‘Live With Purpose’ (a tidbit of Chapter 1 of my book)

How often do we think ‘September thoughts’? “Since the school year is starting, I will do ____” or “I can have 30 weeks to study ____ a little bit more.” It’s easy to think we can let our schedules and circumstances determine our life; to help our future along. It’s like living on autopilot: letting social life, full calendars, games, appointments, and homework become our purpose for living. And for us college women and beyond, it’s easy to think housework and college and chores is all that’s worth living for.

These activities are all worthy and many are necessary to living. Chores need to be completed. Homework must be finished. Doctors need to be seen. Teeth need to be filled. It’s life.

But, when we start to look to our calendars to determine what’s next, our lives are set to live on autopilot. And when a huge change comes (like graduation, for example), we aren’t sure what we’re supposed to do. We feel lost, like our social life has been stripped away; we feel like we have no reason to exist: like we have no purpose… like God has taken everything we liked to do away!

I confess I used to live on autopilot. Looking to the next thing on the list to determine what I should do. It is how we young single women start to feel discontent when we’re 18 or 21 or 30 and not married- or even seeing anyone. We’re too used to everything coming at us in an orderly fashion, being in control of our lives. When things like a job, marriage, or college don’t come our way, the discontentment sets in.

In reality, God is not taking anything away from us. WE are living without purpose.

“Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in You.” Saint Augustine

So often, we’re caught up in living life to simply live life, we forget what we’re here for. We were made for God, not the next big thing! It is only when we live for God do we genuinely begin live vibrantly, wholly, and fully.

How do we do that?

Well… that’s what my book is all about!

Romans 8 (and what I’ve learned about the nature of God and the nature of me)

There is something about this chapter that draws me back to it over and over.

1. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This whole chapter tells us who we are as Christians. If I ever successfully lead someone to Christ, and they ask “Then what?” I would take them through a study of Romans 8 then Ephesians. Hey, now that my book is in oblivion, I could start writing a study on this…

Anyway. ahem. I’ve come to realize yet again the only way to be genuinely content, happy, and Christ-centered is when I’m not pursuing things I want.

I’ve been learning a lot about prayer recently, too; and the verse about the Holy Spirit making known our requyests without even saying them eloquently makes me want to burst with peace and assurance! Since we are saved to do good works, and we cannot lose our salvation; we should constantly be seeking things above. Sometimes, sin distracts us, though. It doesn’t take much to pull us away from Christ, but sadly, it happens. We become a little more carnally minded than we should. We fall into a great heap of trouble and see no way out. I am so thankful for a God who loves me, but hates my sin with a holy passion! He opens my eyes to breaches in my wall, to echo Nehemiah’s dilemma. I am determined to not let the wall of my fellowship Christ around crumble or be diminished by anything of the Father of lies. 

That’s why I went through this process recently. Christ has become more real to me. I feel light, clean inside and out. Even if you’re not a set-apart “girl,” you warriors could benefit from taking a step back and examining your life, too. We’re all human. We all sin. Princess or Warrior, lady or gent’a'man, I hope you click on the link and take a look at what “Cleaning Out the Sanctuary” really means.  I dare you. Click on it!

Life as a Devotion

While teaching at VBS last week, I grew quite used to the devotional for the teacher every morning.  If you have read my blog for any length, you know I’m not the “What did King Joash do about the problem? How does this apply to your life?” type of devotional reader. This devotional was one of those rare finds that focused entirely on getting your mind ready for the day. Well written, encouraging, and refreshing, I began to look forward to each day’s reading. Saturday morning, after VBS was over, I woke up, and instinctively reached for the book. Wait a minute… “Oops, I turned it in yesterday.” I remembered. I felt rather upset!

But I was reminded I don’t need to have a devotional in front of me to be refreshed and encouraged.

When I randomly stop riding my bike and crawl into a gully with water in it (known as a “crick” around here ), put flowers in my hair and sing praise songs in German, I’m praising God. I realize now I may look weird doing it, but hey, Moses had a glowing face when he walked off the mountain! I am learning to love him when I make a Christ-like behind the scenes decision that will affect the outcome of an important day. I am reflecting Jesus’ heart for kids when I patiently tie a kid’s shoe for the 24th time.

