follow up on them, my life will default to the path of least resistance, instead of that to which God is calling me. (I know that my mind won't be "reserved for that which is important" without a battle of supernatural proportions - cf. Eph. 6). Lists are often helpful to me, whether they are lists of tasks (to keep myself focused) or lists of priorities, so that I don't get distracted by the urgent rather than the important. Which good works does God have for me? Will I structure my life so that I can be reserved for those good works? Will I be sober-minded enough to keep the standard high? Apathy must be battled intentionally, by the power of God.

Tonight I wandered outside in the blackness. Night comes earlier now, as winter approaches. The tree in front of my house has forgotten to drop its leaves, but many others have remembered. I listened to the renewing sounds of Daylight Worship and gloried in Christ. His mercy is still available to me. He's bought me back, so that I can live a life of purpose and fulfillment. I, for one, am thankful.

why i write

2011-09-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

Blame Elizabeth Elliot. Or Amy Carmichael. These ladies are two of the reasons why I returned to putting some of my writing online, on this blog, at the end of 2009.

Elizabeth Elliot is to me a greater "celebrity" than anyone Hollywood could ever endorse. In the summer of 2010 I met a gentleman who knew Elizabeth personally. My acquaintance's brother had been martyred decades ago along with Elizabeth's husband Jim Elliot, so their connection went way back. I enjoyed hearing an insider's view on this lady of determination and vision. What struck me, though, was when he told me that Elizabeth now suffers from dementia. "Her ministry is very limited."

Limited? It seemed strange to me, because a very articulate Elizabeth had been knocking me over the head with truth all week! I was in the middle of her book, Passion and Purity, and Elizabeth was challenging me with principles that seemed very counter-cultural, but very Scriptural. It was almost like I was talking with her: "But what about this scenario, Elizabeth? Isn't that OK?" And with the gumption of a woman who could supernaturally love her husband's murderers, she gave me firm, strong "no". As she and I "talked", I would never have known Elizabeth was ill. In her books, her message is as alive as ever. Elizabeth Elliot has discipled me through her writings.

If you have read much of my blog, you probably know that I also admire Amy Carmichael. Amy Carmichael and I are not contemporaries. She died in 1951 and lived on continents I have never visited (yet!). When I read Elizabeth Elliot's account of Amy's life, A Chance to Die, my life was powerfully impacted. But how do we know so much about the life and ministry of a woman who ministered in a land so far from me or Elizabeth? You already know. Because she wrote. And wrote. Letters, poems, books. While many others may have ministered in India at the same time, none other has gone on a road trip with me or helped me question how I live life. Amy has challenged me to the core. She has done this through writing.

In this era of information-overload and 140-character tweets, where even the family pet has a blog or a Facebook profile, why write? Isn't everyone else already doing it? Don't so many people do it better? This is why I write: because through writing, the lessons God teaches me can live on, even when my dust returns to dust. I will never be as widely-read as these ladies. But if something inside of me must write, perhaps it is because God knows that someone, someday, must read.

Image: A scrap from Jim Elliot's journal. (Click to see source).

christian freedom

2011-07-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

"Here in the West...we keep all the rules, even a few we made up." So goes Derek Webb's Rich Young Ruler song as it reviews Western Christianity. Those "made up" rules of Christianity are something that I have been sifting through almost since I left Bible school at age eighteen and had to make decisions for myself about what I would and would not do. By "made up" rules, I mean those rules that dictate areas on which the Bible is fairly silent.

As I've gotten to know Christians of different backgrounds, persuasions and cultures, I have seen a wide range of rules and practices. My question is always this one: what does Scripture really teach, and what is culture, legalism or caution? I want to be clear in my thinking as to what is non-negotiable (taught clearly in Scripture) and what may be cultural or personal (ie: an additional guideline that I have for myself or my family that may keep us from sin).

If you've been in conservative Christian circles for any amount of time, you could probably name some rules quite readily. They deal with our personal practice or sometimes church practice as well. Some Christians dance but don't drink. Others drink, but don't dance. Some do both. Some do neither. Most are sure they're right! The list goes on and on.

I recognize that a lot of "made up" rules have come about for good reasons. Frederick Wood says in a booklet called Questionable Amusements, "the marathon would not be run in an overcoat unless it happened to be an obstacle race." Many of the things that Christians have abstained from in generations past have been seen as hindrance to running the Christian race (Heb. 12:1). So, some of our rules protect us from sin and temptation, even if they draw the boundaries a bit tighter than the Word itself does. The problem comes when we insist that other believers must follow our personal practices in areas of freedom.

As I've puzzled over this, I've asked questions: What is the real goal in discipleship? To train believers to understand and be obedient to Scripture. How do we get there? They must learn to study and understand the Word of God for themselves. What happens when they do study the Word? They may realize that some Christian rules or practices, though not harmful, are (gasp!) more cultural than Scriptural. But what was the real goal, again? To see them building lives based on God's Word—not based on Christian culture. (Or was it?)

Too often my concern in discipleship is to create a believer who thinks and lives like I do—even in the grey areas—rather than to build up a believer who can defend his choices with sola Scriptura. I sell the next generation of believers short when I want to offer them a well-packaged, cookie-cutter Christianity where everyone looks and acts the same as me. I want new believers to know the joy of being taught by the Spirit as they learn to interpret Scripture properly. I want them to know the wonder of grace, not the clanking chains of my legalism. I want them to be freed and constrained by the Spirit, not by Julie. (Or do I?)

When we equate our additional, extra-Scriptural rules for Christian living to what the Word of God has said, we are on dangerous ground. We are going beyond our bounds as teachers of God's Word. We're being Pharisees, wrapping the living, vibrant message of the gospel in stagnant rules and regulations. Yet in conservative Christian circles, this happens all the time.

A parent must tremble when the day comes for his son or daughter to leave home and start making all of his or her own decisions. But I've heard that for the Christian parent, prayers heighten when a child leaves the nest. There is a parallel as we build up baby believers, preparing them to "leave the nest" and go on to make new disciples. As we give them the tools to "leave home" by studying, interpreting and applying Scripture, we also give them the freedom to potentially live their lives somewhat differently than we would. Sometimes we tremble with fear, but we must let them go on. As we face this stage, we would better spend our time on our knees in prayer than engaging in heated arguments with newer believers about areas of freedom.

This is my vision for Western Christianity, not that we base our fellowship with others on "made up rules," but on adherence to what is clear in the Scriptures. There is so much that is clear and is being misunderstood that it is a wonder that we find so much time to emphasize the "freedom" areas. I have chosen to abstain from certain things that other Christians might consider quite alright, and the inverse is also true. I want to make my choices with a clear conscience before God and for the right reasons. I want to be firm and sure about what the Scipture mandates and what is just a "made up" rule. How we need a powerful, constant renewal from God's Word and Spirit to keep balanced, lest we miss "the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Cor.11:3)

deep suffering, deeper joy

2011-07-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

In my city's downtown core there's a Brazilian couple living in a small apartment. They're like a lot of other newcomers to Canada in many ways: they don't own a car, they want to perfect their English, they're confused by some Canadian customs, and they miss their home country. Surely most newcomers face their share of hardships—just one winter in this city without your own vehicle might qualify as hardship—but not like Marcos and Janice.

If I were to explain to you their struggles, it would be convoluted or boring. (I've typed and retyped this, wondering how to be concise). Serious health problems afflict both of them, but especially Marcos, who lost vision in one eye last year due to a work accident. Because Marcos can no longer work, their financial situation is difficult, too.

OK, so I know two immigrants who have had a hard year. Why does this merit a blog post? Because Marcos and Janice show incredible joy in the face suffering. To visit with them is to come away encouraged and hopeful. Not because Marcos' vision has miraculously returned or because Workers Compensation Board recalled their decision to cut his insurance payments, but because they continually are reminding themselves and others of ultimate truth.

The true Christ-follower is ever learning to look at life through a Biblical lens. He doesn't live in an airy plane full of gumdrops and rainbows, where the struggles of life are played down or disregarded. No, he looks squarely at life as it really is for a fallen human. But when a Christian looks at reality, he doesn't bow down in the ditch and give up hope, either. He focuses his mind on the truth, revealed through God's Word, and finds the hope to live another day. He looks at life on earth through the lens of Heaven.

The prophet Jeremiah did this. He wrote, in Lamentations 3: "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me." Jeremiah acknowledged the reality of his situation, and his hurt. "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' Jeremiah filled his mind with truth, and spoke truth to himself, so that he would not wallow in despair.

Marcos and Janice embody true Christianity to me. They tell me stories of near-death incidents or financial trials. Surely these two have been through more serious health problems in one or two years than most people face in twenty or thirty. But their stories are always prefaced, interspersed and concluded with remembrances of the goodness of God. The way their tales flow so naturally from sharing their struggles to meditating on God's mercy shows that they are truly learning, like Jeremiah, to call truth to mind.

When Christians suffer in a godly way, it brings praise to God and deep joy (I Peter 1). Seeing this in action is truly remarkable. Yes, worthy of breaking the silence and composing another blog post.

leviticus 18

2011-04-25T20:19:00.001-07:00

This year I am teaching my Sunday school class from the "Exodus to Canaan" portions of Scripture. The Israelites were coming out of Egypt and going into Canaan, but God instructed them not to be like either of those nations.

While this passage was written to the nation of Israel, the same principle of being God's holy, separate people applies to believers in the current church age as well (I Peter 2:9). Too often I find myself thinking or behaving more like Egypt or Canaan than like one of God's own. The only people on earth with whom I should be able to truly identify are the people of God. In, but not of. A lesson it takes a lifetime to learn.

food and the Christian

2011-03-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

For some time now I have been wanting to study the theme of food in the Scriptures. I call this my theology of food. Life and Scripture are both full of eating and drinking. I think that to trace those themes would be a profitable study. But for now the ideas are just collecting and simmering, encouraged by books like Edith Schaeffer's Hidden Art (of Homemaking). This homemaker classic gives a Biblical perspective on how Christian women can make their homes places of creativity and art. Framing everything Biblically, Schaeffer details how the everyday tasks of cooking and eating serve greater purposes.

What follows are a few things I learned while reading Hidden Art.

The variety and diversity of foods available on earth echoes the creativity and care of God. We should richly enjoy what He has given (without making it an idol, of course).
The kitchen is an artist's studio and meals should show imagination! Schaeffer writes "Food should...give variety and interest to meals... Meals should be a surprise, and should show imagination." When a cook considers the plate her canvas, "not only does this give interest, atmosphere and pleasure to the meal, but it gives dignity and fulfillment to the one who prepared it."
Children can learn many important life lessons in the kitchen: lessons about working, cooking, taking time to care for and help others and sharing with strangers.
Shared kitchens and meals open avenues to deeper communication and meet not only physical needs but deeper, inner needs as well. "The kitchen should be an interesting room in which communication takes place between child and mother and also among adults. It should be interesting in the same way as is an artist's studio, as well as being a cosy spot in which to have a cup of tea while something is being watched or stirred, or while waiting to take something out of the oven." "Meals...should always be more than just food. Relaxation, communication and a measure of beauty and pleasure should be part of even the shortest of meal breaks.... Food cannot take care of spiritual, psychological and emotional problems, but the feeling of being loved and cared for, the actual comfort of the beauty and flavour of food, the increase of blood sugar and physical well-being, help one to go on...better equipped to meet the problems.... The cook in the home has opportunity to be doing something very real in the area of making good human relationships."
The fact that Jesus speaks of coming in and eating with the person who opens the door to Him "is a promise of communication which is very close and special." The Lord wants such a relationship with each of us.

As Christians we have much to enjoy with food. His Word gives purpose and direction to quotidian areas of life. We should see this art as an opportunity to be good stewards (not wasteful), caring, sharing—to be creative, fulfilled ministers of Christ through food!

come what may: contentment

2011-03-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

The following definitions of "contentment" have blessed my soul in the past months.
From Jeremiah Burroughs in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment:

Contentment is "that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal of every condition."

From Arthur Pink:

"Contentment, then, is the product of a heart resting in God. It is the soul's enjoyment of that peace that passes all understanding. It is the outcome of my will being brought into subjection to the Divine will. It is the blessed assurance that God does all things well, and is, even now, making all things work together for my ultimate good."

From Martyn-Lloyd Jones:

"Man's happiness was never meant to be determined by his circumstances, and that is the fatal blunder that we all tend to make... Man's happiness depends on one thing only—and that is his relationship to God! ...We cannot get it anywhere else. We must come back to the soul and to God who made it. We were made for him, we are meant for him, we have a correspondence with him, and we will never come to rest until, like that needle on the compass, we strike that northern point, and there we come to rest—nowhere else."

I could likely read these words daily and be instructed every time. Barbara Mouser writes that from God's point of view, "the height of femininity" is a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4). Gentle: that is, meek, under authority, not rebellious or contentious. Quiet: that is, full of faith, not troubled, upset or fearful. In a word, the woman of God is content. Resting. Gracious. Quiet. Sweet. Her soul is anchored in Christ (Heb. 6:19) amid the storms of life. She is content because her joy depends on the Lord, and on Him only. Is my heart a restful and orderly place, a gentle and quiet corner that reflects contentment in Christ?

(Contentment quotes found in Holding Hands, Holding Hearts by R. & S. Phillips)

respecting men

2011-01-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

Men in this world have it hard. Women trample all over them. They mock men, use men, nag men, trounce men. Women complain: men are too rough or too sensitive, too controlling or inattentive, too lazy or work too many hours. According to women, men can never do anything right. When they are praised, it is for women's selfish gain, a sort of underhanded flattery. I watch the attitudes in the world—and unfortunately, the sinful attitudes of my own fallen heart—and I know this is true. True disaster. Human wisdom leaves us with a world full of dissatisfied, selfish women and men who jump only as high as the standard women have erected for them: low, very low.

God's wisdom, on the other hand, is the absolute opposite of human wisdom. Scripture's standards are high but so is the joy and satisfaction when one learns to live according to God's design. In my writings I generally only focus on the role of the woman, so here it is: "...let the wife see that she respects her husband" (Ephesians 5:33).

What exactly does respect look like? Today I stumbled across a blog post which relates how the Amplified Bible seeks to expand the term respect from Ephesians 5:33. This helped me to see respect in a fresh way:
"...let the wife see that she
respects and reverences her husband
that she notices him,
regards him,
honors him,
prefers him,
venerates, and
esteems him; and
that she defers to him,
praises him, and
loves and admires him exceedingly.

What man would not want to receive such respect?

A godly woman does not respect a man only when he deserves it or because he is perfect. She reverences him because it is the commandment of God. But the beautiful surprise that sometimes (often?!) comes when a woman reverences a man is this: men thrive into "more respectable" men when they are esteemed and encouraged. The woman who waits to respect a man once he deserves it may never find her man respectable. When we live according to God's design, we begin to realize how well His plan for the genders works.

1 Peter 3 contains one of my favourite passages on Biblical womanhood; I can return to it and learn every time. 1 Peter 3:1-2 (NKJV) says "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear."

Again, here is the Amplified Bible's version of verse 2:
"When [your husbands] observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves,
together with your reverence
[for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes:
to respect,
defer to,
revere him--
to honor,
esteem,
appreciate,
prize, and,
in the human sense, to adore him,
that is, to admire,
praise,
be devoted to,
deeply love, and
enjoy your husband]."

Even as a single woman, I have seen how showing respect in the relationships I have with [saved or unsaved] men can encourage men to live out their roles, too. True, these passages specifically speak of respect within marriage. But I believe I have seen men in my life grow as I simply seek to apply simple principles of respect, along the lines of Romans 12:3,10: "For I say...to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly...Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another...."

The wise woman of God who overlooks offenses, humbles herself, and encourages and esteems men in ways appropriate given her relationship to those men. She reveres man out of reverence for Christ. It is a high calling, a difficult calling—but there is no greater joy than to live according to God's design!

the value of being predictable

2010-11-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

"He's so predictable," my brother said.

"Yes, he really is." I chuckled just at the thought of our friend. His responses and attitudes are almost calculable. Silly guy, I thought.

Then my brother told me that I'm predictable. I didn't find that as funny. "No, I'm not!"

After chafing over my brother's comment, I began to realize the value of being predictable, in a character sense. Predictably upright, not predictably boring! When people make foul jokes, do they know that I will not laugh? When they are getting wasted at the Christmas party, do they remember that I always leave early in my right mind? Does my boss trust me with the company credit card, the important password, the big secret...without a qualm? The other day my coworker had a laughing fit because it sounded like I cursed, and she knows that I never curse, so it was funny to her, because it was so out-of-the-ordinary.

It is impressive to me to meet people whose characters are undeniably predictable, so that they are recommended wholeheartedly. Joseph and Daniel are two Biblical characters who stand out as men who were predictably holy. The epistles often contain references to individuals who are either commended or warned against. Paul's words about Timothy in Philippians 2 indicate a complete trust in Timothy's character: "I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel."

I like fun—but I want to be predictably holy.

not random

2010-10-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that using the word "random" as I do is inconsistent with my worldview. I can explain.

I don't remember exactly when I started peppering my conversations with the word “random”—likely around the same time most other people my age did. But I now realize that it is time for me to retake that word and use it correctly. Because this is what I've found myself saying:

"Remember the random girl I told you about who came to Bible study?"
"This weekend we randomly had my landlord in for lunch."
"Last night in the park a random guy spoke to me for half an hour."

Word choice might seem like a small thing, but I realize that by claiming that so many things or people in my life “have no specific pattern, purpose, or objective” denies my very worldview. I believe that God patterns, plans and arranges things after the purpose of His will. I love to know that He is a God of the details, and I truly believe that He orchestrates blessings of any size, whether a sale item at Goodwill or meeting your life partner.

That "random" girl at Bible study was a huge encouragement to me; she reminded me of the goodness of God in the midst of trials. God placed her at our Bible study—perhaps among other purposes—to encourage and instruct my heart. Who knows how my brother's lunch invitation to the landlord might have met a need in that man's life? I learned a lesson from my talk with the stranger in the park, and maybe he just needed to meet someone who was praying on a blanket, someone who seemed a little too interested in the Bible.

So here's to a vocabulary cleansing. Word choice really is important. Words matter to God, they should matter to us.

