Can You Stand Another Royal Wedding Post?

I didn't plan on going gaga over the British Royal Wedding. I was actually leaning toward being a bit disdainful of it all. After all, our world is in such calamity, wars and natural disasters, death and misery, how can I really condone such pomp? However, I was curious about the dress, and I love hat watching, so I knew I would take a peek, but then I got enthralled.

I think it was my first look at the graceful majesty of the architecture of Westminster Abby, the verdant row of trees that decorated the aisle, and the vision of a classic princess, so small and elegantly attired in such a huge and regal place. Seeing and sensing the importance and rarity of a royal ceremony, she in her understated tiara and dress walking down the aisle, met by him in his uniformed perfection, I immediately though of the Biblical connotations. Suddenly I was thinking of a spiritual parallel, the kind that runs through all of nature and human affairs, the spark that reminds us all that there is some force greater than ourselves, constantly influencing us and wooing us to be awakened to the deeper truths.

The true church of Jesus Christ, made up of all true believers within all the various churches and denominations throughout the world, it is called His Bride. At some point in time there will be a kind of heavenly ceremony where the church will be presented to Jesus Christ in a joyous ceremony likened to a marriage ceremony and feast (*). When I really thought about how beautiful this royal wedding ceremony was, I began to get a bit amazed and excited imagining that one day such a thing will occur in the heavenly realms, with the God of the Universe and space and time. If mortal men and women can create and plan such loveliness, from the ancient buildings, to the soaring voices of the choir and even the handmade lace on the bride’s sleeves, how much more will God Himself demonstrate on that day? How much more will people have to rejoice over on that day - when God makes His Kingdom Come and His will done, and there is finally peace on earth and not even a wisp of sin or misery?

We do live in secular times, but this royal wedding was steeped in old, religious tradition. Normally that does not turn me on, normally I would be skeptical of religions tradition. As the Prince and his Bride repeated their vows they said things like betwixt and troth, words no longer common to our vernacular, but it brought to me the mindset of a time when there was great weight and importance to vows, to rulers and to making them in the sight of God, and how those rulers and vows could influence the world and the people they ruled for good or bad. Passages were read from the Bible book of Romans (here), and Father, Son and Holy Ghost were entreated again and again. I was reminded that the truth of God and His ways will go forth. God continues to remind the people of the world that He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, more fitting and fair than the figure heads of earthy kingdoms and the men and women who wield that power behind them, often without true justice or mercy. More lovely than the lords in their uniforms and medals and the ladies in their haute couture and hats. Moreover, God Himself extends the invitation to His ceremony to all of us, commoner and royalty alike, though He certainly has a soft spot for the common man and woman. Have you received your invitation?

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”


Many blessings upon the royal couple.

Good Friday & Earth Day

I was thinking that there is something profound about Earth Day and Good Friday falling on the same day this year. Some of my friends will celebrate one or the other. A few will celebrate both. I'm not sure exactly how to put into words the weighty notion I am sensing about it, but I will try. There is one Bible verse that appears frequently at sporting events and such. You have probably seen the sign John 3:16, but less often the content of it. “For God so loved the world,” it begins. God began the world out of love and He eventually sent Jesus to the world out of love. God and the world are intertwined. We live in this world, and are part of it. We humans have made a mess of everything God gives us. The earth, ourselves, our relationships. But we are not without hope. “He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life,” so the verse continues. God is fair, and sent Jesus to pay an ultimate price on our behalf, and He did it on Good Friday, which happens to be today, which happens to be Earth Day this year. A few verses later in John Chapter 3 there is talk about light and darkness - and we can see that darkness clearly in the way humankind has polluted the earth for greed and laziness, among other things, far worse things we do to ourselves and our fellow humans. “God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” Through Jesus we have the possibility of redeeming ourselves and all we have done wrong - both in the real world we live in now, and in the world to come after we die. So, I am thinking about all of this today. I share these thoughts with you and welcome your thoughts. I also found a nifty little blog article, here.

John Chapter 3, for reference.

Warning: "This May Get All Jesus-y and S#*T"

Does that title shock you? Well, it does shock me a bit. But also, to be honest, after that first moment of shock subsides, it makes me smile. It's kind of funny. It's irreverent, and I find irreverent humor refreshing at times. Is it sacrilegious or blasphemous? I don't think so. I can see that the above statement would offend some people. I think it would grab other peoples attention, though, and draw them in. I think it has a certain effectiveness within their audience, which is the point of it.

My impression is that the blogger who wrote what I quoted in the title above was striving to describe themselves and their corner of the blog world, and that statement was exactly their honest credo in regards to their blog. When I came across that statement on their blog it gave me pause for three reasons: the small initial shock, the sly humor that melted my shock into a wry little smile, and the fact that on two different Christian discussion boards I was 'hearing' a conversation about cussing and Christians. (Someone on those discussion boards even linked another blog article, see here.) It got me thinking about my own opinions about profanity and the Christian lifestyle. I think there is this trend within Christian circles today to want to really shrug off the perceived old-time, stuffy religious attitudes and postures in an effort to prove how relevant Christianity [still] is. In this definition relevant equals hip, and hip equals the practices of those who are generally respected as movers and shakers within our culture. As I stated earlier, I don't think that the author of the quote I used in the title had that intention at all, but it got me thinking about all of it.

