Take Root and Write

Flex Those Spiritual Muscles!

I had such grand plans for 2010 in the exercise department. But, alas, between my schedule and my dislike of most physical activity, things have not worked out exactly as I envisioned. I’ve not completely bombed, but my sporadic attack on the world of exercise is not the best strategy. I need help!

So, I joined an exercise class, and you want to hear something ironic? The class is held at the same facility where I go get my beloved massage every month. How can the same place hold such an pleasant allure and also be my local house of blood, sweat, and tears? I saw how both pleasure and pain can work together when I started seeing the parallels between the world of physical and spiritual health.

In the Beginning

 Before I started the class, I observed a session to see if it offered what I needed. It did! It wasn’t straight aerobics, but rather focused on participants individually. If someone did not have the same cardiovascular stamina as others or was hindered by a physical limitations, the instructor modified each activity to match the need. I have no cardio stamina and have arm limitations due to long-ago surgery, so I appreciated the necessary accommodations.

The Power of Words

All the powers of darkness, tremble at what they just heard. ‘Cause the powers of darkness can’t drown out a single word. When all God’s children sing out Glory, glory, hallelujah – He  reigns.

If you are Newsboys fan, you probably recognize those lyrics from their hit, “He Reigns.” I love the picture those words paint. Can you imagine the powers of darkness trembling at the words coming out of our mouths? . . . the mouths of God’s children?

I envision our godly words having the same effect on the forces of evil as water did on the wicked Witch of the East in L. Franks Baum’s epic, The Wizard of Oz. Remember how that awful green creature melted when Dorothy, the heroine, threw a bucket of water on her?

The lyrics of that song make me ponder the words coming out of my mouth; not just daily, but moment-by-moment. Do my words cause the unseen forces on the wrong side of God’s kingdom to tremble?

With or Without Wisdom: What Will You Choose?

Life goes on with or without wisdom. The difference seems to be in the ultimate outcome of one’s life depending on his or her choice of walking with or without it.

These days there seems to be a shortage of wisdom. All we have to do is look around at the poor choices dominating our culture. From the national stage and into our homes, people are in desperate need of wisdom. I’m not talking about smarts and academic intelligence, because I’ve seen Ivy League school graduates make horrible choices, and young adults with bright futures and 30+ scores on their ACT college entrant exams make some of the worst decisions imaginable. They may be gifted with intelligence, but greatly lack true knowledge.

Many would disagree with my assertion that wisdom comes from God, but I’ve seen non-believers exhibit and benefit from the sagacious teaching in God’s Word. These individuals may not believe in or realize the source of true wisdom, but when they apply it successfully in their daily lives, even they reap its benefits. However, Christians know where wisdom originates and need to live it out daily.

The Thunder Rolls

Years ago I had a dog who wanted no part of the shiny new doggie door we brought into our home. We thought he was a little crazy because who, man or beast, would not jump at the opportunity to make life a little easier with such a glorious invention!

My husband and I were giddy at the prospect of not having to jump up at all hours of the day and night when our furry family members decided it was time to visit the great outdoors. Plus, we knew that once the dogs got a taste of controlling their own comings and goings, they would love the new contraption as much as we did. There was only one problem...neither beast wanted any part of the state-of–the-art convenience.

We easily taught our first dog how to nose his way back-and-forth through the flap; but our other one, Watson, either couldn’t (or wouldn’t) “get it”. Even after days of teaching and remediation, it looked hopeless; then it happened . . . a thunderstorm!

Do You Have a Thankful Heart?

When my children were small I constantly reminded them to say thank you when they were the recipients of a kind act. When they got a little older (middle-school age), I continued prompting them. By the time they were in high school, they were proficient at expressing a hearty thank you.

I also attempted to teach them to write thank-you notes, but since neither of them enjoyed literature, a written thank you was more of a struggle. One would have thought I asked them to write a novel for publication when I required them to write a meaningful note that did not look like hieroglyphics. I’m not sure who suffered more, the boys or me.

As I look around our society, it appears that the simple act of expressing appreciation is dying. For example, I have yet to receive a thank you note from the last wedding I attended, or a note of thanks for the last two baby gifts I bought. There is no need to cast stones here, because I’m sure I’ve missed a few acknowledgments myself. But, overall, I think the art of “thank you”, whether in written or verbal form, is not what it used to be.

The Wonderful Names of Jesus

 
Kids say the darnedest things. My friend, April, has a three-year old daughter who is a classic example of this principle, and April often posts Julie’s musings on Facebook.

April recently posted a great idea Julie shared with older sister, Audrey, during their playtime escapades. “Let’s pretend we don’t know Jesus and call Him Vince.” I don’t know about you, but that totally cracked me up!

Not only was it completely random, but how precious that Julie knows Jesus well enough for Him to enter her playtime thoughts. The next time I saw April, we shared a giggle over Julie’s “Vince” remark. However, the innocent words of a mere babe made me contemplate the different names we have for Jesus, and I thought it would be fun to explore some of them.

Jesus may not be called "Vince" anywhere that I’m aware of. However, for those that know Him, there are plenty of wonderful names to describe Him; and none are as random as “Vince”.

A Treasure Called Lamentations

Have you ever heard a sermon on the Old Testament book of Lamentations? I haven’t. I must confess I had never looked at its pages until recently. I’m not sure why I bothered, but I’m glad I did.

One reason this book, written by the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, is often overlooked is because the word “lamentations” doesn’t evoke thoughts of cheer. Lament means “to feel or express great sorrow” (Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus, Second Edition) and we tend to be a fun-loving people who prefer to dance around things that could send us into a depression.

A melancholy mood doesn’t fit the stereo-typical demeanor of joy that Christians are expected to parade before a world-wide audience; to act otherwise could appear hypocritical. However, whether it is a believer or non-believer adhering to that perspective, it is wrong.

Most Valuable Player

Did any of you watch Super Bowl XLIV (44) last weekend? I did, but mainly to enjoy the much anticipated commercials. However, I ended up glued to the television as the clash of the 2009-2010 NFL season titans, the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Colts, took to the battle field in a Florida stadium.

 Although the game was not much of a nail-biter, it was a great contest between two formidable teams who earned their way into the biggest game of the year.

Most Valuable Player

Drew Brees performed an excellent game and walked away with much-deserved Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors and was very gracious about his accomplishment. He finished with some impressive statistics:

• Tied the Super Bowl record of 32 pass completions
• Racked up 288 total passing yards
• Threw 2 touchdown passes

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. (Matthew 5:12 NRSV)

Dance Revolution for 2010! - Part 2

 

In Dance Revolution for 2010! – Part 1, I compared our New Year’s resolutions to a dance and suggested we work at gliding through 2010 instead of clunking through with two left feet.  My partner for the year is Time, but Exercise, Good Nutrition, and Relationship all make wonderful partners, but they are just a few of many available for our improvement. The way we approach our new partner and the dance we want to learn doesn’t have to be difficult; sometimes a simple approach yields the best results and I shared the following steps for our Dance Revolution 2010:

• Step #1 - Start with the basics
• Step #2 - Don’t set yourself up for failure
• Step #3 - Set reasonable boundaries on your dance floor

This week I want to finish the steps for our New Year’s dance.

Step #4

Be disciplined, not dogmatic. Dogmatic is a great word, but not so good when we are trying to glide gracefully across the dance floor of 2010. Dogmatic carries with it meanings such as dictatorial, stubborn, fanatical, and overbearing. None of those words would be used to describe a beautiful and pleasant dance between partners.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:4 NIV)

These words probably were not written with New Year’s resolutions or our Dance Revolution 2010 specifically in mind, but I think they fit together. Being dogmatic about our goals does not leave much room for flexibility and leads to guilt instead of discipline. Discipline is a process that develops good habits or behavior. Being dogmatic sets us up for failure, or even worse, leads to ritualistic attitudes instead of a genuine change of heart. Let’s avoid the Dance of the Dogs.

Dance Revolution for 2010! - Part 1

Last year my husband and I took ballroom dance lessons. For someone that claimed he could not dance, Warren did a great job. However, as the class progressed and our attendance waned due to his travel and my schedule, we found ourselves dancing with disaster when the steps progressed to a more complicated level and our practice time dwindled.