And here's to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of history. There's nothing random about Him. "The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:11)

try a little tenderness

2010-10-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

I don't meet a lot of six-foot women. Even from a distance, the blond stranger I met this summer conveyed an air of confidence. Standing next to a bonfire, listening to her speak, it didn't take me long to notice that she was a very hard woman. Cursing, she spoke of how she uses her womanly charm to help her with business deals with men. She flippantly discussed her divorce and the dating game. From what I later learned, she had just left her controlling, live-in, alcoholic boyfriend. My heart grieved for her. A woman of the world, covering up her hurt with a hard facade. Or so I thought.

Around the bonfire, people shifted, and most went to play Frisbee. A few of us were left and I began to ask the blond lady—who I learned was 30 years old—about her about her life and travels. It didn't take long to discover that she'd attended Bible school for a few years. Her younger days were full of missions trips and her parents were graduates of the same Bible school as she. This woman knew much more Scripture than I ever would have imagined.

It struck me: this could be me. This domineering woman grew up in a Christian family, did the Bible school scene, and married a purportedly Christian man. But less than a decade later, this woman stands so hardened that I thought she never knew what Biblical womanhood was. It was a sobering reminder to me of the importance of keeping close to the Saviour, and it got me thinking about this: if the world's woman is hard, what is God's woman like?

From general and specific revelation I gather that women were created to show tenderness. This is seen in woman no matter if she is redeemed or not—even our bodies and voices were created softer than men's. But in the redeemed woman, God develops that "gentle and quiet spirit" which He so values (I Peter 3:4). Alistair Begg says: "Women don’t have the exclusive ownership of the characteristic of kindness, but often they do a much better job in expressing compassion than most men. If you think about it, women that have marked our lives have often marked our thinking on account of their tenderness."

Oh—to reflect our humble, gentle Saviour in a way that is womanly! Don't let the world's scorn undermine your godly desire to be tender toward the Lord and others. Cultivate tender-heartedness (Eph. 4:32, I Pe. 3:8).Value the vulnerability and purity of holy marriage as an exclusive expression of that tenderness. Don't think you're beyond becoming a hardened woman. The blond wasn't, and neither are we. Just on the other side of the glorious gospel there is a cutting, brazen, hardened woman who could be me, or could be you, if we lose sight of tender Jesus. So help us God!

a good reminder: check your motives!

2010-09-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

"fashions with a Christian colouring" vs. the simplicity of Christ

2010-09-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

I recently found this striking quote from C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters. I have not read Lewis' book, but it is a satire in which a demon is training an apprentice demon. Here, the demon speaks to his apprentice:

"What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to keep them in the state of mind I call 'Christianity And.' You know--Christianity and the Crisis, Christianity and the New Psychology...Christianity and Faith Healing...Christianity and Vegetarianism.... If they must be Christians let them at least be Christians with a difference. Substitute for the faith itself some Fashion with a Christian colouring.... The use of Fashions in thought is to distract the attention of men from their real dangers.... The game is to have them all running about with fire extinguishers whenever there is a flood, and all crowding to that side of the boat which is already nearly gunwale under.... Of a proposed course of action [God] wants men, so far as I can see, to ask very simple questions; is it righteous? is it prudent? is it possible? Now if we can keep men asking 'Is it in accordance with the general movement of our time? Is it progressive or reactionary? Is this the way that History is going?' they will neglect the relevant questions.... As a result, while their minds are buzzing in this vacuum, we have the better chance to slip in and bend them to the action we have decided on. And great work has already been done."

Lewis wrote to issue a warning to the church: are you asking the wrong questions? Is your faith in Christ or in "Christ and..."? I fear that much of evangelicalism is "buzzing in this vacuum" of truth neglect. We weaken the dynamite of the gospel and Christ with our supposedly-spiritual trappings. We're picking out curtain colours for the sanctuary, unaware that the foundation of the church itself is being blasted out from beneath us because it stands not on Christ, but on human ideas.

In How People Change Tripp and Lane describe some typical ways in which believers are distracted from the "simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3). These are some "fashions with a Christian colouring":

Formalism - the gospel is reduced to participation in the meetings and ministries of the church
Legalism - "another gospel", where salvation is earned by keeping the rules we've established
Mysticism - the gospel is reduced to dynamic emotional and spiritual experiences
Activism - the gospel is reduced to participation in Christian causes (ie: pro-life cause)
Biblicism - the gospel is reduced to a mastery of Biblical content and theology
Psychology-ism - the gospel is reduced to the healing of emotional needs
Social-ism - the gospel reduced to a network of fulfilling relationships

This list has been helpful to me as God has shown me that my Christianity is sometimes veiled in formalism and Biblicism rather than a vibrant relationship with Christ Himself. I need to those "very simple questions" that God asks, like, "Is it righteous?" "Does it reflect the mind of Christ?" "Is it holy?" When we get distracted from the centre, which is Christ, we ask all the wrong questions, and the life is gone. Solus Christus, sola Scriptura—too simple? I'm finding it to be richer and deeper than ever.

my hero

2010-09-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

I spent many of my nearly 25 years looking for a hero. Yes, "I need a hero...He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast...He's gotta be sure...and he's gotta be larger than life." [Insert cheesy Bonnie Tyler I Need a Hero song here].

And you know, "he" didn't even have to be a "he." Sure, a boyfriend would have been (and still would be) nice, but essentially I remember beginning to long for deep peer friendships during my teenage years. Spiritual friendships, where we could talk about God's Word and grow together. I wanted friends who would love, challenge and encourage me, based on Truth. This was not something that I found readily in my high school years, but that meant that God had opportunity to speak to me. On quiet nights in my blue-walled bedroom, He taught me that He wanted to be my closest friend. He was enough!

Even so, God created me to be in fellowship with other humans, and as the years have passed He has graciously brought me into close relationships with individuals and families whom I admire. As I watch them live, I am a sponge, soaking up wisdom and grace. We talk about Jesus at breakfast, lunch or supper and it is completely normal. I love to see them living lives that are worshipful and obedient to their Creator. I love to be with them and learn from them.

But what I have seen happen, sometimes, is that I worship the gifts instead of the Giver. Like the Israelites, who forgot their Provider once they reached His good land, I easily lose my focus. God has had to show me that I cannot depend on my friends' spirituality. In some cases, He accomplished this by showing me that my friends and their families were no more perfect than myself and my family. Suddenly I saw that they were fallible humans—like me. This was a painful discovery. God also did this by physically "taking away my Elijahs." Oswald Chambers writes:

"It is not wrong to depend upon Elijah as long as God gives him to you, but remember the time will come when he will have to go; when he stands no more to your as your guide and leader, because God does not intend he should. You say—'I cannot go on without Elijah.' God says you must." (My Utmost, August 11)

God knew that I demanded to see godliness enacted—I wanted a visible human model to follow. When making decisions, I wanted an Elijah to spoon-feed advice to me—I didn't want to have to search the Scriptures and spend time in prayer. Idolatry? I'd say. God wanted me to get my focus back on Him, so He graciously toppled my idols.

Here is the wonder—once my idols were removed, Someone much more satisfying came to the fore. God began to take His place as Hero again. No human friendship would ever satisfy! If my hope is in humans (even godly ones) my heart will yo-yo from happiness to disappointment, based on their performance. I will seek to manipulate and use them to meet my desires, instead of showing them the grace and freedom God has shown to me. But if I esteem Christ as the only lasting Hero, I can gratefully enjoy deep human friendships and yet source my security and joy in my relationship with Christ. I call this change "the fall of my human heroes and the rise of the one, true Hero." He is "strong, fast, sure and larger than life!" To quote another song from the '80s/Footloose, "let's hear it for The Boy!" He is my everything!

oswald chambers & "devotion to God Himself"

2010-08-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

Last Christmas I received a copy of Oswald Chambers' classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. For years I neglected many devotional writings, perhaps due to a bad taste left in my mouth after trite, too-simple or poorly-written devotionals I'd come across growing up. But what depth I have found in the collections of the writings of saints like A.W. Tozer and now Oswald Chambers! These anthologies indeed are worthy to bear the name "Christian literature." My experience in the last few months of reading Chambers has been transformational, and the book's introduction, by Richard C. Halverson, sums up why.
He says:

"In Chambers I am constantly being reminded that the ground of faith and experience is the person of Jesus Christ....the basis of faith is always Jesus Christ himself. Through the years Chambers has kept me on course by bringing me back to Jesus. Believing Jesus, not just believing my beliefs about Jesus, is basic."

I have collected some brief quotations from the daily readings which echo this basic theme that runs through Chambers' texts. It is about Jesus Himself--believing Him, being devoted to Him.

"When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him.... 'Believe also in Me,' said Jesus, not--'Believe certain things about Me.'" (Apr 29)
"A man with the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God Himself." (May 2)
"My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God." (July 12)
"The soul is in danger when knowledge of doctrine outsteps intimate touch with Jesus." (Aug 16)
"Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Himself?" (Aug 18)

Chambers says the same thing in so many ways. The message never gets old or passé. I am encouraged to seek a fresh, vibrant relationship with Jesus. To truly know Him, not just know things about Him. Through the story of Jesus walking on the water, I am reminded that it is enough "that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea" (July 28). As I realize how destitute I am without Christ, He is speaking to me in a way that is deeper and richer. My demands of Him are silenced in the presence of His Person. My God-given desires and goals play second fiddle to God Himself. I need devotion to Christ, pure and simple (2 Cor. 11:3).

Have you read this classic yet? My Utmost for His Highest--always best read with granola, yogurt and sunshine. Original English version available here or modern English version available here.

"we died before we came here"

2010-07-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

While working in India, Amy Carmichael received a letter asking what missionary life was like. I wonder if the young lady sending the question wanted exotic stories. Elephant rides, jeweled children, bright colours. Amy wrote back honestly: "Missionary life is simply a chance to die." It was from this statement that Elizabeth Elliot took the title of her book about Carmichael's life and ministry.

Recently my mom passed along the following story. "A ship captain tried to dissuade James Calvert, [an] early missionary to the New Hebrides, from going ashore by saying, 'You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among the cannibals of these islands.'" Calvert's stoic reply blows me away: “We died before we came here.” Another new missionary to the same area was also warned as to his possible destiny. His response? “In the resurrection it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals (on the mission field) or by worms (at home).”

The zeal and discipline of these missionaries puts me to shame. But the "death" of which they speak is not just for missionaries. Every believer must die to self if he is to be productive for Christ. "...Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (John 12:24). As Addison Leitch said, "When the will of God crosses the will of man, somebody has to die." Elizabeth Elliot writes, "Life requires countless 'little' deaths--occasions when we are given the chance to say no to self and yes to God." At each crossroads, big or small, I want to say with unquestioning allegiance, "I died before I came here." In death we find life abundant.

learning to receive

2010-07-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

It was the kind of day for which ice cream must have been invented: blistering hot. Walking into an ice cream shop with some younger people, I asked each of them choose a treat and offered to pay for their snack. All but one accepted my offer fairly easily. The last one held her head high and said "I am too proud to let you buy ice cream for me." I was a bit shocked. Finally she allowed me to purchase her little treat, but not without a struggle. I was frustrated that she would so valiantly try to thwart a small effort to share with her--I felt that she sought to rob my blessing as a giver.

Only days later, I was cornered by a fellow believer who wanted to share a generous gift with me. He knew of a specific need that I had and wanted to fill it. Backing away, I explained that I'd just received a surprise sum of money from my employer that would cover the extra expense. He insisted. With the image of aforementioned proud teenager in my head, I took his gift and thanked him for it. Smiling, he thanked me for my willingness to allow him to share. I am not sure if I had ever before been thanked for receiving, but after the previous week's incident, I could suddenly relate.

At the risk of sounding mooch-like, I will say that some believers could use some instruction on receiving. Christianity teaches generosity. This is Christ-like and it is an attitude to be commended. But if we would train cheerful givers, we should also be ready to (at least occasionally) be thankful receivers.

Granted, our fallen condition makes us much more likely to want to take than to give. I am certain that we must spend much more time learning to give and share than learning to receive. (When I talk to small children after Christmas, rather than asking the typical "What did you get for Christmas?" I try to ask "What did you give this Christmas?") But somehow in our efforts to teach self-sacrifice, generosity and humility (noble efforts!) sometimes we don't notice that our children become adults unwilling to ever accept a gift or a favour.

Maybe you already have everything you really need. In North America, that is often the case. But who is to say that you have to keep the gift you are given? The early chapters of Acts speak of the early church having all things in common. Their sharing and generosity has been an example for Christians in following generations. We can accept freely, and give freely as well. All that believers have is really Christ's, anyway.

I don't speak as though have a handle on this. I thought I had learned my lesson about letting others give to me, but last Christmas brought a few more I-don't-think-I-should-be-receiving-this moments. There was one moment in particular, when I was handed a cheque. It was for a service that I had given, to a ministry, free of charge, and it was difficult to accept payment for it. I'll admit, I argued with the givers. I was not a very gracious receiver this time. But I've watched the disappointment on Christ-filled people's faces when they want to share and are not permitted. Doesn't Christ give us with a desire to share? Why allow our pride to steal someone else's joy? So I thanked them for the gift. (They don't need to know if I pass it on).

surrender

2010-06-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

I don't remember the exact circumstances in which I wrote the poem that I'm posting below. I know they weren't easy. Today as I saw these short sentences hanging on my bulletin board, I realized that it sums up what is happening to me yet again. God is sifting, testing, challenging me. Am I really willing to count everything a loss compared to knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord? Jesus' words to Peter in John 21 echo in my ears, over and over again: "What is that to you? You follow me."

Elizabeth Elliot quotes Lilias Trotter in one of her books:

"So long as our idea of surrender is limited to the renouncing of unlawful things, we have never grasped the its true meaning: that is not worthy of the name for "no polluted thing" can be offered.
The life lost on the Cross was not a sinful one--the treasure poured forth there was God-given, God-blessed treasure, lawful and right to be kept: only that there was the life of the world at stake."

What God asks me to give up may not be inherently sinful or wrong. What is important is that He asks it of me. Will I give it to Him who gave all for me? Am I content to offer Jesus easy things, things that have cost me nothing? Or do I want what He wants, no matter the cost?

-----------------

it's

it's the dying of a dream

the killing of a heart

the stealing of a hope and

i only understand in part.

it's the test of my sincerity

an exam on what i've learned

a measure of my sanctity

will my heart be truly turned?

it's up-showing my own wisdom

replacing my own strength

pushing out my human love for

one that knows no length

it's taking me much deeper

it's pulling me far in

it's ridding me of yesterdays

it's purging me of sin.

2007

let your single years not be a wasteland

2010-06-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

In recent years I have spent a lot of time with single people (surprising, I know, since I am also single). Observing this subset of our Christian culture, I began to notice that some singles seem to allow those years of their lives, whether five, ten or fifteen years, to fall into an abyss of wasted time. This concerns me, because while our culture may teach us to while away our youth, this is not God's attitude toward time. As I've read, lived and observed my own attitudes and those of some I know, there are a few areas (with some overlap) where we would do well to learn while we are still single.

Roles: Learn what it means to be a woman and operate within your role even as a single. Kick the feminist attitudes that are so common in our culture and learn the Bible's view of woman. The Bible indicates that your role will be more home-related than your husband's. Your single years are probably years with less home responsibility, but it is also a good time to learn to serve. My brother and I live together and I think we could say it is "fair" that all tasks in our home be divided up 50/50, just like the rent. Even so, I realize that some ways of serving come much more naturally to me than to a man, and at times I've purposely tried to serve in ways that aren't necessarily expected or required in a situation like our own...simply because I am a woman.

Relationships: Singleness can teach an independent and calloused "I-don't-need-a-man" attitude. Living on your own can be too convenient, too controlled, too your-way...which is not good preparation for service or for living in close quarters with anyone! Learn to expose yourself to people with whom you don't see eye-to-eye and people who rub you the wrong way. Padding your life with people who think exactly as you do might seem comfortable but it short-changes you by giving you less opportunity for growth.

Reality: Our single years can be rich in that they prepare us with a deeper grounding in reality about ourselves, the opposite sex, marriage and God. In relation to ourselves, God can prepare our hearts to have an attitude of utter humility --"I am the worst sinner I know." Often single women have wrong views of marriage and men. Pining for marriage, which God hasn't given to you yet, can sometimes be put to rest by spending a few days with your friends' sick toddlers. Or, try turning your head a few degrees and you'll probably find a divorcee, a widow or an infertile friend. In a sinful world, life at any stage is not without its struggles, and marriage is no fix-all. Lastly, as singles we have time to get to know God on a deep level. God is our ultimate reality and in knowing Him we find hope for the reality about everything else.

Responsibility: Singles shouldn't shirk responsibility, but learn to shoulder it, grown-up style. Our single years allow us to serve our church, community or family in ways that may not be possible when we have other responsibilities. Also, it is easy for young singles to fall into a luxurious "me-first" spending mentality, and it is important to learn to be responsible in money management. Even among Christians, I find that singles are almost "allowed" to be a bit immature or irresponsible. This isn't God's allowance.

As Christian singles contemplate marriage, we often set our spouse ideals fairly high, and rightly so. But as we redeem our single years, we can let them not be a wasteland, but years spent becoming a person who would be ideal, as well. Set the bar for yourself higher than your culture, even your Christian culture, sets it. Try "be ye holy, as I am holy." That should keep you busy for the rest of your life!

And should the Lord never give us any marriage but to Himself? We will bless Him still. Our time will not be wasted, either way.

"but did you see the sky in the east?"

2010-06-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

The couch is awfully comfy, especially on cold mornings. One morning this winter, as I wrestled myself out the door, I posted on Facebook: "Julie needs a warm heart for this cold, dark morning." I walked to work, in the chill.

That evening, when I came home, I noticed a comment that a friend had made in reply to mine. She said, "But did you see the sky in the east?" When I was feeling the gloom of a cold, winter morning, Joanne was warm inside because she had a different view. When I go to work, I head west. On days when I walk or bike, I don't even have a "rear view" of what's behind me, I just see what's ahead. It wasn't that I couldn't have seen the sunrise, it was just that I didn't turn my head.