I came to Christ within a church that was strict and traditional in many ways. The lines between my sinful pre-Christian self and redeemed post-Christian self were clearly drawn, and gladly forsaken, it's important to note. I delved into my new-found faith with zeal and love. Back then as I began to read the Bible on my own, my convictions over that juxtaposing of former and latter self seemed to be backed up. I really did feel like I was a new creature when I came to believe in God, and I was so pleased when I read somewhere in the Bible something exactly along those lines (see here). I also read other scriptural verses on ethical conduct of all kinds. I also recall reading a passage about avoiding coarse language and joking (here), to be separate from worldly practices (here), all making a very strong argument for the necessity of a Christian to avoid cussing. For me it was a no-brain-er.

Now I live in a post-modern world that is super aware of its post-modernity (here and here). Things are emerging and emergent (!!??!!), what's a person to do? Cuss just to prove they are not a phony? Pepper their communication with four letter words merely for the sake of liberty? God forbid! Or should we still be pressing toward and seeking to attain our more humbler, noble Christian selves? The latter is exactly what I think, and what I am trying to do in my own life. I think we Christians should all be tearing away all the ugly, sinful, unChristian and worldly layers, no matter how big or small the sin. We ought not to celebrate or otherwise revel in our vices and flaws, not winking at them or excusing them, we should be always concerned with peeling them off. When we think we have mastered one fault, flaw or sin - through Christ's Grace and help - then we should go on to the next one. For me the difference between a religious attitude and posture and reverent and humble attitude is that humility does not draw attention to oneself but to Christ - flaunting my liberty is different than actually having liberty.

Now I will leave you with my own opinion and not a biblical stance, because the Bible stance I referred to above is clear. I wrote this on another post: Someone said, "Profanity is the effort of a feeble mind to express itself forcibly." Mark Twain said, "When angry, count to four. When very angry, swear." Can we all agree that cussing is so common it has lost some of its meaning, and then agree to do it infrequently so that it will actually be shocking again, or dare I even say appropriate in the rarest of situations? Remember when Rhett Butler told Scarlett O'Hara, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"? It became the most remembered and quoted line in movie history, and because it was so shocking and so perfect for that situation. If we are going around daily and making such statements they are no longer effective and meaningful. If you want to express yourself forcibly, and let's face it, there are some unusual occasions where we could argue that one might need to, then make sure you clean up your vocabulary and only let the foul language fly when very, very upset on the rarest occasions. How much more shocking would it be, on those angry and painful occasions if you didn't curse? Think about it. If you find yourself very, very upset often, that is symptomatic of another problem you need to let God work on.

I nearly lost him last week...

...and it would have crushed me, literally, it makes me feel more weird than I can put into words (and not the good weird). Big Daddy is learning SCUBA, and there was a malfunction with the equipment. Mercifully, it was during a learning dive and his instructor was nearby. He's fine, physically, but mentally and emotionally it gave us a hard shake. Is this the year of realizing we are mortal or what? So much death and loss, and I shudder to think that Big Daddy was so near it himself. A facebook acquaintance, a vibrant young woman with a young child lost her young husband recently, and a friend of a friend from our old hardcore/punk days also died that same week. So, how do we react to these regular reminders of our very impermanent lives? I can only say what works for me: First, I pray for the comfort and strength for those whose lives are most affected by the loss. I reflect on Our Maker, look to Jesus, make sure my soul is in its right perspective and position, I like these steps to peace with God. Then, I make sure I am a little kinder, a little more gentle with my significant people. The bible says to not let the sun go down on our anger, meaning literally not to go to bed still angry with someone. I try to take that a step further when I'm able and to make things right a.s.a.p., even with just the regular kind of nagging and fussing that goes with kids and life and marriage. It doesn't hurt to take a little time to just be kind and part on a positive note, even if we're just leaving for school or work or the corner gas.

Finding comfort and sense when it's scarce...
Well, sometimes it can't be found. So I just try to do all the little things I ought to do and I don't let myself wallow for too long. Today the windows are open and I am listening to relaxing classical tunes on grooveshark. And it helps a little.


And for my Polish readers, I learned this proverb:
Dobry człowiek nawet w tawernie nie będzie zepsuty, zły nawet w kościele nie naprawią drogę (ale zawsze jest nadzieja dla grzeszników: Jezusa).

1-2-3...STRIKE OUT!

MMI had this really good (but sad) article called Busted: Are You a Three Strike Pastor? from November of last year. I fully realize that pastors and other clergy members have somewhat of a higher accountability to maintain, but what about the rest of us? What about regular Christians? Should we have the same types of aims and goals of keeping ourselves above trouble by having extra accountability and a level of transparency when it comes to our personal lives?

To my non-Christian readers: Obviously everyone has some kind of moral code, what does accountability look like for you?

What do ALL of us do to keep ourselves from being tempted to do things that will hurt others and hurt ourselves?