The enjoyment we felt quickly evolved into frustration as we clunked across the dance floor with four left feet that grew out of nowhere. We ultimately dropped out of the class because our schedules prevented us from attending class and practicing regularly; the frustration wasn’t worth it. I’m sure there was a lack of discipline on our parts, but it really seemed like time managed us better than we managed it. That mismanagement pretty well defined my entire 2009.

In 2010, I want to manage my time better. As my thoughts rallied around how to accomplish that goal, they did their own clunky dance in my head, and it looked nothing like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers gliding across the dance floor. I had random ideas tumbling around like a monkey in my head, and they were so disjointed I got lost in a jungle of chaos.

Reality Check: Merry Christmas

What exactly does “Merry Christmas” mean? To many, it is a heart-felt gift of well wishes in honor of Jesus’ birth. To some, it is a trite statement appropriate for the season. And to still others, it is an offensive grenade hurled at the camp of political correctness.

 According to my 1939 Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Fifth Edition, merry means “pleasant, delightful and marked by gaiety or festivity.” Christmas means “an annual church festival, kept on December 25 in memory of the birth of Christ."

So, “I wish you a pleasant and delightful time of festivity in keeping with the annual celebration on December 25 to remember the birth of Christ!” In reality, “Merry Christmas” is much easier to say. But, let’s take a deeper look at some other realities revolving around our perceptions of this traditional holiday sentiment.

Reality Check #1 – Economic Matters

In the world of the affluent, a Merry Christmas is often characterized by lavish gift giving and celebration. For average folks, that simple phrase can still represent a festive holiday, but based on a more practical approach. And, then there are those who struggle under the pressure of having little extra or even nothing to mark the season.

Reality Check #2 – Matters of the Heart

Christmas is a joyful time of the year, but for many it is a holiday they wish would go away. For the lonely, the “family and friends” part of the equation is sometimes shaky at best or even nonexistent. They may have few friends. And, when it comes to family, maybe dysfunction, or distance is the backdrop of their reality. Christmas may be the time of year that flushes out painful memories instead of igniting fond reflections. Maybe it’s a reality scarred with the lingering pain of losing of a loved one. Certain circumstances make it hard for some people to feel merry.

Lessons From Tiger's Crash

I know . . . many of you are sick of hearing about Tiger’s Wood’s car (and life) crash. Honestly, I’ve not kept a close watch on his escapades, but it’s hard to miss the media frenzy caused by his indiscretions. Although there may be some Christian media outlets weighing in on Tiger’s troubles, I’d like to share my own observations.

Forgiveness

One public relations expert shared his wisdom regarding Tiger’s troubles. The first thing he would advise the famous golfer to do is seek forgiveness. It’s interesting that this specialist probably makes a nice income guiding sports figures on career decisions and smoothing over moments of reckless behavior, yet the counsel topping his damage control list is available for free from the Bible.

Another industry expert made his wise pronouncement: the sooner someone trapped in their own web of deceit confesses his or her lapse of moral judgment, the better it is for their image. Imagine that, another principle for careless sports celebrities is also nestled within the pages of the greatest book ever written.

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 NIV)

One of the great things about being a Christian is the forgiveness available from God. But, seeking forgiveness from our loved ones, or those we’ve wronged is also important. Although they cannot offer us purity from unrighteousness, seeking a loved one's forgiveness is the first step to healing a fractured relationship. Forgiveness originates with God, but obviously, it has influence in the non-Christian and sports realms, too. Let’s hope Tiger employs this strategy.

Casual Christian vs Captive Christian

I am pretty intentional about my television viewing. I watch a couple of reality shows when they are in season and a few news commentary programs. I rarely just sit and channel surf, but recently I was "surfing" and found myself watching an interview of George Barna, founder of the Barna Group.

The topic of discussion was our country's current cultural decline. During the interview they spotlighted Barna's newest book, America's Seven Faith Tribes. Through his research, Barna identified seven faith tribes in America including Jew, Mormons, Pantheists, Muslims and Skeptics. However, the two that were of particular interest to me were:

• Casual Christian - 66% of the adult population
• Captive Christian - 16% of the adult population

The book describes each of the groups and, although I've not read it, I am intrigued and have added it to my reading list. However, the "Casual Christian" and "Captive Christian" categories got me to thinking, Shona style. Admittedly, I'm no expert like Barna, but I do ponder a lot and these two groups put my thoughts into motion.

My Perception - Divine Power

A few days after the interview I saw a public service announcement (PSA) promoting encouragement. It opens in a great concert hall with a couple realizing their young son has slipped away from his chair and is nowhere to be seen. The magnificent curtain begins its ascension revealing the missing boy center stage, tapping out a two-fingered version of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on a spectacular grand piano.

Watch in horror, the mother tries to convince the little performer's daddy to go corral their wayward son. But, before anyone can react, a man in a tuxedo approaches the pint-sized pianist and encourages him to keep playing. The man, obviously the one everyone has come watch, leans over and envelopes the boy with his outstretched arms reaching toward the keyboard. A wonderful explosion of sound engulfs the concert hall while the boy and the master, literally, make beautiful music together.

Be a Christmas Star!

These days it seems that everyone wants to be some sort of star: a rock star, movie star, sports super star, or an all-star in anything. Don't feel guilty if that describes you; it's only natural that we want to be good at and shine in some area. How about being a Christmas Star?

You may ask, "Don't we already have a Christmas Star; the North Star that the Three Wise Men followed when they found the baby Jesus?"  That's exactly the kind of star I am talking about. When people look at you, do they find Jesus? You know, living in your heart, but shining bright for all to see?

Christmas is a wonderful time, and thankfully it is the widespread celebration of Jesus' birthday even though not everyone realizes what they are celebrating. Unfortunately, many believers don't truly grasp the meaning of the holiday. It's easy to get caught up in the commercial aspects and festivities of Christmas.

How can we become Christmas Stars? None of us will ever be a perfect star, but we can strive for immeasurable joy by doing our best to shine bright so that others, like the Three Wise Men, will find Jesus in us. Let's use the word S-T-A-R.

Overwhelmed and Under Pressure?

Are you feeling overwhelmed and under pressure? These two states of existence manifest themselves in different way. For example, many of us crumble under too much, but I tend to work more efficiently when under a little pressure. Even the four finalists on Dancing with the Stars poked some fun at themselves lip-syncing to the appropriately title song "Under Pressure." It was their way of releasing some of the stresses they feel as a result of the competition.

Whether we feel overwhelmed or under pressure in positive or negative ways, it is a subject worth exploring.

Negative

In the negative sense, I envision water. I'm not much of a swimmer; I don't like water over my head or feeling pressure in my ears. I like to stay above it all, which explains my undying devotion to floaty things. My attitude toward water can be applied to the overwhelming feelings and pressure we often experience in our everyday lives. Very few people relish the thought of being in, over their heads when it comes to daily living; we'd rather float above it all as opposed to drowning in it.

When we fail to address issues or activities that press down on our shoulders like we are sitting on the bottom of the deep end of a swimming pool, we allow negativity to gain a foothold. We all react differently when we get to that point. Many of us snap at those around us. Some of us yell, while others of us shut down altogether. That is the negative side of feeling overwhelmed or living under constant pressure.

Zip-line Adventures

Can you imagine zip-lining through the rain forest canopy surrounded by vegetation so dense the ground and the sky are tucked away from view? Have you ever been in a place where noises originate from undercover creatures and reverberate through the treetops? Can you imagine that? I can; I zip-lined through the Central American rain forest several years ago with a group of teenagers. I was chaperoning middle-school students one summer; destination, Costa Rica. I will never forget flying through the air, dangling beneath cables stretched between jungle trees.

I wasn't real excited about our excursion through the vegetation, but it seemed silly to travel that far and pass on such an adventure. So, there I was. As if the instructions of how to zip among the trees at "100 mph" were not daunting enough, the equipment we had to climb into almost made me bolt toward the safety of the visitor's center.