It made me wonder how often my life is like this. I'm trudging under a cloud, but if I would just turn, I would see the wonderful plan of God in every moment. Are you weary? Did you see the sky in the east? Not far from your self-centred viewpoint is the eastern sky. There's always hope, it just isn't always right in front of you.

tandoori chicken and worldview changes

2010-05-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

Roots. Fruits. What's the difference, and what's the connection? Recently I was shown a tree diagram with a person's worldview as the hidden roots and his culture as the visible part of the tree. Assumptions, values and allegiances made up the worldview, while behaviour, attitudes, commitments and beliefs stemmed from the worldview, forming the person's culture. The tree looked something like this:

The tree was shown in the context of missions, and the question was asked "What problems happen when changes only take place on a cultural level and not in a person's worldview?" This question has to bear on the telling of the good news. Those taking God's message into pagan cultures have seen the problem of syncretism when people add new behaviours or practices to their old worldview. The message has no real roots, and trials and testings evidence how shallow the supposed "new belief system" really is. I understand this concept as it relates to missions.

But then I realized that I'm a syncretist, too.

Each of my sinful fruits evidences a problem in my spiritual roots--in my worldview. I keep falling back on a human, carnal view of life, which leads to sinful living. My sins in my attitudes, behaviour, expectations and commitments stem from a false worldview. For example, I see in myself attitudes like selfishness, resentment and disappointment. I need to get to the root of those issues and discover what my false assumptions and values are. God's Word and Spirit must continually wash and renew my mind.

As I thought about a current set of sins that I am struggling with, I realized that it wasn't too difficult to spot the false roots. For example, I have valued human relationships over my relationship with God. This has shown itself in a craving for human attention at the expense of fostering a deeper relationship with Christ. I've made good human relationships a false saviour and God wants to change my worldview. He wants me to realize that He is all I need.

Are you wondering where the tandoori chicken comes into this? Well, this lesson was further illustrated to me as I made tandoori chicken recently. I've been a bit bored with same-old groceries and cooking, and wanted to try something different. Marinated in a deep red Indian spice mix, the chicken thighs I prepared took on the intense colour for which India is known. But as I later ate the chicken, I realized that inside, it looked just like any other chicken. The outside was doused in the spices, but the inside not visibly affected.

I wondered, is this me? An intensely Christian exterior with an inconsistent interior?

Changes in culture are easier to observe than changes in worldview, and we like statistics. Therefore, we look for those culture changes in ourselves and others. New beliefs, new practices. A raised hand, a filled-out commitment card. We have churches of deep red tandoori chickens. We buy Christian books, go to Christian concerts and post Bible verses in our Facebook statuses. Our outsides look like the real deal. But I wonder, when you poke us, what juices you will find? When we're cut, what does our flesh show? Are we soaked to the bone in Him? What do trials and persecution bring out of us? Are we as transformed as we think we are?

God's goal is that we would be "fully pleasing Him" (Col. 1:10). Fully pleasing to Him. He doesn't just want to see a Christian culture, He wants to see a Christian worldview. He wants to transform my assumptions, my values and my allegiance. Where necessary, a changed culture will flow from a changed heart. But let us never assume that a changed culture proves a thorough uprooting of false assumptions.

seasons of life

2010-04-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

I'm making excuses to be on the porch swing. The sunshine is beautiful and warm today, beating on my bare shoulders, filtering through my sunglasses. After months of cold and snow, summer is a welcome change, a beautiful relief. I'm loving it.

Growing up in northern Brazil, summer was year-round. I loved warm weather, but, with the exception of a few winters spent in Canada, I didn't have a lot to compare it to. My appreciation of warmth wasn't nearly as deep as it is now. I welcomed it, but now I stand up and applaud. I sigh; I sing; I update my Facebook status. Short winter nights have turned into long, summer days with sunshine to spare. Brown grass is giving way to green. This new season brings a much-welcomed change.

Life is full of seasons, too. I've begun to realize that my appreciation of the most pleasant seasons is deepened only by knowing something different. Peaks seem higher after valleys. Duller days are a foil for the gorgeous ones. In my life I have been blessed beyond measure, but I don't think I realize it fully until I have something else to compare to. "You never know what you've got until it's gone."

For example, I enjoyed the years of my life spent in "full time ministry", where my daily work was visibly spreading God's Word. Now I work a job that seems less spiritual. This occupation is enjoyable too, but in a different way. How is producing a road builder's rate guide furthering God's work? I know it is, in a way, if I am sanctifying the Lord in my heart. Bible curriculum development and teaching is squished into evenings and weekends during this season. This I know: if the Lord allows me to give my time more fully to Him again, I hope I will do that with a much deeper appreciation. Being in ministry is a privilege: one that I may have taken for granted too often.

As a kid, time was fairly easy to come by. Summers between years of school were whiled away in hammocks with books or helping with kids' clubs. I enjoyed my free time, but now that my time off is much more limited, I realize what a valuable trust time is. I knew before that it was important to make good use of time, but now I understand at a new level.

These are just a few examples, but the list goes on. A dental bill reminds me of the good ol' days when mom and dad paid my way. A cold shower is better if I sweat first. Maybe it's just me, but the carrots I planted, watered and weeded last summer--even with their sunburned tops--seemed extraordinary. Going back to store-bought carrots in the winter was a sad adjustment. Time is teaching me the value of the hard days, heightening the joy of the sweet seasons.

I'm sure you have some contrasts of your own. We don't fully appreciate good health until we're sick. Precious friends are more valued when they leave: we ache for those times we took for granted. God indeed works "all things" together for good. I'm thankful for the seasons of life, my tutors in contentment, thankfulness and appreciation for God's sovreignty.

relief or victory?

2010-04-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been thinking about my goal in difficult times: do I want relief or victory?

Most often, I'm just looking for relief. When I have an anxiety, I just want out. Sometimes its a relational difficulty. Relief comes when that person I can't get along with goes away. But my relief is temporary, because the root issue (my sin) has not been dealt with. So, the next time I am with a difficult person, my sin rears its head again (James 4:1). And the cycle continues, because the problem wasn't really solved. It was just put off until another time. An alcoholic isn't cured when he can't find liquor. Below the surface, the problem is still there. Relief is a temporary fix, a patch, a Band-Aid. It's easy. It feels good right now, and usually that's my main concern. Just. get. me. out.

But how different God's goal for me is! He wants to see victory. I came across these words of Jesus, as he thought about his upcoming death. "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name"... (John 12:27-28). Read that again. Jesus didn't ask for a way out of what He knew He needed to do. He knew that there was a purpose to what He would suffer. He just wanted to see the Father glorified in what would take place. Christ's goal was not relief for Himself, but victory--God's glory.

It strikes me that Christ made "peace through his blood" (Col. 1:20). Blood? What does that have to do with peace, Lord? The peace Christ made for us was bloody, intentional, hard work. It was what Isaiah 53:11 calls "the labour of His soul." We are blessed because He persevered, rather than calling down the relief brigade of angels! Victory--via His blood, sweat and tears. His victory is ours to claim, but not always without some "blood" of our own.

I wonder how different my life would be if my goal in troubled times were God's glory, not my immediate comfort? How would my prayers change if I stopped focusing on physical relief and started imploring God that He be glorified, no matter what that means? Our prayers are littered with here-and-now, flesh-and-bones requests. Paul's prayers were rich with requests for spiritual victory and God's glory in all circumstances. Relief sounds good--really good. But when I look through God's eyes, victory sounds even better. "What shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'?...Father, glorify Your name."

God, the heathen and the believer's responsibility

2010-03-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

As a Christian studies the way of salvation laid out in the Bible and then observes the world, seeing that some people have Biblical resources so readily available to them and others do not, it begs the question: does God require the same thing of all peoples? Are people outside of “Christian” cultures saved differently? The question of the eternal condition of pagan peoples worldwide is “too frequently, because of its possible tragic implications...by-passed in favour of subjects of far less importance.”* Yet the answer is of monumental significance. An unsatisfactory answer to this question can leave nagging doubts about God's character or dim the Christian's zeal for sharing God's story. What does the Scripture tell us about God, the heathen, and consequently, how should the believer respond?

Recently I took a basic class through a theological school and chose to write one of my papers on this topic. If you're interested to read the paper, I've posted it in pdf form here [link]. You can read it online or download the pdf. I've placed the thesis and outline below as well. (Comments, corrections and suggestions welcome!) Writing papers on Biblical topics is much more than academic--God stirred my heart as I studied His Word. He reminded me of the fervor, focus and boldness that should be mine because of these truths. God has done and is doing His part. But will I?

/ / /

Thesis: God will justly condemn all those who have not trusted in His salvation. This includes people without special revelation.

I. What do the heathen know and how they know it?
    A. God has communicated through general revelation to all peoples
    B. Scriptures detailing God's communication through general revelation
        1. Communication through nature
        2. Communication through conscience

II. What is the response of the heathen to what they know?

III. What is God's response to the heathen?
    A. In justice, God gives man the fruit of his choices
    B. In mercy, God continues to show Himself to the heathen
        1. The Scripture teaches God's mercy
        2. Mysteries of God's mercy

IV. What should be the believer's response to the heathen?
    A. A fervor for missions
        1. The Scripture fuels fervor
        2. Universalism dampens fervor
    B. A focus for missions
    C. A boldness in missions
_____________________________
*J. Oswald Sanders. What of the Unevangelized?
(London, Great Britain: Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1967), 33.

hope in the mess

2010-03-13T09:50:00.001-08:00

When I am mid-project, my house tends to be messy. Don't get me wrong: I love a neat and clean house and messes weigh on me until they're cleaned up. But when I'm in the middle of baking, writing a research paper or sorting Sunday school materials, my house is not "presentable". Splashes of cake batter freckle the fridge, books are strewn around, and that paper I was supposed to send to you, well, I'm not sure where it is...give me a moment, please.

If you have only ever been to my house on invitation, you may not know this about me, because the hours before company comes are often filled with clean up. Garbage cans are emptied and the tap sparkles. Every area where the guests may step is subject to my inspection, to make sure everything looks decent. (Sometimes my shut bedroom door blocks out the explanation as to why the rest of the house looks so neat.) In a way, my very neat house is fake. I'm not really trying to be deceptive, but just putting my best foot forward: I want to be clean. This is really how I'd like my house to be all the time.

How much does this compare to our Christian lives? Every Christian's life is mid-project. Upon believing in Christ, we were each saved from something (the penalty for sin) and saved to something (freedom from the presence of sin in Heaven). But the Christian is not instantly transformed into a person that is "clean and neat" in his entire lifestyle. God is at work. Your life is mid-project. God is doing renovations or transforming a mess into something useful to Him.

But often we are afraid to let others seen any mess in our lives. We become very good at creating the illusion that we have polished, perfect Christian lives, when the reality is very different. We may not be trying to be fake--we just want to show the life that we're working toward. Positionally, we really are well. Our home in Heaven is guaranteed! But in our day-to-day life, all is not well...we just don't want to talk about it.

One Sunday afternoon, my friend said to me "The church is meant to be a place where we celebrate redemption, but we never admit to the messiness from which we are being redeemed." We realize, past tense, that we needed Jesus for our eternal salvation. But do we realize our need for Him in the mess of daily life? Church has become a place where it is easy to present your "clean living room" to everyone else. But we gather to celebrate redemption, past, present and future! The Lord's Supper reminds us not only of some past benefit we've gained, but that God now lives within us and is doing a powerful work! He is the hope, and the reason we can admit our problems--because we know He has a solution. Our perfect Sunday appearance betrays the reality that each person's life is a work in progress, and that being real is going to involve some mess.

When we take the time to get real, I meet other members of what I call "the raw hearts society." People who are broken by the mess their sin makes, but are looking to their Redeemer and realizing how needy they really are of Him. People who vocalize their struggle, even when its hard. When a friend lets me see a messy room in his or her life, I'm not usually shocked, because I have seen the mess in my own life. Actually, I am encouraged. I'm excited that they're feeling the crash of God's wreaking ball, and that they're responding. "I have this relationship that is dysfunctional, it's broken, but I know I need to work on it...." They're unwilling to stop God's work, even if it means difficult conversations, a raw heart and a messy "living room".

What makes me sad is Christians who never realize their need for a Saviour right now. Christians who don't even think they have much to be saved from anymore. They say "a true Christian wouldn't act in that way." (I wonder if they're on some sort of instant sanctification pill that I've never heard of, because I know my sins are dark.) Christians who have relationships which are clearly broken, strained or cold, but don't care to seek restoration. Christians who act like their whole house is perfect, all the time. I have been that pretender, and I have kicked myself over and over, because I believe that my falsity just perpetuates this trend. When appropriate, I want to be willing to be raw, open and honest about the work-in-progress that is me.

In Lane and Tripp's insightful book, How People Change, one of the authors shares about a difficult time that he and his wife went through as they watched one of their children make some poor choices.They found assurance in knowing that God would someday tie all the loose ends of their lives together--for His glory!

"We needed to see that our hope was not in the fact that we had everything under control--we obviously didn't. Our confidence could not be in the fact that we had everything tied up in a neat little bow--things were actually quite messy. Our confidence had to be that Christ was carrying us--and our child--through the process he had ordained and would complete. We began to see that this hard moment was a God-given step toward a wonderful destination. This prepared us to deal in a very different way with the issues that had previously produced fear." (p43)

As I've started to realize the depths of my sin--how much renovation God has to do in my life--it has been one of the most painful, but also most rewarding, changes in my life. God is mid-project in me, and some days it looks like He's just getting started. The more I get to know Him, I realize that He has more work to do in me than I had ever imagined. I want to be honest about the mess, but not comfortable with it. Please come in. In the mess, there's hope--Christ is redeeming me...today.

life-giving: lessons from the Bible's barren seven

2010-02-01T17:46:00.000-08:00

In the Bible there are seven women who are listed as being barren: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah's wife, Hannah, Michal, the Shunamite woman and Elizabeth. Last year I compared and contrasted their stories in the Scripture. What follows is some of what I learned, in a distilled form. This is by no means a comprehensive study of barrenness in the Scriptures, but simply some lessons seen in their seven biographies.

Clearly, there is an intensity connected to life-giving in women. Whether the depths of a barren woman's grief or the elation of a new mother; the sinful rivalries between women vying for pregnancy or the faith-filled prayers of godly life-givers; this aspect of woman* is something consuming. It touches a nerve. Energy pumps through woman--for good or for bad? Will we deal death, as fallen women; or life, as redeemed?

CREATED: Women were created to imitate the original Author of life by bearing fruit and filling the earth. We are to live purposefully and productively. Through our bodies come nations and peoples, chosen by God from the womb! We were also made to believe in the Author of life and to communicate personally with with Him. God gives importance to the task of life-giving, coming to announce some births Himself. This is the overall picture of women as life-givers.

FALLEN: Sin, which brings death, has brought death to every corner of our existence. Each of the Bible's seven barren women shows the effects of the curse (Gen. 3:16) in that she is unable to do that which was a normal part of her mandate.

In relation to God: We try to reach His goals in our own ways (ie: "Sleep with my maidservant" - Sarah/Hagar or Rachel/Bilhah), evidencing a lack of faith. We laugh at His promises (Sarah). We lie to try to hide our sin (Sarah).

In relation to men: We want our men to be God. We idolize them and demand of them what only God can give (Rachel to Jacob). We want our men to put us in God's place in their lives (Michal's criticism of David's worship). We use our tongues not only to demand and to criticize, but to be sarcastic. (Note that Michael was the only one of these seven women who never had children. It is noteworthy that it was her sarcastic tongue in speaking to her husband that got her into trouble. This spoke volumes to me....)

In relation to other women: We blame, envy, despise, wrestle and provoke.

REDEEMED: In Christ, women are freed to see God, men, other women and our children through Christ's eyes.
In relation to God: We should pour out our hearts before God, communicating with the only One who can solve our complaint and grief (Hannah). Redeemed, we are to rely on Him for fruitfulness and faithfulness.

In relation to our children: We dedicate (or loan) our "fruit" to God's service (Hannah).

COMMON THEMES in the barren women narratives:

A right understanding of God is essential to a right understanding of reproduction.
God's view of children: In Bible times the ability to have children was seen as a gift from God and a sign of His blessing. Children were not seen as accidents, hindrances or simply masses of tissue. They were dearly wanted, not avoided.
Turning to God: Barrenness caused both men and women to look to God in a new way, realizing their need of His "visitation" for their conception. Women also realized that man cannot fulfill the deepest desires of their hearts; nor can man always understand woman's grief or needs.
God's involvement with and interest in women and pregnancy. He personally came to announce Samson and Isaac's births (something that He did not even do to announce His coming through Mary).
God's sovereignty: people have sex, but God gives life as He chooses. Sex does not necessarily lead to children, just as godliness does not equal fertility.
God's glory: God is honoured in these stories of barrenness. (Hannah's prayer and Samuel's ministry, Samson's position as judge). We are caused to wonder at His supernatural power...He is unseen, active and living.

The tales of the seven mentioned barren women of the Bible are full of lessons for every woman, whether married or single, physical mother or spiritual mother. Unfortunately, many of their examples are negative ones (notice that the "fallen" section was the biggest). As we see how we were created and avoid the pitfalls of our sinful nature, we have the opportunity to know joy in our role as women serving a gracious Redeemer.

_____________________________
*I'm using the Lifegiver: Created, Fallen, Redeemed pattern picked up from Barbara Mouser's great study, Five Aspects of Woman. The fact that "her" skeleton fit my findings in this study so well indicates that the skeleton is not of her own making. It is built into the Scriptures.

learning from Amy Carmichael

2010-01-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

The name Amy Carmichael has been familiar to me for many years. Had you asked me about her six months ago, I might have been able to tell you that she rescued children in India. I knew that she had once wished to have light eyes, but once in India realized why God had given her dark eyes. In the past few months I "met" Amy through her biography, A Chance to Die by Elizabeth Elliot. I now understand why this tenacious, spiritual woman still speaks, though she is dead.The following themes from her life impressed me.

Prayer was the foundation of her life and ministry."And shall I pray Thee change Thy will, my Father, until it be according unto mine? But, no, Lord, no, that never shall be, rather I pray Thee blend my human will with Thine." (p223) Would I have a ministry that would last and bear fruit? I need to labour in prayer.

