I'm a little frustrated with the criticism I've heard on the lavishness of the Royal Wedding, coming from people who argue the money "could have been spent better." I recognize literally hundreds of thousands of dollars went toward Kate and William's ceremony, but who are we to decide whether it was "too much" of their money? The Middleton's and the royal family paid for the entire thing, except the English-taxpayer-funded security, and whether or not the cost was "worth it" is relative to the means of those families.
So, why are we tempted to look at the choices of others, cluck our tongues, and decide their luxuries are excessive? We, who don't have as much, label their ceremonies "too expensive." But those with less than us could judge us the same way.
I referenced Lisa Samson in a post a few days ago, with her quote, "Just because I write words that bring people closer to God doesn't mean I don't have to lift my finger to help those who are in need." During that same interview, she talked about her tendency to "judge people with granite countertops." She told me granite represents excess to her--for whatever reason. It's the status symbol which seems inappropriate to her. How people can justify paying extra for them when the money could be better spent?
BUT, she recognized not everyone is convicted about granite countertops...and, more importantly, there always will be something we do which another person considers "excessive."
You who think the royal wedding was "too much:" did you elope in a courthouse? Or did you invite guests, buy a few flowers, eat cake, and even go on a honeymoon? Was even THAT necessary? Do you have more than one car? More than one outfit? More than one pair of shoes? How do you justify those things when there are people who have none?
I agree, resources are wasted daily across the globe. And ALL of us can do much, much, much more sacrificing than we do, for the benefit of the truly needy.
But here's a crazy thought: instead of obsessing over our neighbors across the pond, and how they spend their money, why don't we start with our own excesses?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
"Modern" Marriage
Yep, I watched part of the Royal Wedding. I woke up at 6:30am and caught the end of the sermon, lots of choral singing, and the recessional parade thingy, which probably has a more official name than that...
I missed the live broadcast of the vows, but when I heard comments referring to the absence of the word "obey" from Kate's version, I decided to YouTube it. Sure enough, with a little research, I discovered this isn't the first time a royal bride omitted this word, and it has caused quite a stir in the past. This time around, however, several observers praised Kate for following in the footsteps of independent, strong women like Diana and Fergie, claiming it shows a concentration on equality in relationships.
First of all, I'd like to point out that both Diana and Fergie wound up divorced. That's mildly interesting.
But what I really want to ask is: what about the word "obey" terrifies modern women so much?
So many times, I've heard self-titled "progressive" women ("strong," "independent" women) remark about how they would DIE before promising to obey their husbands, but it always makes me wonder: What is so horrible about your significant other that you don't trust him? If you're worried he would ask you to do something which is morally WRONG, why are you marrying him at all? And if not--if your only concern is having to do things you don't always want to do--are you so selfish you can't give up your own desires in his favor now and then?
----
A friend of mine complained about all the wedding hooplah, because, as she pointed out, the world is celebrating a ceremony that otherwise doesn't hold much significance to our culture anymore. Most of the tradition and pageantry has been handed down from a time when marriage really did mean forever. Now, despite the politically correct talk about the "beautiful couple" and how "happy they are," it seems perfectly appropriate to wonder secretly when it will end in a split. (Or to wonder the same thing, not-so-secretly on your blog, I suppose.)
I realize this is a touchy subject because so many people are affected by divorce. But I can't help noticing that wedding vows mean very little in our world, and that's another reason I wonder why women fight so fiercely over the word "obey." Frequently they say "love, honor, and cherish until death do us part," then turn around and part before death. So, why can't we mutter an insincere "I'll obey ya, too" ???
And, what's with the "richer or poorer" thing? I know the royals don't have much to worry about in that department, but statistics show the rest of us fight about money above anything else... Why would any self-respecting woman promise to attach herself to a poor guy?!
If we REALLY want to brag about our progressive marriage ceremonies and keep our vows more practical for a modern society, I think mine probably should have read something like this:
I, Amanda, take you, Luke, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love you as long as I feel you are providing for our family, and I will treat you as an equal, unless I wake up one morning and realize I'm not happy and should look out for myself first. Life is short, afterall. But, it's not so short that I can promise---for sure--to be your wife the whole time. So, I promise to be faithful as long as our relationship still feels as good as dating. If I like the things you say to me, I'll consider your opinions. (But, let's be clear. That's not the same as "obeying!") I suppose I will cherish you, if you deserve it. And I will sacrifice for you, unless it hurts TOO much. And, finally my love, I promise to enjoy the congratulations and the taxbreak associated with our new "committment," until it's time to dissolve the contract and try again with the next guy.
Oh, Amanda, you are so judgmental.
It's true, I see the carelessness being thrown upon the beautiful institution of marriage, and--in my judgment--it is a disgrace. But if we thought seriously about our promises, maybe fewer people would jump into marriage so readily? Maybe we wouldn't be so quick to congratulate, but would caution each other that life-long relationships aren't for the selfishly-minded (unless you want to change the vows to resemble mine above)...
I actually don't have a problem with women who KNOW they have an issue with "obeying." At least they're thinking about the words of their vows! But, again, I wonder why you would go through with the marriage anyway--just removing the parts you don't like. If you can't be sure you're standing beside a man who only will exercise his authority as a last resort and for your good, if you wonder whether it will turn into an "abuse" situation, or if you don't know for sure if he could handle leadership, why are you pledging your life to him?
----
Luke hasn't yet used his headship to end an argument. Most of the time, we go back and forth in discussion when our wills clash, and there hasn't been an instance when he felt so strongly his way was better for both of us that he trumped me on the spot...
But I remember a time my dad stepped in and took charge, despite protests. My grandpa, Mom's dad, passed away somewhat unexpectedly, and the entire family left church early to drive nearly three hours and be with Grandma. We may have thrown some clothes in bags first, but we weren't totally prepared for a long visit. Besides that, Mom's extended family was arriving in droves, and Grandma's little house was getting crowded.
So, my dad made the executive decision to take my three siblings and me back home to our house, and let my mom spend time mourning with her family. She didn't like the idea--wanting to keep everyone together, unsure about the cost of driving back and forth repeatedly, worried about whether we'd make it for the funeral, etc. And, ordinarily, Dad tries to accomodate Mom's wishes the best he can.
But, he recognized that she wasn't thinking with her usual clarity. She was distraught, and she needed the leadership of my father to take care of details while she dealt with her pain. I'm not sure whether she held a grudge against him at first, but I did hear her remark later that she was glad he stepped in and overruled her. After the fact, she could recognize he did it for her good.
----
There is no reason for me to suspect Kate and William will crash and burn in the matrimony department, other than the truly sad divorce statistics being collected. For this reason, along with the rest of the world, I'll stare breathless at the pomp, admire the beauty, and wish my best for the couple.
But I will not celebrate their focus on "equality," when I believe strongly true love elevates the other person. I cannot praise anybody for their "modern" or "progressive" marriage, because I don't see progress in the institution at all.
I missed the live broadcast of the vows, but when I heard comments referring to the absence of the word "obey" from Kate's version, I decided to YouTube it. Sure enough, with a little research, I discovered this isn't the first time a royal bride omitted this word, and it has caused quite a stir in the past. This time around, however, several observers praised Kate for following in the footsteps of independent, strong women like Diana and Fergie, claiming it shows a concentration on equality in relationships.
First of all, I'd like to point out that both Diana and Fergie wound up divorced. That's mildly interesting.
But what I really want to ask is: what about the word "obey" terrifies modern women so much?
So many times, I've heard self-titled "progressive" women ("strong," "independent" women) remark about how they would DIE before promising to obey their husbands, but it always makes me wonder: What is so horrible about your significant other that you don't trust him? If you're worried he would ask you to do something which is morally WRONG, why are you marrying him at all? And if not--if your only concern is having to do things you don't always want to do--are you so selfish you can't give up your own desires in his favor now and then?
----
A friend of mine complained about all the wedding hooplah, because, as she pointed out, the world is celebrating a ceremony that otherwise doesn't hold much significance to our culture anymore. Most of the tradition and pageantry has been handed down from a time when marriage really did mean forever. Now, despite the politically correct talk about the "beautiful couple" and how "happy they are," it seems perfectly appropriate to wonder secretly when it will end in a split. (Or to wonder the same thing, not-so-secretly on your blog, I suppose.)
I realize this is a touchy subject because so many people are affected by divorce. But I can't help noticing that wedding vows mean very little in our world, and that's another reason I wonder why women fight so fiercely over the word "obey." Frequently they say "love, honor, and cherish until death do us part," then turn around and part before death. So, why can't we mutter an insincere "I'll obey ya, too" ???
And, what's with the "richer or poorer" thing? I know the royals don't have much to worry about in that department, but statistics show the rest of us fight about money above anything else... Why would any self-respecting woman promise to attach herself to a poor guy?!
