Grace Notes 4 Teens

Don't Bet on It

2005-06-08T21:45:00.000-05:00

I appreciate John’s honest comment on my post Just This One Time. Author of the blog John’s Life Without Gambling, he admits the troubles that an addiction to gambling has caused him – loss of family, home, jobs and more. But he is in recovery, and I hope anyone who reads this post will say a prayer for strength and healing for him as he puts his life back together.

Just the other day, I heard another report of how gambling has brought down a young man’s life. This teenager was in his freshman year at one of our state universities. He’s an all-American, clean-cut kind of guy, raised in a good home. Not the sort to get in any serious trouble. Last winter he decided to join a betting pool in his dormitory. I think they were betting on ACC basketball – not an uncommon venture in this part of the world.

The second time he joined the pool, the group asked him to take the money pouch over to the dorm next door. On the way, he was intercepted by police. And they found more than money in his hands - drugs were hidden in the bottom of the pouch. Now, instead of pursuing a degree, meeting girls, and enjoying college life, he is serving three years in prison. How hard this must be for him and his family.

I do believe God can redeem this experience, if he submits it to the Lord, and that some good can come of it. All of us make mistakes and step outside God’s will for our lives, and our stumbling is not in vain when we turn it over to Him. But, as I’ve said before, if we obey God and seek to live holy lives, we can avoid a lot of negative consequences. Ask God to protect you from evil in this world and to help you live a pure life.

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils: it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.” I Timothy 6:9-10

Help Wanted - NOT

2005-05-24T21:33:00.000-05:00

Last week our youngest daughter appeared to be having some friendship difficulties. So on Wednesday morning, I devoted some time to praying for her and her relationships. That afternoon, as I picked her up from school, she got in the car with a tightly clenched fist. As it turned out, she was clutching a few tiny friendship gifts from one of her friends.

I was pleased and told her how neat I thought it was that God had answered my prayers from the morning. In an outraged tone, she replied, “you do NOT need to pray for me.”

As a Mom, it’s love that compels me to pray for my children. Especially in situations where I feel I have little other influence. Obviously our elementary schooler viewed it differently. She saw it as meddling. And I believe, in that circumstance, she felt she had everything under control and needed no help from me or God.

Now where do you think she gets that attitude from? Ever heard the expression: “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” She probably learned it right in my lap. Oh, how I regret the many times I have consciously or unconsciously rejected God’s “meddling” by refusing to bring things to Him in prayer. It brings to mind the classic hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” I googled the words and found the tune and lyrics here in someone’s online devotion, including these lines:
Oh, what peace we often forfeit.
Oh, what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, we need to invite God’s meddling. We need to pray about everything. And whether she appreciates it or not, I’ll keep praying for my precious daughter. But maybe I just won't tell her about it. :)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7

Carnival Time

2005-05-14T19:45:00.000-05:00

The latest Christian Carnival is up at Semicolon. Check it out.

Just This One Time

2005-05-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

Our middle schooler asked me the other day why I am against a lottery in our state. "Is it because Nana is against it?" he asked. My Mom is a bright woman so it's not that farfetched to follow her lead. But no, I have other reasons. A major reason has to do with the addictive nature of gambling. Many people think they can play a lottery (or blackjack or poker, whatever) without getting hooked, but you don't really know. Some people seem more vulnerable to a gambling addiction than others.

And some fall into alcoholism easier than others. Or pornography. Or drugs. Even sex. Addictions are hard to predict. As mentioned in last week's post, many teens fall hard, often when they leave home and head to college. They are convinced they won't be hooked. Teens tend to have an "it won't happen to me attitude," and then they go ahead and dabble in whatever it is. And when they fall, it is hard to get back up.

For example, have you seen photos of people addicted to meth - aka ice, crank, or speed? They get what is known as Meth Mouth , horrible decay and rotting of their teeth. These people can see the damage they are doing to themselves, they look in the mirror every day, and actually see the horror right there on their faces, and they cannot stop using. I bet, pardon the pun, most victims started out thinking they'll try it just once.