A harness and helmet I could understand, but why were we attached to two ropes by which to dangle from the zip-line? Oh, right . . . in case one of the cables happened to break. And leather garden-type gloves? Hm. . . a way to slow us down if we happened to break the speed of sound when headed straight toward a tree . . . o-k-a-y. This was sounding worse and worse the further I got into the process.

It was a good thing the fact of being 70 feet above ground was not revealed until we were winding our way up the dusty road toward the trees. I contemplated jumping from our rusty Costa Rican limousine fashioned from an old military vehicle, but my temporary paralysis prevented my escape.

Happy People?

For some reason I have recently been pondering "happy people". I'm not sure what ignited that spark, but I made some interesting discoveries. Through my non-scientific journey into this topic, I've come to the conclusion that no one is an expert in this area. Some of the stuff, and I do mean "stuff", I found on the Internet was laughable.

For me, one suggestion conjured up the idolatrous story of the Hebrew people fashioning a golden calf shortly after all the miracles God performed during the events of the famous exodus from Egypt. This specious guideline for happiness, via a famous television personality, did not specifically tell readers to cast a golden calf, but it did recommend finding our golden selves. I got lost in the jungle of mumbo jumbo describing my "golden" self. However, it was obvious that this type of happiness relied solely on ones own talents and gifts. Reliance on ourselves may make us happy, but, as we will explore, is "happy" what it's all about?

I also found a "happy" song written by a rapper. One must assume that some people derive happiness from what he heralds since he is promoting it on the national stage.

• Groovin' all night long
• Dressing up
• Being in the mood
• Knowing where to party

I wonder why if all that "groovin'" makes us happy, why so many celebrities have problems with drugs, alcohol, strange behavior, and broken families? Maybe that same type of  suspicious "happiness" is why so many regular folks wrestle with similar issues.

Joseph: Man of Endurance

Most of us are familiar with the fight or flight response. There are times we need to stand our ground and there are times to run. I can think of a few things that would cause me run pell-mell in the opposite direction: flesh-eating zombies, a lion prowling the streets, or a tyrannosaurus-rex looking for a snack. Well, even if the t-rex was just strolling down the street, I'd still run. But, there are times that, even though we want to run away and can justify our flight, we need to stand our ground and fight. And sometimes that means enduring.

When I think of someone who endured, my mind races to Joseph, Jacob's beloved son with his favored wife, Rachel. Joseph's story began with his birth in Genesis 30, and stretches like an epic movie through the closing verses of first book of the Bible. Despite some awful adventures, Joseph rose to great heights in a country that wasn't even his own. He was a fighter who endured.

Joseph's story takes an interesting twist because Father, Jacob, favored Joseph over the other sons. It's a long story, however the short version is that Joseph received a multi-colored coat from his father, which gave, Joseph, the favored son a "big head" and made his brothers jealous. Exacerbating the situation, Joseph shared two dreams in which his entire family bowed down to him (Genesis 37:5-11). Talk about fuel on an already smoldering fire; out of spite, his brothers sold their "spoiled brother" to some spice merchants who carried him off to Egypt. The deceitful brothers then told father Jacob that the favorite son was dead (Genesis 37:28).

In Life, In Death

Watson joined our family in October 1994; he left this world September 28, 2009.

Some people don't understand the place a furry friend inhabits in our hearts, but I think most do. Losing a pet is like losing a family member. Some of you may remember some of the stories I've written about Watson ("Through God's Eye's - Part 2" , "Adoration Manifestation", and "Come To Me") and the wonderful insights he provided me into God's world. Well, Watson's death was no different. He gave me glimpses of God until the very end.

Watson was a happy little guy, but was scarred by what must have happened to him before I found him on the side of a highway in southern New Mexico fifteen years ago. He brought a lot of baggage into our family. Initially, it took me thirty minutes to catch him. After assuming that the hapless pup was not going to let me catch him, I turned to my car and started walking away. I guess it was then that he figured he'd better not let me out of sight; he ran up behind me and jumped on my legs. When I turned, there was no mistaking his pleading eyes, "Take me home." And, I did.

Despite having Watson for almost fifteen years, there was always a small barrier in our relationship. I was never able to cuddle with and love on him like our others pups. Because of the baggage, filled with "who-knows-what" that burdened Watson's soul, he was always on guard. He wasn't opposed to snapping if he felt threatened or surprised by an unexpected touch. I guess that just goes to show that baggage is as cumbersome for dogs to drag around as it is for people.

Sin: A Blow to Our Souls

It happened so fast! I did not see it coming, but when the baseball slammed into my face, I knew something was up. Much like that "brave" bird, Chicken Little, I briefly wondered if the sky was falling, but the reality of a foul ball screaming over the fence of the adjacent field and into the bleachers where I sat, soon came into focus.

It's hard to believe that the misguided ball did not cause any pain when it hit my cheek bone. Thankfully, the earpiece on my sunglasses served as a divine buffer between the sphere's trajectory and softened the blow to my head.

The horrified looks of those around me, the offers of ice, and choruses of, "Are you alright?" actually embarrassed me more than anything because the impact did not hurt and didn't seem like that big of a deal. It didn't even break my glasses or knock them off of my head; it seemed like much ado about nothing. But then, I felt the knot mushrooming from the point of impact. It was about that time I thought it prudent to accept the offers of ice and ibuprofen from the kind people sitting around me; I watched the remainder of the game holding a chunk of ice against my cheek while thoughts of Natasha Richardson's untimely death (due to a blow to the head) danced around the worry-wart portion of my brain. It was a sobering and unexpected way to spend an afternoon watching my son play baseball.

Be Still

I recently accompanied my husband, Warren, on a business trip. For me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling with Warren is being away from home with no set routine, which translates into the joy of sleeping late. Slipping in and out of consciousness while my body gets in sync with the rising sun, is a much more delightful way to wake up than to the sound of a blaring alarm clock announcing the new day.

During this trip, however, during my more wakeful states, I kept hearing the haunting sound of gentle chimes. The melodic tones were easily drowned out by other noises such as the air conditioner or running water; unless I listened very carefully in the quiet stillness of the new day, I could not hear them.

I pondered the origin of the eerie chimes for two days. Looking out my third-story window did little to reveal where the sounds were coming from; there was no feasible place to hang chimes on the smooth outside walls of the hotel. Thus, the mystery only deepened. Then my over-active imagination decided to weigh in and created a novel-like scenario starring a heroine in a flowing white nightgown. Her hair was gently blowing in a strange breeze. Walking as one locked in an unnatural trance, she glided toward the eerie music leaving the safety of her Victorian room as she unwittingly moved toward an unknown danger.

The image of the captivated young woman slowly faded as the chimes were usurped by a multitude of noises as the day moved forward. However, as the world once again became quiet at days end, the somber melodies returned. Finally, on the third night I asked Warren if he heard the chimes or if I my classic novel-loving mind was working overtime. Thankfully, he provided the easy answer: the chiming was a feature on the alarm clock provided by the hotel as background noise for restless sleepers.

From Complaining to Praising

A few weeks ago I wrote about complaining in the context of an impatient heart. Today, I want to explore how we can actually use complaining to lead us into a place of praising our awesome God.

Over the past few months I've been observing the treatment, or lack thereof, of one my friends by the Christian community. As far as I can tell, she has been overlooked by those who should be the first in line to offer assistance and embrace her during a difficult season.

It's hard to understand how the body of believers can miss a brother or sister in need. I suppose it happens more than we Christians care to admit and I'm sure I've overlooked opportunities under my own nose. However, God has recently been convincing me to better nurture my own relationships, so I've been available for my friend and have received many blessings. But, before you think me some sort of saint, stop right there; I've generated plenty of negative energy because I don't understand why so many in my friend's Christian circle are not stepping up to help her. I don't mind helping; I just hate to see this situation in the kingdom of God . . . it shouldn't happen! I found myself pondering, complaining, and trying really hard not to be judgmental.

Hippity Hoppin' Church Shoppin' - The Conclusion

Last January I wrote about playing the game, Hippity Hoppin' Church Shoppin'; my Odyssey-type adventure searching for the right church. Well, I am happy to report that, true to my New Year's resolution, I have found a wonderful place to worship . . . Zion Worship Center in the Espanola Valley. I drive down from my mountaintop perch to get there, but the majestic views, few stop lights, and the treasure at the end of Highway 502 is well worth the effort.