If we REALLY want to brag about our progressive marriage ceremonies and keep our vows more practical for a modern society, I think mine probably should have read something like this:
I, Amanda, take you, Luke, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love you as long as I feel you are providing for our family, and I will treat you as an equal, unless I wake up one morning and realize I'm not happy and should look out for myself first. Life is short, afterall. But, it's not so short that I can promise---for sure--to be your wife the whole time. So, I promise to be faithful as long as our relationship still feels as good as dating. If I like the things you say to me, I'll consider your opinions. (But, let's be clear. That's not the same as "obeying!") I suppose I will cherish you, if you deserve it. And I will sacrifice for you, unless it hurts TOO much. And, finally my love, I promise to enjoy the congratulations and the taxbreak associated with our new "committment," until it's time to dissolve the contract and try again with the next guy.
Oh, Amanda, you are so judgmental.
It's true, I see the carelessness being thrown upon the beautiful institution of marriage, and--in my judgment--it is a disgrace. But if we thought seriously about our promises, maybe fewer people would jump into marriage so readily? Maybe we wouldn't be so quick to congratulate, but would caution each other that life-long relationships aren't for the selfishly-minded (unless you want to change the vows to resemble mine above)...
I actually don't have a problem with women who KNOW they have an issue with "obeying." At least they're thinking about the words of their vows! But, again, I wonder why you would go through with the marriage anyway--just removing the parts you don't like. If you can't be sure you're standing beside a man who only will exercise his authority as a last resort and for your good, if you wonder whether it will turn into an "abuse" situation, or if you don't know for sure if he could handle leadership, why are you pledging your life to him?
----
Luke hasn't yet used his headship to end an argument. Most of the time, we go back and forth in discussion when our wills clash, and there hasn't been an instance when he felt so strongly his way was better for both of us that he trumped me on the spot...
But I remember a time my dad stepped in and took charge, despite protests. My grandpa, Mom's dad, passed away somewhat unexpectedly, and the entire family left church early to drive nearly three hours and be with Grandma. We may have thrown some clothes in bags first, but we weren't totally prepared for a long visit. Besides that, Mom's extended family was arriving in droves, and Grandma's little house was getting crowded.
So, my dad made the executive decision to take my three siblings and me back home to our house, and let my mom spend time mourning with her family. She didn't like the idea--wanting to keep everyone together, unsure about the cost of driving back and forth repeatedly, worried about whether we'd make it for the funeral, etc. And, ordinarily, Dad tries to accomodate Mom's wishes the best he can.
But, he recognized that she wasn't thinking with her usual clarity. She was distraught, and she needed the leadership of my father to take care of details while she dealt with her pain. I'm not sure whether she held a grudge against him at first, but I did hear her remark later that she was glad he stepped in and overruled her. After the fact, she could recognize he did it for her good.
----
There is no reason for me to suspect Kate and William will crash and burn in the matrimony department, other than the truly sad divorce statistics being collected. For this reason, along with the rest of the world, I'll stare breathless at the pomp, admire the beauty, and wish my best for the couple.
But I will not celebrate their focus on "equality," when I believe strongly true love elevates the other person. I cannot praise anybody for their "modern" or "progressive" marriage, because I don't see progress in the institution at all.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
More Thoughts on Love vs. Enabling
Awhile back, I wrote a post called CANI Get Free Money, Please? in which I asked the question "What is the REAL root of poverty" which we should be attacking? Do people just need "a chance?" A little boost of money and encouragement? (I would say some do.) But what about those who receive one opportunity after another and still don't learn? Often, our best charities even have the opposite of their intended effect, causing ingratitude and then absolute dependence.
Several readers commented saying, "Yeah, there is someone like that in my family..." Despite the efforts of friends and loved who try lending a hand, these individuals continue making the same bad choices that get them into trouble--financially and emotionally. And that leaves even compassionate people asking: when do we step back and let them fall on their rear ends? Does that make us mean? And at what point does our service and love turn into enablement?
Though that was several weeks ago, the topic has continued to spin in my mind. Then, after talking with my mom, I realized a bit of GOOD news for anyone struggling while observing the poor choices of another.
----
When I was training my replacement at the daycare, she observed I had a "different style" than some of the other teachers.
For one thing, I was very matter-of-fact with the kids. There wasn't much coddling and cooing. I was to-the-point with my expectations, clear about what would happen if they weren't met, and swift in discipline when the kids challenged me. So, when my friend said I was "different," I laughed and said, "You mean I'm 'mean'?" She nodded, but added, "Except, the kids don't seem to see it that way!" I took this as a compliment. But, more importantly, she was right about how the kids viewed me.
I was a mean teacher. I plan to be a "mean" Mommy. Because kids--like wise adults--know when they've messed up and appreciate the correction that comes from a loving source. They may scream "I hate you!" in the heat of the emotion. But at the end of the day, they don't really feel "wronged" when stuck in the corner for hitting a friend. My kids knew when they were to blame because I did my best to teach them real justice always has consequences...
There was a chair in the classroom with very thin legs--meaning, the kids loved to stand on it. I literally can't count how many times a student challenged that chair and wound up crying in a tangled heap on the floor. So, of course, everytime I saw somebody climb up, I warned, "You are not supposed to stand on that chair. You will fall." That chair--with it's perfect track record for taking down children--is the perfect example of God's Moral Law.
Many, many times, God says "If you do THIS, then THIS will happen." It's inescapable. The law of the earth is as contant--rather, more so--than the law of children falling off that chair. Sex should be kept within the context of marriage. One man, one woman, for life. What happens when you climb onto THAT chair? Aids and other STDs, unwanted pregnancies, affairs and broken families. Even if none of those happen, there are psychological and spiritual consequences. Period. God says enjoy food and drink in moderation. Want to challenge that rule? Take a look at obesity and alcoholism, for examples of the consequences.
I didn't enjoy watching my students scrape their knees (I would have preferred they take my verbal warning and not require the hard way of learning). But I am glad to know they were learning the cause-and-effect pattern that follows all of us for the rest of our lives. Inescapably.
Unfortunately, many kids figure this out in preschool and then UN-learn it later in life. Too many of us tries to dismiss the Moral Law, with the belief they are the exception to everything... ("Well, Miss Amanda, maybe the chair was dangerous for YOU. But, it's different for me...")
----
My mom surprised us with a visit on Easter Sunday. (And it really was surprising, because my parents live an hour and a half away!) She brought us Easter baskets, since we're not traveling any more until Baby arrives, and then we chatted for a couple hours. At the time, I was upset over three or four different incidences in which a hard-headed, less-informed person refused the advice of a wiser party. It used to be that people respected others with more experience than themselves. Younger generations went to their elders with questions, rather than being offended by suggestions. But the world truly is full of unteachable people these days--people who think what applies to one doesn't apply to another. And, I was pretty worked up over one of the incidents in particular, where several young adults verbally ripped into an older lady with all three of my "favorite" culturally-acceptable defenses: "Who do you think you are?" "This is my life." AND "Don't judge me." I wrote this post somewhat in response to that.
So, when my mom started talking about the ladies at the homeless shelter in which she worked--and when she mentioned the strict rules and consequences they enforce there--I just assumed the women who get in trouble are equally defensive about it.
"Let me guess," I said to Mom. "You hear things like, 'Who are you to tell me what to do?' 'You are mean!' all the time.'"
But, Mom shook her head.
"No, the ladies at the shelter have hit rock bottom," she said. "Most of them are well aware they've messed up, and they're ready to listen when people tell them how to fix it."
Eureka! The good news! Sometimes allowing someone to experience the consequences DOES work, and the most "loving" thing one can do is wait for the attitude of humility that comes from a broken and fallen individual.
My mom's words made me think of that chair in the classroom and realize sometimes people do learn lessons. In fact, her ladies and my children, because they learn, are wiser than a sad majority of the rest of us. Yeah, they make poor choices and fall hard--but neither group truly hates the messenger for saying, "I told you so." Instead, even a child recognizes when his or her own choices come back to haunt them. And, after dusting themselves off, the kids and ladies both are humble enough to come back and listen to the warnings next time around.
-----
The REAL root of many problems is enablement, when a "nice" teacher or "nice" parent can't bear to watch a loved one fall. When someone--for all their good intentions--absorbs the consequences or makes excuses for the poor choices of another, it causes complete ignorance of true justice.
There ARE consequences for every action.
Those who can take advice about cause-and-effect will have an easier life in general. BUT, when someone simply won't learn from verbal warnings, we have to let them crash.
Several readers commented saying, "Yeah, there is someone like that in my family..." Despite the efforts of friends and loved who try lending a hand, these individuals continue making the same bad choices that get them into trouble--financially and emotionally. And that leaves even compassionate people asking: when do we step back and let them fall on their rear ends? Does that make us mean? And at what point does our service and love turn into enablement?