What should we do when we find ourselves striking out, messing up and feeling guilty?
The MMI article has a good outline and I'm on the same wavelength as them. My unabashedly Christian perspective is as follows.
The book of Ecclesiastes (one of my favorite Bible books) ends with one of my favorite Bible quotes: Fear God and keep His command, for this is the whole duty of man. I am afraid of going to hell ya'll, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. But more than that, I know how much God loves me, and loves all of humanity, and because I have accepted the position of child in my relationship with Him, and because I am so grateful for what a loving Father He has become to me, I'd like to make Him happy. So I'm going to follow Him and do what He says to do. I'll do my best to be a good kid for Him and when I fall short, He picks up the slack for me. He tells me to confess my faults to Him and to my fellow Christians. Now to get back on the point of my above questions, that's one way I keep myself accountable. I confess my sin, my struggles, my temptations. I find that the more inclined I am to want to hide my sin, the more I ought to confess it - both to God in private and to a trusted fellow Christian(s). So, at times it's been difficult to make myself admit to something very ugly or EMBARRASSING. Yet, when I do that, it truly has helped me, by God's grace (not my own), to overcome that sin and struggle. And no wonder - since it is the way God sets forth in His Beautiful Instruction Book.


Above photo by j / f / photos.

Two Lazurus-es, pt. 3

I was glancing over a little bit of celebrity fluff in the Sunday Newspaper, and found this small piece from the actor Javier Bardem. He's speaking about a character he plays and said this:

"I don’t know if I’ll get to heaven. I’m a bad boy,” jokes the actor, 41. “Heaven must be nice, but is it too boring? Maybe you can get an apartment there and then go to hell for the weekends."

I was immediately reminded of the recent studying and writing I have been doing regarding the bible passages on Lazarus (see here), particularly the parable Lazarus. In the parable, we are clearly taught that the gulf between heaven and hell is fixed and permanent. There is no reversal or change after death. The opportunity we have to secure our position in either place is before we die. That's easy enough to do, see here. Ok, I was being a little facetious, it's not "easy" for some people to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but it's where we all have to start. There is something about that there Jesus. Look into it, check Him out. You might be surprised at what you find.

Anyway, I realize that Mr. Bardem's quote was meant to be taken lightly. But it illustrates for me a notion that a great many people have in making spiritual matters work in their own mind. I have come across this frequently when discussions with all sorts of people turn to God, life and death. It seems a good many folks are blending various religions, teachings and traditions with their own sensibilities and opinions, and using a hazy version of it as their spiritual authority. So many people want to believe various things about heaven and hell. They think that hell will be somehow a fun party rather than a place of torment. Heaven will be boring because there will be no vice there and the pleasurable aspects of our vices seem to hold us tightly.

If we use the Bible as our guide, which would make sense since it is the place that introduced the concepts of heaven and hell, and is one of the oldest and most reliable ancient manuscripts on a variety of subjects, there is a clear picture. Heaven will be a place of paradise, hell will be torment. Heaven will have the banquet party, a wedding feast. Heaven will be a place where there is not pollution of any kind, there will be unspoiled an beautiful landscapes to behold and explore. Heaven will contain a magnificent city and amazing architecture. There will be no pain there from the slightest ache to the most serious of diseases - none of that in heaven. No injustice or unfairness, no tears or sorrow of any kind. What's not to like about that?

Photo by Fergal OP.

Two Lazarus-es, part 2

I am still studying about this subject. My previous post is Part 1 and you should read it before you read this one.

I recently was pointed in the direction of this article, which makes a case that the rich man in the parable with Lazarus was actually the High Priest Caiaphas. That adds another interesting dimension for me. That fact would contribute to a theory that Jesus was very clearly getting the attention of those who were following Him, both as enemies and friends, while the culmination of His earthly ministry and His true purpose was becoming clear as He walked this earth. It would have been well known that Jesus raised Lazarus of Bethany, Mary and Martha's brother. The religious leaders of the time had no true heart for God or their fellow man (the 2 great commandments) but they would have liked a powerful leader that would overthrow the Roman rule and thus give them more power. Jesus' Kingdom was not one of earthly power, He came to shake things up and show true love, the kind of love that sacrifices for the good of others, unselfish and kind, and puts even lowly beggars as equally beloved by God, as any king or rich man.

Up until now, I actually felt the rich man was pitiable, a tortured soul, who realized the TRUTH too late. I thought he was remorseful, and was actually trying to look out for his brothers by asking for a warning for them. I felt his torment was so great that even the thought of begging for a drop of water on his unimaginably parched tongue seemed a relief. (I can only liken this to a time when I had such a horrible stomach virus and flu, and was not able to eat or drink or keep anything down for 2 days. I was finally able to rouse myself from the sickbed, and found a room-temperature can of diet cola. I had a tiny, tentative drink of it, my thirst was great, but I feared I would not be able to keep even that down. I had been so sick that the little sip of this warm, generic soda was extremely refreshing. I can't fully explain how good it was - but in my head, I see the rich man in search of that kind of small relief.) And as for him asking for Lazarus' help, I'd always thought that might have been his own way of being finally humble - he was asking for help from someone who he didn't even want to acknowledge, let alone be touched by in his former life. With all the OT teachings on clean and unclean people, animals and things, and what to avoid and how to wash - surely a beggar was considered 'dirty.' To ask for Lazarus to so intimately and personally touch his tongue, the way a mother or physician would nurse someone who was ill, well that had to speak of his now helplessly low state. I thought this had showed how the rich man had changed his mind, and regarded Lazarus as a ministering angel of mercy. Now I'm not so sure.