Admittedly, I was resistant when the Spirit nudged me about two months ago, "Shona, it's time for you to find a church." I did not want to bother; would a new search yield different results? Despite my overwhelming desire to sweep that prompting aside, I started looking.

Several months prior to my unwilling mission, I met a lady living in a neighboring town. She was attending a new church and gave it rave reviews. Remembering our conversation, I called Karen Evans, a Take Root and Write colleague, and inquired about the church. She encouraged me to call the pastor. I did and by the time I finished talking to him, I knew his church was worth checking out. The following Sunday, I drove off "the hill" and attended church for the first time in several months. Remembering the biases I had taken to other churches, I prayed.

Transparency, Reality, and the Wonderful World of God

This post almost didn't happen. Ever had one of those weeks? Well, we all have them so I'm not expecting any sympathy. I was planning to let my post fall by the wayside, but being the senior editor of Take Root and Write, I can't expect the other writers to get drafts in if I can't do it myself. Thankfully, God used my circumstances to inspire me to write about being busy; something that creates a struggle for many of us. It reminds me of that old saying "if the devil can't make you bad, he makes you busy."

Transparency

Many of us struggle with transparency. When we are "transparent" that means we open our inner selves us up to those around us; that is hard. I've had to be transparent lately . . .with myself! I had to admit that I cannot do it all. Not that anything I do takes an inordinate amount of time, it's just that I have many small things that, together, require a lot of time and effort.

Humbly, I admitted to God that I need Him, I mean really need Him. I had to admit to myself that it is important to take breaks. I've even realized that no one is bothered by or, dare I say "cares" about, my schedule; they are busy trying to meet their own commitments and they need prayer, too.

Why, as Christian women, do we think we must emulate the "organized-in-all-aspects-of-her-life" Proverbs 31 Woman? Maybe because, as Christians, we are held to a higher standard because of our beliefs; people either don't know that Christianity is life-long journey or they tend to forget it. I don't believe any of us really think we are perfect, but do we subconsciously try to live that way? If we are transparent with ourselves, we will let go when necessary and humbly admit that we aren't flawless. That's when we need to bask in the mercy and grace that is ours through Jesus Christ.

From the Heart of the Wienermobile

One of the highlights of my summer vacation came on a stretch of interstate highway in Tulsa, Oklahoma; we encountered the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile! The odd-shaped vehicle provided a fun reprieve from the boredom of the open and very long road.

We pointed and gawked while shifting in our seats and craning our necks in order to catch the monstrosity from every angle. Our cell phones smoked as we snapped picture after picture and shouted commands to our unfortunate chauffeur who doubled as the head of our household. Each of us hoped to capture a once in a lifetime photo of the oddity speeding down the road.

At one point we were side-by-side with the Wienermobile and it's humongous windows provided a glimpse into the heart of giant frankfurter. It was hot dog through and through! Not only were all the occupants wearing matching "wiener-red"shirts, but the dashboard on both the driver and passenger's side were small replicas of the wienie-fied exterior. Yes, hot dog through and through!

So, what can we learn from the heart of the Wienermobile? We can use its transparency to evaluate ourselves. Are we Christian through and through? Much like the giant hot dog traveling down the highway, the Christian life is a journey that, little by little, crafts a godly heart deep within our souls. However, we won't be perfect until we are face-to-face with Jesus. But in the meantime, we need to do our best to be Christians through and through. Even though we don't have windows (like the Wienermobile) exposing our insides, our actions are on display before a watching world.

How Long?

During difficult seasons or when God does not move fast enough for me, my mantra quickly becomes, "How long!" We can easily excuse our lack of patience by blaming today's culture filled with slogans like Just Do It and Get 'Er Done. However, we have no one to blame but our own impatient human nature. It's been that way since the beginning of time because even the Bible proves that question has been rolling off the tongues of people for centuries.

A quick count in The New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, reveals the phrase "how long" used forty-eight times: either directed toward God by the people or spoken to the people by God. Generally, a question follows that phrase such as, "How long...do I have to wait before my son/daughter accepts Jesus?. . .must I endure this man before you mend my marriage?" When we utter those words, we send them to God because He directs all time. We easily understand the concept of God as a time keeper, however we often miss the other part of the equation that things happening according to His schedule precisely because He IS the Time Keeper of the Universe. That's when our impatience gets us into trouble.

Man's Perspective

Abram and Sarai (better known as Abraham and Sarah) let impatience get the better of them. When Abram was an old man, he asked God who would inherit his estate. God promised Abram an heir from his own body. Despite his age, Abram "believed the Lord" (Genesis 15:6 NIV). So Abram waited and waited, but his wife Sarai bore him no children. After what we assume was many years, Sarai offered Abram her maidservant, Hagar, and he finally became a father. The only problem was, they had not waited on the Lord and the son, Ishmael, was not the promised son.

Rockin' with the Robins and God! - Part 2

In part one of this two-part series, I shared a couple of spiritual lessons I learned while watching a robin family nesting on my front porch. The parallels between God and the high-flying parents, that took such good care of their nestlings, unveiled themselves in the similarities of their roles as providers and protectors. Today, I want to share the third and final lesson I gleaned from my observation post at the kitchen-window. Let's pick up where I left off last time . . . the snake attack!

Providence

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

I didn't so much get this revelation from the robins, but rather from my reaction to the unfortunate attack on their happy home. Immediately upon discovering that a snake was wreaking all the havoc, I ran out the front door. I don't mind snakes, but the thought of handling one is creepy. However, despite my usual queasiness when I think of touching the scaly critters, I was ready to grab a certain snake by the tail and hurl him across the yard; no questions asked! In the few seconds it took me to get out the door and on the scene, the snake had slithered away. Although the immediate danger had passed, baby birds were now scattered around my yard; I saw one catching his breath under my car.

I ran into the house to grab a cloth and then started my "graceful" attempts to gather the traumatized baby into the safety of my hands. After a few failed attempts I secured the tiny creature in the small red rag. With the help of my son and a foot ladder, the baby once again sat in his cozy nest. I found the second baby and, after quite a chase through my yard (and the neighbors drive-way), I soon cradled the second refugee in the palm of my hands. Putting baby number two back in the nest didn't go as well as the first and I found myself standing on a precarious ladder juggling baby birds! Bottom line, the baby's free will took over and they launched themselves from their nest and into a dangerous world; I reluctantly let them go.

Rockin' with the Robins and God! - Part 1

I looked out my kitchen window and discovered that Crazy Robin had fashioned a nest on the gutter by my front porch. She had been pecking on my window all summer; there must have been some good reason she wanted in my house, but who can know the mind of a robin? Despite my lack of ability to discern the thoughts of Crazy Robin, I do know about the birds and the bees and wasn't too surprised when the nest was blessed with a trio of baby birds.

Crazy Robin and her mate were great parents. They were ever watchful over their tiny brood and kept them feasting on some of the choicest worms I've ever seen. Whether Mom and Dad were up early catching worms or providing a slimy buffet in the heat of the day, the babies grew a little plumper with each passing day. Rain or shine, hot or cold, stormy or still, the parents always watched over and provided for their young ones. I enjoyed observing the feathery family while gleaning a multitude of spiritual lessons that presented themselves through their everyday escapades.

Providers

He (Jesus) said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse not barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" (Luke 12:22-24 NIV)

Watching Mr. and Mrs. Robin and the care they took over their little ones, the parallel with God was obvious! Just like the ever-watchful and providing parents, God does the same for His children. Sometimes with all the starvation in the world and those whose physical needs are not being met, God's provision does not always make sense; our finite minds limit our ability to know the mind of God.

Spiritual Orientation

Every once in a while I start my day off in a mental stupor. It isn't a bad thing and may be a common occurrence among the non-morning people of the world. For me, it just means that it takes a few minutes for my brain to start firing right.

On those particular mornings I wake up with incomplete and bizarre thoughts. For example, I'll think I have a pet that I have forgotten to feed and the poor thing is either starving or dead due to neglect. When my mind starts to wake up I am relieved to discover that I only have three dogs and they are all well fed and far from being neglected.