Though that was several weeks ago, the topic has continued to spin in my mind. Then, after talking with my mom, I realized a bit of GOOD news for anyone struggling while observing the poor choices of another.
----
When I was training my replacement at the daycare, she observed I had a "different style" than some of the other teachers.
For one thing, I was very matter-of-fact with the kids. There wasn't much coddling and cooing. I was to-the-point with my expectations, clear about what would happen if they weren't met, and swift in discipline when the kids challenged me. So, when my friend said I was "different," I laughed and said, "You mean I'm 'mean'?" She nodded, but added, "Except, the kids don't seem to see it that way!" I took this as a compliment. But, more importantly, she was right about how the kids viewed me.
I was a mean teacher. I plan to be a "mean" Mommy. Because kids--like wise adults--know when they've messed up and appreciate the correction that comes from a loving source. They may scream "I hate you!" in the heat of the emotion. But at the end of the day, they don't really feel "wronged" when stuck in the corner for hitting a friend. My kids knew when they were to blame because I did my best to teach them real justice always has consequences...
There was a chair in the classroom with very thin legs--meaning, the kids loved to stand on it. I literally can't count how many times a student challenged that chair and wound up crying in a tangled heap on the floor. So, of course, everytime I saw somebody climb up, I warned, "You are not supposed to stand on that chair. You will fall." That chair--with it's perfect track record for taking down children--is the perfect example of God's Moral Law.
Many, many times, God says "If you do THIS, then THIS will happen." It's inescapable. The law of the earth is as contant--rather, more so--than the law of children falling off that chair. Sex should be kept within the context of marriage. One man, one woman, for life. What happens when you climb onto THAT chair? Aids and other STDs, unwanted pregnancies, affairs and broken families. Even if none of those happen, there are psychological and spiritual consequences. Period. God says enjoy food and drink in moderation. Want to challenge that rule? Take a look at obesity and alcoholism, for examples of the consequences.
I didn't enjoy watching my students scrape their knees (I would have preferred they take my verbal warning and not require the hard way of learning). But I am glad to know they were learning the cause-and-effect pattern that follows all of us for the rest of our lives. Inescapably.
Unfortunately, many kids figure this out in preschool and then UN-learn it later in life. Too many of us tries to dismiss the Moral Law, with the belief they are the exception to everything... ("Well, Miss Amanda, maybe the chair was dangerous for YOU. But, it's different for me...")
----
My mom surprised us with a visit on Easter Sunday. (And it really was surprising, because my parents live an hour and a half away!) She brought us Easter baskets, since we're not traveling any more until Baby arrives, and then we chatted for a couple hours. At the time, I was upset over three or four different incidences in which a hard-headed, less-informed person refused the advice of a wiser party. It used to be that people respected others with more experience than themselves. Younger generations went to their elders with questions, rather than being offended by suggestions. But the world truly is full of unteachable people these days--people who think what applies to one doesn't apply to another. And, I was pretty worked up over one of the incidents in particular, where several young adults verbally ripped into an older lady with all three of my "favorite" culturally-acceptable defenses: "Who do you think you are?" "This is my life." AND "Don't judge me." I wrote this post somewhat in response to that.
So, when my mom started talking about the ladies at the homeless shelter in which she worked--and when she mentioned the strict rules and consequences they enforce there--I just assumed the women who get in trouble are equally defensive about it.
"Let me guess," I said to Mom. "You hear things like, 'Who are you to tell me what to do?' 'You are mean!' all the time.'"
But, Mom shook her head.
"No, the ladies at the shelter have hit rock bottom," she said. "Most of them are well aware they've messed up, and they're ready to listen when people tell them how to fix it."
Eureka! The good news! Sometimes allowing someone to experience the consequences DOES work, and the most "loving" thing one can do is wait for the attitude of humility that comes from a broken and fallen individual.
My mom's words made me think of that chair in the classroom and realize sometimes people do learn lessons. In fact, her ladies and my children, because they learn, are wiser than a sad majority of the rest of us. Yeah, they make poor choices and fall hard--but neither group truly hates the messenger for saying, "I told you so." Instead, even a child recognizes when his or her own choices come back to haunt them. And, after dusting themselves off, the kids and ladies both are humble enough to come back and listen to the warnings next time around.
-----
The REAL root of many problems is enablement, when a "nice" teacher or "nice" parent can't bear to watch a loved one fall. When someone--for all their good intentions--absorbs the consequences or makes excuses for the poor choices of another, it causes complete ignorance of true justice.
There ARE consequences for every action.
Those who can take advice about cause-and-effect will have an easier life in general. BUT, when someone simply won't learn from verbal warnings, we have to let them crash.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
If You Need More Bottom-Lining
Ahhh, yet another refreshing reminder of why I write what I do, when I do, the way I do...
Go ahead, ask me for the reason I have hope within me.
Go ahead, ask me for the reason I have hope within me.
Monday, April 25, 2011
It's All About the F-Word
Yesterday was Easter Sunday. I had so hoped to be in the hospital meeting the McBaby over the weekend, but if I had, I would have missed a pretty terrific sermon. Originally, our pastor wanted to title it "The Real F-Bomb," but one of the elders (a rather elderly one) was concerned that "someone might think you mean something else!" Hehe.
(As a side note, there is another elderly man in our church who I took for being the same sweet, easily-scandalized type, until he whispered to Luke yesterday, "That baby felt a whole lot better going in then it will coming out!" I laughed! Part of me can't wait until Luke is an old man telling slightly sketchy jokes in church...)
Anyway, the baby was wiggling and distracting me a bit, but I'm glad I caught the "bottom line," when Dr. Max said, "I'm not different from the world because I'm perfect now. I'm different because I'm forgiven."
Pause for sink-in effect.
It's a simple truth all young Christians are taught in Sunday school--and most non-Christians are familiar with it (they just don't believe it). We ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are not fit for the Kingdom of God. The holiness of God demands perfection, and no human is perfect. So, what are we to do about it?
Cling to Jesus. THAT'S what makes me a Christian.
Now, Paul warns that we should question our faith if we don't look and act differently than the world. Jesus changes hearts from the inside--so, if we never spend any time in prayer, never make an effort to serve, and generally look and act like an unbeliever... Well, you've heard the expression "If it looks like a duck and acts like a duck." The reverse is true, too. It it doesn't look like a duck or act like a duck or sound like a duck, why would you call it a duck?
But, ultimately, what seperates us from the world is not our super-actions here on earth. It's a priveledge--a right--to which we have laid claim and will pull from our back pockets on Judgement Day.
When God says to me, "Amanda, you lived a self-absorbed life." I will say, "Yes, Lord. I know I've struggled to put others ahead of myself." But that won't be enough.
He'll say, "You were full of pride, and you let your emotions run away with you countless times...I can list them for you."
And I'll beg, "Please don't, Lord! I admit, I haven't practiced what I preach--not all the time!" But, admitting I'm wrong isn't enough.
God will say, "You claimed to love the truth, but you told several lies in your lifetime. That violates my law. You may not have robbed banks, but you have stollen attention and taken self-esteem from others. And, though you never carved a physical image of some false god, you constantly worshiped your children, your money, and your own preferences in my place. YOU ARE GUILTY."
I may cry, "Jehovah, I tried to be a good person!" But, He will reply, "I told you in my Word: even one infraction of the law is punishable by death. Look at your list of offenses! What do you have to say for yourself?" ...and, trembling, I'll think back to my life on earth for some excuse to offer.
This is the point that seperates the Christians from the rest. This is where I will point to Jesus, sitting next to His Father and declare, "I'm with Him!"
I imagine He'll look at me, smile, and say, "Hi, Peaches! I've been waiting for you!" And the look of disgust on the Judge's face will change to beautiful acceptance.
"Well done, good and faithful servant. Your sins have been forgiven. Now come spend eternity with Me."
-----
Becoming a Christian doesn't MAKE somebody a better person. In fact, those who declare, "This is what I believe!" actually make things harder on themselves, because they open themselves to scrutiny and judgement. Anybody who reads our standard for living can see precisely where I fall short. Anybody who picks up a Bible can say, "Hey! You don't look exactly like Jesus!"
And they are right.
I've spent a good amount of time on this blog talking about what's wrong with the world and what people--including myself--"ought" to do. But, I write predominantly for those who already have taken care of the "bottom line." I write for those prepared for the Judgement, but who want to produce fruit and make their heart changes apparent here on earth. I'm interested in politics, education, family dynamics, and a whole host of other categories, for which the Bible offers guiding principles to Christians. But these discussions must take place after the Big Picture has been resolved--after salvation has been secured.
I'm concerned about selflessnes and service because I've already been forgiven. It's all about forgiveness first.
(As a side note, there is another elderly man in our church who I took for being the same sweet, easily-scandalized type, until he whispered to Luke yesterday, "That baby felt a whole lot better going in then it will coming out!" I laughed! Part of me can't wait until Luke is an old man telling slightly sketchy jokes in church...)