To Amy, harmony and love between coworkers was not optional. Other missionaries deemed this impossible. "To and never about" was the policy for talking about problems in relationships. If you weren't talking to the person you had the problem with, you shouldn't be talking about it.
Silence before men in regard to her financial needs. She brought these to the Lord Himself. He was Author of the work, and He was also Provider. Oh, but sometimes she must have wished to put a bug in a wealthy human's ear.
Consistent discipline and self sacrifice: these were not only Amy's message, but her lifestyle. She practiced what she preached. "It must be come and never go. We cannot ask another to do what we have never done or are not willing to do." "Leaders must climb the steep hills first."
Adherence to God's Word above trends, even "Christian" trends. "Books that whitewash Hinduism are turned out by the dozen now, and its terribly unfashionable to feel as we do (that Hinduism is "slime, filth, sin"). Along with this, Amy showed a willingness to become "of no reputation", like her Lord. "Was our reputation ashes to us?" (p246)
High standards for the people of God. "Amy felt that the world had far too many run-of-the-mill Christians, cool, respectable, satisfied with the usual, the mediocre. Why bother to lay down one's life to multiply the number of those?" (p251)
Value given to both common work (burping babies, clipping toenails) and spiritual work (preaching, teaching). These two can be hard to balance. She knew that souls with needs come with bodies with needs, and made provision for both. "Souls (in India at least) are more or less securely fastened into bodies." (p247)

Although I look back in admiration, I wonder if I really understand the cross that Amy carried. She was disgusted when she heard that her writings were "popular," because she knew that the path of the cross was not popular. Why should her books be?

Amongst the legendary stories of Carmichael's zeal and discipline, Elliot sprinkled stories of Carmichael's falliable side as well. At times she was short-sighted. She seemed to have a low view of men, marriage and even the nuclear family. Favouritism leaked out from time to time. Others thought her pig-headed. These weights pin the story of Amy to the ground. She was a sinner. But what a work God did in and through one tenacious servant. Will we have the discipline and zeal to see if He can and will do great things again?

i must tell Jesus

2010-01-05T17:27:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago when I walked into church, the congregation was singing I Must Tell Jesus. It is not a hymn that I grew up singing, but the words have resonated with me. The title summarizes a lesson that the Lord is teaching me.

These two things have been hard for me to grasp:

Some things need to stay between me and Jesus. Telling others will not edify.
Discussing my situation with another human is sometimes helpful, but I should do so only after I have brought it to Jesus.

Why it is so hard to bring things to Jesus first? I run to a family member. I phone or message a friend. I blog. What should I say to my boss? What do you think that boy means when he says this? I am frustrated with so-and-so, what should I do? And Jesus, who I claim is my closest friend, doesn't hear about it from me until I've exhausted the obvious human options. Too often He's my last resort.

Maybe I call on humans because we are at the same level. They are visible. I follow their thought processes. When I talk to a human, I can cloak things in spiritual words. Private details can be disclosed as prayer requests. Because the listener is my friend, and only has heard my side of the story, I can garner his or her pity.

I must tell Jesus. So why don't I? One reason is because I haven't been fellowshipping with Him throughout the day, so when a matter comes up, my heart isn't really where it should be for talking to the Lord. He knows that, so things are awkward. Also, Jesus' words are hard for my proud heart to bear. No cotton candy or undeserved pats on the head. His Word cuts right through my pride and leaves me with no excuses. His message is repeatedly that I must confess my pride and choose the humble path, the path He chose. Turn the other cheek. Forgive as I have forgiven you. Lay your life down. Bear each other's burdens. Only speak what is helpful. Stop looking to others and look to Me!

I want to learn to talk to Him first. What peaceful days those would be, if I could simply lay my concerns before the Almighty. As the hymn says, not only does he share my burdens, but only He is truly able to help me at the deepest level. While humans have helped me to take a step in a Biblical direction, God's Word does so more often. When I can agree with Him about my sin, He gives victory over it. "I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone."

marketing Jesus

2009-12-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

In my work and life I see a lot of advertising campaigns. There are the far-reaching ones that seem to suddenly be everywhere: in the paper, on the internet, on billboards and on the sides of buses. As a Christian, I also see a lot of advertising done by Christian groups. The budgets of these agencies are not usually as big as those of secular corporations, but some of them have quite clever catch phrases or well-created graphics, too. Every advertising scheme tries to draw in the viewer--as quickly as possible--with the goal of a specific response, whether a purchase, a donation or a commitment.

Advertising is meant to be attractive. In North American Christianity we are bombarded by marketing schemes, so when we seek to advertise our churches, events or programs, we look to the same methods. But I wonder if at times we are guilty of painting the Christian life as far different than Jesus intended for it to be. Everything is a good time. We pique people's interest by telling them what's in it for them. Do any of these appeals sound familiar?

Win a CD for donating to my ministry!
Come to Sunday school for crafts and games!
Go on a two week trip ministry trip overseas. Spend the last three days on the beach!
Receive a tax receipt for your gift to God's work!

While fun has its place (and I heart tax receipts!), sometimes our marketing in the Christian world leaves me questioning how well we know Christ--the one we supposedly are marketing. Our flighty advertising schemes do no justice to the depth of spiritual matters. They paint Biblical discipleship as a bed of roses. It is a picture Christ did not paint. The message of the cross is heavy. I wonder how we'd respond to this call:

Come carry a cross!
Die to yourself!
Put yourself aside and think of others!

This was Jesus' message. The path that Jesus took was not a path of what we would call good times. PR experts would probably say he did a poor job of making his message palatable. Jesus led the way down a path of humility, tears, pain, a cross...and not being accepted or understood by others. Try putting that on a flier.

I wonder sometimes if I am merely following "Christ" as advertised by North American Christianity which is trying to fill seats to fund programs--a politically correct, comfortable Jesus. Or would I follow His disfigured, unsightly form, outside the camp, bearing His reproach? Would I be identified with Him, even in death?

In a recent conversation with Sunday school kids, we were talking about Christmas. I asked them "Do you think Jesus came to earth because He thought it would be a good (fun) time?" They and I both knew that of course, that was not Jesus' motivation for coming to earth. In fact, fun was probably the farthest thing from His mind as He "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant." But how often do we make our choices based on human factors--good times?

Jesus made His big decision to come to earth based on the Father's will and serving humankind...not based on what would feel good or be convenient. Neither was it some knee-jerk, unmeasured decision. I wonder how I, as a supposed follower of Christ, make my life decisions. Do I look at the Father's will and how I can serve others? Do I scorn more lowly ministries in favour of more prestigious, name-up-in-lights ministries? Christ is the perfect example of selfless choices.

I have an older friend who is honest with me about the Christian life. Her words aren't especially attractive: "Julie, the Christian life is not easy." As I look at her life, I see a woman who is a model of service to her family and the body of Christ. She has served tirelessly, thinking of others and laying down her life for them. She has cooked endless meals and done unglamorous jobs. Even when making "personal" decisions, like which house to buy or which city to visit on vacation, she has thought of others. There is no laughter in her tone when she tells me of some of the hardships--but neither is there regret. I simply hear honesty. She knows, and I am learning, that death to ourselves is where life begins. As we speak to others, are we honest to what the Christian life may entail?

I'm not saying we shouldn't ever use clever advertising techniques. But the essence of the Christian message is a weighty one. Let's not water it down in exchange for short-lived commitments. Let's be honest, like Christ. Christ needs to speak His message of death and self-sacrifice to the very core of each of His disciples. They must find that there is no life outside of Christ. Dying is living. The winning of their souls and committed lives will be worth every penny Christ spent in "advertising."

humility is truth, pride is lying

2008-12-17T20:57:00.000-08:00

We all know that humility is taught in the Bible, but not until I read the quote below did I think so clearly about how only a humble attitude is an attitude based on reality. I am fallible. I am a sinner. It is more than likely that I messed something up, forgot something or just did what I told you not to do.

"We all tend to be infatuated with the idea of strength--but we fail to realize that all true strength is grounded in humility. We still relegate humility to the pale ranks of passive virtues and ornamental graces, whereas, in its legitimate development, it is a stout and soldierly quality. Humility, indeed, is simply a sense of reality and proportion. It is grounded upon a knowledge of the turth about ourselves and about God. 'The reason why God is so great a lover of humility,' says St Vincent de Paul, 'is because He is the great lover of truth. Now humility is nothing but truth, whilst pride is nothing but lying.'"

-E. Herman, as quoted in Elizabeth Elliot's book The Mark of a Man

And yet humility is a trait of Christ (Phil 2)--our all powerful Creator God. "Mild He lays his glory by." May we be forever grateful.

"man sees the outward appearance"

2008-12-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

One very cold day this weekend, some of us had the opportunity to sing Christmas carols to local hospital residents and staff. I don't tell you this to sound like a good person. Because as I was there, I couldn't help but feel trite and self-centered in offering my well-wishes to people who most likely won't have a joyful Christmas. People whom our society, for the most part, has put away. It felt hollow to suppose that I was doing them some great good by spending a few hours singing before I bustled off to friends, family and Christmas happenings.

In the hospital there is a lady who is burned beyond recognition. A splash of grey hair hangs from a lumpy, rebuilt expanse where her face once was. When I see her, my curious eyes keep turning back to her. My foolish heart, which is so bound up in the physical and visible, experiences repulsion and pity as I judge her value by worldly standards rather than the Lord's.

My little friend Jeremiah, who has recently turned five, was at the hospital with us and saw this lady for the first time. After someone talked to him about her, his response was "But she'll have a new body in Heaven, right?" Yet again, a little child leads me:
in thinking Biblically,
in always hoping,
in having eyes to see the unseen--that which is eternal.

Man sees the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart.

in one ear and out the other

2008-12-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

The book of James is presenting enormous challenges to me. The speaker I'm listening to* (as we study the controversial, important passage of James 2:14-26) suggested substituting the word faith with doctrine (as in "the faith", the objective body of doctrine of Christianity) and works with application, to aid understanding. Perhaps this gives a fresh look at this passage:

James 2:14, 17, 20
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has doctrine but he has no application? Can that doctrine save him? ...doctrine, if it has no application, is dead, being by itself...doctrine without application is useless[.]

Above is a cartoon I drew in church a while back. The church I attend is known to be serious about Bible teaching (doctrine) and that is one reason I chose it. While so many churches trim down the amount of time spent studying the Bible, I've appreciated additional teaching that our church leadership chose to add to the service on Sunday mornings. We're briefly covering a variety of topics, such as Christology. It has been beneficial.

But wait...how beneficial has it really been to me? The point of Bible teaching is not just to get it in our heads, but live in in our lives. Am I applying the doctrine? I confess that too often I consume facts without stopping for personal reflection, application and confession. What good is it for me to have journals full of study notes and bookshelves lined with theology tomes if I am not daily, practically applying it?

Don't misunderstand; I am convinced that we should study the Bible more, not less. But with that studying there must be personal application. So that doctrine doesn't leak out of my ear onto my Sunday clothes. So that I can be saved from the terrible effects of sin in my life as a believer. So I can do those good works by which I am not justified before God (Eph 2:8-9) but for which I was created (Eph 2:10).

*If you've ever puzzled at how salvation is by faith/grace alone in Paul's writings but wondered how James can teach salvation by works, you could really benefit from Jeremy Thomas' studies in this area, all available for free right here [link].

no penmanship prize here

2008-12-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

little list. big lessons.

peace, perfect peace

2008-11-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

A speaker at church on Sunday talked about the hymn Peace, Perfect Peace. The hymn's author, Edward H. Bickersteth wrote these words in 1875 after hearing a sermon on Isaiah 26:3, where the minister related that the Hebrew text used the word peace twice to indicate absolute perfection. The lyrics below are somewhat archaic, but the truths are alive. I've used bold italics for those things that might be the cause of our lack of peace and bold for how Christ ministers peace to that area. My soul hasn't been very still lately. This is a timely reminder to me that there is nothing outside the Lord's control or care. My ultimate reality is one of ultimate peace! I am blessed beyond all measure.

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to heaven's perfect peace.

longing for Him

2008-11-12T16:19:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we Christians go about our honourable goal of seeing spiritual growth in believers in a backward fashion. Are we assigning "tasks and work"...ensuring that people look busy...and measuring the spiritual health of the Body of Christ by visible, human standards?

If our emphasis is teaching and modeling a personal knowledge of Christ through the Bible, we may find that we don't have to do so much "assigning." The one who is growing in his knowledge of God's person and Word, and believing it, will long for Him. There is no question of to serve or not to serve for the disciple of Christ (though what that serving looks like will vary from person to person). So let us together "long for the immensity of Christ". Christ will assign the "tasks and work" and empower us for it. The Spirit's promptings will prove more powerful than human pleading.

elijah and prayer

2008-11-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

An example of praying according to God's will:
1 Kings 18:36-38
'At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. '

Is this just Old Testament talk, or can God still answer prayer?
James 5:17-18
'Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.'

Biblical freedom

2008-11-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been trying to learn what a Biblical definition for freedom really is. While I realized that in Scripture we are said to be both free and slaves, I had never given much thought to how the two can coexist. Are those words not antithetic? Here are a few of my notes and some interesting quotes I've come across, without much comment. This is a lesson I'm still preaching to myself.

Interesting Biblical references to freedom

Gen 2:16 - Adam and Eve were "free to eat from any tree in the garden" except one. (Freedom is found within a form which is already created by God)
Psalm 119:32 - "I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free"; Psalm 119:45 - "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts"; James 1:25 and 2:12 - "the perfect law that gives freedom"
Proverbs 11:21 - The righteous will go free, the wicked will be punished
John 8:32 - "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"
Romans 6:7-22 - When we were slaves to sin, we were free from the control of righteousness. Believers in Christ have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness and to God. When we offer ourselves to someone to obey them as slaves, we are making ourselves slaves, either to sin (which leads to death) or obedience, which leads to righteousness. We are to offer our bodies in slavery to righteousness, which leads to holiness.

Interesting words and phrases used in conjunction with freedom:

stand firm (Gal 5:1)
don't indulge, but serve (Gal 5:13)
perfect law (that gives freedom, Jas 1:25, 2:12)
servants of God (1 Pe 2:16)
commandments (Ps 119:32)
precepts (Ps 119:45)
truth (Jn 8:32)
slaves (to righteousness, Ro. 6:18)

Further comments on Biblical freedom

Freedom finds its roots in the Bible
Freedom from the power of sin, to abundant and eternal life.
Freedom comes with responsibilities and consequences.
Freedom is not doing our own will, absence of law or anarchy
Sin binds. When we don't "do" the truth daily, we are living in slavery.
Followers of Christ can have individual freedom no matter the external circumstances. We can be content and peaceful (unconstrained, free to move) even in great disasters and persecution.

The Word of God teaches that the Christian is a free man and should “stand in the freedom which Christ has made him free.” What is meant by Christian freedom? What is freedom in general? We answer: it is not the right and the ability to do as one pleases, but the ability to move without constraint in the sphere for which God made us. Freedom therefore is not inconsistent with limitation and law. The bird is free only when it can move in the air unhindered. A worm is free when it is not prevented from moving in the ground--in a sphere which would mean bondage and death for many other creatures. A locomotive is not free unless its motion is confined to the two rails on which it was made to run. Man was made in the image of God to be like Him and to reflect his holiness. Consequently he is free only when he moves without constraint in the sphere of holiness and obedience to God’s law.

-“Christian Liberty,” in “Report of the Committee on Worldly Amusements,” Agenda: Synod of the Christian Reformed Church, To convene June 13, 1928 at Holland, Mich., p. 22.

"Slavery to God is perfect freedom."

-Augustine

In popular use [freedom] means simply absence of hindrance, confinement, repression. However, that meaning is negative; it defines what freedom is not. But why should we want to be free? Only when we get beyond freedom from restraint and ask about freedom for a purpose can we understand its true meaning. Only then will we understand the basic elements of limitation and responsibility inherent in the nature of freedom itself.
Freedom is a condition in which something can fulfill the purpose for which it is designed. This principle is evident in everyday life. For example, an automobile is designed to run swiftly on a paved road. Yet it is free to do so only as long as it stays on the road. If it seeks greater "freedom" by suddenly turning off into the bushes, the vehicle comes to a grinding halt, possibly injuring or killing its passengers.
We can understand the meaning of human freedom only when we know the purpose for which we were designed. What are we set free for? The Bible portrays humankind created in the image of God for a life of loving obedience to our Creator. We are free to obey God; free to express His love to those around us; free to take care of the earth and its creatures.

--"Managing your Life," Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent, Charles E. Hummel, 1997, p28-29

"A Savior On Capitol Hill"?

2008-11-04T21:59:00.000-08:00

Please overlook the stupid graphics in the YouTube video below (you could always listen to the song with no graphics here [link]), but listen to the lyrics [link]. If you get one line out of this song, let it be this one: we’ve never had a savior on Capitol Hill. Or Parliament Hill.

May thoughts of elections and human leaders cause us to look forward to the coming of the King of Righteousness...with much anticipation!

"what is a family?"

2008-11-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

I had no idea that Francis Schaeffer's wife Edith was an author until I saw her book What is a Family? in our church library. I haven't read the book yet, but the Table of Contents outlines her answers to the question the title poses. The family is:

A changing life mobile
And ecologically balanced environment
The birthplace of creativity
A formation center for human relationships
A shelter in the time of storm
A perpetual relay of truth
An economic unit
An educational control
A museum of memories
A door that has hinges and a lock
Blended balances

I was so encouraged to read this list! Family can be the source of great joy...but also of deep pain. Is it worth it? The Bible says it definitely is! Also, as our society redefines terms and the idea of a Biblically-defined family is under attack, take heart! The family was designed by the Creator of the universe. It serves very important purposes. This truth needs to be preserved. Press on!

eyes of hope

2008-10-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

If you've ever had a regular job, you know that gossip is par for the course. Indeed, I've never had to pay a coworker to give me information about a supervisor. Coworkers have their hobby horses which seem never to go out to pasture. Even between people who work closely, there is bitterness and anger. To someone who wants to follow the royal law of Scripture, this is a challenge.

While I don't want to be too specific about my current situation, like most jobs, there is some discontent among the employees. Both fact and fiction are tossed around the room in the supervisor's absence. If what others sometimes insinuate were true, I would have a petty, unfair boss. When others gossip about my boss, whom God says I am to respect, I have had to try to learn to keep hope in view. Above the haze, I have found a boss who is calm, patient and has a good sense of humour. He is a good teacher and a manager who rewards good work and shows grace. In fact, I've even like working for him. Imagine that!

How can my coworkers and I describe the same man in such disparate ways? Are we really talking about the same man? How often are our circumstances shaped by the perspective we have chosen? I work for a kind boss, they work for a "lazy" one. We work for the same man, but "love always hopes."

Joining in slander is like agreeing to live in a pit of vipers. Bad-mouthers feed one another's discontent and dissension. Why would I align myself with such base behaviour? Not only does it set a negative tone to my life, but I could just as easily be the next smack-talk target. Through this situation, the Lord is teaching me to look up, in hope, and to expect the best. I don't have to live in the pit. "Set your mind on things above, where Christ is seated." He keeps me singing.