I have since read a few opinions from others that don't give the rich man anything close to a noble intention from his hellish position. One person surmised that the rich man was actually scheming to get Lazarus to come to him that he might trick him and somehow even trade places. Another person thought the rich man continued to show the same selfishness and disdain for Lazarus that he showed him when they were both alive. He asks for Lazarus to fetch him water, and he shows no sorrow or repentance for how he treated him before. Nor does he give any acknowledgment of respect for Lazarus now in his privileged position in Abraham's bosom, from his deflated and tortured position.

Thanks to the folks over at ChristianBoard, who gave me all this to chew on, from here.

I am still focused on Lazarus being the key to all of this and that there is something important about his name and a connection with the other Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha.


image by Lawrence OP.

A Tale of Two Lazarus-es

The Bible, like our own circle of friends, family and acquaintances, often records people having the same name. At the pre-school where I worked we had three children named Aiden at one time, and a couple of Briannas. The New Testament of the Bible records several Marys. There are at least three other men named Judas in addition to the most notable one who betrayed Jesus. Today I am focused on two men named Lazarus, who were spoken of in the New Testament of the Bible.

One man named Lazarus, along with his two sisters Mary and Martha, were all good friends of Jesus. You can read their remarkable story in John Chapter 11. The other Lazarus is presumably fictional, a beggar character from one of the parables Jesus told. You can read about him in Luke Chapter 16. If you're not familiar with those passages you might take a moment to click on the links and read them, they are not very long.

Up until recently I thought it was unremarkable that these two men shared the same name. After all, that was common throughout the Bible. Then it hit me - one man was from a parable and the other was an actual person among Jesus' followers. I was even more interested to note Jesus told more than 50 parables, yet none but this one record a name. Jesus refers to the parable characters in general descriptive terms. They are called things like 'the unjust judge,' 'the widow' and 'the sower' and a 'certain' woman or man. Even in the parable with Lazarus, the other man is simply called 'the rich man.' I wonder why The Lord gave the beggar in this particular story a name, and what is the significance of that?

The name Lazarus itself means "God's assistance" or "God will help." And God surely did help him. I think Jesus also could have given a name to the parable Lazarus to further stress that the disenfranchised of the world are known and loved by God. As the parable tells, the rich man had his respect, ease and comfort in this world - but in the afterlife he suffered because He did not know and love God or his neighbor. The beggar Lazarus was ignored and despised by the world, yet in the afterlife, he was received with comfort and love.

First of all, this particular parable is not simply a learning tool of analogy, as many of the parables are. Parables such as The Woman and the Lost Coin and The Pearl of Great Price teach us that God's Kingdom is precious and to be highly valued, sought diligently and kept. The parable of the sower and the seed teach us about how people will respond to the Gospel message. This parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man does contain those types of principals but it also contains something prophetic at the end, therefore having a multilayer-ed meaning.

In the parable the rich man asks Father Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers. As Jesus tells it, Father Abraham responds with prophetic words that directly apply to Jesus Himself: If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead. Jesus is the one telling this story-parable and He is, or will be, the one who was raised from the dead, though that had obviously not yet happened at the time He told this story. I think it's quite notable then, that Jesus performed a miracle that raised an actual man named Lazarus from the dead. It's sort of like a double prophecy, isn't it? Just to be even more gracious and drive the point home even more, He sent His own friend, poor, four-days-dead Lazarus - like what the rich man requested the beggar Lazarus be allowed to do - back from the dead. I suppose He did this to further demonstrate to His contemporaries and all those around that He was who He said He was. When Jesus raised Lazarus, it was well known at the time it happened. It was what stirred up Jesus' enemies even more to plot against Him, and it preceded His own death an resurrection by a very short space of time. Could that be the reason for the name? I think there is a strong chance it could be.

I believe there must be some reason why Jesus chose to name the beggar in this parable and hope to continue to study further.

See Part 2 here.


picture from here.

Church Persecution from Within?

"In my honest opinion one of the big problems we have today in the church is that we are all so comfortable. We don't really know who the real believers are vs. those who claim Christ but have no intention of living for Him when they get uncomfortable.

Other countries who experience what we traditionally think of as persecution know who the enemy is. Our persecution comes from individuals who verbally claim Christ yet persecute the church from within."
-A Pastor's Wife

These thoughtful words were written in response to a question posed to minister's wives about whether or not they can be close friends with people within the congregations where they serve. That is an interesting subject, and important to me right now, as I navigate through hurt, strained and lost friendships, though mine are not within the church, but within my extended family. However this dimension of the subject is not what I'm focusing on right now.