God's Word is like an umbrella of protection. When you obey His commands and live by the wisdom in the Bible, you can avoid many of the worst pitfalls such as a drug habit or a sexually transmitted disease or a drunk driving accident - at least insofar as it depends on you. God promises when you face temptation to provide a way out. I hope you will look for that escape and stay under His protection. Don't fool yourself into believing you can handle it on your own. How much you depend on Him and stay close to Jesus will determine whether you wade through the temptations of life victorious or defeated.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." I Corinthians 10:13

Firm Foundation

2005-05-03T20:38:00.000-05:00

Our family has been in the process of designing (with professional help) a home. We've learned a great deal about the importance of a good, solid foundation. Pretty paints and light fixtures are great, but not much help if the foundation goes bad.

I've heard some sad stories lately from friends whose children have gone away to college this past year and lost their way. These friends are wonderful Christians, involved in loving relationships with their children, and are at a loss to explain why their children, also committed to Christ, got so far off track. They appeared to have a strong foundation.

So what do you think? How can students best prepare to go to college and face temptations successfully? Many do. But many don't. My heart goes out to the ones that fall. Feel free to post any thoughts on this in the comment section or email me at gracenotes@nc.rr.com.

"In the path of righteousness is life, but the way of error leads to death." Proverbs 12:28

Hiatus

2005-04-14T15:05:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the inconsistent posting of late. The children have been out of their various schools on various days for various reasons; we have at least two major personal projects in process right now; and to top it off, it's spring in North Carolina. We must enjoy these rare glorious days of dogwoods and cool breezes before summer's mosquitos and humidity descend.

From where I'm now sitting I can see five white dogwood trees and at least six pink and red azaleas in bloom, floating above a spring green carpet of, well, sorta grass, sorta weeds. In spite of the weeds, some of which like the dandelions even augment the view, God's handiwork is stunning. Did you know he made you like a work of art, fashioned in your mother's womb? Even if you're an identical twin, there is no one else like you in the entire universe. You are awesome, so awesome He created you and He died for you and He welcomes you into His presence 24/7.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. ... All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16

Bloggers for Christ

2005-04-07T12:57:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered a weekly "Christian Carnival" of blog posts. It's a compilation of highlighted posts by Christian bloggers - all linked together on one host blog's site. The host moves around week by week, giving them exposure and giving the bloggers who submit entries extra traffic as well. This week's carnival is here.

As I looked through this week's entries, I noticed one (of many) I thought you might enjoy reading. The blog is called Marginal Comments. The specific post describes the author's teenage conversion to Christ. In a column titled Just Say Yes, he addresses a similar theme to yesterday's Grace Note post about our indecisive puppy. So click on Just Say Yes and enjoy!

Puppy Love

2005-04-06T18:56:00.000-05:00

We have a 4-month-old puppy who brings our family lots of joy and a good measure of irritation. She reminds me of a book character named Chewy Louie, who chewed his way through his family’s home – literally. We do okay as long as we remember to provide what the vets call appropriate chew toys. But nobody’s perfect, and so we’ve lost our son’s favorite socks (I had no idea those grody things were so special until too late), an indoor/outdoor thermometer, a couple cookbooks and the like. No homework yet, praise God.

Recently she has been rounding up big sticks in the yard. Good girl! That's an appropriate chew toy in my book. And I’ve noticed that she suddenly cannot decide how much she likes fetching tennis balls. If I throw one for her, she’ll go after it, but tends to carry her latest stick along with her. She gets to the ball, stick in mouth, and can’t figure out what to do. Today she dropped the stick. Picked up the ball, then started to run back, but stopped. Her eyes swiveled toward the stick. She dropped the ball and edged toward the stick. Her head shifted back and forth, as she tried to make up her mind.

Aren’t we like this sometimes? We know what our Master wants but we have a hard time letting go of something we already have. Or we swivel indecisively between two alternatives and sometimes try unsuccessfully to mesh the two together. The Bible is clear that we cannot serve both God and the world. We must choose which we will follow. Trying to please both - God and the world - gets us in trouble.

Has He given you clear direction on a matter? Will you drop the stick and go after His will with determination? He is waiting to bless the one whose heart is right toward Him.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." Matthew 6:33

Take a Close Look

2005-03-30T12:34:00.000-05:00

Trying again. Now both posts have been deleted and I'll have to repost ...