Our lives are a devotional for others to see. Our lives are a testimony of His goodness.

What do others see?

___

NEEDED: Your opinion: Do you want a bunch of scheduled posts (like last year) or “live” blogging when I’m at Summit? – which by the way I leave for in only 17 days!!!!  I can’t promise I’ll blog long, or much, but it’s an option!

Hyper-patriarchy vs. Biblical-patriarchy

Hyperpatriarchy is a type of demanding fatherhood and husband-hood ( ) that requires nothing less than exact obedience all the time- even on minute issues. Hyperpatriarchs like to dictate what his daughters and wife wear, what they do, and where they go. They like to be in complete control and have the final say. They often ignore what their family has to say and go with what they want.

Reading an independent-fundamental-Baptist-Reformed local magazine for women that somehow ended up on my desk; I was shocked at the articles on submitting to your husband/father. Some quotes from this magazine:

“You must let a man be man. (nothing wrong with that) If you interfere with any situation, even if it is sin, better to leave him alone for fear of ruining his testimony.” (Sounds faintly of Muslim honor and strongly of letting someone live knowingly in sin)

“When a woman shares her opinion, she is sharing the true heart within her. This nasty heart in manipulative and wants to see her husband’s ruin. Better to keep her mouth shut.” (So women cannot share opinions wit their husbands???)

“Your husband did not have to marry you. Do not complain about his strictness in keeping you in when he goes out. Being married is enough for him, why push him to do something you want when it is his turn to have fun?” (It’s the woman’s fault he’s angry/disinterested in her?)

I agree with being thankful for what we have, letting men be men, and that the human heart is sick. But when a woman has no say whatsoever, has to live in fear for her husband’s spiritual well being (because she can’t call him out on sin); and has to avoid dealing with even petty problems… that’s hyperpatriarchy.

I was accused once of being a victim of hyperpatriarchy. I bought a lovely maxi-dress recently at a store called Forever 21. I tried to wear it to church the next Sunday; and dad ended up telling me he didn’t like the cut. It emphasized the wrong parts of my body, and he didn’t want that at all. (“Not even a hint” as I like to put it) I really wanted to wear the dress, but obeyed. At church, my friend asked if I was wearing the dress I’d bought. I said “No” and explained the situation. She shook her head and said “That’s no way to live. Your dad is a total hyperpatriarch…”

Let’s take a look at Biblical patriarchy:

Christ is masculine. God is masculine. God so loved the world…HE… gave HIS SON. God is also the ruler of everything, but a gentle one at that. He doesn’t want harm to come to us, but sometimes obedience can cause suffering in some way from others. God is not a cruel taskmaster. He very nature is love. Christ is love. The man of the house represents Christ.  Both man and woman are made in God’s image and are both called to exercise dominion over the earth. They share an equal worth as persons before God in creation and redemption. The man is also the image and glory of God in terms of authority, while the woman is the glory of man. (Gen. 1:27-28; 1 Cor. 11:3,7; Eph. 5:28; 1 Pet. 3:7) God has also ordained gender roles. Adam already had headship over Eve before sin entered the world. (Gen. 2:18)

God has placed authority of fathers and husbands to be useful and good in direction family. There is a limit on a man’s power. He must be in the Lord. When a man is outside of God’s will or word, he is not leading well. When in sin, there is hardship for the man to lead. The same goes for a woman when she will not submit. A man’s authority should be exercised with grace and love as a servant, priest, and leader; following the example of Jesus Christ. Leadership is a stewardship from God. (Mal. 3:17; Ps. 103:13; Col. 3:21; 1 Pet. 3:7) A man should also be subject to the laws of the government. (Romans 13) The man and wife, (and hence kids) should also submit to each other and respect opinions, tastes, and views, as long as they are of the word.