Anyway, the baby was wiggling and distracting me a bit, but I'm glad I caught the "bottom line," when Dr. Max said, "I'm not different from the world because I'm perfect now. I'm different because I'm forgiven."
Pause for sink-in effect.
It's a simple truth all young Christians are taught in Sunday school--and most non-Christians are familiar with it (they just don't believe it). We ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are not fit for the Kingdom of God. The holiness of God demands perfection, and no human is perfect. So, what are we to do about it?
Cling to Jesus. THAT'S what makes me a Christian.
Now, Paul warns that we should question our faith if we don't look and act differently than the world. Jesus changes hearts from the inside--so, if we never spend any time in prayer, never make an effort to serve, and generally look and act like an unbeliever... Well, you've heard the expression "If it looks like a duck and acts like a duck." The reverse is true, too. It it doesn't look like a duck or act like a duck or sound like a duck, why would you call it a duck?
But, ultimately, what seperates us from the world is not our super-actions here on earth. It's a priveledge--a right--to which we have laid claim and will pull from our back pockets on Judgement Day.
When God says to me, "Amanda, you lived a self-absorbed life." I will say, "Yes, Lord. I know I've struggled to put others ahead of myself." But that won't be enough.
He'll say, "You were full of pride, and you let your emotions run away with you countless times...I can list them for you."
And I'll beg, "Please don't, Lord! I admit, I haven't practiced what I preach--not all the time!" But, admitting I'm wrong isn't enough.
God will say, "You claimed to love the truth, but you told several lies in your lifetime. That violates my law. You may not have robbed banks, but you have stollen attention and taken self-esteem from others. And, though you never carved a physical image of some false god, you constantly worshiped your children, your money, and your own preferences in my place. YOU ARE GUILTY."
I may cry, "Jehovah, I tried to be a good person!" But, He will reply, "I told you in my Word: even one infraction of the law is punishable by death. Look at your list of offenses! What do you have to say for yourself?" ...and, trembling, I'll think back to my life on earth for some excuse to offer.
This is the point that seperates the Christians from the rest. This is where I will point to Jesus, sitting next to His Father and declare, "I'm with Him!"
I imagine He'll look at me, smile, and say, "Hi, Peaches! I've been waiting for you!" And the look of disgust on the Judge's face will change to beautiful acceptance.
"Well done, good and faithful servant. Your sins have been forgiven. Now come spend eternity with Me."
-----
Becoming a Christian doesn't MAKE somebody a better person. In fact, those who declare, "This is what I believe!" actually make things harder on themselves, because they open themselves to scrutiny and judgement. Anybody who reads our standard for living can see precisely where I fall short. Anybody who picks up a Bible can say, "Hey! You don't look exactly like Jesus!"
And they are right.
I've spent a good amount of time on this blog talking about what's wrong with the world and what people--including myself--"ought" to do. But, I write predominantly for those who already have taken care of the "bottom line." I write for those prepared for the Judgement, but who want to produce fruit and make their heart changes apparent here on earth. I'm interested in politics, education, family dynamics, and a whole host of other categories, for which the Bible offers guiding principles to Christians. But these discussions must take place after the Big Picture has been resolved--after salvation has been secured.
I'm concerned about selflessnes and service because I've already been forgiven. It's all about forgiveness first.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Dad and Peter Heck, Recap This Week's News
A couple weeks ago, my dad guest-hosted Peter Heck's radio show while Peter was on vacation.
And now, it seems, Dad will appear a little more regularly, as an "ombudsman" meant to discuss hot topics and any complaints the show may have received from listeners...
The archives only file recordings for three weeks or so, which means THIS LINK won't work forever... But, for a limited time, it's worth listening to their discussion about balancing the desire to "care for the earth" with--well--sanity, the root of our fiscal problems in the US, and the importance of Easter Weekend.
With that, I'm off to spend another day trying to talk my child from its cramped quarters.
And now, it seems, Dad will appear a little more regularly, as an "ombudsman" meant to discuss hot topics and any complaints the show may have received from listeners...
The archives only file recordings for three weeks or so, which means THIS LINK won't work forever... But, for a limited time, it's worth listening to their discussion about balancing the desire to "care for the earth" with--well--sanity, the root of our fiscal problems in the US, and the importance of Easter Weekend.
With that, I'm off to spend another day trying to talk my child from its cramped quarters.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Self-sacrifice: My Personal Goal, but Impossible to Enforce
Selfishness is the root of all evil.
Jesus speaks constantly about serving our fellow man.
We are told to put our own selfish interests aside and serve others--regardless of how it feels at the time.
And, with these principles in mind, I first began posting to this blog. I've always been haunted by verses such as, "Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me [Jesus]" "Care for the widow and orphan," "Look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others..." It can't be denied: after preaching the need for salvation, Jesus talked most frequently about sacrifice, love, and service. (All three are almost interchangeable in definition.)
I may have shared once that I interviewed author Lisa Samson in college, and was impressed by the way writing books was distinctly second place in her life. She talked much more readily--much more animated--about her inner-city ministry than she did about being an award-winning novelist. I'll never forget when she said, "Just because I may write words that bring people closer to God, that doesn't mean I don't have to lift my finger to help someone less fortunate than me." ....It's a beautiful truth. But it was haunting for a college Sophomore--stuck on campus, writing lots of words all the time, yet totally unsure of where to begin my own acts of service...
Then, I got married and began work in a daycare for special needs children--which were two extremely challenging responsibilities from the very beginning. It was tough. And it was difficult to be positive at times. But it occurred to me, I can take on the attitude of service in my life right now. My major ideology was, "if we all put personal needs aside and practiced Christian love, the world's problems would shrink." Divorce rates would drop. The truly needy would be cared for. And, although we would be sacrificing our own desires--we would end up being a happier people overall. That's what happens when we practice the always-true, made-for-our-good laws of God.
So, naturally, what really irks me is when people take the Bible verses above, upon which I've built my beliefs, and uses them to challenge my sincerity. I'm called a hypocrite. I've been told repeatedly, because I don't support a certain political party, that I "hate the poor" and fail to do my part in "taking care of the least of these." Mostly, these attacks come from non-believers who only know Jesus' words out-of-context and, furthermore, only revere them when it suits their political agenda. BUT, some Christians also think a "poor-conscious" individual must surely vote Democrat or else admit to being a self-centered jerk...
Apparently, Economist Dr. Mark Hendrickson has run into these same people, which inspired him to write a marvelous article, Christian Charity and the Welfare State, to explain why less government is better government, even when that government claims to care for the poor. Now, I know it's popular in Christian circles to chant "Jesus isn't Republican or Democrat....blah, blah blah." But, as the chasm between the two parties begin looking more like Freedom vs. Socialism, I argue there is a better choice for the political direction of our country. Technically, Jesus would be politically neutral even if Hitler came back from the dead, took control of the world as a Supreme Leader, and began killing off various groups one after the other. But that doesn't make it an ideal situation. Also, carrying signs that read "Jesus isn't a genocidal dictator" won't help much.
Read the article! And the next time a liberal tries to corner the market on "compassion" just because he or she advocates taking money from the evil rich and handing it to the "always-deserving poor," well....I still haven't figure out exactly what to do in that situation other than roll my eyes.
But, in the meantime, I vote in favor of the right to choose selfishness or service.
And then I'm going to choose service.
Jesus speaks constantly about serving our fellow man.
We are told to put our own selfish interests aside and serve others--regardless of how it feels at the time.
And, with these principles in mind, I first began posting to this blog. I've always been haunted by verses such as, "Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me [Jesus]" "Care for the widow and orphan," "Look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others..." It can't be denied: after preaching the need for salvation, Jesus talked most frequently about sacrifice, love, and service. (All three are almost interchangeable in definition.)
I may have shared once that I interviewed author Lisa Samson in college, and was impressed by the way writing books was distinctly second place in her life. She talked much more readily--much more animated--about her inner-city ministry than she did about being an award-winning novelist. I'll never forget when she said, "Just because I may write words that bring people closer to God, that doesn't mean I don't have to lift my finger to help someone less fortunate than me." ....It's a beautiful truth. But it was haunting for a college Sophomore--stuck on campus, writing lots of words all the time, yet totally unsure of where to begin my own acts of service...
Then, I got married and began work in a daycare for special needs children--which were two extremely challenging responsibilities from the very beginning. It was tough. And it was difficult to be positive at times. But it occurred to me, I can take on the attitude of service in my life right now. My major ideology was, "if we all put personal needs aside and practiced Christian love, the world's problems would shrink." Divorce rates would drop. The truly needy would be cared for. And, although we would be sacrificing our own desires--we would end up being a happier people overall. That's what happens when we practice the always-true, made-for-our-good laws of God.