We’ve talked before about folks who have tried to disprove the claims of the Christian faith and come to believe.

I can remember years ago, being charged with preparing an expository lecture on the Resurrection. The text was John 20. As a lay person, I studied commentaries and examined the writings of many great theologians in order to prepare the talk – and was astounded by the list I was able to compile of proofs and evidences of the resurrection of Jesus.

This year’s Easter devotional from Our Daily Bread also touched on this idea of trying to prove the resurrection: “... A century ago, a group of lawyers met in England to discuss the biblical accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. They wanted to see if enough information was available to make a case that would hold up in a court of law. They concluded that Christ’s resurrection was one of the most well-established facts of history.”

In the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), you can read for yourself the testimonies of witnesses to the life and death of Jesus. For a further look, I’d recommend a resource from the Radio Bible Class: 10 Reasons to Believe Christ Rose from the Dead. It’s simplified, but a great starting point. If you know of other internet resources, let us know. I’ll look for some, too.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Ooops!

2005-03-30T11:24:00.000-05:00

Don't know if you've noticed a duplicate post on here. I'm having some trouble with posting today. Maybe it's Blogger that's having tech issues. Anyway, I'll try to get this straightened out later when, I hope, Blogger stops misbehaving.

Grace

Chasing Wind

2005-03-29T12:15:00.000-05:00

I hope all of you enjoyed some time off to celebrate Easter. I know I had a good break and some great family time.

It seemed every time we flipped on the news, coverage was dominated by the Terri Schiavo case. She is now in her 11th day of being starved and dehydrated to death. I won’t pretend to have answers. So much conflicting information is in the news; nothing seems certain. Is she in pain? Is she not? Was this her wish? Was it not? Can she speak and move purposefully? Or not?

Some say this event is causing cracks, in a political sense, among conservatives whose opinions are varied. I think the cracking transcends the populus, however. A long time ago, but within my lifetime, we trusted certain institutions to be objective and reasonable. We trusted journalists to be unbiased. We believed judges would rule by law and by fairness. We hoped doctors, rooted in science, could make definitive diagnoses and prognoses.

Over time our trust in these institutions has been chipped away. Sometimes by our personal experiences, often by what we read. The Schiavo case cracks them wide open. It’s a sad day when our discussion of a medical doctor’s report is colored by knowing he is a member of the Hemlock (pro-euthanasia) society or, conversely, a pro-life Christian. We read the news with a jaundiced eye – is it a liberal pub or a conservative?

We yearn to know the Truth, the bottom line that all can agree on no matter their background. It’s like trying to capture the wind in this circumstance. Most of us don’t have the time or opportunity and probably not the will to figure it all out. But I hope when it comes to the challenge of Easter, you’ll consider it carefully. To believe or not in the resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian faith. We’ll talk more about it tomorrow.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” I Corinthians 5:17

Easter ponderings

2005-03-18T18:31:00.000-05:00

The big news today in the faith community is the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. What many people don't understand and which makes this case so scary is that Terri is communicative. Hardly what anyone would call a vegetable, or, to put it nicely, a vegetative state. As a mother, the thought of someone forcing your child, albeit a grown one, to die a slow death by dehydration/starvation makes me feel ill.

How can anyone keep her parents from intervening? Seems they'd have to be locked away to allow her adulterous husband to go ahead. And I have to wonder where the media's outrage has gone. The 60 Minutes II types, who railed against scaring terrorist prisoners with dogs and walking them on leashes, don't seem too sympathetic toward this innocent, young American woman.

The Bible places these things in context. It all begins back in the very first book, Genesis, in Chapter 1. We like to think people are basically good. God's Word tells us differently. We are born in sin. We inherit sinful natures. We make evil, sinful choices. And Biblical history shows cycles of moral and immoral societies, even among God's chosen people, societies in which evil runs amuck. And we witness the sad consequences of evil choices throughout our culture today.

So what are God's people to do? Here is one blogger's (Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost) thought-provoking viewpoint. As for me ... I suggest you read all of Romans this coming week. See what insight God gives you. No complaining. You have more than a week to do it. One of our children is out of school for Easter, er, Spring, Break, so I won't be doing daily postings.