The woman is called to be keeper at home- meaning she is to run the household in domestic affairs: cooking, cleaning, teaching kids (primarily- I want my husband to be fully committed to teaching our kids at home and pray he would want to take part in that); basically becoming more like a Proverbs 31 woman every day. This doesn’t mean she can’t “have a job”  it simply means her #1 priority should be home. My mom is really a Proverbs 31 woman! My mom and I have a business of sorts- every Tuesday we make 14 dozen cookies and my dad sells them at work. It’s extra income. It’s “working willingly with our hands”. My mom gets up early to start the laundry and she often stays up late to finish things. She is known for her artistic ability (especially working on VBS decorations, where she happens to be right now), her cooking, her get up and go spirit. People at church talk about her highly. She is frugal with our money, so much so, we have surplus of things. That frugality leads us to never do without (we are the thrift store junkies, but we have the nicest, largest, CHEAPEST wardrobes around, I’d say) I could go on, but you probably get the point. She is very submissive to Dad, her hubby, whom she’s been married to for over 20 years. Aww…

*ahem*

Father/husbands should oversee the family well; and do so biblically, gently, and firmly. He must also realize that everyone has an opinion, and his opinion may not line up the wife’s or kids’.

Now, back to the story I was telling about the dress. If my dad would have said “I don’t like that pattern on you, it looks outdated…” It would have been a matter of personal preference, and hyper-patriarchy if he told me to obey immediately without protest. But since he directly said “I don’t like the cut of the top part and how it draws attention to your bust,” I knew right away what exactly was wrong- and that it wasn’t right. Since my dad noticed something I’d overlooked completely, I figured the other guys at church would probably notice, too. I didn’t want to “accidentally” ”entice” a dude when I knew I shouldn’t be even wearing something enticing. And, since the Bible tells us women to be modest and cover up what should be covered ,-and I knew I shouldn’t cause any brother in Christ to lose sight of Christ if I could help it- I decided to do what I knew was right. I changed my outfit.

So, was my dad a hyperpatriarch or a biblical patriarch?

You can’t expect to submit to your husband one day if you can’t submit to your dad now. It’s not always going to be that BIG thing. It will more than likely be a small thing.

Outdated Dialogue, The Open Mind, and Other Thoughts On The Modern State of the Church

That was a long title. Phew!

Looking at some teaching books in the church nursery last month, I came across a book about “Susan, Jill, Bobby and Tom Learning about Jesus” (not the real kids’ names, but they were quite old-fashioned nonetheless). It was designed to teach young kids about manners and God and all that stuff kids have to learn. It was near the books teachers use, so I wondered if it was actually part of our Sunday School curriculum. Looking at our curriculum for some of the younger grades, it was simliar. Old language. Old ideas. No wonder kids hate church nowadays. The youngest kids are growing up thinking some words have always meant… what they think it means…

Here’s some bits o’dialogue:

“You look queer today, Susan. Tom isn’t very happy today, but Bobby is having a gay time!”  (You’re kidding me…) A lesson on gossip and hurful words. 

“Oh Susan, you are such a sweet girl.” (A lesson about sharing)

I think the reason people in general stop going to church is because of the old 50’s image of religion. It’s 2011. Kids don’t say the strange looking lady is queer. Queer means homos3xual to them. To say you’re ‘having a gay time’ to a nine year old would leave questions in their mind on what you meant. Sweet no longer means nice. It means cool, awesome, or to you 70’s folk, swanky, hip.

In our minds, we’re doing something good for the littles of the church.

In their minds, it doesn’t make much sense.

The church has outdated dialogue. To be old-fashioned is not to be more religious. People had their own sets of problems in the 40’s and 50’s. The idea of a homos3xual in church then would make people laugh and wonder why such a person would bother coming. They faced things like world war, nuclear war, and Communism vs. McCarthyism. Adults nowadays then faced the hippies and feminists, abortion and discothèques. We 80’s and 90’s folk experienced desert storm, Dr. Death, Terri Schaivo, Y2K, radical Islam, and Mormon kidnappers. Kids today face postmodernism, liberalism, environmentalism, debt and the decay of the family like never before (polygamy, homos3xuality, single parents). To think kids understand our presuppositions without having experienced them is not fair to them.

Why is our curriculum still picturing kids with a mother at home baking pies in heels, daddy coming home with a briefcase wearing a tie; schools that are teaching God’s word and saluting the flag; and depicting friends that have high morals? Last I checked, mom wore sweats and flip-flops and dropped Baby A at daycare and baby B at school before going to work; dad was either a Mr. Mom with pierced ears or an unemployed man; schools deny the existence of God and indoctrinate over providing education; and friends are the ones doing the main tempting (‘Want some booze? I can get you some.’).