I'll also wake to thoughts of a guest in my home that I've completely ignored or a writing project I've forgotten to complete. My disoriented state is only momentary, but it reminds me of the importance of being properly oriented.

I didn't intend for this to become a word study, but my simple search to define "disoriented" turned into an interesting exercise. First, "disorient" is not in the dictionary so I had to break it down into "orient" and the prefix "dis". This is what I found:

Orient - The East; esp., the countries east of the Mediterranean or of Asia generally; sometimes,         eastern Asiatic countries. To set right by adjusting to facts or principles; to put (esp. oneself) into correct position or relation; to acquaint (esp. oneself) with the existing situation.

Dis- - Separation or parting from, as in dismiss, distribute, dissuade.

(Webster, Noah. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts: G.& C. Merriam Co., 1939)

The Ever-Watchful Restrainer

Despite living in the city, there is a surprising amount of wildlife in my backyard. There is a snake family headed by Adam and Eve, complete with children. We have a variety of birds that build nests and multiply the bird population every season. And recently, my husband captured a curious mole rat who ventured into our bedroom via a doggie door; two nights later a hapless skunk made an early morning detour through our yard. I love wildlife, but nothing prepared me for the unannounced guest that visited last summer.

One afternoon I decided to ignore chores and read on my back patio. Relaxing in the middle of the day is out of character for me, but I was feeling rebellious. As I read, the birds behind me started chirping. A quick glance over my shoulder convinced me that some fledglings had taken their first tentative flights and were catching a much needed rest on the ground; I continued reading.

The birds kept up their cacophonous squawking while the bushes to my right rustled. The noisy antics were getting annoying and I wished that all the hoopla would die down. It eventually did, but then a new interruption took center stage . . . a four-foot rattlesnake was slithering in the grass about six feet from where I sat. Being fairly low-keyed, I stared at the snake for a few seconds and then my thoughts raced to my three terriers. No doubt, they would see this deadly intruder either as a wacky and wonderful new toy, or as a serious threat to them and their humans. Either way, I could see them pouncing on Mr. Rattler.

Driven by concern for my furry babies, I ran through the house to close the doggie door. As I passed my husband, I mentioned the snake and, being quick to react, Warren flew into action. (Our dogs never knew of the danger lurking in our yard.) I hated that Warren ultimately killed the undulating creature, but under the circumstances, that was our best option.

Plagued by Plagues? Part Three

In this final installment of "Plagued by Plagues?" we are going to look at the last plague in Exodus 8. In part one of this series we looked at the "Plague of Overbundance", and in part two we explored the "Plague of Improper Perspective." Part three will focus on . . . the "Plague of Compromise."

The Plague of Compromise

In Exodus 8, verses 20-30, Moses asks Pharaoh to let the Israelites travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to God. However, the stubborn pharaoh does not let them go per God's instructions, so true to His word, God sent swarms of flies to descend on the Egyptian officials and citizens.

The fly infestation was enough to get Pharaoh thinking that he needed to do some rethinking. So, he went back to the negotiation table with Moses in order to discuss the terms of God's desert sacrificing session. Per God's instructions, Moses asked for three days journey into the desert, but Pharaoh makes this offer:

"I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the desert, but you must not go very far" (Exodus 8:28 NIV).

Pharaoh was going to let them go, but not as fully as God prescribed . . .Pharaoh wanted to compromise which is tantamount to disobedience in God's world.

Compromise is everywhere . . . even in the pages of the Bible. In Samuel 8, the Isrealites dismissed godly leadership because they wanted an earthly king (instead of the Divine Leader) to rule over them. Samuel warned them of the sacrifices they would have to make if they chose a monarch from among the tribes. "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and go out before us and fight battles" (1 Samuel 8:19-20). They had lost sight of the fact that God had already proven He could do all that they desired from the control room of heaven. Their compromise cost them God's leadership.

Plagued by Plagues? Part Two

Last week we visited Exodus 8 and unveiled how today's Christians can become victims of various plagues much like the ones that God sent on the Egyptians. We explored the "Plague of Overabundance" (represented by frogs) and how a Christian's spiritual life can be infected in much the same way. Today we are going to unravel the mystery of one more plague.

The Plague of Improper Perspective

The second plague we encounter in Exodus 8 is insects emerging from the dust of the earth. No one knows exactly what kind of bugs made up this hideous plague, but it's safe to assume that, by sheer numbers, they made the Egyptians extremely uncomfortable.

Unlike frogs, bugs can be found everywhere. We aren't too surprised when we find them crawling in our homes, gnawing on our clothes, and sometimes burrowing in our bodies (yuck!). Since one of the sacred things the Egyptians worshiped was a scarab (fancy name for a dung beetle), we shouldn't be surprised that God used bugs to "bug" them. However, another interesting aspect of this invasion of bugs is where they originated. . .the dust of the earth; the world.

In this second plague a small, insignificant bug burst forth from the earth, and became one huge problem when it united with others of its kind. In much the same manner, we allow small, insignificant things to burst forth and cause big problems in our lives when they unite with other small, insignificant things or ideals, skewing our perspective. The world is a place where many small, yet perverted ideas or actions burst forth and gain a foothold because they are not kept in a proper (or godly) perspective. And, much like the bugs emerged form the dust of the earth, our improper points-of-view often arise from the world.

Plagued By Plagues? Part One

The bubonic plague was a horrifying disease that swept through fourteenth century Europe killing a large portion of the population. It was dubbed the "Black Death" because its victims were marred with black boils of blood that festered beneath the skin due to internal bleeding. Symptoms of the insidious disease also included swollen lymph nodes called buboes, hence the name "bubonic."

Much like the bubonic plague, the spiritual realm is swollen with negative forces that, if left untreated, can become ugly black boils in a believer's life. Today, the bubonic plague is treatable because of medical advances if its victim recognizes the symptoms and takes advantage of available antibiotics. Likewise, Christians need to recognize the symptoms of spiritual plagues that infect their lives and administer  "spiritual antibiotics" to treat the disease.

Exodus 8 provides a pitre dish of three plagues that Christians may identify in our owns lives. They are revealed because of Moses' quest to free the Israelites from their oppressive existence in Egypt. The epic battle between Moses and Pharaoh involved as series of plagues that came, oddly enough, compliments of idols the Egyptians worshiped.

The Plague of Overabundance

One of the deities the Egyptians worshiped was Heka, a frog-headed goddess. As long as frogs kept their place in the mighty Nile and frog-appropriate water holes, they were considered somewhat sacred. However, when this slimy idol of national worship overran their water boundaries and invaded neighborhoods and home, the Egyptians didn't think the amphibians were so delightful after all. When Heka's hippity-hopping buddies invaded every nook and cranny of dry land, her misguided admirers were plagued by the object of their idol worship.

The Cookies That Can Be Sin

Like so many women, I love chocolate. I love it so much that when my son recently played in a baseball double header, I bought a giant chocolate, chocolate-chip cookie along with a bottle of water between games. It was a hot day so the cool water was refreshing and the ooey-gooey cookie was delicious.

As I ate the chocolate dream riddled with melted chips, I was careful to wipe my lips and the corners of my mouth. I am notorious for getting chocolate residue all over the outside portal leading to my stomach. I was proud of myself for remembering that small, hygienic detail that cracks my husband up on the occasions I forget. After my meticulous, cat-like grooming session, I turned to talk to another parent who, upon gazing on my post-cookie face, told me I had chocolate all over my nose! After wiping the offending substance from my nose, I noticed chocolate on my forearm. Upon addressing that mess, I saw a patch on my other arm and then on my leg! Chocolate was everywhere despite my efforts to stay clean. Then, I noticed it on my white tee-shirt. That was it, I just had to laugh at the persistent chips that had melted onto my every appendage.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed my cookie that hot day in the bleachers, I was a total mess. Much like my tasty tidbit, no matter how hard we try to keep our spiritual lives spotless, Christians often encounter ooey-gooey "sin" cookies that get all over no matter how hard we try to stay clean. And sometimes our problem cookie doesn't start out as a bad thing, but we end up dirty anyway.