We'll cyber-chat some more after the Holy Day. Share the peace of Christ wherever you go. He is Risen indeed.

Ms. Noonan's Latest

2005-03-17T14:14:00.000-05:00

Don't want you to miss Peggy Noonan's column today about the capture of Brian Nichols. Nichols is the man who terrified metro Atlanta last week when he broke out of a courthouse and escaped, killing and hurting many people in his path. Then he encountered a Christian, Ashley Smith, a young widow, and .... well ... read the article. Peggy, really Ashley, says it much better than I can.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

Passion Recut

2005-03-16T21:10:00.000-05:00

In view of the upcoming Easter holiday, I wanted to bring your attention to Mel Gibson's re-release of his Passion of the Christ movie. This time around, the movie has been edited to tone down some of the violence. When the original was released a year ago, my husband and I decided we would see it first, then decide if our children should go.

Every family has to make their own decisions about these kind of matters. It would be legalistic and out of place for us to expect every family to share our viewpoint. For one thing, I think whether to see it or not depends on many factors, not the least of which is the "bent" of each individual child. As an adult, I was upset by the graphic violence, and we felt our children should wait. I doubt they will see Passion: Recut either.

Here is a link to World magazine blog's description and comments on this recut version. The blogger seems disappointed in the new version, saying it loses power and effectiveness, though certainly it's less painful to watch. With or without a movie, I hope this Easter will provide you fresh perspective on the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus on our behalf.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20

Dr. Annie

2005-03-15T16:52:00.000-05:00

Our hometown newspaper did a profile Sunday of Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson. She's the aunt of a friend of mine and a beloved figure around here. Dr. Annie, as her patients called her, was one of the first female obstetrician/gynecologists in the Southeast and delivered thousands of babies before she retired.

Now, at 90 years old, she is battling cancer, yet continues to be an inspiration to her family and friends. In the newspaper article, she recalls the following:

My first delivery in practice was when I was a student. That was in a home. I stayed nearly 48 hours, but I was able to call back and forth to the hospital and report on the situation. Oh yes, I was anxious. That's only perfectly natural. But I had the Man right there on my shoulder. Always. I was never alone.

I was never alone. We would all do well to take Dr. Annie's words to heart. What are you facing that makes you anxious? SATs? Physics tests? Relationship issues? Interviews? College or job applications? Let's remember "the Man" - God - is always with you. Be encouraged.

"Be strong and of good courage, be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:8-9

Blogging

2005-03-14T18:33:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to a cyber-acquaintance at View from the Pew for his help getting trackback on Grace Notes 4 Teens. For someone relatively new to blogging and not the most computer saavy person, I’m grateful for the help other bloggers have offered.

My Mom thinks people spend way too much time on computers, that it isolates us from one another, and society eventually will regret all this online communication. I have found, though, a certain sense of community among bloggers, particularly evangelical ones. The ones I’ve read seem quick to help and challenge one another. There’s no question I’d rather sit down in Starbucks and enjoy a latte or two (decaf) with these people, but given geographic and time limitations, meeting in cyberspace isn’t so bad.

And in the spirit of community, my next technological feat will have to be figuring out how to post a “blogroll” in the sidebar so my readers can find links to other blogs. For an inquisitive mind with regard to Christian faith, all sorts of material is available. There are pastor blogs, apologetic blogs (no, they’re not sorry - they’re giving an intelligent defense of faith), Christian poli-blogs, etc. They may not agree on every point of theology, but God is honored when His people work together to seek out Truth with a capital T.

“You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God.” II Corinthians 9:11-12

2005-03-11T21:21:00.000-05:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Time Off

2005-03-11T17:25:00.000-05:00

It's a vacation day from school ... hence, a vacation for Mom, too.
See ya next week!
Grace

Redemption

2005-03-10T22:22:00.000-05:00

Corrie Ten Boom’s experience that we talked about yesterday illustrates a freeing aspect of the Christian salvation message. Too often, we get the faith process backwards. We strive to become perfect or think we have to be perfect before we can turn to Christ. But, as with Corrie, it’s in our weakness and human imperfection that we see how amazing God is. First we must see we are sinners, hopeless sinners, apart from Christ.