What I'd like to explore today is the notion that the Western Church is suffering from persecution from within. I find this an a very interesting concept. For discussion purposes here, I would define traditional persecution as radical harm done to a group of people who hold to a differing belief system. By radical harm I mean serious threats and actual violence, and loss of basic human rights to the persecuted group.

Is the church really persecuted by people who are within the church, calling themselves Christians, yet do not genuinely follow Christ with their actions? There are numerous warnings in the New Testament regarding such people. We are encouraged to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing who would do harm to the flock. There are mentions of those who taught heretical doctrines being dis-fellowship-ed. There is also an account of someone who was in a flagrant sin (sleeping with his father's wife) being dis-fellowship-ed. This was all to keep the Gospel message on track, so that others would not be led astray. It also served the purpose that hopefully the estranged one would grasp the reality of their sin and desire to leave it behind and return again to a right standing with the Lord and His faithful followers.

How do we tell the difference between a person who is indeed a wolf, and one who is simply a stumbling or weak Christian? I make that distinction because hopefully a weak or stumbling Christian is moving toward spiritual growth and maturity. The scriptures say we'll know a tree by it's fruit. That would lead me to conclude that we can tell by the consistent actions of an individual whether or not they are real or genuine. I say consistent because everyone has times and instances of stumbling. In the life and heart of a true Christian those should be rather isolated incidences and become fewer and farther between as time goes on. Scripture also teaches that a "humble and contrite" attitude show repentance. True repentance is change: A change in character, priorities and actions.

What types of people characterize the majority in our churches? Are our churches full of those who seem to only have a marginal commitment evidenced by a life of compromise? Or, are our churches full of people who are growing and changing, perhaps stumbling a bit here and there, but otherwise are truly a 'light' evidenced by good works? Jesus gave a parable about a field that was planted with wheat. During the night an enemy came and planted weeds among the good wheat seeds. Later they both grew together and Jesus said it would be sorted out at the harvest time. I suppose then that this is nothing new. However, it does seem more pronounced these days. Perhaps the fact that the Western Church is not under persecution influences the proliferation of half-hearted or disingenuous Christians. The threat of real persecution sifts those who are ardently committed from those who care little.



I think that the persecution from within is an interesting notion but not quite an accurate description for what is going on. I think what we are seeing is complacency and laziness and "the little foxes spoiling the vine." We are seeing a gradual spiritual decline, it's corrupt, distasteful, and so very sad, but I cannot call it persecution from within. Persecution denotes a radical subjugation and imminent danger. Our lazy Western spirituality is a gradual slide down a slippery slope. God, I hope we wake up.
Was there ever a time when the church was more good than bad? It seems so to me.

Does Xmas Offend You?

This time of year there is always controversy over the various aspects of Christmas. Discussions over many things such as the materialism and commercialization of the holiday, and the fact that some governments and municipalities would like the religious expressions of Christmas censored. One topic that invariably comes up among various Christian groups and people is the abbreviation of Christmas into Xmas. Many people believe that it is a literal crossing or deleting out of Christ from the holiday. Personally, this never really offended me or struck me as disrespectful to Jesus Christ, even when I was a child, or later a young adult who was questioning, doubting and at times mocking of religious things. For me, the most basic symbol of Christ and Christianity is the cross. I carried the notion that since an X is a tilted cross, it is easy to see how it came to represent Christ. I recalled that there was a time when many people weren't able to read or write very much if at all. If the occasion arose for them to sign an important document, and to express consent that they acknowledged and understood what the document meant, they would make an X. For me it was an official symbol, and therefore an important mark. It was not always the symbol of crossing out or mistakes, which of course, it does also stand for. Only when I became a born again Christian and heard other Christians voice concerns about it did I wonder if it was meant to insult or remove the Christ aspects of Christmas. It seems that my suspicions were correct and there is a Christian symbolic history in writing Xmas. Here are a few interesting and informative articles on the subject:
The Origin of "Xmas"
Merry Xmas blog entry

Chi Rho
The first two letters, Chi (Χ) and Rho (Ρ), of the Greek word for Christ (Χριστύς).

No Rest for the Acrimonious

ac·ri·mo·ni·ous [àkrə mṓnee əss]
adj
resentful and angry: full of or displaying anger and resentment

synonyms: spiteful, rancorous, discordant, hostile, unfriendly, harsh

The recent holidays remind us of what we're thankful for, and they also can remind us of the more difficult and unpleasant aspects of family life. My extended family has changed over the years and not exactly for the better. I would be lying if I said that it did not make me a little sad. Though I certainly have much more to be thankful for and to count as blessings than what I feel has been 'lost.'

I was recently reminded of a quote in a movie. The character was supposedly quoting Bob Marley, the influential musician. It went like this: The evil people of the world do not take a day off and neither should the good ones. And even though Bob Marley had some interesting and unorthodox beliefs and practices, he also knew the Bible and that is where the foundation of that quote comes from.

So this post is to remind us that even when we feel weary and beaten down, discouraged, unloved and unappreciated, mocked, ignored and abused, we should not let it stop us or get us down or let it change us for the worse. The Bible says to not be overcome with evil but to overcome evil with good; And not to get weary with doing good.
Be encouraged.
Be strong.
Chin up and go on.
Do good today and every day.
The Lord will make a way.