We may be showing them the way things ‘oughta’ be (or the way some people think it oughta be), but are we telling them how to get where we oughta be?

No wonder middle schoolers are leaving.

We teach the Bible like it’s a storybook from long ago.

We leave them with no backbone to stand against the modern dilemmas.

Then all this had me thinking (as you must surely know I love doing) how the church should change it’s approach to things completely.

Not that we should change the gospel.

We should change its presentation.

Updating doesn’t bring postmodernism, liberalism, or emergent theology.

Updating brings the Biblical principles to stand against postmodernism, liberalism, and emergent theology.

Being updated doesn’t mean losing our grip on God.

It also doesn’t mean joining the ranks of seekers and ‘postmodernist/let’s not nail Jell-O to the wall’ folks.

How the Church’s approach in general should change:

Instead of shooting for entertaining, seek to bear as much fruit as possible. Instead of trying to get the wow factor, get the God factor. We should be more concerned with bearing fruit and making sure we are doing good works. We can spend more time on “going into the world” if we aren’t rehearsing lights and sounds.

Not showy productions, but personal touches. Big churches seem to focus on numbers. I come from an independent, fundamental Baptist church where the numbers is always mentioned. We have a board with the numbers of attendees on it, and people point to that as our success. Not so. Are we reaching a faceless crowd or the individual?

Marketing. Why use it? Sure, advert on the radio for the play. Make sure it’s a decent station. But taking time to plan out jingles, plaster up signs, and catering to what people want shows a lack of trust in God to send the right ones to your meetin’. If you market to the world, you will end up with a worldly church. That’s what hooked ‘em, so they expect you to be like that. When it doesn’t quite measure up, they stick around, being their worldly selves, waiting for the fun to start. Unless God has ahold of them, they will probably not change. I’ve seen it happen.

Ear tickling vs. meeting soul’s deep need. You can’t have both. Choose one. When people see something deep, they flock to it. Most people I’ve met not only enjoy deeper meaning: they YEARN for it.  I like to ask people who go to church to be entertained “Are you saved to the fun or to the cross?” Blank stare…

Use God’s book, not men’s books, to preach out of. I went to a little church a few years ago that had a pastor preach out of this newspaper clipping on the end of the world. He didn’t say much bout God, but stood up there for 40 minutes proclaiming people were lost and needed Jesus. It didn’t have much impact, as a way to Jesus wasn’t clearly defined. I still remember him standing up at the lectern, hollering away about the Mayans and the Incas and global Islam and the oil crisis and something how it was all predicted in the DaVinci Code.

People want solutions. They want to talk about the issues at hand. Give them the Bible, not ‘the expert’s’ opinion. I would rather have God’s opinion than Joel Olsteen’s. (not that I care for Mr. Olsteen…). Don’t give your congregation (whether it be two little girls or a large Bible study) the world’s wisdom if we’re supposed to be different and separate!

We seem to be pre-occupied with making church seem like a big discussion group.  We like to have big stadium-like buildings with oversized warehouse-like pipes and ductwork in the ceiling. Nowadays churches that look like churches (i.e. steeples, pews, altars, stained glass) aren’t cool. They’re outdated. (I want to add that I like “old” churches with pews and hymnbooks. It adds a sense of specialness and uniqueness to worship. But I am not opposed to newer churches. It’s just a design)

There is nothing wrong with meeting in a warehouse. It challenges the idea of normal worship. It reminds us that everything and every place can become a place to glorify God. It may not be the best place, but we can still use it for God’s glory. But when our focus becomes so absorbed in challenging normal and shattering the old-fashioned ways of doing church, we tend to lose sight of the real task at hand: encouraging the believers and reaching the lost.

It may be that the lost are largely postmodern without realizing it. They’re only doing what they know how to do. But what if they begin to question everything they’ve ever known? We’ll get to that question later.

1 Corinthians 1:17 almost sounds like bad doctrine.

(MNT) For Christ did not think I baptized any one else. For Christ did not send me forth to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel; and that not in philosophic words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made an empty thing.

 (RSV) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Is it being stated that the gospel can be made of no effect? Can the cross be emptied of power?

Apparently.