He then meets us where we are. And then we seek to walk with Him, align our steps with His, day by day. He’ll help us become the woman or man He intends us to be. He cleans up our act, so to speak.

For a Biblical perspective, read the story of Rahab in Joshua 2 and Joshua 6:22-25. Actually all of Joshua 1-6 is great stuff! Focus on Rahab, though, and consider how God redeemed the life of a prostitute, one who was actively pursuing an immoral lifestyle. When she proclaimed her belief in the God of Israel and acted on her faith, God changed her life radically. In fact, this loose woman becomes an honored woman, a mother in the line of Jesus Himself and forever remembered in the pages of scripture as a “righteous” woman. (James 2:25)

It doesn’t matter how dirty or hopeless or lost you may feel today. God is in the business of changing lives, of giving His children daily hope and eternal purpose. Turn to Him today. Hand over your burden and receive His blessing.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Forgiveness

2005-03-09T20:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, while subbing for an English teacher, I noticed one of my favorite books on her desk: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. In the book, Corrie relates some of her real life experiences including her family's activities protecting Jews from the Nazis and consequent imprisonment in a concentration camp.

The author is able to describe the horrors of her circumstances while communicating her trust in Christ that carried her through it. At the end of the book, she writes about the first time - as a free person - she encounters one of her former prison guards from the camp. She tells of her inward struggle with raw emotions that drew her toward bitterness and unforgiveness. Face to face with the guard, she felt she could hardly lift her hand to shake his. And in her heart, she called to Jesus for His help, saying "Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness."

And God gave her release from the bitterness and instead of hate He gave her a sense of love. "And so I discovered," she writes, "that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself."

We try to do so much for ourselves. We try to love in our own power. To serve at our own bidding. To muster up forgiveness from within ourselves when, in reality, it comes from God. I once had a Bible study teacher who described our riches in Christ as deposits in a spiritual bank account. To access the love, joy, peace, forgiveness and other gifts of the Spirit, we must go and draw them out. Over and over again as we have need.

Have you suffered an injustice? Is there anyone you need to forgive, but just can't do it? Pray to God and, like Corrie Ten Boom, ask Him to provide what you need. One step at a time.

"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." Isaiah 31:1

Subbing

2005-03-08T23:03:00.000-05:00

I received an urgent call this morning. The scheduled substitute for a middle school English teacher couldn't start her car. Could I fill in at the last minute? So being a brave (or crazy?) person, I ventured forth to teach Shakespeare to 8th graders - with no preparation whatsoever!

The teacher had left a thinking exercise for them to ponder, related to their study of Romeo and Juliet. If you have ever read the play, you know Romeo and Juliet were completely enthralled with each other and married on the sly. But then before they'd ever even embarked on their life together, Romeo slays a man. His punishment is banishment from the town and death if he ever returned. He would have to leave his beloved Juliet behind.

Students were asked to write down if there were anyone or anything they felt they couldn't live without. Secondly, what would be hardest to live without other than your family? Many students avoided thinking too deeply about this. We had a couple of good laughs. But it's an interesting question to ask yourself and consider.

We never know when our most precious relationships or possessions may be stripped away. What or who really moves your heart? What are you so invested in that you cannot bear to lose? How would Jesus see your answers to these questions?

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34

Skiing

2005-03-07T13:06:00.000-05:00

When I was a teen, I had the opportunity to tumble down some of the most beautiful slopes in the Western USA. We had many wonderful family vacations in the shadows of snow-capped Rockies. I'll never forget one year in particular when we arose early, due to my early-bird father's insistent prodding, and were the first people on the slopes on Christmas Day. It had snowed during the night, and we carved fresh tracks through the powder on a run, fittingly named what else but "Christmas."

As a new Christian, I always found the mountain vistas breathtaking. And once again, this past week, we were able to witness the incredible glory of God in the mountains, this time in the East. We arrived in the middle of a blizzard, one that dropped 33 inches of powder just in time for our family's enjoyment. Not only was the skiing as good as any I've experienced, but the views of snow-laden green boughs and rocky peaks were outstanding. There is no way I can take in the panorama of mountains and endless sky and believe it was all a freak coincidence of cosmic goo taking shape.

No. Certainly there is a Designer, an Artist, a Maestro Who has created all things. And He created you, too. You are one of His masterpieces.