While we can't always choose our circumstances in life, we can choose hope. While "detail work" is also needed, sometimes I need to step back and think about "whatever is true" (Phil. 4:8). I need...
To appreciate the godly qualities in my friends' lives, instead of judging them for their shortfalls.
To see the dishes that got washed, and not the ones that got left in the sink.
To dismiss a small frustration with the body of Christ, and count my many blessings.
To choose to live with hope.
To forgive as I've been forgiven.
To refuse to lie down in the mess made by gossip.
To be raised up by Truth.
To live with the big picture in mind.
To choose a divine viewpoint.

That's choosing to see life through eyes of hope.

teaching the books of the Bible to kids

2008-10-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the opportunity to teach the books of the Bible to some sweet kids... Two good resources I found for this venture:

Books of the Bible Song [link]
(I played the song for them straight from You Tube on my laptop. The kids really liked the song and would sing it even when it wasn't playing...this reminded me of the power of teaching truth through music. Unfortunately, there's a weird portion of the song between the Old and New Testaments; we didn't learn that part.)

Books of the Bible flashcards [link]
(I got these free flashcards printed on thicker stock and these were a great resource. We had relays and races to see who could put the books in order first, played memory, etc.) We learned the "sections" of the Bible, which I termed
OT: laws, history, poems, prophecy, and
NT: history, letters and Revelation
Partly due to an oversight of mine, I don't think the kids learned the epistles ("letters") very well, but overall they did a great job. We mostly studied a little bit about the books and their sections and played related games, although one time we drew one or two illustrations for each section of the Bible. Again, the kids were were great: Job (Poems section) had empty animal pens around him and Joshua (OT History section), a wild wilderness dog. :)

Costume or precious jewelry?

2008-09-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I stumbled across a short article from In Word Adorning. Basically, she compares young women to either cheap costume jewelry or fine jewels. I had never heard this analogy, but thought it was very effective. I list some of her points below. As I have never really bought fine jewels, I'm taking her word for how it works.

FINE JEWELS

The wise jeweler is a good steward of his merchandise.
Potential buyers look, but don't touch.
If the potential buyer wants a closer look, the jeweler will open the glass case take out the jewelry, place it on a black velvet cloth, and remain present.
Some gems and stones are so priceless and rare they are not displayed at all. They are viewed by appointment for only the wealthy.

COSTUME JEWELRY

Available abundance in Wal-mart and Dollar stores in every town.
No money or intent to purchase needed to view it, handle it or walk around the story with it.
Less guarded and more easily stolen.

She goes on to say:

This is how I explain dating and courtship to my girls. They are our precious gems. They will not be cheap costume dates. Picked up carried off, never purchased and put back down. No man will come and sample them, try them out, or take them from our presence. If he comes he must come rich--very rich--in character and good intentions, he must come willing and able to pay any price.... He will honor her purity as much as we do.

My point is not to discuss dating or courtship. I know that the world in which I operate daily encourages me to be cheap, immodest and live for the present. Rather, I think this might be helpful to you as you either:

help young ladies understand the value of purity, or
seek to maintain purity for yourself.

Often I think that Christian girls are told to dress modestly because "if you don't, you cause boys to stumble." It is certainly good for girls to be aware of this problem.* What if we taught not only physical, sexual purity but modesty in clothing and demeanour as part of the gift we are saving for the one man whom we may marry someday? Many women I have met give free "samples" of their sexuality to men all the time. Fleeting pleasure says flaunt what you got. Some brides have a custom of giving their husband a gift on their wedding day. What could be more precious to him than the knowledge that, ever since the Lord opened her eyes to these truths, his bride has saved not only her sexual purity, but her physical charm, for the man who "pays a high price" for her? In the words of King Lemuel, this woman is not not just fine jewelry, she is worth far more than rubies.

*I think Christian boys often lack teaching in this area though. Put on some clothes/some looser clothes!

autumn light

2008-09-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

i love being in my kitchen in the morning when the sun's yellow light is beating through our east window. the photo above is simple, but it captures what i saw this morning. it is too bad that moment can't last all day...but if it did, it wouldn't be so special. the sun is waking up later here and i won't get to see bright mornings in my kitchen for much longer. fall is definitely here. bright yellow leaves are floating down from the trees on my street, piling in crunchy drifts on the sidewalks and getting stuck in my windshield wipers. it is so beautiful.

in the morning i also love to read Tozer's Renewed Day by Day while I eat breakfast, when i'm not in a big rush. here's something from today:

Before the Word of God can mean anything inside of me there must be obedience to the Word. Truth will not give itself to a rebel. Truth will not impart life to a man who will not obey the light. If you are disobeying Jesus Christ you cannot expect to be enlightened spiritually.... I can know about God: that is the body of truth. But I cannot know God, the soul of truth, unless I am ready to be obedient. True discipleship is...doing what [Jesus Christ] tells you to do..."

last week i started an evening course at a local university. there is something quietly surreal about fall in that historic section of our city, as the late afternoon sun filters through the trees which are dropping swirls of leaves. like a new morning, a new school year seems to speak of a new opportunity. a new textbook, a new sheet of looseleaf, a new pen. there is so much to learn, to do, to see and to experience...but for a few moments, it is delicious to get silent. to lose yourself in the splendour of God's current artwork. to watch the games light plays. happy autumn!

good...is not good enough

2008-07-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

This is one of my draft posts I had previously mentioned. I am not completely sure how to best express myself, but this is a topic that weighs heavily on me. I hope this doesn't come across as criticism, but as concern. May you learn these lessons more quickly than I am learning them. I have so far to go.

We all have typical phrases we say to someone who is leaving us, like "Drive safe!" or "Have fun!" When I began living with my brother, I would often dismiss him with "Be good!" Finally I stopped saying that to him, because I hate implying that his being "good" is my main concern for him. If I define "being good" as most would, I set the standard far too low.* As if being good would save souls or get us into heaven. I realized that when I said "be good" to him it was just a cop-out. I was trying to sound more normal when my insides saying something like: I want you to reflect Jesus out there. But I guess that sounds too spiritual for a regular Christian conversation, right? Like, tone it down!

If you have spent long in North American Christian circles, you probably have heard it said that someone is "not walking with the Lord." That is Christianese for someone who has made a profession of saving faith in Christ but is living in a visibly worldly fashion (read: not going to church). In a recent conversation with a Christian lady, she mentioned her son, who is not walking with the Lord and some church kids, whom she described as good kids. Yes, evangelical churches are often full of good kids. My concern is the great overlap between the two categories: many good church kids find themselves not walking with the Lord.

At prayer meeting, we often pray for a few young men have quit attending church. I realize that those are the people that it is easiest to pray for aloud, because we all agree that they are not doing as they should. But I wonder if those who pray realize how many of us good church kids continue to warm stacking chairs in the sanctuary, but have minds that are far, far from the Lord.

The problem is not so much that we do good things, but that we're willing to stop at just acting good. I think that in most people's eyes, I'd look like a "good church kid." Let me give you a good church kid checklist. (Reminder: these are the good church kids, not every church kid).

Go to church at least once a week.
Don't have premarital sex.
Read your Bible.
Hang out with Christian friends.
Don't curse.
Give money to the church.

We know that these things don't get us into Heaven, but we take them as indicators of whether another Christian has their essential ducks in a row. But when we go past appearances...

We go to church. (...but what sorts of conversations do I initiate as we stand in the foyer? I heard about a man who, after his sermons, would sit on the podium and weep. "Listen to their conversations!" he would say. It broke his heart to preach the Word of God, only to have the congregation walk out of church talking about last night's football game. When I hear that someone is struggling with something, do I say I'll pray, but then forget? Do I take ten minutes to call them that week, or do I seek to avoid the "uncomfortable" or "socially awkward" people in order to talk to the cool crowd?)

We don't have premarital sex. (...but God wants "not even a hint of sexual immorality". Do crude jokes repulse me like they repulse the Father of Lights? How can I watch movies that are impure, with the knowledge that the Spirit of God lives in me? Do my trendy church clothes cause other people in the pews to stumble?)

We read our Bibles. (...we can quote some verses and give devotionals. But we're busy, and more often than not we don't really study God's Word as well as we should. Isn't that just for people who preach and teach publicly? Sometimes the day slips away on me and while I let the world influence me for hour after hour, I give God ten minutes and I can hardly concentrate, because I'm tired. It is no wonder that we fall prey to worldly life philosophies, since our knowledge of the Scriptures remains so shallow although we've grown up in church. If someone does study God's Word in a serious sort of way, they are almost considered a rarity, a super-saint or radical...when this should be the average Christian).

We hang out with Christian friends. (...and we don't drink, smoke or have sex. We talk about the weather, sports, work, school, friends...but I know my tongue is so slow to go to the deeper issues, like What is the Lord teaching you right now? How can I pray for you? A Christian friend of mine told me that in her 25+ years growing up the church, she has never been asked to share what the Lord is teaching her. Why is talking about the Lord at any length or spontaneously praying together so foreign to many Christians? Do we save that for when we're camp counselors or Sunday school teachers? Another friend has told me how difficult it can be to tell a Christian friend that she don't feel comfortable watching a movie they want to watch. Do we consistently encourage each other to spend time, conversation and money on frivolous things? Some nights I know I need to go home and do some Bible study, but it sounds holier-than-thou to say I need to go read my Bible. My fear of what my "good Christian friends" think helps me excuse my sin of settling for the status quo. Instead of listening to the Holy Spirit, I was to justify my activities by the fact that Christian friends are doing the same things. The Lord wants us to "press onward toward the high calling". Why do I better resemble a vacationer than a soldier?)

We give money to the church.(...but what do I know of sacrificial giving? I give out of my excess and still have money left for entertainment or things I don't need. As if missionaries aren't needing money for flights, radio programs, bicycles...food. As if most of this world won't go hungry today.)

We don't curse. (...but as I've already said, the conversations I initiate often lack any substance. I'm using language, but not using it responsibly. I like gossip more than I'd care to admit.)

I have spent most of my life comparing myself to other Christians, when my standard should be Christ. Therefore, I continue to fall into the "good church kid" category. Others might think I seem good. But my pride is slain when I compare myself to Christ: My haughtiness compared to His humility. My fallen thoughts next to His holy ones. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he cried that he was "undone" due to his uncleanness and the uncleanness of his people. Job hated himself. Daniel weak and sorrowful, Daniel, Paul and John all fell to the ground. When I stand bare before the One "to whom we must give account," my goodness looks filthy.

In conclusion, it takes some work to be good. But at some point, things level out for the good person. Life reaches normalcy, and you are maintaining but not advancing. As long as the outside looks good, you think you're OK, because you're living for the praise of man. But the life Christ calls each believer to is alive and dynamic. To cease to advance is to fall back. In many matters no one else can tell me what is right or wrong for me. I must know the Lord intimately if I am to know His mind in each matter. You and I stand accountable before the Lord--and will not the judge of all the earth do what is right? May the gracious Christ be our measuring rod:
"till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a perfect man,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"
(Ephesians 4:13).

*I know that the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 6) includes "goodness", and that we are taught to be "good", but I think you'll see my point as I continue.

salvation in isaiah

2008-07-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

i am still intermittently studying Isaiah. last year when i chose to start on Isaiah, i wanted to do some digging and chewing, and i have. sometimes this study is tough going: the gap between Isaiah and I (culture, language, era, background, etc.) is so great and so new that it seems like i'm plugging away at "insignificant" details of seemingly little spiritual relevance (like trying understand the reference to "wine on the lees" in 25:6). at times i do a lot of digging, only to come up with information that seems un-revolutionary. i want to
(1) objectively understand the original intent of the author (this is first and hardest), but i know that i also need to
(2) personally (subjectively) apply spiritual truths to my life.
i try to both use some pre-chewed materials (commentaries, study Bible) as well as a concordance to try to help me bridge the gaps and understand the text, i also try to do some serious observing of the text and cross referencing (if possible!) without a lot of leads.it is easy to lose sight of the big picture (especially since i'm slowly acquiring it and quick to forget it--such is life!). the other night i stepped back and looked at one of the grand themes of the entire prophecy, salvation. here are a few stage 1 objective facts:

the theme of Isaiah is "salvation is of Jehovah/the Lord". this is also what Isaiah's name means.
Isaiah's prophecy mentions the word "salvation" 26x while all the other Biblical prophets together only use the word 6x
the term salvation is used much more in the second portion if Isaiah, chapters 40-66, where the theme is comfort (whereas the first portion of Isaiah deals more with judgment). it has been suggested that Isaiah's two sections could be called man's need for salvation and God's gracious provision of salvation.
God is closely linked with salvation (12:2, 25:9, 49:6, 56:1)
often the word salvation is closely accompanied by the word righteousness (51:5-8, 56:1, 59:9-11, 60:17-18, 61:10, 62:1-2) or the idea of strength (12:2, 17:10, 26:1, 33:6, 63:5-6)

the way two believers apply those same truths to their lives (stage 2) could be very different, although they observed the same text.

i need to learn a good balance between what i am broadly terming the two stages. moving too quickly to stage two results in incorrect understanding and application. this is dangerous, because if we think incorrectly we will act incorrectly. conversely, if i never move on to stage 2, i commit spiritual abortion. the living and active Word cannot just be academic: it needs to bear fruit in the way i live. as i try to persevere through the harder parts of the text, the Lord blesses me with new understanding. may my living also be new.

"God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid." Isaiah 12:2

burma's tragedy

2008-05-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

After the recent cyclone in Burma, Maclean's May 26 magazine published a heart-breaking photo essay. The most striking image was that of a Buddhist temple's wreckage, above. My thoughts were: I am thankful that my God is neither visible (to be seen in such a state) nor helpless. But then I remembered that, for a short time, he was both visible and "helpless". I thought of whimpers coming from a manger and a loud call from the cross: My God...why have you forsaken me? But my God chose helplessness; he was no victim of the weather conditions. The real tragedy in Burma is the many thousands of people who left this life believing in a god who can't even stop a cyclone. My God triumphed through helplessness, saving the dying. The Burmese serve a god who can't even lift itself out of the wreckage, lose that serene look and do something helpful. What of the immortal, invisible God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes?

the prayer / humility connection

2008-05-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

prayer: what a way to get our eyes off ourselves and onto our Lord and others! some of my recurring sins are selfishness/pride and lack of prayer. these go hand-in-hand. years ago i told someone that i am consistently too self-centered/always want to talk about myself. his solution was so simple, but so Biblical: he suggested that i ask the people around me how i could pray for them and then be faithful in praying for their concerns. this would direct my focus first to the Lord and then to others.

my pride is evidenced in the fact that i think that i can do just fine without prayer. it takes humility to say that "without Him i can do nothing" or to recognize that fifteen minutes of prayer could do far more good than fifteen minutes of all my other best efforts. i give my Lord some on-the-go prayer, but i believe He wants those still, quiet prayers, too. but alone-in-my-closet prayers don't seem to make a dent in the pile of papers on my desk, so prayer is left for those last few incoherent moments before i fall asleep. alone-in-my-closet prayers take time, time that could be spent...looking busy and spiritual in the eyes of all the church people. it is difficult for me to even get up five minutes earlier to pray. and somehow, the days slip by with unconfessed sins, and praise and problems not brought to my Maker.

did you know that James, the New Testament author, prayed so much that he was known as "camel knees"? James knew humility too, to recognize that his earthly brother, Jesus, was Lord of all. if you know a who saint is faithful in prayer, they likely also know humility.

Quotes: Tozer & Chafer

2008-05-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

"Every pastor knows...the plain people who have nothing to recommend them but their deep devotion to their Lord and the fruit of the Spirit which they all unconsciously display. These are the first to come forward when there is work to be done and the last to go home when there is prayer to be made.... When they die they leave behind them a fragrance of Christ that lingers long after the cheap celebrities of the day are forgotten. We extend this tribute to Christian brothers and sisters in spite of the fact that in our world there is not supposed to be anything dramatic in faithfulness or newsworthy in goodness!"

- A. W. Tozer in Renewed Day by Day, May 25

"For those who attempt to explain the truth of God to others, there is need of a constant consideration of the measureless responsibility which accompanies any presentation of the gospel. No amount of attention or painstaking study will be too great for the adequate preparation of a gospel messenger. In the light of eternal issues it would be better that tongue should be stilled in death rather than to voice misstatements concerning the way of salvation through Christ...It is deplorable that Christian sentiment is not aroused to greater appreciation of the responsibility which is assumed by those who dare to preach, or to direct the steps of the lost. Good intentions and zeal cannot be substituted for the accurate knowledge of the exact facts which enter into the divine way of salvation by grace alone. The commission is given to every Christian and with it both the appeal for painstaking study, and the warning as to the terrible consequences for the misstatement of the gospel.

the mystery of modesty

2008-04-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

I found the following quote by Barbara Bova via Old Fashioned Lady (any emphasis is mine). It is especially interesting to note that this comes from a secular source.

"...These days girls or young women (the title of lady has gone out with the word modesty) are inclined to wear clothes that are barely there. Common sense has been exchanged for the political correctness nonsense that says women are free to wear whatever they want. That women have turned to looking like hookers and Lolitas just ignores the nature of men...
Here in the U.S., women are free to show it all. Some apparently think this makes them more attractive. Instead, they have tossed out the mystery and allure females once possessed when they had some modesty.... A woman doesn’t have to wear a chador to be safe here but those who play enticing games to attract male attention should be ready for some nasty things to happen...."

how do i speak?

2008-04-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a little studying this week about sibling/family relationships in the Bible. I set out to prepare a lesson for others, but the sword has divided my own heart also. I thought I'd share something I noticed about speech in the account of Joseph in Genesis:

Joseph's brothers "could not speak peaceably to him" (Genesis 37:4). This is recorded near the beginning of Joseph's story.
In spite of all his brothers did to him, near the end of Joseph's story he "comforted [his brothers] and spoke kindly to them"(50:21).

Joseph is a living testimony to the message of the book of James. Perhaps in early days he didn't use his tongue so wisely (when he aggravated his brothers by telling his dreams, Genesis 37), but at some point God taught him about the power of the tongue. Joseph's kind speech in return for unkind speech/deeds was only possibly because Joseph viewed his situation from the Lord's viewpoint (45:5, 9). This is how James teaches us to see our trials (chapter 1). Joseph had also learned the power of harnessing the tongue for good (James 3). Specifically, the tongue has enormous power to make or break our family relationships (or relationships with the people with whom we spend a lot of time). Our everyday talk seems unimportant, but (like a ship's rudder) it directs the course of our entire lives.