So, naturally, what really irks me is when people take the Bible verses above, upon which I've built my beliefs, and uses them to challenge my sincerity. I'm called a hypocrite. I've been told repeatedly, because I don't support a certain political party, that I "hate the poor" and fail to do my part in "taking care of the least of these." Mostly, these attacks come from non-believers who only know Jesus' words out-of-context and, furthermore, only revere them when it suits their political agenda. BUT, some Christians also think a "poor-conscious" individual must surely vote Democrat or else admit to being a self-centered jerk...
Apparently, Economist Dr. Mark Hendrickson has run into these same people, which inspired him to write a marvelous article, Christian Charity and the Welfare State, to explain why less government is better government, even when that government claims to care for the poor. Now, I know it's popular in Christian circles to chant "Jesus isn't Republican or Democrat....blah, blah blah." But, as the chasm between the two parties begin looking more like Freedom vs. Socialism, I argue there is a better choice for the political direction of our country. Technically, Jesus would be politically neutral even if Hitler came back from the dead, took control of the world as a Supreme Leader, and began killing off various groups one after the other. But that doesn't make it an ideal situation. Also, carrying signs that read "Jesus isn't a genocidal dictator" won't help much.
Read the article! And the next time a liberal tries to corner the market on "compassion" just because he or she advocates taking money from the evil rich and handing it to the "always-deserving poor," well....I still haven't figure out exactly what to do in that situation other than roll my eyes.
But, in the meantime, I vote in favor of the right to choose selfishness or service.
And then I'm going to choose service.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Everybody Needs a Cause
Awhile back, I prayed that God would help me see the full potential of those around me. I believe he has given talents to everybody, and I wanted to better recognize those talents in the people with whom I interact.
This isn't the first time I've asked God to show me things from His perspective. In the past, I've asked to be angered by the things that anger Him (some would call this "sensitivity to sin."). But once I started feeling really worked up by all the depravity in the world, I realized I needed to add another request to my list. I asked for a sense of sadness over things which make God sad. (In other words, "more compassion"). Generally, it's easier to follow God's rules when you have the same emotional response to the world He does, so I thought these prayers were a good place to start.
Unfortunately, ignorance IS bliss in some cases. And, by asking God to enlighten me with His perspective, I was opening myself to an uncomfortable, emotional roller-coaster ride. For instance, it turns out there's a lot of sad stuff in the world! People fight with eachother, they get sick, they die. But, what I didn't expect was how genuinely sad I would begin feeling when considering the plight of the unbeliever. They're like sheep without a master, Jesus said. I used to think He was frustrated with Jerusalem for rejecting Him. Disobedience does anger Him, after all.
But now I think Jesus spent more time choking back tears than raising his voice. "How often I have longed to gather [you, Jerusalem] together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing..." Unreturned love is very, very sad...
Anyway, back to my prayer about recognizing talent. God agreed to open my eyes, and I've been shown that humans are an incredible bunch. There is no shortage of creativity on this planet, and, if you need convincing, check out these videos of a Rube Goldberg Machine, and the Techno Jeep Music.
On the other hand, humans don't just do "cool" or "creative" things--we also are capable of rallying together and effecting major, positive changes around us. Some of us are great speakers, writers, and organizers. Others possess tireless energy and optimism for certain goals. Some are ready to write a check whenever the need arises. As a result, we can boast progress in cancer research, mobilization in the face of natural disasters, lowered teen pregnancy, longer life expectancy, and a whole host of other small victories for mankind. The only problem is: when people aren't given a reason for doing good, their activism has a lot of potential to fly off track...
A quick example would be the "green" movement. Now, as a Christan, I believe it's important not to abuse the earth, which has been entrusted to our care. But, we have to balance our desire to treat nature respectfully with the understanding that God filled the planet with natural resources for our use. If we don't keep a healthy perspective, our tree activism goes a little crazy.
Another example: the other day, Luke and I were following a car which had no fewer than 50 bumper stickers on the back, all of which had something to do with four-legged friends. ("Please spay and neuter your pet." "Cold noses make for the warmest hearts." "I love my shelter dogs." etc.) Now, as with the Tree Love, I'm not saying there's something inherently wrong with standing up for animal rights... But I can't help wondering what inspires such extreme passion...?
How does one decide "I'm going to be a voice for the animals of the world" while another says, "I'm concerned about childhood obesity." Think of the thousands of "causes" we could join. Why does Person One talk urgently about AIDS awareness, while Person Two can't stop thinking about people with unclean water in Rawanda?
I submit to you we have been given certain passions by God. But, those who don't submit to His Authority--Christians included--are missing the point.
I mused to Luke, "Well, everyone needs to have a cause. We need to feel like we have a purpose." And that's when the sadness settled in. Each of us already has a purpose, but some of us just don't know it. And, when people don't know the truth about Jesus or they've never asked Him what they should be doing with their lives, they'll latch onto any cause with the same sense of importance that was meant to be reserved for passionately loving God.
Before somebody points out the obvious, I have no idea whether the tree person OR the dog person was/wasn't a Christian. My question remains the same either way. What's your purpose? What's worth your time, money, and the space on the back of your car? What ignites extreme passion in you, and WHY?
What if the green activist believed there is a God whose return will be soon, and PEOPLE were going to die in sin? I bet she would make one awesome evangelist, full of genuine compassion for humanity. God created her, an emotion-filled, outspoken individual, but I wonder if He cries when her talents are directed at the trees... What if the animal rights activist were just as concerned with lost souls as lost puppies? If there is a God who demands holiness, that's a much bigger-picture issue than whether we neuter Fido. She was created with a talent for "spreading the word" and unashamedly declaring her beliefs to the world. I can just see the amazing things God has in mind for her, if she lets Him.
Everybody has talents. And everybody feels compelled to use those talents for a cause.
What is your cause, and why?
Addendum: I forgot to mention another thing I saw this week--a person looking for purpose in a heartbreaking dead-end situation. He posted to a discussion forum that people who believe in an afterlife are simply unable to accept that "when you're dead, you're dead." Yet, he "loves life" too much to debate with believers--and he would rather contribute to "good causes" like "life-extending research and cryogenic preservation." (In other words, he wants to be frozen and later thawed to live again.) He tried gathering support from others willing to donate to the cause.
I would argue: it seems as though NEITHER of us accepts the"when you're dead, you're dead" philosophy. But what a sad example of the way one can spend time/resources if he won't accept the purposes given to him by God.
This isn't the first time I've asked God to show me things from His perspective. In the past, I've asked to be angered by the things that anger Him (some would call this "sensitivity to sin."). But once I started feeling really worked up by all the depravity in the world, I realized I needed to add another request to my list. I asked for a sense of sadness over things which make God sad. (In other words, "more compassion"). Generally, it's easier to follow God's rules when you have the same emotional response to the world He does, so I thought these prayers were a good place to start.
Unfortunately, ignorance IS bliss in some cases. And, by asking God to enlighten me with His perspective, I was opening myself to an uncomfortable, emotional roller-coaster ride. For instance, it turns out there's a lot of sad stuff in the world! People fight with eachother, they get sick, they die. But, what I didn't expect was how genuinely sad I would begin feeling when considering the plight of the unbeliever. They're like sheep without a master, Jesus said. I used to think He was frustrated with Jerusalem for rejecting Him. Disobedience does anger Him, after all.
But now I think Jesus spent more time choking back tears than raising his voice. "How often I have longed to gather [you, Jerusalem] together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing..." Unreturned love is very, very sad...
Anyway, back to my prayer about recognizing talent. God agreed to open my eyes, and I've been shown that humans are an incredible bunch. There is no shortage of creativity on this planet, and, if you need convincing, check out these videos of a Rube Goldberg Machine, and the Techno Jeep Music.
On the other hand, humans don't just do "cool" or "creative" things--we also are capable of rallying together and effecting major, positive changes around us. Some of us are great speakers, writers, and organizers. Others possess tireless energy and optimism for certain goals. Some are ready to write a check whenever the need arises. As a result, we can boast progress in cancer research, mobilization in the face of natural disasters, lowered teen pregnancy, longer life expectancy, and a whole host of other small victories for mankind. The only problem is: when people aren't given a reason for doing good, their activism has a lot of potential to fly off track...
A quick example would be the "green" movement. Now, as a Christan, I believe it's important not to abuse the earth, which has been entrusted to our care. But, we have to balance our desire to treat nature respectfully with the understanding that God filled the planet with natural resources for our use. If we don't keep a healthy perspective, our tree activism goes a little crazy.
Another example: the other day, Luke and I were following a car which had no fewer than 50 bumper stickers on the back, all of which had something to do with four-legged friends. ("Please spay and neuter your pet." "Cold noses make for the warmest hearts." "I love my shelter dogs." etc.) Now, as with the Tree Love, I'm not saying there's something inherently wrong with standing up for animal rights... But I can't help wondering what inspires such extreme passion...?