"For lo, he who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought; who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth - the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!" Amos 4:13

Au Revoir

2005-02-27T21:24:00.000-05:00

I'll be offline for a few days, but hope you will check back next week. ...
Pressing on,
Grace

Why So Many Gods?

2005-02-24T09:15:00.000-05:00

One of the common misperceptions of young people today is that all people of faith worship the same God but in different ways. There’s a movement afoot to host ecumenical services and forums, bringing Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus and others together. That’s fine for certain purposes. But theologically, their beliefs are quite different. And their gods are distinctly different.

(Jews and Christians do worship the same God, but Jews do not recognize the deity of Jesus Christ, hence they have an incomplete view of the God of Christianity.) Biblical Christians are evangelically motivated precisely because they see such a chasm between followers of other faiths and the one true God.

Our daughter picked up an interesting book recently that addresses this topic. It’s called “Why So Many Gods?” by Tim Baker and Kate Etue. Based on the colorful graphics and vocabulary, I’d say it is aimed at your generation. It’s easy to read and not too deep. Might be worth a look in your church library or public library to find this book as it gives an overview of lots of belief systems.

The authors take the position that Christianity is the only true religion and compares it to many other “faiths” in four categories: World Religions, Secular Worldviews, Occult Religions, and Cults. So you can read about everything from Hare Krishna to Ouija Boards to Mormonism. Even a couple I’ve never heard of like Rosicrucianism and dowsing.

One overarching theme of the book: “Christianity is the only religion where God is really God, because it’s the only one where God saves the people instead of the people saving themselves.”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Happy Birthday, Hans!

2005-02-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday, Hans, today and every day. Thought you'd like a message from someone closer to your own age. Hans Zeiger wrote this essay on the occasion of his 20th birthday.

Enjoy!

"For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds." Titus 2:11-14

Revive us, O Lord

2005-02-22T23:18:00.000-05:00

In honor of Black History month, I thought I'd give you a little food for thought. Here's an article about how racism is inherent in abortion as it's practiced in America today. Some call it black genocide.

Not only is abortion tragic for an individual (the baby) and his or her family (the parents). But abortion is a cultural tragedy, too. I'll be attending a function of Black Americans for Life this week. Abortion and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases are crippling African Americans, especially in our urban areas. As Christians, we need to pray about this. And we also need to ponder how we can help the cause of Johnny Hunter, Day Gardner and other blacks who are speaking out. Few people realize that Planned Parenthood, which calls itself a family planning clinic, was started by a racist. As the toll of abortion climbs, the founder's racist dreams are being realized right before our noses.

We must pray for revival. Ask God to revive your own heart first. Then your friends and your church. And to bring spiritual awakening to our society that we might turn back the dark tide of abortion and renew a culture of life and dignity.

"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity." Hosea 14:1

Presidents' Day

2005-02-21T09:16:00.000-05:00

Hope you are enjoying some time off today. In honor of Presidents' Day, take a few minutes to pray for our government leaders as we're told in I Timothy 2:1-2:

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way."

Sledding

2005-02-18T21:12:00.000-05:00

You know how the Olympic luge runs start off so slowly. The riders (are they known as lugers?) give a big push, and the sled starts to slide. They jump in. And the sled starts to cruise and by the time they reach the bottom, they have attained warp speed. That's how my day was.

So now daylight is long gone and today's post condenses to a thought. A description for Signposts Aloft, a video available in our church library, reads:

Pilots rely on Instruments . . . believers rely on scripture.

To whoever wrote that: thanks! It's a simple and eloquent reminder that God's word is our guide in a dark world.

Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

Surfing

2005-02-17T02:30:00.000-05:00

Did you read Hebrews 11? Did you see how different all those faith heroes were from one another? But they all had something in common ... they believed God. And God was able to do extraordinary things through them.

Today I want to introduce you to someone you may have heard about in the news. Her name is Bethany Hamilton. She’s a 14-year-old competitive surfer, whose arm was bitten off by a shark. This young lady proclaimed her faith in Jesus from the beginning of her ordeal. Exercising incredible faith for one so young, she has never stopped trusting God. And, holding onto Him, she is reaching many others with a message of life and hope. Visit her website and learn more of the wonderful ways God is redeeming a tragic event and get acquainted with a real faith hero of the 21st century.
“Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.” Isaiah 43:4

Skating

2005-02-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

What is faith? We talk a lot about it. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” In some ways, that’s a tall order.