For example, I discovered the joy of Bible study when my boys were preschoolers and I was in the Word almost twenty-four hours a day. I don't think any Christian would say that Bible study is a bad thing, but it became a messy cookie in my life when I started snapping at my children when they disturbed MY study time. It consumed a large portion of my day that should have been devoted to my role as a wife and mother. Although God loves it when we seek kingdom knowledge, I don't think He appreciated the way I was pursuing it. I was not presenting my boys with a proper reflection of God; what child is going to be drawn to anything that turns their mom a raving lunatic because of a simple interruption. I was cheating my boys and God.

I was also cheating myself. When I studied the Bible and let my other responsibilities slide, I became the author my own stress; my house was a mess, the kids were demanding the attention I neglected to give them, and my mind was stretched in so many different directions that there was no way I could effectively soak in the wonderful lessons from the Bible. I allowed my pursuit of God to become a bad cookie that left a mess all over my life even though I was trying my best to stay clean.

Growing Up Christian

Have you ever held a newborn baby? When I held my first son, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the thought of my power and the extreme state of his helplessness. The revelation of being Brian's protector stung as it penetrated my heart, mind, and soul. Not only that, but it dawned on me that I was also his nurturer, counselor, teacher, and his mommy. The long-past revelation still moves me when I travel back through the years to those thoughts forever burned into my soul.

Did you know that God feels the same way for each newborn Christian? He probably isn't overwhelmed, but can you imagine the Creator of the Universe feeling that way about you and me? Well, He does. He is every newborn believer's protector, nurturer, counselor, teacher, and Daddy. The only tricky part is that He is our Heavenly Father and resides in heaven. But the great thing about God is that He has many God-inspired helpers here on earth. One of His greatest spiritual helpers was the Apostle Paul.

Paul wrote much of the New Testament (in the form of letters to those he lead) because he truly loved the first century believers. He saw them much as newborn babes and he took his responsibility seriously. Paul protected them, nurtured them, taught them, and became their spiritual "daddy" in godly matters. His role as a spiritual father is evident in Hebrews 5:12-14:

". . .though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching of righteousness. But solid food is for the more mature, who by constant use have distinguished good from evil" (NIV).

Like most parents, Paul realized that babies need milk for a time before they are ready for solid food. It is the same with new Christians; they need spiritual milk for nourishment before they are able to sit down and digest a spiritual meal of meat and potatoes. However, the Hebrews that Paul is addressing in the above passage should have already graduated to "table food"; they were not growing properly and were spiritually stunted. They still needed "spiritual milk". Enough time had passed that they should have been ready to help nourish other newborn Christians coming along behind them, but they were not ready. So, the question presents itself: What are our responsibilities as growing Christians in the context of Hebrews 5:11-14?

Beauty In Humility

There is beauty in humility. Someone displaying humility is a breath of fresh air compared to a person suffering from arrogance.

I once used the television show, The Bachelor, to illustrate honesty and now, once again, it provides another example for "Practical Christianity" . . . humility. This time, however, it is a single young lady attempting to find her soul mate and the show, aptly named The Bachelorette, introduced us to thirty young men vying for Jillian's attention.

Episode by episode, the arrogance of one of the male contestants slowly crept out. David appeared to be plagued with an overabundance of testosterone and a lack of humility. In one show he wanted to beat up a rival and then he gloated to Jillian that he was used to being "top dog". In another episode he was flabbergasted when Jillian refused to give him a little kiss.

I realize much of what takes place on most reality shows ends up on the cutting room floor so sometimes things are not always as they seem. However, after the kiss-refusing scene, I was flabbergasted when David thought Jillian was really "digging" him and playing hard to get. He must have missed the "get me outta here" look on Jillian's face when he went in for a smooch. A more humble man probably would have been more of a gentleman and probably would have not have put his date in that position or made such arrogant remarks. Needless to say, that was his last episode . . .Jillian sent him packing.

My intention is not to spend a lot of time on arrogance, but a good, "bad" example is a powerful learning tool. Now that we've seen an illustration of an arrogant attitude, let's look at a great example of humility, Jesus. If we pick up any of the Gospels, we are flooded with pictures of Jesus' humility. He associates with and cares for everyone no matter their social or economic status, their age or livelihood, nationality, or gender. He never usurps God's authority, and He dies for our sins even though He is the King of kings! Jesus displays humility and, even though He is who He is, He never forces Himself on anyone despite the fact He loves us dearly.

How Is Your Bible IQ? Part 2

Last week I shared way to improve your Bible IQ and why it is important. This week we continue with more of my favorite Bible study resources. Let's begin with two commentators that I didn't get to list last week.

Matthew Henry. Here's an oldie, but goodie! Several years ago I won his Commentary in One Volume in a Christian book store grand opening giveaway. I had never heard of him, but quickly fell in love with his amazing late 1600 and early 1700 writings. His teaching is not only solid, but his insights have stood the test of time.

For those who want to explore prophecy I think John F. Walvoord's books on Daniel and Revelation are noteworthy. One word of caution if prophecy interests you: do not get so entrenched in this subject that you forget the here and now. Many reputable scholars have different points of view when it comes to prophecy. Although prophecy has its place in any Christian's education, I've seen people become so consumed it is unhealthy. They tend to study only prophecy and argued with other believers who do not agree with them. God is saddened when His children allow His Word to cause unnecessary divisions, but He smiles on any believer who seeks to understand any part of His Word.

Although the list of commentators I've shared in this series are some of my favorites, it is by no means comprehensive. However, if you are hungry for more knowledge of the Bible, I highly recommend any of the commentators I have mentioned.

How Is Your Bible IQ? Part 1

Whenever you have the opportunity to play Bible trivia, do you rub your hands together and salivate as you anticipate answering all the questions?. . .or do you quietly dismiss yourself because, deep down inside, you are afraid you might embarrass yourself with your lack of knowledge? I don't ask this question to solicit guilt from anyone, but rather because I was recently reminded how important it is for God's people to know His Word. I visited a church with a friend and was deeply disturbed by the pastor's message. The specific message is not the focus of today's post, but rather the importance of every Christian to know the Bible well enough to discern when a bunch of bunk is being spewed from the pulpit by those who are suppose to be leaders of the flock. Hence my question to you . . .How is your Bible IQ?

No Christian is going to agree with everything a pastor or Bible teacher says. We would be naive to believe every single thing a fallible person teaches us, but even though we may not understand everything the Bible says, that is our infallible source of information. Sincere students of the Bible can rely on the Holy Spirit to assist us on our journey to understanding be it by revelation, life experiences, or even inspiration from others. Another reason believers should not rely solely on the specific teachings of one person or group is that, as fallible humans, we will see minor points differently; that's why denominational differences exist. Certain parts of our Christian faith are undeniable truths no matter what church we belong to; Jesus' death and resurrection for our sins, the virgin birth, and Jesus' equality with God are examples of truths that are not open to discussion. Any teachings contrary to these truths should raise red flags or cause us to run the other direction.

My family once attended a church where one of the youth leaders did not believe in the virgin birth. Needless to say, I vowed never to let that individual teach my kids. I've also heard pastors say things such as, "There's no reason to study the Book of Revelation; God wins and and that's all you need to know," and "The book of Jonah is an extended parable." Statements such as those should cause us to take pause. They also present a great backdrop to ask this question: Do you know enough about the Real Thing so that you can recognize counterfeit teachings or cheap imitations? Again, I ask . . .How is your Bible IQ?

Fear Not

When I was little, the street sweeper terrified me. Back then I must have understood of the beast's purpose somewhat, because I called it the "Finders Keepers, Loser Sweeper." If I was in the front yard when the insidious piece of machinery decided to sweep our street, I hid behind a young tree immediately upon hearing its approaching roar. Honestly, for as little as I was, that poor little sapling did little to hide me no matter how tightly I closed my eyes and hugged it. Although it was a silly fear, to a little one who didn't know much about the world, it was very real.