Lying, why?

I am working through feelings and issues that impact me and my family. Addiction, co-dependency and dysfunction used to put an undue burden on my life and my heart and contributed a block in my creativity. Over time, and most importantly through faith in a real and living God, healthier ways of living and coping are being sought and implemented in my life. Journaling is one tool on the road to healing. It helps me process and understand things in a more productive way.
Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
-Proverbs 12:19

The enemy has really been coming after me lately with lying. It's a hassle, to be sure, but I keep reminding myself that this is God's battle not mine. It's God's job to fight for me and vindicate me, if necessary. I am His child and I belong to Him. It's my job to remain faithful to Him and do what He says. Still it hurts. It hurts when people who I have only tried to care for and be good to, for some reason have targeted me with untruthful reports. I can only guess as to why this happens, but I can be an ambassador for peace and step up to rectify the situation. Which is what my husband (in the role of my pastor) advised me to do in one situation. So, I went forth, with this in mind, as an ambassador and asked, more or less, "What is wrong here and what can I do to rectify it?" It seemed to completely diffuse the situation and make things right, and that is my hopeful prayer, though I have learned that only time will tell.

photo by bof1391
In another particular situation, I confronted an already estranged loved one with their lies, when I discovered them. They responded by further alienating themselves. There was already a wall between us, and they raised it another few feet and added some barbed wire and a lock. They are the one who lied, and I am being treated like the perpetrator, not only by this loved one but by others who seem to defend them by treating me with disdain. Why does my loved one seem to get a pass from others when they lie and engage in other hurtful behaviour? Why do I get a tongue-lashing and a cold shoulder for calling them on their behaviour? My heart is a little sick with hurt over this unfair treatment, I feel a little like the Biblical David did here. How long with this nonsense go on? As long as there is an evil enemy loose in this world. I am reminded of the old quote, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ I refuse to do nothing anymore. I refuse to walk on eggshells, sugar-coat, pretend nothing is wrong. I will also do what I can to reconcile, as I tried above. I will call a spade a spade and I suppose I will have to live with the fall out from that.

Song Memory: How Great Thou Art

This is an old hymn, and it has great significance for me. I don't recall being familiar with this old hymn, well known as it may be, during my Catholic upbringing. I came to know it later on, during my spiritual awakening in adulthood. I have mentioned before how during my formative period as a 'new convert' I had gladly and willingly eschewed my former worldly musical tastes and replaced them with listening to only Christian music and hymns. I found it necessary to do so for many years, as the layers of my old life and habits were being peeled away and being replaced with a renewed heart and mind. I believe God asks this for many of His followers, it's just a time when we have to draw close and focus on Him and leave our past behind us. Music was a big part of my life, and so I needed a break from the secular and worldly aspects of it for awhile.

My earliest recollection of this song is when I heard the character Julia, played by Dixie Carter, sing it (here) on the TV show Designing Women. I was watching a rerun of the show during one of those middle-of-the-night baby feeding sessions. (Sometimes I liked it silent and peaceful and sometimes I needed a little distraction.)

Later on, and during my short jaunt in another state, this song was on a cassette tape by some local or regional Southern Gospel group that played at my church. (I have another artist's version here.) At that time we lived in a small, rented farmhouse in a rural area of a wild, wonderful state. I had only one little child then, and we went on daily walks and hikes through country roads, fields and the mountainous wooded areas. There were rocky cliffs, and even a nice sized waterfall within hiking distance. In my mind I can still see the lushness of spring, appearing wet and minty green after a cold, barren winter. In the late spring and early summer the orange daylilies were bursting onto the side of the road. Later on came the vivid autumn leaves, with their palette of my favorite colors, browns, golden yellow, burnt orange and deep scarlet red. Place that against a blue sky and the beauty is amazing. I often sang quite audibly on our hikes, I am just that kind of person, and I heard it clears the bears. It was living there, hiking there and driving on those country roads that the words of this song came gloriously alive for me. That song was exactly the picture of my life then. I was a bit solitary, with just a small child as my companion, wandering through the woods, hearing the brooks, pondering the greatness of God and the beauty of the creation He made, and really falling in love with Him.





photos byJeffery(lily)
b3nscott(barn)
respres(stream)

Today is the First Day

Today is the First Day...of the next season of my life. I have a child who is a high school senior, a child in middle school and one in elementary school. I quit my job, because I need a part time job that will allow my late afternoons and evenings to be free. I need to be here for my family more than my recent job permitted. It was good while it lasted and now it's time to move one. I have big plans for myself. I have things I want to do for God and ministry. I have things I want to do for me (artist & hula-hooper-woot!) and my family. What does God want me to do? Some areas and things I can sense and feel a prompting from Him, and I think there will be somethings that are a surprise and a challenge. God, please help me, I need it.

I'm feeling good...BUT I don't walk by feeling I walk by faith.