How does one decide "I'm going to be a voice for the animals of the world" while another says, "I'm concerned about childhood obesity." Think of the thousands of "causes" we could join. Why does Person One talk urgently about AIDS awareness, while Person Two can't stop thinking about people with unclean water in Rawanda?
I submit to you we have been given certain passions by God. But, those who don't submit to His Authority--Christians included--are missing the point.
I mused to Luke, "Well, everyone needs to have a cause. We need to feel like we have a purpose." And that's when the sadness settled in. Each of us already has a purpose, but some of us just don't know it. And, when people don't know the truth about Jesus or they've never asked Him what they should be doing with their lives, they'll latch onto any cause with the same sense of importance that was meant to be reserved for passionately loving God.
Before somebody points out the obvious, I have no idea whether the tree person OR the dog person was/wasn't a Christian. My question remains the same either way. What's your purpose? What's worth your time, money, and the space on the back of your car? What ignites extreme passion in you, and WHY?
What if the green activist believed there is a God whose return will be soon, and PEOPLE were going to die in sin? I bet she would make one awesome evangelist, full of genuine compassion for humanity. God created her, an emotion-filled, outspoken individual, but I wonder if He cries when her talents are directed at the trees... What if the animal rights activist were just as concerned with lost souls as lost puppies? If there is a God who demands holiness, that's a much bigger-picture issue than whether we neuter Fido. She was created with a talent for "spreading the word" and unashamedly declaring her beliefs to the world. I can just see the amazing things God has in mind for her, if she lets Him.
Everybody has talents. And everybody feels compelled to use those talents for a cause.
What is your cause, and why?
Addendum: I forgot to mention another thing I saw this week--a person looking for purpose in a heartbreaking dead-end situation. He posted to a discussion forum that people who believe in an afterlife are simply unable to accept that "when you're dead, you're dead." Yet, he "loves life" too much to debate with believers--and he would rather contribute to "good causes" like "life-extending research and cryogenic preservation." (In other words, he wants to be frozen and later thawed to live again.) He tried gathering support from others willing to donate to the cause.
I would argue: it seems as though NEITHER of us accepts the"when you're dead, you're dead" philosophy. But what a sad example of the way one can spend time/resources if he won't accept the purposes given to him by God.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Goody-Two-Shoes
We weren't supposed to cross Taylor Street.
It was a busy road--at least for 7-year-olds to navigate--so Mom told us to stay away. We were allowed to ride our bikes around the block or to play in the less-trafficked Leeds street. But, there's only so much fun available within the boundaries--right? That's why my brother, Tim, loooooved every excuse to put a toe over the "Taylor Street" line.
"Oops, my stick flew into the road. I'm going to grab it."
"I only touched Taylor Street for a second!"
"I'm not in the street. I'm standing on a rock in the street."
For whatever reason, I never felt confined by parameters the way Tim did. If our parents said "don't," I usually didn't. On the occassions I strongly disagreed with them, I'd debate the rules verbally. But I rarely defied them behind their backs--especially if they provided a reason for their guidelines. For instance, "You have no reason to cross Taylor Street, and it's not worth the risk that a speeding driver might hit you."
They were right: I had no reason to cross Taylor, and it was dangerous. But that road called to my strong-willed and rebellious little brother like the music of a circus or the bells of the Icecream Man (who, incidentally, usually rode up from Taylor Street and provided Tim with what he believed to be another valid reason to disobey...)
It was as a seven-or-eight year old--calling warnings to my thick-headed brother--that I first was called a "Goody-Two-Shoes."
------
In highschool, it was a similar story. Since I took rules seriously in a world where parents and teenagers alike are taught to EXPECT defiance and rebelliousness from teens, I was one of the weirdos. There were drugs; there was sex. I'm sure there was shop-lifting and worse yet. But the behavior which annoyed me (and I assume annoyed our teachers) the most was the "petty" disruptions, comparable to stepping on a rock in Taylor Street.
I went to a private school and was blessed to have many good friends who lived what they claimed to believe: that right is right and wrong is wrong. And the teachers called us "good kids." But, there were others at the school--those who made nuisances of themselves and routinely got in trouble for bucking against authority--who scribbled on desks and talked in class. They defied the dress code and then complained about the teachers who wrote them up. And they had a different name for those of us asking "why not just follow the rules?" Goody-Two-Shoes.
-----
The vocabulary is a tad different in the adult world. Over here, we like to say, "It's my life" or "Don't judge me," when we don't have a good excuse for our actions, yet refuse to admit we're behaving like rebellious children. But anybody who has been called "holier-than-thou" or told to "mind their own business" should recognize those names for their playground equivelent: Goody-Two-Shoes.
It's sad, really. Because the Bible tells us that wise men take rebuke to heart and recognize correction as a blessing. No one likes being wrong--but when a fellow brother or sister points out your wrongs in love, her or she is giving you an opportunity to fix it and not be wrong anymore. The classic, "Don't judge me, Goody-Two-Shoes" is a last-ditch attempt at a comeback from a guilty, defenseless party, and it leaves me wondering... Why not just take your toe off the line? Why not back away from Taylor Street? Shut your lips during class? Wear a longer skirt and be respectful to authority even if you disagree?...
-----
Our preacher talked about "Thermodynamics" yesterday, specifically the law which states everything is heading toward the same temperature. (When you take a pizza from the oven to the counter, the pizza warms the air and the air cools the pizza until both the pizza and the air are the same temperature...) The problem is things spoil at room temperature. SO, if you want hot pizza (or an icy drink) you can't allow the natural law of thermodynamics to take over for too long. Matter tends toward the same temperature--which isn't always pleasant for our tastebuds--and it also tends toward total disorder. After several days, the pizza or iced drink won't just register "unideal temperatures." They will be completely rotten.
He used the verse: "...because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm about to spew you out of my mouth." GOD HIMSELF is the one who spoke those words. He is disgusted by wishy-washy, half-devotion. And, most surprisingly, He would rather we be completely cold toward Him than claim salvation while neglecting to follow His rules. It's as if God is saying: "Cross Taylor Street, if you know what's good for you. DANCE in the road, if you must. Come to school half-naked, if the dress code is so completely ridiculous. But don't call me God and think you can write your own commandments."
Unfortunately, the world loves lukewarmness and hates extremes. Those who break BIG rules are societal deviants. The murderers, thieves, rapists, and other "bad guys" might be called "totally cold," and we frown on them. But, those who are hot are just as bad. They're passionate about doing good whenever they can and determined to follow the rules. And they actually think others should follow the rules, too! Those guys are freaks. They are legalists. They are conservative extremists.
Extreme cold makes you a criminal. Extreme Hot makes you a Goody-Two-Shoes...
-----
Oh, Christians, you know the rules, so why do you want to play in the street? It's tempting to believe I'm just judgmental, but you act as though God Himself isn't going to judge you, either. He will! And it will be by HIS standards. Standards which say your half-commitment is even more disgusting than outright disobedience. He would rather have your extreme cold.
This is the generation which, while singing along with DC Talk, decided being a "Jesus Freak" wasn't such a bad thing. So I wonder, can we renew our acceptance of lables like "legalists" and "Goody-Two-Shoes" if it keeps us from being lukewarm and spoiled, vomitted from the mouth of God?
It was a busy road--at least for 7-year-olds to navigate--so Mom told us to stay away. We were allowed to ride our bikes around the block or to play in the less-trafficked Leeds street. But, there's only so much fun available within the boundaries--right? That's why my brother, Tim, loooooved every excuse to put a toe over the "Taylor Street" line.
"Oops, my stick flew into the road. I'm going to grab it."
"I only touched Taylor Street for a second!"
"I'm not in the street. I'm standing on a rock in the street."
For whatever reason, I never felt confined by parameters the way Tim did. If our parents said "don't," I usually didn't. On the occassions I strongly disagreed with them, I'd debate the rules verbally. But I rarely defied them behind their backs--especially if they provided a reason for their guidelines. For instance, "You have no reason to cross Taylor Street, and it's not worth the risk that a speeding driver might hit you."
They were right: I had no reason to cross Taylor, and it was dangerous. But that road called to my strong-willed and rebellious little brother like the music of a circus or the bells of the Icecream Man (who, incidentally, usually rode up from Taylor Street and provided Tim with what he believed to be another valid reason to disobey...)
It was as a seven-or-eight year old--calling warnings to my thick-headed brother--that I first was called a "Goody-Two-Shoes."
------
In highschool, it was a similar story. Since I took rules seriously in a world where parents and teenagers alike are taught to EXPECT defiance and rebelliousness from teens, I was one of the weirdos. There were drugs; there was sex. I'm sure there was shop-lifting and worse yet. But the behavior which annoyed me (and I assume annoyed our teachers) the most was the "petty" disruptions, comparable to stepping on a rock in Taylor Street.