Fear manifests itself in many ways. My irrational fear prevented me from enjoying peaceful playtime in my own front yard. Most people (and perhaps many children) probably knew that my giant monster had no intentions of jumping the curb to gobble me up, but I didn't understand that. My ignorance was a catalyst for my fear.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow his precepts have good understanding. (Psalm 111:10 NIV)

Fear in the context of this Scripture is a reverent respect for God, unlike my scary perception of the street sweeper. We should not fear God in a scary, traumatic sense, but rather in a way that recognizes His power and authority. In a loose comparison, we should respect street sweepers (and other types of heavy equipment) enough to stay away from them when they are in use. If I had been older I could have met my fear head on and investigated that intimidating iron beast. I would have discovered the beast's true purpose was not to eat little girls. Imagine the peace I would have experienced. It's the same with God. When we fear Him it should cause us to want to learn more about Him. That's why Psalm 111:10 tells us that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Maybe our fear of God does begin with a fear similar to mine, but it doesn't have to stay that way. As we investigate God, His love for us is unveiled. And, the more we learn about Him, the more we fall in love with Him. A reverent fear is appropriate with God, but an irrational fear is never appropriate. If you think about it, the principle we can draw from the Psalm is to use fear to our advantage; let's make an effort to understand all our fears. Who knows, we might find we have nothing to fear at all.

Life Is Where It's At, Part Three

Now that my college son is home for the summer, there is a whole new world of music shaking the walls in the Neff household. Thankfully, I can tolerate much of it. However, some of the "artistry" gives me a headache.

Recently Brian drove me to town and we enjoyed some sugary treats from the local drive-in. Since he was playing chauffeur I experienced a sound explosion of head banging tunes. Being a curious mother, I inquired as to the name of each group and what they were singing about. I was totally shocked on two separate occasions: 1) when one of the groups was called Five Finger Death Punch and 2) another group was Christian. Well, shut my mouth . . .death and Christianity in the same sound explosion. My big question: "How does one tell the difference?"

Despite the fact the purpose of this three-part series is life, the first two posts focused on death. We discussed the "dead body" of Romans 7:24 and then "dead" faith versus "active" faith. We looked at death in order to identify what hinders our spiritual walk. However, today I want to explore "life". And, as the illustration above shows the challenge of distinguishing Christian music from that of secular, sometimes it is hard to determine what separates life from death as we navigate this fallen world.

What exactly is life? Is it being the life of the party? Is it the quest for the meaning of life?. . .the game of life, the circle of life, or family life? Everyone defines life according to their own perceptions and life experiences, but Christians need to define life in the context of Jesus.

In order to determine which of my son's songs were performed by a Christian group, I could do some digging. I could investigate the lyrics to see what each group is singing about (I would have to use written lyrics because I can't understand what any of the groups are screaming about) and I could research each group. Likewise, Christians need to educate themselves in order to determine what "life" is in the Christian realm. The best place to start is in the Bible.

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NRSV)

Life Is Where It's At, Part Two

 

Last week we explored the dead bodies that love to hitch rides on our backs. These guests, although unwelcome, often receive engraved invitations into our lives when we engage in ungodly activities. These activities, which can include gossip, murder, and everything in between, allow the corruption of sin to hinder our faith.

This week we are going explore "dead" faith.

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. (James 2:26 NRSV)

This verse describes doing goods works as a result of faith. If we have faith in Jesus but it does not spur us into action, it is a "dead" faith. However, if it compels us to do for others, it is an "active" faith. Just like that dead and rotting body in Romans 7:24 that we want to avoid, likewise we don't want to be associated with a dead faith.

A quick study of the word active yields phrases such as "active volcano" and "pursuing business with vigor". (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Fifth Edition, 1939 and American Dictionary of the English Language, 1829.) When looking up the word dead, definitions such as "lifeless" and "being without spirit" jumped off of the pages at me.

Christians need to strive for a faith that erupts with the power of a volcano! That is much more worthwhile than a lackluster "dead" faith. When we live an active faith we become movers and shakers in God's kingdom which also allows Him to bless us abundantly. In John 10:10 Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." We must never give that body of dead faith an engraved invitation to sit on our backs.

Life Is Where It's At, Part One

Practical Christianity is all about life. Generally the only thing about death that attracts people these days are funerals and they are meant to celebrate life. They also help people begin the grief process so they can continue to live despite the void created by the loss of a loved one.

Other than that, death should not be glorified or sought after (however, cases of great sacrifice or necessity are exceptions such as Jesus' death or fighting for loved ones . . .those instances are done to unselfishly preserve life.) It is no secret that death was state-of the-art amusement in ancient Rome. Many "games" in the coliseum perverted the culture by pitting gladiator against gladiator and Christians against lions. Unfortunately, the Roman Empire was not the only civilization that considered death a means of entertainment, torture, or punishment; evidence of death jumps from the pages of many history books.

Death as a "lifestyle" did not die with ancient history; it is alive an well today in the form of terminating pregnancies and legalized physician assisted suicide. In the world of Christianity, death is seen as God's business. But, life is also His business and God invites us to live to the fullest while here on earth.

If Practical Christianity is all about life, why are so many Christians spiritually dead? Why are we grouchy and not accomplishing things for God's kingdom? What prevents us from growing and maturing as believers? Why and what creates a dead spiritual life in so many of us?

The Dead Body of Romans 7:24

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:14-15, 24 NIV)

There you have it . . .we are slaves to sin (our flesh) even though we are saved by Jesus. That sin nature is a part of us as long as we are in these earthly shells. It is a "two-fer" deal: body of flesh and sin nature. I once heard a teaching on the "dead body" mentioned in verse 24. Evidently, in Paul's day people sometimes received punishment by having a dead body attached to their backs. As the corpse decayed, the decay spread to the flesh of the living person providing the piggy-back ride. Paul compared his own spiritual life to a corpse rotting on his back. That is a pretty disgusting illustration, but it gets to the heart of the matter.

Relationships Rock!

A couple of days ago I attended a memorial service that reminded me that relationship is what Christianity is all about. It also reaffirmed what I think many of us will not admit: we often let relationships slip through our fingers.

I have some awesome friends from my mother's generation with whom, I am ashamed to say, I have let our relationships slip through my fingers. One of these wonderful people is the wife of the dear man whose service I attended. I was embarrassed that I did not realize how serious his health concerns had become. Busyness had taken control of my life and my relationships.

Although the final good-byes are hard to say, they often become a catalyst that bring revelation; I was reminded how important people are and I wanted to take that first step toward restoration and renewal of some long neglected relationships. I started that day! Not only did I share a long overdue hug with my grieving friend, but all my other older buddies were there and I took full advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with every single one of them! It was truly a blessing nestled within a sad day of heartfelt good-byes.

Relationships are everywhere; even in places we never expect to find them. The internet has introduced to me many wonderful new friends. Even though most of us have never met in person, they are true friends. We LOL (laugh out loud) together, we share similar interests, and best of all, we all love God! They are a wonderful group of ladies and I feel blessed to consider them friends.

The True Treasure Hunt, Part Two

"...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth" (2 Timothy 1 and 15 NRSV).

Last week's "Practical Christianity" told about my sixteen-year old son's Easter egg hunt. The day that article posted I received a newsletter from a wonderful couple originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico. They, along with their three active young sons, are Campus Crusade missionaries at Cornell University in New York.

In their newsletter, they shared a story that is a perfect follow up to last week's post, ("The True Treasure Hunt"). With J.W. and Stephanie Betts' permission (and names changed), here is the wonderful story they shared with supporters based on J.W.'s Spring Break adventures in Panama City Beach, Florida:

Knock, Knock

"We got to share a condo with students and staff from University of Nebraska at Lincoln. It was fun for me (J.W.) to reconnect with some Cornhuskers! One of the NE students, a football player named Alex, had a great experience sharing his faith in Florida. He met some guys at the hotel hot tub one night and one guy, Steve, said he was interested in knowing more about Jesus but he was too [intoxicated] at the moment to talk about it. So, he asked Alex and his friends to come to his room in the morning so they could continue their conversation.