Lukewarm

I absolutely savor my morning coffee, that quiet hour with a delicious beverage is one of my favorite times of day. However, unlike everyone else, I don't mind when my coffee becomes lukewarm. On cold days I enjoy it hot, and I like it iced in the afternoon, but really my favorite way to drink my coffee is when it's just warm. I relish it as I sip it and as it gets down to room temperature during the course of my morning routine. But that is not what this blog entry is about. I just said all of that as a background and a way of explaining what comes next.

Gradually over the past 2 years the following Bible verse has been on my radar, and has really been understood by me as never before.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Rev. 3:16

God is speaking to a Church that He is not pleased with. I understand the rest of the passage but this sentence has always puzzled me a bit. Perhaps, it's obvious to others but it wasn't to me. Since becoming a Christian I suppose I was always a little perplexed with this verse, because for me a lukewarm beverage isn't bad. Then, I never really understood why the Lord would rather have people hot or cold towards Him. Seems like He would only want them 'hot', as in passionate towards Him. And that those who were "cold" would be those who were indifferent or rejecting of Him. And why would he prefer even that than those who were 'warm/lukewarm' towards Him?

Well, it would seem I was missing the understanding altogether, because that is not what this verse is saying.

In the context of the times, one has to realize the importance of water. Cold, fresh water or hot water (either via springs or boiled) both have importance in the health of people. In ancient times, as today, lukewarm water is a breeding ground for disease. God wants His followers to be like fresh, cold water or like hot healing mineral springs, if you will, not like warm stagnant pools where bacteria and mosquitoes thrive, and can bring harm. I totally did not get this concept for years.

Lord, help me to be like cold, refreshing water to those who are thirsty; and help me to be like hot and healing mineral springs to people who are hurting and weary. Jesus was like that.

Yesterday & Today

Yesterday we were:
*Eating all the leftover chicken from that crock pot recipe disaster and not loving it.

Yesterday was:
*My last day as full time teacher of the darling four-year-olds, who sometimes convinced me I had the best job in the world. At other times I was broken by the hitting, kicking, biting, low pay/high responsibility and sometime lack of support or respect.

Today I am:
*summer camp maven, initiating my young co-teacher and basking in the sun and the sand of Little Duck Key with our young adventurers. The children were a delight. Our feet are sore and tender and need to get summertime tough and calloused to put up with the hot concrete, gritty sand and what not. I am greatly concerned that the oil spill will impact days such as this in the future.

*Tonight there is thunder and a little lightening, but no rain. I like the summer storms, so long as they are short in duration. I heard that two people died today in an accident on US1. I pray their families and loved ones are finding comfort in The Comforter. Life is fragile, ya'll.

So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

-2 Peter 1:10-11

Moses In The Wilderness

This is an old song, circa the Jesus Freak era, it's kind of funny. "He used real bugs...oww, oww, owww..." Good, old Larry Norman. Enjoy.

Love Hurts - God Heals part 2

Have you ever poured out your heart and soul into a friendship with someone and they betrayed you? Or maybe they just weren't there for you when you really needed it? It makes you feel so hurt and sad. Maybe angry too. You question why you wasted so much time and energy on someone that proved to be so unworthy. Sometimes this makes you hesitant about befriending other people in the future. At least it's been that way for me. It seems like the past few years have seen a few of these situations in my family and it hurts like heck. I keep hoping there will be some sort of reconciliation and healing change. But it just hasn't happened (yet?). Perhaps it never will. So, I mourn the passing of friendships.

I have been thinking lately about these types of things. And I think I have concluded this: I don't think love is ever wasted, even if it's not appreciated or reciprocated. I think when we stand before the Lord at judgment, we'll have been relieved to say that we loved lavishly even if our hearts are broken to shreds. After all, that's what He did. And then we should just keep on loving and doing our best to be an open-hearted person.

The thing is, sometimes with some people, you have to love them from afar. We can be like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son. He was already looking down the road when his estranged son was coming home. We can determine from that, he had been looking for, hoping and anticipating his son's return. I believe we should have a heart that is open, welcoming and ready for reconciliation. The other person has to be on that same road as well. It has to be mutual. Just as the father was looking for the son, the son was ready to leave his "wild living" and return home. The son couldn't have it both ways at his home. He had to leave the destructive behaviour behind to enjoy the full benefits of a close relationship. Until that time, the father had his eyes on the horizon and a heart that seemed to be free of anger, accusations, and all the other things he probably felt over his child living wild and wasting his inheritance. He was ready when his child was ready, not with a lecture, but with open arms.

That's the lesson for me. Don't get hung up on bitter feelings over everything that has passed. Let it go and be healed and free from it. Be ready for restoration of the relationship, if and when it comes. In the mean time L-O-V-E from afar, as opposed to stewing or wallowing!




Image from Barry's Clip Art.

My Mom's Unusual Day

My Mom is 75 years old and enjoying a healthy and active retirement. Her faith has become stronger and stronger over the past decade, and I find her to often be a quiet and shining example of God's love.

Several years ago, she sought out the widows group at her church, and I'm fairly sure it was through there that she became active in her local senior center. She and some of the women from her widows group take fitness classes at the center, and became involved with other community things through both groups.