It all depends on how you teach. As a preacher, VBS teacher, as a student bible study leader, or as a Bright Lights discipleship leader.

Part 2 tomorrow.

I’d like to note my reason for using 3 instead of the ‘e’ in homos3xual. I respect s3x as a rightful act in union between one man and one woman. It’s a thing taken too lightly today, and for once, I’d like to change the cheapness it has fallen on and make it something to respect. So, I’m going to try my best to uphold it’s sanctity in a way I see fit. Kind of like Jews and their “G-d”.

Part 2 in two days

It Only Happens Once…

Life gets busy. Just when I thought graduation would be the end of my social life, I find myself loaded with projects and tasks, visits and meetings. It makes me grouchy, some days, because I’m getting sort-of ”plum-tuckered” out.

I didn’t want to go to church last night, but I’m glad I did. We had an interesting discussion on personal convictions and Romans 14-15.

After the study, we all split up into self-organized spontaneous groups. I noticed a elderly lady looking around the room. No one was sitting near her, people were praying with their friends. After prompting my mom to go sit by her, we went over and introduced ourselves. We ended up having a lovely discussion with Mrs. Powell, who must’ve been in her eighties! She talked of her growing up grandchildren, and her middle aged son, their missions work and then asked us what we were doing lately. My mom mentioned how busy we were with my graduation party. With her faltering voice, she shook a finger in my face and said “Enjoy it… it only comes once!” Shortly thereafter, her equally elderly husband came out and sat behind her. You could totally tell they were still in love! I was tickled pink when Mrs. Powell mentioned she was engaged to three other men at various point in life, broke it off each time and ended with ‘him’ (as she jerked a thumb at her man) for the last 65 years. Aww!! She patted my knee and said in a mischievous voice: “When you start courtin’ watch out!”

When I’m 80 something, I want to be alive and kickin’ like her!

In the midst of a busy point of life, I was reminded by someone far older than me that a successful life cannot be measured by friends, money, or status. Enjoy the experience. Make the most of every opportunity. It only happens once…

It reminds me of Ecclesiastes 1:10:

Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.

We need to find wisdom from ages before us. So, look to people from ages before us! We have some catchin’ up to do as young folks.

And then onto 14:

 I have seen everything that is done under the sun,

and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Life is nothing new. But, by the time 50 comes around, people realize there’s more to life then money. Then they wish they’d known that earlier in life. They were chasing after something that didn’t matter for half their life.

That’s why this blog is called Echoes in the Wind. I’ve seen all the chasing after the wind. Okay, maybe not all of it, I’m 15 days shy of being ten and eight years. But I’ve seen people wasting their young years on a lot of things that don’t matter. Music. Money. Clothes. Fiction not worth reading. Boyfriends.

Echoes come back to you.

Echoes haunt you, reminding you of what’s happened. Perhaps telling you of what could be.

Echoes will come back to you, and continue to, unless you stop making a ruckus. There can be good ‘ruckuses’ and bad ‘ruckuses.’

Echoes warn other people far behind.

Echoes can come from people on mountains. We’re all said to be climbing up a mountain toward God. Not sure if I like that analogy, but it’ll do. 

This blog’s original intent was to stretch and encourage and tell younger girls of what I’ve learned in life. To make you think. To make you want something better. To let God use my talent of writing and creating to inspire you on your journey up a mountain.

Life should be simple. Don’t make “it’s complicated” your life’s motto.

Life is not about frivolity. Clothes don’t make the man. Neither does your color of nail poish.

Life is not a show. Don’t pretend. Be REAL (the link will tell you the wrong definition of real)

Life has ideas. Be familiar with them. Know them. Study them.

Life should be colorful. Be vibrant. Don’t be dull.

Life should focus on serving. Look around for needs. Attend to them. Act like you alone know about a need.

Life should be ultimately about God, and the pursuit of Him.

Now, I’m not blogging to just younger girls anymore. I’m blogging to peers, older young women, friends, young men, married and single adults, and other random people who join for fun or for laughs .

Many people who are tired of chasing after the wind.

Oh Joy! Quotes and Notes!