"Because our communication leargely takes place in the inconsequential moments of everyday life, it is easy to underestimate its significance... What sets the course of a person's life are the ways he responds to the little moments...Every day, your words give your relationships their tone." (Tripp/Lane, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, p69)

What kind of a tone am I setting with each word?
Negative? (envying, seeking what's best for me, boasting,
lying, criticizing, gossiping, complaining, nagging)
Or positive? (showing purity, peaceableness, gentleness, willingness to yield,
mercy, impartiality, sincerity, graciousness, kindness, thankfulness, prayerfulness)

It is much easier to see the negative effects of the speech of people around me (coworkers, acquaintances, family, friends) than to see the negative effects of my own talk. How I need the Lord...

The Best Friday

2008-03-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

Good Friday is upon us. Or, as I called it last year, the best Friday. Again I am reminded--as I often am--of how foreign the cross is to the everyday North American. I don't mean that they've never heard of Christ, the church or the cross. They've heard of these things...but they've counted them foolish. What does it all mean to me? And if I believe what I say, does my lifestyle reflect it?

It was a year ago, around this time: the room was quiet and my companion and I sat at our computers. We’d been talking. Somehow animals rights had worked their way into our conversation, and I asked my friend who gives rights to people or animals. At some point, she said “The Almighty! The one whose son was on that cross!” and then, speaking of the cross, she said words I have not yet forgotten: “...That is the part that I don’t understand.”

"Why do you believe that Jesus died on the cross?" This question was posed to me by my co-worker, who had just found out that I was "religious". She had grown up in a Catholic school and to the best of her understanding, Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins. This didn't inhibit her from living with her boyfriend or getting hammered. In her estimation, if there was a Jesus, he apparently knew she'd sin, and he'd forgive her anyway.

Why don't these girls understand the cross? Doesn't their calendar have a Good Friday on it? Aren't there Gideon Bibles in most hotel rooms and crosses on steeples in most towns across Canada? A friend of mine who sold jewelry told me that the most popular items were the cross pendants. It is my guess that most people who have been raised in Canadian cities have heard something about Jesus and the cross. But most would say with these girls "Why? I don’t understand.”

There are certain parts of the Bible that one doesn’t need to understand to be saved from the penalty for sin, but the cross is not one of those parts. Paul was clear in 1 Cor. 1:23 that as believers “we preach Christ crucified” (see also 1 Cor. 2:2). That is core to our message. We've got street preachers, tracts and billboards about Jesus dying. Why don't people get it?

Paul knew that the message of the cross evoked different responses. To Jews—those who had the Old Testament Scriptures and knew them—the message of the cross is “a stumbling block”. Jesus wasn’t that Messiah that they’d expected. But to the Gentiles, the cross is just plain “foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:23). I believe that the answer to why people don't "get it" is that we live in a Gentile culture. They don't know the Old Testament. They aren't waiting for a Saviour, at least not the one the Old Testament describes. Jayden said to me what Paul said some 2000 years ago: “I am a Gentile. That cross part is foolishness to me.”

Almost every Sunday, I drink grape juice and eat a cube of bread. I have been called, and to me the message of Christ's cross is "power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:24). It is no longer foolishness to me. I let that sweet message sink in. But I find in myself a startling lack of urgency to share the good news...and therefore I wonder how much that message has really become a part of me. I know that I live among Gentiles, but yet I don't try as hard as I could to share the Word of God. So how will they come to faith? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God...

This Sunday, after Good Friday, I'll probably have my Welch's again. But I pray that this Sunday, as that juice slides through my singing lips and splashes on my heart of stone, that it will find a groove in which to run, and wear away the hardness.

"these people honour me with their lips
but their hearts are far from me"

for me

2008-03-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

beaten for me, bruised for me, broken for me
for me? for me. for me!
may not my praise so quiet be
may not my life so silent be
it was, it was, it was for me!

symbols

2008-03-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

was Thy flesh like this, O Lord?
cold and clammy, soft and sin
had not marred it, You were
bread without yeast,
free of all the curses
brought on guilty ones

was Thy blood like this, O Lord?
a tiny cup: shining, strange, sweet
poured and flowing over
my guilt, my shame, my curse
taking all my stains

the trinity as a model for human relationships

2008-02-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

Relationships are hard. I don't mean relationships as in dating relationships...I mean relationships in general: brother-sister, parent-daughter, boss-employee, friend, etc. The title of Tim Lane and Paul Tripp's book, Relationships - A Mess Worth Making, already captures the essence of relationships to me: very difficult at times, but something you don't want to live without. In the next weeks or months I hope to share various things I learned. Overall, may I just say that I highly recommend this book. I don't know if I'd want to sit under Lane or Tripp's teaching in all areas of Scripture, but this book, which falls in the Biblical counseling arena, was very profitable.

From cover to cover, this book reiterates that
1) sin has caused problems in relationships and
2) the only and wonderful solution to our relational problems is in Christ.
In the authors' words,

"Our aim is that this book will help you look through the shattered glass of our sin to see the glory of a Redeemer who is ever-present, always at work to rescue and change us....We are sinners with the capacity to do great damage to ourselves and our relationships... But we are also God's children, which means that we have great hope and potential...hope that rests in Christ.... our potential is Christ!

In this post I'd just like to make a few brief comments about the Trinity as a model for human unity in relationships. I don't know if I'd ever thought of it in that way, but there are some powerful implications. I love how this shows how important our theology is. I think that many Christians would think that a topic like the Trinity has no real implications in daily living. But it does!
Consider the following points:

Christ prays that believers will be one has God is one: their relationship is a model. (John 17:20-26)
God is the only properly functioning community in the universe. The Trinity is the only adequate model for human community. Our relationships are marred by sin. God is a model of a loving, cooperative, unified community where diversity is an asset and not a liability.
The perfect eternal love relationship between the Father, Son and Spirit was ripped apart to allow us to be reconciled to the Lord and to other people. Community for us came at the cost of temporarily broken community for the Godhead.

We were made by a community-oriented God and made to live in relationships (vertical and horizontal). The rubber of knowing God hits the road...

"Because the Christian God is not a lonely God, but rather a communion of three persons, faith leads human beings into othe divine communio. One cannot, however, have a self-enclosed communion with the Triune God.... Communion with this God is at once also communion with those others who have entrusted themselves in faith to the same God." (Miroslav Volf, p20)

integrity

2008-02-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many times I've read these verses, but I'm impressed all over again:

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." (Daniel 6:4-5)

What a tremendous thing, for an employees only "fault" to be his or her unswerving devotion to the Lord. These verses were used today in a message about integrity and I was convicted again that I have not given 100% at my job. (Isn't it so easy to give 95% or so, compare yourself to the other employees and think you're doing a good job?)

Recently I was talking with a Christian girl that I had just met. In the course of our conversation, she told me that she was lying to her boss about something. I was taken aback to hear her so frankly admit that she was lying. She didn't even try to justify herself before me. I didn't want to come across as harsh on our first meeting, but I thought If Christians don't tell the truth to their employers, who does? How are we any different than the world? But I am sure that there are areas where the Lord is appalled at my lack of trust in Him. Do I not believe that if I seek to walk uprightly, He will take care of me?

I was encouraged last summer when my friend told me that she was quitting her job because her employer required that she be dishonest. "They think I'm crazy to quit because I don't want to lie. The pay is good." Good jobs can be really hard to come by in Brazil. Quitting her job also meant that she might have to postpone her wedding. But she set the Lord before the promise a steady paycheque. And I didn't have to change the date on her wedding invitation.

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. (Proverbs 11:3)

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

May our integrity be seen beyond our workplaces and in our whole lives.
Wholeness,
consistency,
reliability,
trustworthiness,
honesty,
openness...may these things mark our lives.

I will walk in my house with blameless heart. (Psalm 101:2)

enough light for today

2008-02-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

lately i have not been very busy and it bothers me. don't have a children's club in the works, i'm not teaching a regular Bible study to anyone and so far i'm not organizing any seminars or booking tickets for any overseas trips. i have a lot of free evenings and weekends. it seems like i should be part of some more organized movement for the spread of Christ's message. i wonder if i couldn't be doing something more important...as i make lentil soup, organize my room and run errands. things seem very mundane and ordinary. should i be signing up for something or volunteering somewhere? i have questions.

(i don't want to stop my post here, but i also don't want you thinking that i've gotten this all figured out. i don't. but i do have enough light for today, because He who promised is faithful.)

this week i've been thinking about future ministry. i wish i had more clear direction. my ideas are scattered and they even surprise me sometimes. as i battled with those questions again, and struggled with this quiet stretch of my life, this waiting time, i had a revelation. do i really have no ministry opportunities today? i'm chomping at the bit for "ministry opportunities," but on my computer there's a design job for a local ministry that is waiting to be done. there's a display board belonging to the same organization sitting in my kitchen, waiting to be spruced up. i have work to do as far as getting more children's books for the church library. i put these things off, and didn't work on them much today. but these are ministries the Lord has given me here and now. i can't say the Lord hasn't given me a ministry today, because He has. tomorrow is His, and He will give me what i need when tomorrow comes.

in these quiet, cold days the Lord has had opportunity to show me sins that have been simmering much longer than my lentils. i've been reminded that i am of no use to the Lord on my own..."without Me you can do nothing." i am forced to think. He knows that i need to think, and be "made new in the attitude of [my mind]" (Eph 4:23).

"Laden with guilt and full of fears
I fly to Thee my Lord,
and not a glimpse of hope appears
But in Thy written word..."
(Caedmon's Call, Laden with Guilt).

i didn't know i lived in a freezer

2008-02-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

I don't listen to the radio much, but last Sunday morning I had it on as I was getting ready for church. A CBC radio announcer voiced a bleak outlook for the week: terrible weather in every corner of our province. I turned off the radio. I'd almost rather live in ignorance of the minus-43C-with-windchill weather conditions. After morning church, my brother and I received about eight offers of rides home. That may be a new record. There's nothing quite like a blizzard to bring those invitations on! By Sunday evening I had already had enough of the arctic wind. But it wasn't done with us yet....

Monday morning I put on my thickest mitts and headed to my bus stop. The bus was late, making me miss my connection and arrive at work about 25 or 30 minutes later than usual. My boss didn't seem to mind, maybe he even enjoyed having a report from one of the underlings of society about how the bus system was faring the weather. When I went to my bus stop that evening, it was gone. It had turned into a small hill with the incline of a black diamond ski slope, and my options were either to stand on the street or to hop up to the ledge someone had made in the snow heap. I opted for the ledge.

On Tuesday I went to the bus stop 15 minutes early, hoping that I would get to work on time. Instead, I just stood at the bus stop for 20 minutes, and got the same bus as usual. My daily bus stop companion, Woman-Man,* usually paces while he waits for the bus. Tuesday found me pacing too. I was dreaming about hot chocolate, and how they should give it out for free at bus stops on cold days. I don't think I'd ever been so glad to see my bus when it arrived.

A few minutes later, at the terminal, a man poked his head into the shelter and asked if anyone wanted free hot chocolate or coffee, compliments of his radio station. It is a little hard to hold a lidless cup of hot chocolate when you're wearing the puffiest mitts you own, but I sure wasn't complaining. A black lady on my second bus was wearing white socks on her hands. I could hardly believe it--my hands weren't even warm in my puffy mitts. I arrived at work only to have the owner of the print shop open the door for me as I arrived. "She looks pretty chipper for having been riding the bus in this weather," said one of the front office staff. By "pretty chipper," did she mean that my mascara had blotched around my eyes, because of the moisture? Because it had, and I looked somewhat like a cold raccoon.

I arrived home that night to find the walks shoveled. Well, most of them. Moko said he did it in two shifts. I said thank you.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were no-mascara days. (It would save me about $5 a year if I just got used to this and never wore mascara.) I got to work in better time. And at night I mostly stayed inside. My grown-up little brother headed out the door one night with the parting words "If my ears get cold I can just put up my hood." I told him, more than casually, that I had worn "only my hood" home from the bus stop and that my ears were very sore by the time I got to our house, which is only two blocks from the bus stop. Maybe his ears were already partially frozen, because he still didn't take a touque, even after I said that.

Have you ever met one of those people who just isn't very socially understanding or considerate? Unfortunately, I think bus drivers meet those people all the time. A few of those people were on my bus tonight. One was conversing with the bus driver, who told him that she was under a lot of stress with the bad weather and the traffic. He understood. Or he said he did, and then he talked to her much of the rest of the trip. At the next main stop, a man got on and swore at the bus driver for leaving people standing in the cold. What, does he think that she stopped for a spa treatment between terminals? What a horrible way to treat an already-stressed driver.

Last night a friend told me that he is sorry that I have to ride the bus. But I'm sorry that he doesn't get a free reminder of God's grace in his life every morning when he hears the conversations of single, working moms on the bus. I'm sorry he doesn't ever have the chance to sit next to the overweight guy in a down jacket that smells like smoke, to learn gratitude for the Lord's little kindnesses. I'm sorry the Lord didn't drop a cup of free hot chocolate into his mitten and that he doesn't get to see the Lord's goodness in the on-time buses. I'm sorry he didn't get to read Relationships: A Mess Worth Making and let the driver worry about the traffic and the weather. I'm OK with riding the bus. Now could it warm up, please?

*He wears fitted pants and carries a purse-like bag. When his hood is up, it is hard to tell from the back if he is a woman or a man.

Three girl-book reviews

2008-01-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

Let Me Be a Woman by Elizabeth Elliot
What can I say? Elliot's books are classics. She not only is a talented author but she shares real truth. If you're like me, it is best to buy your own copy so that you can highlight whatever you want. It would be faster than copying down all the good quotes. The book is comprised of letters that Elliot wrote to her daughter before she was married, but the book has truths for women in each stage of life.

"Womanhood is a call. It is a vocation to which we respond under God, glad if it means the literal bearing of children, thankful as well for all that it means in a much wider sense...the unconditional response in Mary the virgin, and the willingness to enter into suffering, to receive, to carry, to give life, to nurture and to care for others. The strength to answer this call is given us as we look up toward the Love that created us, remembering that it was that Love that first, most literally, imagined sexuality, that made us at the very beginning real men and real women. As we conform to that Love's demands we shall become more humble, more dependent--on Him and on one another--and even (dare I say it?) more splendid." (p62)

Who Calls me Beautiful? by Regina Franklin
Another skilled writer, Franklin, who has had years of experience with youth, addresses the topic of female's perception of her own beauty. This book is aimed at single or married ladies, in hopes that they will learn to define beauty the Lord's way and pass it on to the younger ladies around them. I was watching out for "self-esteem" (as opposed to Christ-esteem!) talk, since I imagine that would commonly be discussed in this arena. But for the most part I was quite pleased with Franklin's treatment of the topic. She teaches women to find their beauty in Christ and to listen to the truth of God's Word rather than the lies of the world or even just people who speak carelessly. The following are a few quotes from the text:

“Scripture is the mirror of beauty through which we view ourselves.”

“In worship, false pretenses and artificial longings—our own or those of others— fall away before a holy, awesome God. When I stand and consider the majesty of His name and the works of His hands, my weight, my height, my cup size, and my hairstyle cease to matter.”

“The world is all too ready to plant its philosophies regarding women and beauty in the hearts of young girls.. .the message is...a girl’s sexuality is her beauty. However, it is a message of death. Satan desires to destroy the hearts of young girls through the destruction of their bodies.”

Lady in Waiting by J. Kendall and D. Jones
This book has an excellent premise: Spend your single years developing beautiful, godly character. The characteristics that ladies are encouraged to develop "while they wait" are as follows: reckless abandonment, diligence, faith, virtue, devotion, purity, security, contentment, conviction and patience.

Although they may mention singleness a few time in the book, the book seems to presumes be "You will get married someday. You will marry a prince if you wait on God. So hang on!" I know that some women never marry, and I think it only gets girls' hopes up to suggest that all Christian women will marry...and will marry virtual princes. This book could easily be a book on developing godly character with less emphasis on the fact that you're "waiting". Perhaps one of the reasons that I appreciate Elizabeth Elliot is because she is more serious about the fact that some people will never marry.

This book (journal edition) also promotes the practice of "contemplative prayer", "a lost art in our Western society"...this smacks of eastern thinking.

2008-01-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

2008-01-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

I was blessed to grow up in a family and in a community where serious dedication to the things of the Lord was not uncommon. I was surrounded by people who could have said with Peter in Mark 10:28 "We have left everything to follow you!" But missionaries are humans too. I have felt only a fraction of that particular pain they must feel to not be able to be with family at hard times.

There’s a note in a prayer bulletin today about a missionary who has lost his parent. The body of the one who bore and raised him has been dressed for the last time and placed into a wooden casket. His memories have been read at the funeral service along with other comments in regard to his parent’s life. Now the cold soil under a winter sky houses a new wooden case.

The missionary lives in a different world than the one in which his parents taught him to live. They taught him about snow and farming, but he's had to learn about tropical insects and airline regulations. As he rocks in his chair, tears come to his eyes. Cool night breeze drifts through the fine green-screened windows. Something, or Someone, has placed him an ocean away from all he knew as a child and young man. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t ache.

His sorrow is quiet. Some do not even know what has gone on. They didn't hear about the phone call from 8,000 kilometres away or see his face crumple as his wife grasped his hand. There is no funeral to attend with him to show one’s support. His friends have never seen the lot where his mother's house stood or the church he attended. Some cannot relate to the changing of seasons or the fact that the ground could be too frozen to open for a casket. But sweet brown heads who have heard the missionary pray now bow in a prayer for him. They may not know his exact situation, but their lives, too, have been marked by tragedy. Softly, those who have seen his service and friendship to be true offer words of comfort.

A Parent who lives beyond the limits of time, finances and international travel looks down at his child today. He has not forgotten. He notes the suffering of his son. No, the Parent does more than take note. He weeps that sorrow has so affected his creation. How unnecessary. How tragic. But that Father lives beyond the confines of death. Quietly, he whispers words of comfort that someday things will be different, perfect again. And that every moment of living so far from loved ones was worth it.