So the guys got up at 7am to go find their new friend. They went to his hotel room and knocked on the door. Of course, no one answered because they were all [sleeping] after a hard night of partying. While knocking persistently, the guys looked down and saw that someone had dropped a room key on the floor outside the door. Taking it as a gift from the Lord, they picked up the key, tried it in the door, and walked right into the condo! They woke everybody up until they found Steve and then they took him to breakfast to continue their conversation about Jesus.

The True Treasure Hunt

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NKJ).

Two days before Easter my sixteen-year old son begged to hunt eggs on Easter morning. He based his request on the fact that it had been several years since the egg hiding bunny had visited our house.

In honor of my son's request my husband, Warren, and I joined the last-minute fray in the picked-over holiday aisle at Target. We found a few goodies for Eric, but completed his Easter egg hunting ensemble with a stop at Walgreens. We were ready to play Easter Bunny and surprise our "young-at-heart" son with an egg hunt that he did not think was going to materialize.

Delight radiated from Eric's face on Easter morning when he discovered his bright orange bag containing a chocolate bunny and a package of Peeps. But, when we told him there were eggs to hunt, we were greeted with a priceless smile.

Warren, my mother, and I enjoyed watching Eric flit around the room tracking down the plastic, candy-filled eggs like a predator looking for its next meal.  Actually, it really was like the scenario of a hungry animal because I don't like to cook, and Eric would gladly eat candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I let him.

Eric was hunting down eggs with cat-like precision until he got to the last egg. It was nestled in a candle holder mounted on the wall and he could not find it. Because I had hidden the eggs I was the only one privy to its location and, before I knew it, Warren and my mother had joined Eric on his quest to find the "hidden-in-plain-sight" egg.

From Crusty Pan to Shining Vessel

I recently rescued a kitchen pan from the top of our wood-burning stove. For years the poor, misplaced dish served as the humidity creating device that moistened the dry winter air in our den as the stove beneath it crackled and emitted heat.

Here in New Mexico, most households are plagued with hard water; caliche and hard-water stains build up on tile, faucets, dishes, and poor little pans that sit atop wood-burning stoves. The resulting residue is tough to remove, and throwing the affected item in the trash seems like the easiest way to address the problem. However, it isn't the most cost effective method so most people scrub away at the offending substance.

When I removed the pan from its perch in our den, it was so crusty that I contemplated tossing it in the trash, but I decided to attempt the seemingly impossible, and I started scrubbing. I also envisioned the residue laden pan as a nice addition to my kitchen if it was clean and used in the way it was originally intended.

The first step in the extreme cleaning was to boil vinegar water in the little pan; a smelly task. Then, it got a good scrubbing. If the pan had the ability to feel, it would have cringed at the stench and the painful attack on its surface. The crusty build up was so stubborn that my next step was to boil pickle water in the poor pan (not quite as smelly as vinegar) and follow it up with another round of scrubbing.

Practical Impracticalities

I once heard a pastor say that the Old Testament book of Jonah was an extended parable. Because I take the Bible literally, I was a bit taken aback by his words. Admittedly, I am not a Bible scholar, but if the story of Jonah is an extended parable (a simple story that has been stretched to illustrate a moral lesson), what other incredible stories from the Bible should we considered "stretched" and in what other areas should we limit God?

If we don't believe God did all the things recorded in the Bible, then how would we determine what He did and did not do? It would be like partaking of a Bible buffet. . .each person would fill their plate according to what they felt was fact or fiction. Chaos might be the end result because we would, more than likely, all see things differently. As Christians we may not always understand what God did or how He did it, but all we have to do is believe and have faith (not a blind faith because, in the life of every Christian, God proves that faith is real). Impracticalities are very practical in God's world.

I'd like to look at a few of my favorite "impracticalities" in the Bible.

The Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14)

The Red Sea separated so that Moses and the Israelites could escape the pharaoh and his hostile hoards who were in hot pursuit. I have heard people try to explain away the event by saying things such as the water was only an inch deep that time of year and other similar theories. The Bible says that the Egyptians drowned when they tried to follow the Israelites; how did they drown in one inch of water? I don't know, I wasn't there. But, I do know that God has the power to part a body of water. This story was incredible enough to be recorded in Hebrews 11, the famous chapter of faith.

Zits and Sin, They Are Both Ugly

I recently had a crisis on my face; a zit forest sprung up on the bridge of my nose next to my left eyebrow. Why is it that, as we get older, everything youthful (wrinkle-free skin, legs without cellulite, and body parts not affected by gravity) disappears, but we retain the ability to produce zits. Life can certainly be cruel!

 When my most recent zit forest burst forth I tried to make it better by "messing" with it, but only made matters worse. Instead of a few small sprouts, I ended up with an extremely irritated area that looked like one big zit. I was quite the vision. The only good thing about my "zit"uation was the fact I wear long bangs and my hope was that they would hide the creepy formation lurking around on my face. Although no one greeted me with screams of "eeeeewwww", one of my co-workers confirmed the noticeable nature of the zit formation. It figures this happened the week I had a message scheduled and a teeth cleaning with my dentist. I'm sure my "lovely" condition didn't go unnoticed by them. Sigh.

Despite my own attempts to fix my zits, they finally began the heal a few days later. The healing process took longer than usual, but thank goodness the human body will usually heal itself despite our lame attempts to offer our assistance.

Did you ever stop to think that zits and sin have a lot in common?

• Zits are ugly and sin is ugly.
• A zit is a blemish on our physical bodies, and sin is a blemish in our spiritual lives.
• We try to hide our zits with long bangs, make-up, and band aids, while we try to hide our sin with denial, blame, and lies.
• Zits can cause infection at the affected area; sin is an infection that affects our hearts, our minds, and our souls.
• The more we try to improperly fix our zits, the worse they get; the more we try to improperly fix our sin, the worse it gets.
• Zits need pimple cream, time, and sometimes a dermatologist to heal properly and sin needs the Living Water (Jesus), the Word (the Bible), time, and the Great Physician (God) for proper healing (or to be avoided altogether.)

Natural Man and the Supernatural Spirit

Imagine a world where natural man is guided by a supernatural spirit. This spirit would rest on every man, woman, and child. Wisdom and understanding would reign supreme instead of the chaos of irrationality and assumption. We would follow supernatural counsel instead of the mystical and nonsensical magic of some psychic crackpot on TV.

We don't have to imagine such a scenario. That Spirit is available in our personal lives, despite the fact that it is not accepted on a world-wide basis...yet. He is a reality in the life of individual Christians.

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:3 NRSV)

This passage describes the Holy Spirit who was sprinkled throughout the Old Testament, but whose presence floods the pages of the New Testament. Although the Spirit was present during the days of the judges, the kings, and the prophets He had a limited ministry.

When David was anointed king of Israel, "the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David" (1 Samuel 16:13). And according to Judges 15:14-17, the Spirit of the Lord landed on Sampson causing the ropes binding him to melt off. Then Sampson went on and killed a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey...the jawbone of a donkey! A few verses later an understandably drained Sampson gets a much needed drink of water compliments of God. Upon taking in the water he was truly revived because the Spirit once again returned to him.

Practical Prayer for the Praying Impaired

I have always admired prayer warriors. You know, those people who can pray for extended periods of time and who God wakes up in the middle of the night to pray for a specific need. God needs lots of hands in all areas here on earth to do His work, but I think that prayer warriors have a special red phone connection to heaven.

I have never been a prayer warrior and have always struggled with my prayer life. I tend to be more of a ponderer, but I know that God knows the unspoken desires and petitions of my heart. However, there is something special about actually sitting still and talking to God.

You may get a chuckle from what I am about to confess, but if you are prayer impaired like me, this could prove helpful. I use the acronym P-R-A-Y as a tool when I talk to God. The fact that I have a template does not make my prayer less genuine; it's just a practical way to help me in an area where I struggle. Praying may be a snap for many of you, but when one of my friends confessed she uses the P-R-A-Y method too, it was nice to know I was not alone. For those of you who are also members of Prayer Impaired International, here's how P-R-A-Y works:

P is for "Praise"

Praising God can be easy. Are you healthy? Do you have enough to eat? Are you blessed with a family and a job? Praise God for them all and more! There are millions of reasons to praise God. The last six chapters of the Book of Psalms are bursting with praise.