~~Little Paragraphs and Deep Thoughts, Big Facts and Scrawly Notes That Churn ’Round In My Noggin~~

“Legalism is merely the futile attempt to do in our own strength what the Spirit of God means to accomplish on our own behalf.” ~ Leslie Ludy Set Apart Femininity

The form in which ideas are expressed affects what those ideas will be. (The MEDIUM is the METAPHOR) ~ Neil Postman Amusing Ourselves To Death

If you asked 2o good men today what they though was the highest of the virtues, 19 of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you had asked almost any of the great Christains of old, he would have replied, Love. You see what has happened? A negative term has been substituted for a positive, and this is of more than philosophical importance. The negative idea of Unselfishness carries with it the suggestion not of primarily of securing good things for others, but of going without them ourselves, as if our abstinence and not their happiness was the important point. I do not think this is the Christian view of Love. The New Testament has lots to say about self-denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself.  ~ CS Lewis, The Weight of Glory

It is a sin to be dumb! ~ John Stonestreet- Summit lecture

A real woman is a woman who recognizes that she has been exquisitely and perfectly created by a loving God for a unique purpose. Out of geniune gratitude, awe and a desire to please her Maker, a real woman joyfully embraces her femininity and submits every aspect of her identy to God’s original and unique design for her…Unlike feminists, we know God’s design for women. This gives us the upper hand. Will we use it? ~ Elizabeth Botkin So Much More

America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within. ~ Josef Stalin (from the opening of the documentary, Agenda) And what’s happening in our world???

The flood of rampant homosexuality will not ruin a nation. Why? Because rampant homosexuality is a sign that the nation is already ruined! ~ John Stonstreet Summit lecture

Godly womanhood, the very plance sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of woman: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But seldom do we hear of godly women- or of a godly man either, for that matter. We believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given funtion in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater acheivement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old fashioned, than to be ultra modern, The world has enough womee who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs women who are pure. We need women, and men too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct. ~ Peter Marshall

When God’s Spirit is given His rightful place in a young woman’s life, He transforms her personality to reflect His beauty… He can overtake any kind of personality. . .You decrease, so that He might increase…~  Leslie Ludy The Lost Art of True Beauty      (This book was a great book for me. I tend towards shy, and for the first time, I realized I could go outside of myself- types are just types… but I recently went to http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp to take a personality test anyway. The test revealed my weaknesses and strengths. I am an INTJ – Which type are you?)

The Baha’i faith believes in one God, but there are many ways to seek/experience God. Minimize theological differences and work together for harmony of faiths, freeing slaves and seeking justice. Affirmative action. Socail Justice. Service to humanity is highest goal. Baha’i believes in one God in one person- unitarian theism- it’s roots are in Islam, but they also accept YAH, Jesus, and Brahma as the same person- these are just other names. ~Len Woods      (Is the new Zach Hunter “Be the Change” movement founded in Baha’i? Whether he knows it or not, unknowingly, yes. The affirmative action movement is combining various religions to do things in God’s name. Is there a way to do hard things the wrong way? Yes! Baha’i followers will be among those to whom God will say “Depart… I never knew you…” Pluralism is one of the worst of the false worldviews).

To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward event. The best informed man is not necessarily the wisest. The wise man will seek to acquire the best knowledge- to recognize the significance in the factual is wisdom. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer (He is a good writer, and I like his “Cost of Discipleship”, though his theology on salvation was messed up…)

“We live in a dictatorship of relativism… what people say and do becomes normal, but not right.” ~Scott Klusendorf.

“Waiting for Godot is the Humanist’s dream. It’s about two guys waiting for a friend who never comes. Notice what the friend’s name is… GODot.” John Stonestreet on Beckett plays. (Seriously, look them up. They are hopeless)

“For I seek not to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order I can understand, study, and learn. “

Ideas have history, they come from somewhere. Ideas have feet, they will go somewhere. Ideas have consequences: they will do something to you or for you. Doc Noebel

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out it has no meaning. Just as if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would have no meaning. ~ CS Lewis

In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair. The sin that believes in nothing cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, remains for nothing, and has nothing for which it will live for or die. ~Dorothy Sayers (Sounds like Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World- a place so hedonist and so limited by… love)

This so-called tolerance is nothing but a huge indifference.  ~Alexis de Tocqueville

“We are all part of one. Intellect is error…” ~Bhagwhan Shree Rajneesh - (Haha If we are all part of ‘one’, how did we get away from that oneness into many religions? Just asking, Mr. Rajneesh)

Sloppy language makes sloppy thought possible. ~Michael Bauman

Be the first you, not the second me. Education is learning to think, indoctrination is teaching you how to think. ~Michael Bauman.