I went to a private school and was blessed to have many good friends who lived what they claimed to believe: that right is right and wrong is wrong. And the teachers called us "good kids." But, there were others at the school--those who made nuisances of themselves and routinely got in trouble for bucking against authority--who scribbled on desks and talked in class. They defied the dress code and then complained about the teachers who wrote them up. And they had a different name for those of us asking "why not just follow the rules?" Goody-Two-Shoes.
-----
The vocabulary is a tad different in the adult world. Over here, we like to say, "It's my life" or "Don't judge me," when we don't have a good excuse for our actions, yet refuse to admit we're behaving like rebellious children. But anybody who has been called "holier-than-thou" or told to "mind their own business" should recognize those names for their playground equivelent: Goody-Two-Shoes.
It's sad, really. Because the Bible tells us that wise men take rebuke to heart and recognize correction as a blessing. No one likes being wrong--but when a fellow brother or sister points out your wrongs in love, her or she is giving you an opportunity to fix it and not be wrong anymore. The classic, "Don't judge me, Goody-Two-Shoes" is a last-ditch attempt at a comeback from a guilty, defenseless party, and it leaves me wondering... Why not just take your toe off the line? Why not back away from Taylor Street? Shut your lips during class? Wear a longer skirt and be respectful to authority even if you disagree?...
-----
Our preacher talked about "Thermodynamics" yesterday, specifically the law which states everything is heading toward the same temperature. (When you take a pizza from the oven to the counter, the pizza warms the air and the air cools the pizza until both the pizza and the air are the same temperature...) The problem is things spoil at room temperature. SO, if you want hot pizza (or an icy drink) you can't allow the natural law of thermodynamics to take over for too long. Matter tends toward the same temperature--which isn't always pleasant for our tastebuds--and it also tends toward total disorder. After several days, the pizza or iced drink won't just register "unideal temperatures." They will be completely rotten.
He used the verse: "...because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm about to spew you out of my mouth." GOD HIMSELF is the one who spoke those words. He is disgusted by wishy-washy, half-devotion. And, most surprisingly, He would rather we be completely cold toward Him than claim salvation while neglecting to follow His rules. It's as if God is saying: "Cross Taylor Street, if you know what's good for you. DANCE in the road, if you must. Come to school half-naked, if the dress code is so completely ridiculous. But don't call me God and think you can write your own commandments."
Unfortunately, the world loves lukewarmness and hates extremes. Those who break BIG rules are societal deviants. The murderers, thieves, rapists, and other "bad guys" might be called "totally cold," and we frown on them. But, those who are hot are just as bad. They're passionate about doing good whenever they can and determined to follow the rules. And they actually think others should follow the rules, too! Those guys are freaks. They are legalists. They are conservative extremists.
Extreme cold makes you a criminal. Extreme Hot makes you a Goody-Two-Shoes...
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Oh, Christians, you know the rules, so why do you want to play in the street? It's tempting to believe I'm just judgmental, but you act as though God Himself isn't going to judge you, either. He will! And it will be by HIS standards. Standards which say your half-commitment is even more disgusting than outright disobedience. He would rather have your extreme cold.
This is the generation which, while singing along with DC Talk, decided being a "Jesus Freak" wasn't such a bad thing. So I wonder, can we renew our acceptance of lables like "legalists" and "Goody-Two-Shoes" if it keeps us from being lukewarm and spoiled, vomitted from the mouth of God?
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Big Government Vs. Big God
Yes, yes, yes, it has been awhile. Truth be told, I'm only planting my rear in front of this computer now because I feel guilty about the length of time I've let slip by. (It's not you; it's me.)
As of this moment, I'm ten days from my due date and, therefore, very pregnant. The nursery is done, except for the all the scrapbook material scattered about, in my attempt to distract myself from my impatience and win the Waiting Game. Could Baby really hold out for three more weeks?....Good Lord, I hope not.
Anyway, my thoughts aren't few today, but my attention span is. So, I'm just going to post an article I ran across several days ago about the financial crisis in America. Rather, more importantly, the Article addresses the crisis of perspective which has led to a $14 Trillion debt: government reliance.
The big, American government is on the brink of collapse simply because there are too many takers depending on its freebies. Nearly 2/3 of Americans are receiving government benefits for something, either housing or loans or food stamps... Almost half of us don't pay taxes. (Yes, I said "us." Luke and I haven't owed in our three years together...and next year, the government is going to PAY US, something like $4000 I believe, because we made the personal decision to start our family. "Hey, thanks Uncle Sam, for your generous gift of someone else's money!")
But, all the "benefits" of being an American--all the "entitlements" which, according to our President, we wouldn't be a great country without--only give us a false sense of security. The Bible says we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. And, in Isaiah 30, it says, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD." The prophet warned many times about reliance on "Pharoah" or the government--because putting your faith in men isn't just cost ineffective or proven to be the downfall of Socialist and Communist countries throughout history...
It's also wrong.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children." (Rom. 8:15,16)
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19)
Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. (Heb. 4:16)
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save... (Psalm146:3)
Happy Sunday! May you be blessed as you worship the very BIG, very capable Feds today. Oops, I mean God. Put your confidence in the One, true God today! :)
As of this moment, I'm ten days from my due date and, therefore, very pregnant. The nursery is done, except for the all the scrapbook material scattered about, in my attempt to distract myself from my impatience and win the Waiting Game. Could Baby really hold out for three more weeks?....Good Lord, I hope not.
Anyway, my thoughts aren't few today, but my attention span is. So, I'm just going to post an article I ran across several days ago about the financial crisis in America. Rather, more importantly, the Article addresses the crisis of perspective which has led to a $14 Trillion debt: government reliance.
The big, American government is on the brink of collapse simply because there are too many takers depending on its freebies. Nearly 2/3 of Americans are receiving government benefits for something, either housing or loans or food stamps... Almost half of us don't pay taxes. (Yes, I said "us." Luke and I haven't owed in our three years together...and next year, the government is going to PAY US, something like $4000 I believe, because we made the personal decision to start our family. "Hey, thanks Uncle Sam, for your generous gift of someone else's money!")
But, all the "benefits" of being an American--all the "entitlements" which, according to our President, we wouldn't be a great country without--only give us a false sense of security. The Bible says we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. And, in Isaiah 30, it says, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD." The prophet warned many times about reliance on "Pharoah" or the government--because putting your faith in men isn't just cost ineffective or proven to be the downfall of Socialist and Communist countries throughout history...
It's also wrong.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children." (Rom. 8:15,16)
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19)
Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. (Heb. 4:16)
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save... (Psalm146:3)
Happy Sunday! May you be blessed as you worship the very BIG, very capable Feds today. Oops, I mean God. Put your confidence in the One, true God today! :)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
For Those Ready to Eat
Note: This is a long post. I wrote it because I promised a reader, and I plan to return to my shorter, spunkier, (apparently offensive) posts about marriage, parenting, and politics after this one. BUT, I just wanted to let you know, Aunt Bonnie, that you and your short attention span don't have to read this one. :)
Nothing is more frustrating for a comedian than the sour-faced man in the center of the room—arms folded—with an obvious “Make Me Laugh” attitude. No matter how good the entertainer, if someone is determined to remain unimpressed, there will be no convincing them otherwise.
Similarly, no parent/teacher can force a small child to eat his breakfast. Believe me—I’ve seen it attempted hundreds of times. A mother of a former student used to bring her son in every morning with the same, worried look on her face and the same story: “He only ate, like, two bites of his cereal at home! So I brought a PopTart and a banana with us. Could you please make sure he eats it?” Then, she would set her son up at the table and plead. “Please eat! Come on, eat a bite for Mommy! You’ll be hungry!”
No matter how many times I informed her that the boy wasted everything she ever brought from home, no matter how many times I suggested that he would eat if he were hungry, no matter how many times I suggested the attention he gets from her begging actually contributed to the problem rather than convincing him to eat, she still put on the same show every day. She was sure her baby would starve if she couldn’t find a way to CRAM the nutrients into his throat.
But, here’s my attitude about the one who refuses to laugh and the one who refuses to eat—it’s their loss. Why should someone spend hours trying to persuade them to do something for their own good? At some point, shouldn’t a comic or a mother (even a loving one) shrug their shoulders and say “Suit yourself”? Eventually, the grouchy man will realize he’s only wasting the price of his own ticket by not taking advantage of a chance to have fun. And the child will notice his stomach rumbling…. But, even if they DON’T see the light—even if they insist on remaining stubbornly opposed to your wishes—there will never be a point where you can MAKE them laugh or eat regardless.
This is what I’m learning about the defense of my beliefs. Many Christians, like a concerned mother, fall into a similar trap with Atheists—begging, pleading, and insisting that the Atheist do what is good for them rather than recognizing some never will. The Bible says the road to God is narrow and few will find it. It says that repeatedly handing Truth to those who don’t know what to do with it is like throwing pearls to pigs. AND, the apostles were told to walk away, knocking the dust off their feet, if they failed in their mission to deliver the good news to an obstinate and unrepentant city. (This advice is the biblical version of “Go on, brush your shoulders off.”)