I’ve heard faith explained (wish I could credit a source but I’ve forgotten) as like stepping onto a frozen pond. You could spend a lot of time on the banks, wondering if the ice will hold your weight. You could circle the pond. You could investigate certain scientifically comforting facts such as what the temperature is outside, how long it has been how cold, and what the history of that pond’s ice strength is. You can even watch others skating around out on the ice.

But at some point, if you really want to know if the pond will support YOU, you have to step out on it. That’s faith. And when you trust God and step out on the “ice” for him, when you find that He really will hold you up, your faith will grow. And you’ll find great fun and encouragement joining all those already skating around.

I’m in a wonderful Bible study on faith called “Believing God” by Beth Moore. She looks at faith this way: “Faith is the primary means by which we place our hand in the outstretched hand of God and join Him.”

Read all of Hebrews 11 to learn about some ordinary folks who are called heroes of the faith.

On Prayer

2005-02-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

I have found an interesting blog, Stand to Reason, that focuses on apologetics, the defense of faith. But today I want to draw your attention, not so much to apologetics, as to this blogger's commentary: 10 Tips to Help Your Prayer Life.

Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God. Our conversation with Him, that can take place at any time or place. I'd encourage you to take to heart the blogger's tip about journaling. I have found writing down prayers or keeping a log to be a great defense against one of the biggest obstacles to effective prayer: Distraction!

"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

The Upside of Downsides

2005-02-14T03:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday an Indonesian missionary spoke in our Sunday School class. He is a native and has begun thousands of churches and many seminaries throughout Indonesia. He said Aceh, flattened by the tsunami, is the only province under Islamic Syariah law - in which it is illegal to share Christ. It is an ardently Muslim region whose people despised America and Western ways.

And yet the world has never witnessed such a humanitarian and social crisis as that reaped by the awful tsunami after Christmas. Our guest missionary told us how the American aid was first to arrive and how these people of Aceh welcomed the sight of our helicopters and the relief we brought.

I thought, “we can be like this with God.” When life is good, we so easily go about our business, making decisions as if we are in control and forgetting to consult our Lord. Prayer can grow stale. But when we’re in the pits, whoa. That’s the time when so many of us call on God. Really seek Him. And look to Him for help and relief.

Crisis can draw us closer and deeper with God if we let it. Pit prayers tend to be vibrant and earnest. That’s the upside of hard times. The writer of the Psalms knew all about life in the pits. Read through the Psalms if you’re having a hard day and see how the writer let “the pits” turn his heart to God.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

When Will They See the Light?

2005-02-11T08:43:00.000-05:00

This post will be short today. I'm working on another writing project.

The local wackos are up to their tricks again, trying to undermine our laws and policies that require abstinence as the emphasis of sex education classes in our state. You'd think after 25 years of failure, abject failure, of other approaches .... you'd think with sexually transmitted diseases spreading like wildfire among our teens ... you'd think they would see the light.

It's a medical and scientific fact. If you don't expose yourself to germs, you won't get sick. Abstinence works every time it's tried for the prevention of disease (and pregnancy). And you know what else? It protects your heart, your reputation, your soul, and your psyche - something no prescription or drug store device can do.

God knew what He was doing when He set boundaries for our bodies. If you're tempted to step outside His plan, email me. Let's chat.

"Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body." I Corinthians 6:18

Tantrums on Idol

2005-02-10T09:18:00.000-05:00

Our family enjoys American Idol. It's generally family fare. And if we tape it, we can avoid commercials. The season when our cleancut, local boy Clay Aiken was winning was really fun.

I have to admire all the participants, though, for making themselves vulnerable to potentially harsh criticism. They have to know Simon will show little mercy. And when he (or one of the other judges) lowers the boom ... ouch!

How do you think you would respond? The one who cried when he laid eyes on the California beaches won me over with his simple gratitude for being there. The one who got crushed, then - like a real man - said, "Thank you for the opportunity." The girls whose disappointment ripples visibly across their faces, but they nod their heads and say thanks. I find them refreshing.