The probability of life originating from an accident is comparable to the probability of the unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a print shop. ~ Edwin Conklin

He that knows nothing will believe anything.

If God wants to use you, he wants to use the real you. Not the person you want to be. God doesn’t use imaginary people. He wants you to be who He made you. Christians should not feel guilty by this… they are fogiven. What we feel is conviction.  Rowan Gillson (IPS)

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Read as many books as you can- I often wander the aisles of the library and pull of non-fiction books, take them home, and read them completely. You’ll never know how much you can know until you start to learn.

Pressure to Give Up

Discouragement. What an awful word! It’s not a very easy word to have embodied in real life.

Why do we get discouraged?

Because we’re not seeing results as we’d like to see them.

Maybe you began a weight loss program for the year, and have only lost two pounds so far. Or you decided to memorize a Bible chapter a week, and are stuck on the third verse of the first chapter! Or maybe you lead a Sunday school class, and the kids ignore what you’re saying and aren’t learning anything.

If you’re like me, you like to see results, tangible evidence that what you’re doing – or having done- is working. You want to know you’re reaching others, doing things right, and affecting others. Press on!

It seems God likes to show His power in other ways in my life. Instead of letting me see ahead, he takes it one step at a time. Some of my friends needed to raise money for something, and they sent prayer letters, and got an enormous response. I didn’t send a letter, and there was no way I could get that kind of money. It was discouraging, and I wanted to give up right there. But, a few weeks later, a certain amount of money, exactly what I needed, came in the mail from none other than the IRS.

Awhile ago, I felt like closing the blog. You see, I know a lot of people read the blog because of my hit numbers everyday. But, very few of you ever comment. I felt really discouraged at the time, I so began to wonder: maybe I’m writing what has already been written, and, maybe I’m just entertainment for a bunch of liberal’s liberals. I like to see results, to know what’s in people’s heads, and I still don’t know why most of you don’t leave feedback! But in any case, I learned to overcome that hurdle by accepting the fact I get the numbers. I learned to be content with just that.

That’s a huge, difficult lesson to learn. Sometimes our discouragement comes when we refuse to accept any progress as good. I used to get 5 visitors a day when I first started! I praised God for the number of people subscribed and left it at that. So, praise God you’ve lost those two pounds. That’s two pounds closer to your goal! Shrug off the fact you’re struggling to memorize. That’s okay. That’s a few more verses than you knew before. You’d be surprised that those kids at Sunday school might have learned something after this long. It happens to me a lot at my study group. Occasionally I’ll get told by a girl that a lesson (a lesson 45 weeks ago) really stuck with her!

But what if something really is a lost cause?

Don’t hold onto something that wants to run away. After reading the book Already Gone, I began noticing kids at church who fit the description in that book perfectly. It happened when I was fill-in teaching Jr. Church. We talked about helping others, and encouraging others. We made cards for a lady who had had surgery, and took turns praying for her. But, when a young boy’s turn came, he refused to pray. “I HATE God, I don’t like being here. It’s stupid.” Most of the kids were shocked, as was I. How do you respond when you feel like a failure?! Sometimes, kids really are a lost cause. The only thing you can do about it is pray. When your ministry that once went well falls off the edge, pray. When you lose hope that your mother will ever get better, pray. When the bill comes that you can’t pay, pray. When you feel so lonesome and guilty, pray. Prayer is the weapon of the church.

The valley of discouragement will come, but God will always be faithful. He provide you with the most wonderful hope! He will lead you through these uncertain and discouraging times when you feel like a failure to make you realize it’s not all about you. Remember what God did for you! He saved you from hell- you did not save yourself. When you run the race with perseverance, it’s not for lost cause. Anything done truly for Him is going to receive a reward- maybe not now, but very soon. I can’t wait for heaven! (not that I would kill myself just to go early…) But, I can’t wait to see all of the people affected by the ripple effect of any ministry I’ve been involved in. To know that some people may be in heaven because of simple obedience to God through times when I wanted to give up, oh! That’s wonderful feeling. No results now? Expect them later!