I realize the life or death message of the gospel is FAR more important than enjoying a show or eating your breakfast, and it breaks my heart when people turn the whole thing into a fight about who's right rather than grasping the eternal consequences. But the concept remains the same. We can’t make somebody do what’s best for them. In fact, a Christian’s heart-level plea for a sinner’s salvation usually is misconstrued even worse than a mother’s concern, which is merely “annoying.” Many Atheists believe a Christian’s motive is actually hate-filled and self-righteous, totally missing the Christian’s underlying craving to help them find important answers.
This isn’t surprising, since Jesus said, “You will be hated because of my name.” In fact, it also compares those without the truth to somone “sleeping,” and this makes sense to me considering how cranky some people are when you try to wake them up. My husband is one like this, and it makes me worry about his safety if there were a house fire, Would he scream at me to leave him alone rather than hear my frantic insistence that HE’S GOING TO BURN? I don't know. But there is no rationalizing "it's for your good" with an unconscious person…
You can’t make anyone laugh. You can’t make anyone eat.
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NOW, on the other hand, what if the man in the middle of the room just didn’t get the joke? What if he bought his ticket, intending to have a good time and truly ready for a laugh—but he missed the punch line? Well, by all means, I will explain it to him! Questions aren’t a problem, if you are confident in your talent as an entertainer—or, say, if you know you’ve found the Truth in the Bible. I don’t mind offering valid reasons why I'm a Christian, just like I don't mind telling a toddler why breakfast is important.
And this is why today’s post contains a brief summary of the contents of the Bible, why its reliable as the Word of God, and several links to other websites which deal with biblical apologetics—all because an anonymous friend asked, “Why should I believe it?” It’s important to show that faith is not irrational. It isn’t inconsistent. You don’t have to leave your brain behind to discover truth, and—in fact—when you study honestly, you’ll discover that not eating DOES make you hungry, and Mom was right! (Oh, and you’ll find there IS a God who reveals Himself in the Bible.)
Just don’t gloat that nobody can make you eat. I freely admit as much.
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If you haven’t read my post about The Letter, you may want to start there. It’s a quick analogy I threw together regarding the position all humans find themselves in when confronted with reality.
All of us have been thrown into the “field” of this world, and we are left with the obvious questions of “Why are we here?” and “What do we do now?” We can see there are those sitting by themselves, marching to the beat of their own drum and not even TRYING to participate in finding answers to these queries. You might call them the “delinquents” of society, like criminals who break rules intentionally and pot-stirrers who generate discord. OR, those bench people from the story might simply be comparable to those who live day to day as if there isn’t a big, complicated situation to explain. They go to work, eat, laugh, and love, but they never ask the tough questions.
Then, we can see there is a man (symbolic of Christians) who claims to have the answers. He says the Field Master wrote the rules and sent instructions for how to follow them, which is found in “The Letter.” Apparently, we must jump, spin, and flap our arms at certain times…but the man also alludes to “another way,” meant for those actually willing to read what the Letter says for themselves.
The Letter—or the Bible—is actually a collection of narrative stories, poetry, history, and prophecy, which we divide into the “Old Testament” and “New Testament.” Most people recognize it is full of "wise sayings," and major religions (such as Judaism and Mormonism) even recognize it for being God's Word, too, though Mormons have an additional message from God called the Book of Mormon. But the idea that the Koran or the Baghavad Ghita are equally important comes from a basic misunderstanding because even the books themselves do not claim to be God’s Word. This makes the first part of the investigation easy: we don’t need to worry about which of the “letters" we should read to start with—there is only one which even claims to be composed directly by Him.
Here is a link which offers three suggested tests for determining whether some document really was authored by whomever it says it was. You might say they are tests to see whether “the Letter” really came from the Field Owner. But the link uses a slightly different story—comparing God to a King who, though estranged from his son, sends information regarding a way to cure him of a disease… How does the son know the remedy actually came from the King/Father, when the Son has never met his dad? How do we know the Letter came from the Field Owner, when the man in white never actually met him?
Next, I would encourage those examining the authenticity of the Bible to question whether its reliable, from a reporting stand point. This link talks about the way historians determine the events of history, and how the Bible lines up with other ancient records. (Spoiler alert: if you think Plato said some pretty wise things, then you have to believe that Jesus existed—and that he said wise things, too.) But, keep in mind, Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. So, he can’t just be “another wise guy” or “another prophet.” Either He was God in the flesh, or he was a lying, manipulative, or otherwise crazy…
Next, check out some of the Letter’s scientific accuracies. Any time the Bible speaks definitively about a piece of scientific truth, it has been discovered totally correct.
Next, consider that the “rules” of the “field” (or the laws of the Bible) line up with what our consciences tell us. AND, when followed as a life guide, the Bible never leads anyone astray—suggesting the same One who Created life to begin with also authored this Book of How to Navigate Life. If the King sent a remedy and, upon taking the medicine, the boy gets better, that remedy was authentic… But if the son never reads the prescription and follows the instructions, he can sit around asking “Did this really come from my Father, the King?” forever.
Finally, I’ll speak about the Bible’s internal consistency, since a reader asked why we don’t kill our disobedient children (as it instructs in Leviticus). The Old Testament contains the Law of God, and what it takes to be perfectly holy in His eyes. In fact, the entire book of Leviticus was written to the Israelites—God’s people—for how they should serve Him and make amends for their sins in order to continue living under His love and protection. In other words, it’s the moral AND CIVIL law for a tribe which already had a relationship with God. They didn't even have a human king at the time. They listened to God's voice strictly, and He told them everything to do. But, because they were establishing their own government, not every rule in the book was meant to be observed by all men for all time. God is very clear about which laws are which. We are told in the New Testament that “you must be circumcised” was a civil law, which not everyone follows today. Yet, the Ten Commandments apply to all men everywhere, even today.
Another reason the New Testament is important: it tells us the Law (including the Ten Commandments) was designed to make the Israelites realize how imperfect they were. Nobody could possibly follow all of the rules. (As my story said, nobody could jump over every stick and wave their arms every time the wind blew in the field.) But, God never intended for the Law to be the final plan. He sent Jesus as a bridge between God’s Law and sinful man, so that even imperfect people could have a way to spend eternity with a Holy God. According to the Bible, there really are TWO ways to get to Heaven: be perfect (which we know we can’t do) OR accept that Jesus lived a perfect life—never breaking the law—and then offered to carry us into Heaven with Him.
Anyway, my final suggestion for anyone trying to find errors in the Bible is to start by reading books by CHRISTIANS, who usually ask better, harder questions than non-Christians because THEY’VE ACTUALLY READ THE BIBLE. In fact, an interesting number of Theologists are former Atheists, who set out to disprove the Bible at some point and ended up being convinced of its Divine origin. Check out Lee Strobel, C.S. Lewis, and Ray Comfort, all of whom are former doubters who probably could argue with themselves better than most unbelievers argue against them. But because their questions were pure, all of them woke from their sleep. Eventually, their searching brought them to the God of the Bible. (Also look for Mark Mettelberg's best-selling books “The Reason Why” and “Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask,” in which he first builds the case against Christianity, before offering explanations.)
But, keep in mind, studying is for the child asking, “Is breakfast really good for me?” or the man saying, “I don’t get the joke!” You will find plenty of thoughtful, patient, well-read people who are ready to help you understand. Yet, if you’re hoping these links will make you eat or make you laugh, they won’t. Everyone still has the personal responsibility to figure out if the Bible’s claims to be God’s word are true, and nobody can force another to accept it.
It's just a very difficult, emotional subject because the consequences for refusing are much worse than a miserable night in the comedy club or a hungry belly.
Friday, April 1, 2011
The End!
Today was my last day at the daycare...
I'm not going to miss setting my alarm for 6:00, scraping my windshield in the winter, and unlocking the building doors in the dark.
I'm not going to miss repeating myself a hundred times, changing smelly diapers, and singing the "clean-up song" while shelving the majority of toys on my own. (Mostly because I'll be having my baby in a few weeks, and I'm not foolish enough to think those days are behind me!)
I'm not going to miss filling out paper work, communicating with less-than-cooperative parents, and jumping through hoops established by people who've never met my students personally...
But, with just a couple of pictures, maybe I can summarize what I WILL miss:
Top right, in a first grader's penmanship: "I hope you have a happy and healthy baby."
....I still don't know what "big thing" is coming next. I know I'm meant for more than just laundry and lunch-making for the next 18 years. There will be another ministry in the near future, I'm sure.
But, in the meantime, I've picked up my name plate:
...and I've come to the end of a long, trying, and simultaneously rewarding phase of service.
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