Mark 10:29-31 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

take me there

2008-01-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

I am not one for listening to much romantic music. But as of recently, my iPod is home to a sweet song by Rascal Flatts called Take Me There [link]. It details how the young man wants to know everything possible about his lady friend. What young lady wouldn't be taken by that kind of attention from the right man?

In the words of Take Me There,
"There's a place in your heart nobody's been, Take me there Things nobody knows, not even your friends, Take me there... I wanna know everything about you then... Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live... Take me there"

One morning I was listening to Take Me There as I was getting ready for the day. For a moment, I realized how much the Lord must want to see that attitude in our hearts...a desire to know everything we can about Him. My haphazard time in Bible study and prayer don't show an intense interest in the Lord.

O Lord, who can live on your holy hill? Take me there. I don't want to be content with just knowing about You. I want to know You, O Lord. I don't want to just know enough to look good to others. I want to know You much more deeply. I want to know what Your will would be in each situation...and to do it with gladness. I want to know your "hopes and dreams" for me. Take me there.

2008-01-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

i have told You that You are unfaithful,
when i expect things from You that You haven't given me...
when really it is i who am unfaithful,
running to gods that promise temporal pleasure,
giving up on the spiritual pleasure you offer forever.

i have told You with my actions that You are unloving,
because You haven't always given me what i want...
when really it is i who haven't loved You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength
...for if i did, i would set my mind to remembering Your love.

i have said You don't provide,
because i don't have every material thing i might want...
but Your promise was "every spiritual blessing", not "every material blessing".

i have told you that Your ways are not the best ways
when i've decided to do things my own way, or wished i could live the Egypt lifestyle.
But Your ways are the best ways.
Forgive me, Lord. Help me to really believe Your Word.

a knight in the bus

2007-12-17T22:27:00.000-08:00

The bus plows through the industrial area of town where I work and scoops up the humanity that waits on muddy remnants of snowdrifts on curbs. On this route, I avoid the back of the bus. My body doesn't go there, and my eyes rarely shift that way. Smoky, greasy, uncouth...my imagination paints pictures of the men who sit back there, since I rarely venture past the back doors of the bus. But today the homeward-bound bus was full, and the tide of new passengers at stop two or three sent me shuffling into the back of the bus...the area I imagine to be dirty. But to my surprise, I was only there a few moments when the man sitting in front of me gave me his slippery orange seat. I hardly looked at him, either, and some of the men around me were similar to my imaginings, but in the one man's kind gesture I saw a gentleman. Yes, even in the back of the bus.

Some mornings the bus seats are like precious treasures. There are days when, before I even maneuver through the slush and smoke of the terminal and pull out my bus pass, most of the seats are taken. Last week, on a full-bus morning, another gentleman gave me preference when a seat opened. Indeed, another gentleman, in the front of the bus.

In general, I really appreciate chivalry. It reinforces that yes, ladies are different than men, and that that is significant. It seems to show appreciation and respect and doesn't have to have romantic overtones. There might be times when I think a man deserves to sit more than I do, but it is still nice to be offered the seat first. Especially with a stranger, I might take the seat he offers if only to encourage this last shard of gender distinction in our culture.

Years ago I heard that some feminists hate to have doors opened for them. With that in mind, when a boy opens a door for me, or even for a group of people, I often try to say thank you, just to show that it is appreciated. There are times where I have balked at chivalry because I felt that to accept someone's offer was to indicate a particular interest in that person, but how nice it is when a man knows to watch out for the ladies around him (in purity, like a brother). Do boys realize what a nice gesture it is to open a car door for a girl? I don't think I did until one day I almost unconsciously expected it, and it didn't happen.

Ultimately, appropriate gender behaviour must be rooted in Scripture, or we have no authoritative model. If I speak not of Christ's calling, then what I say is merely suggestion. In our cultures and subcultures the expectations on men vary greatly. What may be considered nice here (ie, helping a girl with her coat or chair) might not have be taught in another area. The one act of helping with a car door is nice, in our culture, but it isn't essential. The big picture of gender roles in Scripture is much more vital.

I believe that it was Elizabeth Elliot that said something to this effect: when men are manly, woman become more womanly, and so it goes from there, as each gender complements the other. What a beautiful picture of the divine balance between the sexes. Elliot says, "It was God who made us different, and He did it on purpose.... God created male and female, the male to call forth, to lead, initiate and rule, and the female to respond, follow, adapt, submit...the physical structure of the female would tell us that woman was made to receive, to bear, to be acted upon, to complement, to nourish." (Let Me Be a Woman, p59) Recently someone commented to me how blessed we are to have the Bible to define gender roles for us. Indeed, we are.

the larger story

2007-11-14T17:16:00.000-08:00

"People desperately need to see the larger story. They need to see their lives as part of something that is bigger and more important than their own happiness... They need their story embedded every day in the story of God. This will give them a reason to do what is right. This will give them hope. This will give them strength to endure what God calls them to endure."

-Paul D. Tripp in "Age of Opportunity"

Obedience

2007-11-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

"...obedience is the gateway through which knowledge, yes, and love, too, enter the mind..." - Anne Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher)

"Revival will come when prayer is no longer used as a substitute for obedience." - A. W. Tozer

"...in order to experience true revival most of us don’t need to hear one more truth than we already know. We just need to obey the truth we already know...." - N. L. DeMoss

These quotes were striking to me this week, especially the truth of the last one. I am a person who listens to a lot of Bible teaching. My sister said that I'm the biggest "sermon-listener" she knows, or something like that :). I try to consistently do devotions, and attend church. I think I pride myself in having Bible knowledge. But what good is that without obedience? God knows how many truths I agree with:
"Yes, we should be diligent in prayer..."
"Yes, we should take captive every thought to Christ..."
But he also knows that often I just allow truth to pile up in my mind rather than letting it settle into my life through meditation, prayer and obedience.
Sometimes I think I need to turn off the sermon...
and face my Lord.

"Some of you have read...a lot of...great books by other Christian authors. You listen to Christian radio. You go to church Sunday after Sunday. You hear the preacher. You have heard the truth, and you maybe even agree with what you’ve heard. The question is are you doing what you’ve heard?" - N. L. DeMoss

Find the article the quotes are from here.

Sanitized confessions...

2007-10-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

...how many of us have spent significant portions of our lives paralyzed by fear of exposure? We respond in groups by either clamming up or deflecting conversation because we don't want anyone to know the depth of our issues. And if we ever do give voice to our struggles, we sanitize it. We don't really want others to know how much we're hurting right now. And we don't want anyone to know how much our sin has hurt others.

Oh that we would be a church of humble women who are honest about our sin. Instead, so often we are a mix of shame and pride. We're ashamed of ourselves because of what others have done to us and what we, in turn, have done to others. And we're too proud to admit it to anyone. We must become women who value confession.
-Wendy Alsup

Paul's honesty:

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent … The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (I Timothy 1:12-15)

Make no provision for the flesh

2007-10-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

From Nancy Leigh DeMoss' October 18 broadcast Far from Sin:

You are saints, and that’s why we have to be serious about mortifying—putting to death our sinful flesh and anything and everything that feeds our flesh. I know that when we talk about this the word legalistic will probably surface, but I want to know, why are we so prone to defend choices that take us right to the edge of sin? Why are we so reluctant to make radical choices to protect our hearts and our minds from sin?...So what if you wouldn’t even consider getting drunk...but you are out of control when it comes to food or shopping or some other “Okay for Christians” addiction? It’s the heart...You’re considered spiritual. You’re a Christian leader. You are considered good. People respect you. They look up to you, but your heart is filled with pride, jealousy, and anger. You are self-righteous.

Nancy is teaching on something the Lord has been driving home to me in recent months: the Lord sees the heart. We stand bare before Him. Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires". Don't feed the flesh! Nancy recommends setting up "guardrails" to keep away from sin, but I appreciate that she doesn't make a list of rules of how it should be done. The Lord sees the heart.

I highly recommend the broadcast. Read or listen to it here.

Longing for Egypt?

2007-10-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

Last month a speaker asked if I was dissatisfied with the way of the Lord. Was I growing weary of God's way and (alluding a powerful Old Testament event:) wanting to have a foot in the Promised Land and a foot in Egypt? These questions continue to burn themselves into my mind. It is like God is shaking me, and saying E03, what do you really think you're going to miss out on if you finally choose to serve me with abandon? Why won't you just let me be your all, for always? Let's move forward in this relationship!

Perhaps we should review the general storyline of Israel's escape from Egypt to the Promised Land. Life was not good in Egypt. The Israelites had a great land promised to them, but they were stuck in slavery. "[The Egyptians] made [the Israelites'] lives bitter...the Egyptians used them ruthlessly" (Ex. 1:14)

The God of the universe heard, and acted. The Creator was relational, and compassionate! "The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry...went up to God...God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them." (Ex. 2:23, 25)

The Lord brought them out of Egypt in a miraculous way, a way that should have been unforgettable. That act of God should have been so incredible that the Israelites would choose to serve the Lord from that day forward. ("Didn't He bring us out of Egypt?!") But so quickly, so quickly, the Israelites were looking back at their Egypt affair as if those were the glory days. "Didn't we say to you...'Leave us alove; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians...." (Ex. 14:12) "If only we had died...in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." (Ex. 16:3) Another passage says that they had fond memories of the garlic in Egypt. They wanted to go back.

Is there something wrong with this picture?
1) Israel in big trouble
2) Lord saves Israel
3) Israel wants to go back to its trouble

But am I not the same way?
1) E03 owes a sin-debt she cannot pay. E03 is in life of destruction and headed for eternal destruction.
2) Lord pays her sin debt with his own blood. E03 saved.
3) E03 wants to go back to the destructive lifestyle.

What makes me long for Egypt, when it seems to ridiculous to do so? Is it the guilt of "the list" of things that I know I shouldn't do, but sometimes wish I could do? To give a few examples, do I wish that I could:
- work less hard at my job?
- call in sick when i'm not really?
- pirate all the software and music i want?
- waste more time on fun but non-helpful activities?
- sleep in on Sundays?
- spend all my excess income however I want?
- skip Bible reading and prayer?
- fit in with the cool crowd, whatever they're doing?
- ignore the tough stuff in relationships, lie a little?
- spend time with only the people that make me comfortable?
- date around, have some "fun"?

Looks like I get bogged down in longing for Egyptian ways. When I think that way, I'm forgetting that the Lord looked on me and was concerned about me. I am pitting my limited knowledge against His omniscience when I determine that my way is the better way. My don'ts list starts to ring of a legalistic relationship (checklist/if-I-must -style) rather than a loving relationship. It sounds too much like I'm doing what I do to maintain appearances, not out of love and gratitude to the Lord.

The speaker I heard asked these questions:
Am I dissatisfied with the ways of God?
Do I think that the wicked have all the fun?
Have I ever gotten past the "sour" bits and entered into the goodness of God?
Do I enjoy the relationship? God isn't a subject, he's a person.
How well do I know the Lord? Do I just know about Him?

I think that those last sentences help hold the key for the solution to my longing for Egypt. If I long for Egypt, I must not know the God of the Promised Land very well. When the Lord saved me from the penalty for my sin, I entered into a renewed relationship with Him. But how well do I really know Him? Relationships are dynamic, growing, changing, maturing...
and as I learn about this, my relationship with the Lord is definitely a work in progress.

Taste and see that the Lord is good,
blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Psalm 3:8

2007-10-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

They prayed for the backslidden at prayer meeting.
And my soul said:
but oh am i at Bible study and still have my back turned?
am i a church-attending backslider?
Anathema - may it never be!

am i responding in faith and obedience
to what i know the Lord has spoken?

2007-10-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

"are you content to offer to Jesus
that which cost you nothing?"

'a single woman today needs the boldness to challenge and break the cycle of the "American way" that exalts a relationship with a man as the answer to life. this "American way" blurs the reality of the ultimate answer to life found in a deep relationship with Jesus Christ..."in Him you have been made complete" (Col. 2:9).

-quotes from my lunchtime read, Lady in Waiting

From the journals

2007-10-06T21:28:00.000-07:00

Pharisees are characterized by

stinging like vipers
misusing words
unrighteousness
falsely accusing others
being more concerned with what others are doing than with their own actions
wrong deeds
dissatisfaction with what God gives them
being consumed with outward appearances when uncleanness comes from within
putting themselves in positions of authority, as God's voice-boxes, but then speaking for themselves instead of speaking for the Lord
focusing on the tiny details at the loss of the big picture

Am I a Pharisee, Lord? Help me to see my sin as you see it.

_______________________

Lord, please redefine for me the following words that I've allowed the world to define. Or maybe I've kept the basic structure of what your Word says on these words, but I've allowed the world and the flesh to fill in the blanks in my understanding.

love joy success happiness

Redefine these words for my heart, because although my mind could probably give a fairly Biblical definition, this heart is wanting of Biblical definitions, stories and pictures for those words. I fall short even when I think I need to trust you to "fill in what I don't know/have". In reality, I need to let you be my all in all -- not just the extra pieces, but the entire puzzle. You are my life, Oh precious Christ.

_______________________

Lord, the ache in me when I let the idols around me fall down is the emptiness of knowing that I have focused on things below rather than things above, and that when I do so I am living fruitlessly, critically and uncontentedly.... If my focus is not on Christ then I will never be deeply joyful, others-centred and content.

_______________________

With such a blessed hope in view,
we would more holy be,
more like our rich and glorious Lord,
whose face we soon shall see.
(#5)

2007-09-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

What would our churches be like if instead of coming to church on Sunday and just small-talking and telling each other how nice we look and how nice we are, if we would get honest with each other—accountable, vulnerable, transparent, and willing to speak the truth about what's in your life anytime God prompts you to share it with another person? Otherwise, we're just playing church. We're not being the church.

-N. L. DeMoss

2007-09-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

Seeking one thing: today
One evening my brother and I got on our bikes and headed onto the avenue just north of our house. We were headed east, but for a moment my brother looked west. The sun was so direct and so bright, coming down the tunnel of the tree-lined avenue, that he could hardly look in that direction. For a moment I was reminded of Jesus. How good he is to build reminders of Himself into the universe. I'm told there will be no sun in Heaven. "The Son is all the glory in Immanuel's land". How bright will he be? Will we be able to look on Him? How? Oh my sin, as that light rushes, pours in my direction. Oh my sin. When others ask how I am, I can say that I am "good" in a positional sense, for I know the Light took my darkness away; but here's ripping off the "Christian/church" mask, and saying that in my practice, it is not "all good".

From the Word:
Ps 15:1-2 he that speaks the truth from his heart
Ps 24:3 clean hands and a pure heart
Ps 32:5 did not cover up my iniquity, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord
Heb 4 naked and bare before Him to whom we must give account
Ps 51 You desire truth in the inward parts
Ps 90 Our secret sins are before You, in the light of Your presence
1 Jn lie and do not practice the truth, deceive yourself
Phil 1:10 sincere and without offense until the day of Christ (sincere = from heile, the sun's ray. Tested as genuine, judged by sunlight)

On the great importance of having a renewed, spiritual mind

2007-09-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

What has to happen, and what will never happen if we don't study the Word of God
...all the time (meditating on His Word, coming to Him in prayer, asking how we ought to think about this and how we ought to think about that and trying to learn how to apply Bible doctrine)
is it will not change what is in your heart, what is in the deepest, most intellectual seat of your person. The Word of God has to get in there...
If you come [to church] once a week it is not going to help. If you sit down and think that by attending church for [insert here the length of your morning church service] you are going to change what is in your deepest person, you can forget it! We have 168 hours in a week and if you think [a service a week] can change what is in your heart, you're crazy! Because the other 167 hours are geared totally against that, everything is against that. The music, the media, the world, the TV, your co-workers, everything! It is bombarding you from every side. It is a world system that the Bible says is run by the god of this world who is Satan. And if you don't think he has penetrated every area of life you are greatly deceived. That is why it is so vital to have a daily study of the Word of God. You have got to train yourself to concentrate and focus on divine viewpoint wisdom, what is the Word of God telling me? You cannot put a Band-Aid on cancer and think that you're going to have any success. It may cover it up, you may not see it...but underneath it is a mass that is destroying you. It is pagan, it is deeply infective, it is ubiquitous, it is trying to destroy you every way it can, from every side...that is why Paul keeps telling us...be transformed... you have to have a renewal of the mind,
every day, every day, every day,
the Word of God, the Word of God, the Word of God, Word of God... because everything else is oriented against that....We think that the human viewpoint gimicks of the world are going to work. They are not going to work. They are going to create disorder...evil around us...but the Word of God will bring life, it will bring light, it will bring stability of categories and clear thinking.

- Jeremy Thomas speaking on James 3:13-16, Human Viewpoint Wisdom

Grappling with the disciplines

2007-09-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

Seeking One Thing: Entry 4
Toast bits on my bed. A banana peel on my nightstand. Evidence of breakfast/devotions in bed. Does anyone else feel like it is an uphill battle to try to spend time with the Lord in the mornings? They say it can be a great time, but for years I've flip-flopped between late evening (or sometimes I've tried early evening) and morning devotions...though it seems ideal that I would start consistently doing the bulk of my praying and studying in the morning.

Not only do I have trouble with what time to do devotions, sometimes I just am not diligent and organized enough in my study. My focus on "what time" is less important than the quality of my study and prayer time, but one is likely influenced by the other.

What about the rest of my day, what else can I do to keep my mind in the Word and prayer? Over the years I've tried some different tactics. I've written verses on my walls, painted them on my door, stuck them on my monitor and illustrated them in my journal. In transit or while I work in the kitchen sometimes I listen to Bible teachers. I've carried a prayer list or a Bible passage on an index card. Too many verses and prayer requests seem to flee my memory, but a few things stick.

During lunch break today I pulled a verse out of my purse and took it for a walk. It went like this, "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray." (1 Pe 4:7) That verse was sweeter than the Caramilk I found on my walk...it was direction for my day.

I'm truly thankful for God's grace; the Christian life is not a set exchange of duties for God's favour. If it were, I would have next to no divine favour shown to me. But this is me, grappling with the disciple-like disciplines. I'd like to know how you keep prayer and Bible study as essentials in your days.

2007-09-11T21:32:00.000-07:00

Seeking One Thing, Day 3: Nancy Leigh DeMoss launched a 12-week radio series called "Seeking Him" that you can read online or listen to. She reminded me that God wants us to seek Him...not just blessings from Him (like happy relationships or comfortable lifestyle) but Himself...whether that means we have those "blessings" or not!