Pressure to be Fake

Counterfeit.  .  .                               . . .    Bogus. . .

False.  . .                      . . . A sham . . .                            . . . Not real. . .   

Have you ever pretended to be someone you’re not? Even if we’re really honest people, we may have at some point! It might not be that you lied about doing something, you actually may not have said enough! There are two ways to be fake, and both are untruthful.

The first way is lying. Perhaps at that camp or conference you went to this past summer, you said that you were a model. Or that your dad was a soccer player in the World Cup at one time. Or your brother invented the Farrari. Or your mom was a news anchor…

Or something like that.

These are outright lies! What drives us to tell these? How come, after awhile, we begin to think we’re in over our heads? What happened?

It’s our inner desire to be accepted, praised, and admired. The old ego, some may call it. But, our ego and pride is a part of our selfish, sin-enslaved human condition. We shouldn’t stroke our ego, but we do anyway, and we end up in a mess. We want to be happy, so we follow our hearts… but that leads us into sin (Jeremiah 17:9)

Once, when I told a lie, I felt like I was under a lot of pressure to keep with it. I had to think of what to say to cover up, and how I might continue that lie without consequences, and so on. It was hard. I felt like I couldn’t do much, becuase I spent so much time worrying about others discovering the lie! Once I repented, and asked for forgiveness, the load was lifted. I felt like I could fly, or like it was spring, or like I was f.r.e.e!

If you’ve dug yourself in a hole, God’s grace can be your ladder out. Turn to Him for mercy, and ask him to wipe your slate clean. Then, ask your friends’, parents’ or mentors’ forgiveness.

The second type of fakeness is deceit. Deceit can be covering up something without really saying anything or lying straight-fowardly.

It can happen when Jody asks you if she can pick you up at your house, and not wanting to admit you have a poor-looking house and are ashamed of it, you say “Well, I can meet you at the end of my street by the Frozen Cone…” That’s deceit. Or, when mom asks you through the closed door to your bedroom if you took money out of her wallet, and you say “No” loudly, followed by “I didn’t today, but yesterday…” whisper. That’s also deceit. Or even when you avoid questions that should be answered.

All of this is a form of deceit, and the Bible has a lot to say about deceit.

God hates deceit:

Psalms 5:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Proverbs 24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Psalms 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

Proverbs 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

Jeremiah 9:6 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

It’s something that is talked about over and over, in almost every book of the Bible.  Don’t keep yourself from God, dear reader! Through deceit, you’re really refusing to know God!

This year, commit to being real, honest, and deceit-free. If you’re embarassed about something, don’t cover it up by lying. Don’t avoid rightfully asked questions. Tell them exactly why you aren’t doing something.  Be purposed against deceit:

Job 27:4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

You’ll find yourself soon very joyful, encouraged, and free! Make this verse your theme:

Psalms 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Don’t cave into the pressure to be fake!

Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Pressure to Conform {short and hopefully sweet}

There’s a pressure that is so bad, it may destroy your life.

It uses the lie “You look/dothings/sound weird, so change! Fast!” to get around.

It comes as a whisper from the devil that we are too conservative. Too old fashioned. Too awkward. Too too!

It’s pressure to conform, and this pressure is a lie.

I’m thankful to have a great group of friends who don’t pressure me to be like them, and I try not to pressure them to be like me. But, some groups of friends, like some I’ve had in the past, tell you to your face you must be weird not to think like they do. That you’re so wrong being the way you are… so…why not change?

1. Because it’s not wrong to be a different person and have a different personality than li’l Eva over there.

2. Because God commands us to be different from the world. Don’t be different to be different. Be different to glorify God.

But what about influence?

Influence is a whole other thing. Influence is something that can be good, and can be used to bring glory to God. Influence is not pressure, but an example to follow. Of course, this example can be good or bad, but influence is largely a positive thing.

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Today, I watched this video today, and it really impacted me. It kind of goes along with conforming and influence, ministry and church.

I highly HIGHLY recommend you watch it, please take the time! You will not be sorry you watched it. 

Please, if you do nothing else this week, watch this video.

(Okay, I really want you to watch this! Get your tail over there! No pressure )