One of the people they became acquainted with at the senior center is another elderly widow, who is about 10 years older than my Mom, named Melanie*. Mom takes her grocery shopping and sometimes cooks for her. I believe Melanie has some family nearby, but they travel for business quite often. Melanie has been wanting to treat my Mom to lunch, as a thank you for all the little things she's done, but my Mom kept postponing it due to being busy with other things.

This Saturday my Mom agreed to lunch before their grocery shopping trip. They had a nice lunch then went to the grocery store. My Mom ran some errands around the shopping center while Melanie shopped, then met up with her as she was checking out. Melanie seemed slightly tired while they were walking back to her car, so my Mom told her to go and sit down while she put the groceries in the trunk.

In that very short space of time while my Mom put the groceries in the trunk, Melanie passed away while quietly and peacefully seated in my Mom's car. My Mom was shocked, to say the least. When she called me later in the day to tell me all of this, she had settled into a calm sort of acceptance. We discussed how it was really quite a blessing in many ways. I encouraged her that it was actually an honor that the Lord would trust her to be with one of His children during their final hours. Of all the people it could have been, it was her. They had a calm and uneventful day, but that is a blessing in its own way. There are so many ways one could count and consider this to be a blessing, so I'm thinking about those types of things and reminding myself that anyone of us could leave this world at any time.

What kind of memories and impressions would we like to leave when we go? Are we ready to stand before the Lord? Even though we have no control over it, what kind of final day would we like to have? Who would we most like to be with?

Thoughts on Lies, Addiction & Family Relationships

For some reason my addicted loved one (ALO) has focused their anger and ire on me during their most recent cycle of sobriety, fresh start/new life, relapse, hospitalization, and (hopefully)recovery. I have been called a devil, hypocritical Christian and the one that killed their (ALO's) relationship and/or opportunities. This is because I told the truth when asked questions regarding my addicted loved one's (ALO) life while they were hospitalized in a medically induced coma from illness that stems from their addiction.

For the first time I tried to refrain from apologizing for my ALO, because I struggle with feeling guilty when I become aware of the hurt they cause others in the course of their life of addiction. I remind myself that the people that chose to date, live with, employ, befriend, and otherwise help my ALO are adults capable of their own decisions about who they will let into their life and trust, help and love. It's not my job to go around apologizing for or fixing the things that people other than myself do to each other. I don't know why I feel like I should, but I used to have a real problem with that, and I am working very hard to not feel, think and react that way anymore.

I had not heard from my ALO in about 5 months when I was contacted by their live-in-companion who informed me ALO was hospitalized in critical condition. My ALO's companion then asked me some very basic questions about them, which I answered truthfully to the best of my knowledge. I tried, and I think mostly succeeded in keeping emotions, drama and opinions out of it. I tried not to add anything other than what I was asked. That is difficult when faced with some whoppers of lies, which when added to the worry and concern over the health of my loved one, it's difficult to stay calm and clear-headed. The shock of some of the content of the fabrications took me aback, but I made a good effort that is miles and miles better than my reactions to these kinds of similar scenarios I had been placed in in the past. I do this by reminding myself of the content of the italicized sentence in the previous paragraph.

I remind myself that my loved one has an illness and this is part of it. I didn't cause it, I can't control it, I can't cure it. Only my loved one can, by the help and grace of God, change their life and choices.

As I mused about all of this this week, and prayed so much for my ALO I feel like God gave a little snippet of understanding. My ALO has hurt and alienated so many people in their life, but I know for sure that my Mom, Big Daddy and myself will never stop loving them. Our love is unconditional, but it's difficult sometimes. We have never been able to stop loving and caring. We have never been able or even willing to cut ties altogether. I believe that the Lord showed me that it was Him who placed ALO in a family of people that would not give up or abandon ALO.

Everybody has a cross of some kind to bear. This life is filled with hardships, some that we make ourselves, others we have thrust upon us, as Simon of Cyrene was told to carry Jesus' cross. Jesus loves us when we are unlovable and how much should we love those among us that are also a challenge.

So, it hurts me when my ALO calls me names for telling the truth regarding the lies they tell. It hurts to think about all the ways they have hurt themselves and others. Today the Lord reminded me of this:

"[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].

For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong."
-1 Peter 3:16-17 AMP

As I have been reading and being reminded in Crazy Love, it's easy to love people who treat you well and love you back. Jesus Himself taught us that here. If I get caught up in nursing hurts and anger I am less likely to pray for the people who need prayers the most and that includes myself and my own attitudes. I am more likely to be overcome with hurt, despair and my own bad feelings rather than overcoming evil with good.

In the past my mode of operation was to spend excess amounts of time wallowing, worrying and stewing over these types of hurts. Now I realize how unproductive that is. These situations are best handled when bathed in prayer, and by getting on with doing all the good things in life that Christ has called us to do. When I went to Al-Anon there was a saying that the members would say to each other in the meeting when someone was doing too much obsessing over the erratic and hurtful behaviour of their addicted loved one. They would say, "Yes that's bad that s/he is doing X-behaviour, but what are you doing FOR YOU?" Then they would go on to say something like, "Are you eating right? Are YOU getting enough sleep? Exercise? Enjoying your favorite hobby? Reading your Bible?"

So, this is me, e.b., working through this stuff.