2007-09-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

Seeking One Thing: Day 1
I am like Martha, distracted, disjointed, my mind is in 100 places at once; if I am not "doing" outwardly my mind is churning, running, planning, wishing, remembering, worrying. Teach me to peacefully sit at your feet, in the quiet. Quiet ... is such a blessing! Teach me to listen to you, instead of talking so much. To fix my eyes on You. And then to rest. To lie down and sleep, and sleep in peace. "...in righteousness, I see Thy face; I am satisfied, in awaking, with Thy form!" (Psalm 17:15)

Ladies' night

2007-09-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

During the past months and years, one of the many things the Lord has had in His syllabus for me is building up a Biblical view of gender. Growing up, I had good examples but not a lot of specific teaching on the issue. What did the Bible say about the woman's role in the home, church and society? What, in what I saw around me, was a matter of preference or culture, and what was God-ordained and transcendent of culture? God provided and continues to provide excellent Bible study tools and teachers that have encouraged me to dig into what the Scripture says about woman. In light of that, I've begun to really take notice of human examples (both good and bad) and what our culture is saying about woman and gender (what confusion exists in our culture!).

Lately a tactic I've used sometimes is to write out false and true statements next to each other. The false statements are often ideas that I myself have had, or just ideas that are prevalent in our culture. I find it very helpful to articulate the lie that has just been shot down by a Biblical text. The following chart was one I made as I thought through Proverbs 31. If you click on the image below, you should be able to see this chart in a more legible form. Please understand that some of the lies in the left column are just examples of areas where we need balance. For example, I am by no means saying (in box 1) that women should never go to college. But, to say that a woman must have post-secondary education to impact the world is a lie. Also, when I say a woman's "men" (rather than "man") I am generally thinking of single women who don't have one particular man whom the Lord has given them to help, and therefore they are learning to help "men" in a more general sense (fathers, bosses, church elders, etc.)
Any comments, additions, changes, suggestions?

PS- I find the end of Proverbs 31 particularly glorious. The woman has been working, mainly at things that build up her household. She takes care of her husband (v11, 12) and he is "known in the [city] gates" (v23). It seems like a humble, submissive role, and it is. But does it end there? No, this God-fearing lady's own works "praise her in the [city] gates"--the same place where her husband was known. The Lord honours the fear of Him.

2007-09-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

“For many of the doubters in our generation, the accepted religious vocabulary no longer conveys what the words were intended to mean. The general evangelical is often articulating slogans rather than communicating ideas…” - Francis Schaeffer

Comparisons of reactions to seeing YHWH

2007-08-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

Isaiah - Woe is me for I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips and dwell amongst people with unclean lips and my eyes have seen the King...
Job - I hate myself! I repent in dust and ashes. Never before did I really know or understand or see You...I just knew of You.
Daniel - Over and over the text says that Daniel became weak. Face to the ground. Trembling. Speechless. Overwhelming sorrow. No breath.
Saul/Paul - Fell to the ground. His companions were speechless. He was blind for three days.
John - Fell at Son of Man's feet as if dead. Was told not to be afraid.

How Biblical is our view of God? Do we spend so long in the New Testament passages of healings and children on Jesus' lap that we forget the Old Testament passages about the same God? What sort of God do we think we serve, based on the way we interact with Him? Do we toy with Him, or fear Him? Are the songs we sing to Him appropriate, or sung with an appropriate attitude, in light of the Scriptures above? Do we really know God, or just know of Him?

Edifying Links

2007-07-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Those of us of the English-speaking world who have access to the internet have such a wealth of resources at our fingertips for growing in God's Word and combating heresy. Here are a few good resources I've come across lately.*

Commentary on Isaiah by F. C. Jennings - chapter-by-chapter commentary on the entire book, free to read online
Blog by C. McCulley, Solo Feminity - A blog intended for single Christian ladies. Of note: a solid Biblically-stated testimony from a new wife on what she's learned in marriage and how to be prepared for marriage. Some of her comments apply to family life as well, and I was very blessed by her insight.
Here's the Difference by William MacDonald - an entire book clearly differentiating between such things as law and grace, judicial and parental forgiveness, and the three tenses of salvation. Worth studying through and then keeping on file as a resource.
Article on The Dangers of Extreme Calvinism
Critical Issues Commentary Archive - A new commentary every 2 months on various issues in evangelicalism. Downloadable PDF. Of note: "The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines" (#91) and Biblical Counseling (#8-10)
Lighthouse Trails Research Project website - "Exposing the Dangers of Contemplative Spirituality". This extensive site is willing to name names of which well-known leaders in North American evangelicalism are casting their lot with the movement being labeled as Spiritual Formation, Emergent Church, Contemplative Prayer, etc.

*Disclaimer: I can't speak for all of the contents of each site or writer, but have found some of the information offered to be very helpful.

feeling a little silly

2007-07-12T05:39:00.000-07:00

Andree Seu, an essayist for World magazine, was part of a gathering of "Christian writers engaging culture". In her May 12, 2007 essay called Betrayal she declares that she denied her Lord in that gathering, by classifying her writing as "just devotional", as if that wasn't much. Somehow it didn't seem important in that group of aspiring poets, novelists and non-fiction writers who spoke little of the Lord and spoke much more of themselves. Her answer to the question "Is there such thing as a Christian writer?" was as simple as "Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" but as she said

"I soon knew that my small comments were not going to fit in. I felt a little silly, like you would if you had prepared an simple algebraic equation for show-and-tell only to find out all the other kids were doing calculus."

Have you ever felt this way? When you want to tell someone that the answer is in God's Word, yet you fear that even other Christians will mock you, for being too pedantic? Perhaps they want an answer that shows you've been studying the latest psychological theories, or an answer that shares a lot of feeling, but not an answer that simply shows that you know your Bible. Some Bible answers are fairly short and sturdy, unbendable, black or white. Back to Seu:

"These days I am nudging the fulcrum further to the right of where I thought that unbelief begins, It resides in the flat-out rejection of the miracles and Resurrection in the liberal churches, but is also inchoate in parlor gatherings of orthodox believers where exuberant exclamation of "I love Jesus!" would feel embarrassing."

If we say we believe the Bible is God's inerrant Word, then may we live like it. May the counsel we give to others be ultimately based on the Word. May our own actions show that we believe that Christ is "the wisdom of God" and that Scripture equips us for "every good work".

2 Cor. 11:3
"But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness,
your minds will be led astray from
the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

1 Cor 1:22-24
"For indeed...Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified...
to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called...Christ...the wisdom of God.

2 Tim 3:16-17
"All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

2007-07-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

Circumstances can be the Lord's tools to show us something that can be labeled many ways but can be summarized in one word: sin.

it's

it's the dying of a dream
the killing of a heart
the stealing of a hope and
i only understand in part.

it's the test of my sincerity
an exam on what i've learned
a measure of my sanctity
will my heart be truly turned?

it's up-showing my own wisdom
replacing my own strength
pushing out my human love for
one that knows no length

it's taking me much deeper
it's pulling me far in
it's ridding me of yesterdays
it's purging me of sin.

2007

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil...
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:20-21

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Jeremiah 17:9a

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

2007-07-02T16:43:00.000-07:00

Dear friend,
I talked to you about anything except the obvious topic, and I'm sorry. It was selfish of me. Your suffering seems worse than death. Your world went over the guardrail. Crashed. Lots of debris. But as you stand before me, you look put together. Like last time I saw you. The mess of scattered bits of your heart is invisible to me, and it is too easy for me to skirt the topic. Do you think it slipped my mind? Because it didn't.
Am I afraid to talk about real life? Or afraid whatever phrases I offer sound like platitudes, coming from someone whose life looks whole? How can flimsy human words seek to offer a resting place for a broken world? If I reminded you that the Lord holds the world--that He makes beauty out of brokenness--would you think that was trite too?
Truth is still worth telling.
E03

"It is Christ" - by Spurgeon

2007-06-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

"But remember, sinner, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee -
it is Christ;
it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee -
it is Christ;
it is not even faith in Christ, though that is the instrument -
it is Christ's blood and merits;
therefore look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ
as to Christ;
look not to thy hope,
but to Christ, the source of thy hope;
look not to thy faith,
but to Christ,
the author and finisher of thy faith;
and if thou do that, ten thousand devils can not throw thee down,
but as long as thou lookest at thyself,
the meanest of those evil spirits may tread thee beneath his feet."

-from the message, The Comer's Conflict With Satan by C. H. Spurgeon.

2007-06-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

Dear homosexual population,

Why did you have to take the rainbow? The Creator and Lord of the universe has a rainbow around his throne. Did you hear that? It is His special symbol that He is a promise-keeper, especially in never again flooding the entire earth. You won't keep it forever, you know....

Sincerely,
E03

Mad at the preacher?

2007-05-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get mad at the preacher?
Do you ever (almost, secretly) hope that the conclusions he draws in his message are not true?

If you never get angry at the preacher, I guess that either
a) you just wouldn't describe it as mad. Heavy-hearted? Perturbed? Saddened? Annoyed?
b) your preacher's sermons are more milky than meaty, or
c) you've already submitted to the Lord in all those areas which the preacher mentions.

I see that frustration with what is said from the pulpit can be good in that
a) it shows that you're listening and that there is some fire in you and
b) it should pull you into God's Word to see for yourself if what the preacher said is Biblical.

I am not saying that it is good if your heart is rebelling against God's authority and written Word. Nor am I saying that it is good if a preacher preaches false doctrine. But on those areas where the Scripture doesn't seem to be extremely straightforward, is it not better that our hearts be stirred to study the Word and pray about it, rather than sit idly by and nod in agreement with whatever the pastor spouts?

In 2004 I heard a lady speak who worked on the city streets trying to share the good news of Christ with passer-bys. Her comment was that she preferred the passer-bys who responded to their message in some way, even if it was in anger, than those whose eyes and hearts were stony and unresponsive.

In a similar way, it concerns me when we approve those who attend church meetings--even if their life choices are demonstrating an obvious lack of godly wisdom--while their hearts may be more spiritually barren than those of young people who have quit coming to church.

If I could have changed my Bible school experience, I would have liked to have had five quiet minutes or so at the end of our class periods to consider what the Lord was saying to us through His Word and to have time to apply it. It is altogether too easy to resist the tuggings of the Spirit in the mad dash back to the dorm to grab a sweater, or in the line-up for hot chocolate. I suppose the same could be said for church services and group Bible studies. Often I could use a few minutes for initial personal digestion of the bread of Life before I get up and interact with others.

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
(Acts 17:11)

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
(Revelation 3:16)

2007-05-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

The count is now at two coworkers who've told me
(when they find out that I believe in a Creator God)
that I don't seem very religious.

I don't want to be religious,
the God of the Bible is relational, not religional,
but oh that they would have that friendship with their Creator restored,
and that my friends who know Him would be restored to the image of their Heavenly Friend.

My unbelieving friends want to know if I go to church every Sunday
and some are are relieved that I am not trying to convert them.

Oh, I could never convert a soul.
To take that blackness of self-love and make it new, pure?
Don't give me that job, Jesus...only You can do that.
People tell me that what they believe is their own personal choice
and that we each decide for ourselves what is true.
But there's only One way to a right relationship with the Lord Yahweh.

They try to tell me about good things they've done.
Yes, one goes to church sometimes and didn't drink before she was legal age. Another is abstaining from pork and feels good if she spends time in prayer to Buddha one day a week. Another has read some of the Bible. "I am a good person." They tell me about their 'righteous' acts.

I cannot stand for that ancient lie
that we can make our own choices and
that if our good works outweigh our bad,
the Creator will allow us a pleasant afterlife.
How they need to know what that Creator is like,
and their goodness will look like dirty rags in comparison
to the loveliness of the Creator.

Maybe this post sounds religious, because the Lord afforded me some opportunities to answer questions about my relationship with Himself.
Cut out my religion, Lord, and leave someone who recognizes her need of constant fellowship with You and openness in our relationship.
Cut out the reliance on self to accomplish things. Cut out all matter of self.
What I need is Divine wisdom. Without You I am nothing.

I do not know best.

2007-04-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last year I read a booklet on divorce by Elizabeth Elliot. It was interesting how much I, as an unmarried person, got out of the booklet as Elliot rightly divided the Word of Truth. Sometimes (often?!) truth is painful...but obedience to the Lord is always possible, and is always the best way. I could use that reminder daily, almost hourly. Here are Elliot quotes (emphasis mine):

How excruciating it is for me to submit to the Word
that never permits the least indulgence of
self-pity, self-vindication, self-agrandizement, self-justification,
or any other form of the self whatsoever.

Love is no pleasing sentiment but a fiery law: thou shalt love.

Refusal to obey when the choice is clear is the end of blessing...
obedience leads to some unimagined solution.
...to rescue us out of [our troubles], Christ relinquished His rights.

There are some simple answers but they are not easy.

It is always possible to do what He tells us.

Isaiah: What I'm studying and what I'm learning

2007-04-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

BIBLE STUDY
I heard it recommended that to really study a passage of God's Word it is good to photocopy those pages from your Bible and mark them all up as you study. Well, I've modified the method a bit but I get the text of the passage or book from Biblegateway.com, put it in two columns and number the pages and then print it off. I'm excited as I'm starting to study Isaiah in this way. I formatted the first 23 chapters of Isaiah and later I plan to add more sheets to my binder. I also like to use different coloured pencil crayons as well as pens or pencils to mark up the passages.
I consulted a Bible survey book to see what others say are the main themes and divisions of the book. A big thing I try to observe are patterns in the text: reoccurring characters, words and themes.

WHAT I'VE BEEN LEARNING
As I've started to observe the text one huge thing I'm seeing is that the people of Judah remind me of the people in Alberta, Canada. Actually, if I think carefully, maybe they would remind me of my carnal self. I see parallels in the actions of the people of Isaiah's day and the actions of people "in the last days" (2 Tim 3:2).
When people hear that I read my Bible or believe in a Creator, they automatically categorize me as "religious". If I get a chance, I like to tell them that religion isn't what the God of the Bible is after. Sometimes they'll agree with me, but I don't think they quite know yet what I am saying. Maybe I should start telling them that in a way, religion is easy compared to what the true God seeks.
What God wants from us is not empty religious motions, whether the futile, abominable sacrifices of the people of Judah (1:13) or my co-worker's belief that she can sin and continue in sin and be OK as long as she "asks Jesus for forgiveness" for those sins which she isn't trying to quit!
He wants a relationship where we humbly and willingly obey. There is a giant contrast between what God said about Judah at that time "they have rebelled against Me...they have turned away backward" (Is 1:2,4) and that future day where people from all nations will say "Come, and let us go up to the...Lord....He will teach us His ways and we shall walk in His paths" (Is 2:2).
Like Adam and Eve who walked with God in the cool of the day in the Garden, God wants to walk with us, talk with us, and have a friendship with us. Adam and Eve had nothing to hide until they sinned.
It is so much easier for us* (in the flesh) to perform religious motions
than to consistently walk in fellowship with a holy Creator God.
It is easier to make my pastor or parents happy
than to be in true fellowship with the Lord.
It would be far simpler to confess to a priest
than to stand always "naked" (Hebrews 4) in God's sight.
If a person told me how I should act and what I should do, I might even feel like I'd succeeded...
but when my standard is the holy character of my Creator, I know I would never make it on my own.

What does he see in our hearts when we come to Him? Are we "proud and lofty" (2:12), "against the Lord" (3:8), refusing and rebelling (1:20)? Or are we willling and obedient (1:19)?
WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW
If anyone knows of a good commentary on the book of Isaiah I'd like to know what a good resource would be.

*I'm talking about believers...talking about fellowship with God (which can be broken), not relationship (we can't lose our adoption into His family).

Beauty

2007-04-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

At the art show (see previous post) we saw various 3-D exhibits done by college students. Some I didn't really understand very well but one was very effective because right away I understood the artist's premise. From far away you see all these glass slippers, like Cinderella's slippers resting on bright red cushions that are suspended on nearly invisible threads. It looks feminine and pretty. But when you approach the art you see that the 'shine' on the shoes comes from push pins that are stuck in the shoe. The artist was trying to illustrate that what looks like a fairytale lifestyle comes through pain and hurt.

This is partly my interpretation, but many girls who look beautiful on the outside are broken and hurting inside. They thought that fitting into that smaller skirt or having the money for the nice clothes would get a nice boy at their side and fix their problems, but really they are still hurting...a deep ache that no human can fix.

Christ, knowing You has been transforming for me.

Thank you for defining beauty for me rather than leaving me to depend on my culture's ideas.
True beauty doesn't depend on my genetics or money. Your life and death make real beauty attainable for any woman who puts her trust in You as Saviour and Lord Yahweh.

simplicity and purity

war, children, and the Bible

you will suffer.

when the peace of God rules

order begins in the soul

the incarnation and me

church: a love story

on battling apathy

why i write

christian freedom

deep suffering, deeper joy

leviticus 18

food and the Christian

come what may: contentment

respecting men

the value of being predictable

not random

try a little tenderness

a good reminder: check your motives!

"fashions with a Christian colouring" vs. the simplicity of Christ

my hero

oswald chambers & "devotion to God Himself"

"we died before we came here"

learning to receive

surrender

let your single years not be a wasteland

"but did you see the sky in the east?"

tandoori chicken and worldview changes

seasons of life

relief or victory?

God, the heathen and the believer's responsibility

hope in the mess

life-giving: lessons from the Bible's barren seven

learning from Amy Carmichael

i must tell Jesus

marketing Jesus

humility is truth, pride is lying

"man sees the outward appearance"

in one ear and out the other

no penmanship prize here

peace, perfect peace

longing for Him

elijah and prayer

Biblical freedom

"A Savior On Capitol Hill"?

"what is a family?"

eyes of hope

teaching the books of the Bible to kids

Costume or precious jewelry?

autumn light

good...is not good enough

salvation in isaiah

recommended reading

burma's tragedy

the prayer / humility connection

Quotes: Tozer & Chafer

the mystery of modesty

how do i speak?

The Best Friday

for me

symbols

the trinity as a model for human relationships

integrity

enough light for today

i didn't know i lived in a freezer

Three girl-book reviews

take me there

a knight in the bus

the larger story

Obedience

Sanitized confessions...

Make no provision for the flesh

Longing for Egypt?

From the journals

On the great importance of having a renewed, spiritual mind

Grappling with the disciplines

Ladies' night

Comparisons of reactions to seeing YHWH

Edifying Links

feeling a little silly