Then there are the ones who rage. Every third word is bleeped. A parent yells at the camera how unfair it is.... what makes them so embittered? Maturity is obviously not proportionate to age! I feel for them, though. They expected a certain result, and when they couldn't get it, further efforts were not even possible, they melted down.

We're all like this at one time or another. We live in a results-oriented culture. It's also an instant gratification kind of culture. Frustration often comes in expecting a particular result and is magnified when we set up a time limit. We can avoid the meltdowns if we can hand over the results to God. Enjoy the process and let go of the outcome.

A friend reminded me of this freeing concept yesterday. She had faced an issue much bigger than she felt capable of handling. So she focused on walking with God, step by step through it. And she said He unfolded the most amazing plan, far beyond her expectations, as she waited on Him and accepted His direction. She got a most unexpected and wonderful result, but she emphasized what a peaceful process it was.

Whatever you are facing, however you are serving Christ, try not to let a lack of results or "skewed" results discourage you. Give those to God. And give thanks for the opportunity.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Misguided Policies

2005-02-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I skimmed an interesting article by Helen and Peter Evans. In it, they reviewed a presentation by well-known author and Harvard Med School grad Michael Crichton. They said he voiced a serious concern about science policy, namely “how politicized research results in distorted conclusions and misguided policies.”

In my day, we would have simply said “input determines output” or, in this case, “faulty input determines faulty output.” But I like Crichton’s formula better, because it spells out that crucial middle step – the distorted conclusions. Setting aside science, let’s consider this in personal terms.

If your research or knowledge is flawed by bias or misinformation or whatever, then your thinking will be off, too. You will draw distorted or wrong conclusions. Those, in turn, can lead to misguided actions. Unfortunately, you live in an age of widespread misinformation. Much of television and music aimed at your generation portray a flawed view of life.

For instance, the media glamorize a loose lifestyle. Bed hopping is idealized as freeing, normal and fun. Rarely does a tv program ever depict the serious physical, emotional and mental consequences of such a lifestyle. How many stars of these shows contract a debilitating and disfiguring sexually transmitted disease? How many get unintentionally pregnant? How many acknowledge the emotional trauma and guilt associated with aborting a preborn baby?

So I hope and pray you will be careful in choosing the movies, shows and music you choose to “input” into your mind. And I hope, if you have a restrictive Mom like me, that you will understand she may well be trying to protect you – protect you from corrupt data that leads to distorted thinking that leads to bad decisions.

“Good sense wins favor, but the way of the faithless is their ruin.” Proverbs 13:15

Like A Wave

2005-02-08T10:48:00.000-05:00

Reading the news today of President Bush’s increased approval ratings amuses me. We all know the numbers were boosted by successful elections in Iraq. And we all know they will decline again following the next tragic event there. Or maybe they’ll go up if Bin Laden is captured. What fickle people we can be.

Whether your opinion of Bush is good or bad, whether you favor the war or not, don’t you think your approval (or disapproval) should be rooted in something deeper or more substantial than isolated events on the ground? If more people stood on principles or policies, it seems to me the numbers would vacillate a lot less.

But I am sometimes like these poll responders. We had to make summer camp decisions last week, and I could not make up my mind. We were under time pressure, and I found myself unable to stick with a decision. Trying to please the kids. Trying to please friends. Trying to juggle the schedules of about 20 youths and 4 camps. My double-mindedness was frustrating others. I felt totally incompetent. Do you ever feel like this?

And suddenly the words “You are like a wave, tossed to and fro” penetrated the whirlwind. That’s a phrase from the first chapter of James. It describes those who are without God’s wisdom, those who doubt His wisdom. It was like a spiritual spanking from the Holy Spirit. Get your mind and your eyes back on track! I was losing sight of the goals we had already (prayerfully) set for our family’s summer.

Jesus uses a simple analogy to illustrate how vulnerable we are when we don’t hear or practice His words. He says we are “like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:26-27) When we base our decisions and actions on circumstances, events, feelings, and popular opinion, we are building on sand. James says we’ll be double-minded and unstable. (James 1:8) We’ll probably have lots of crashes.

Here’s the flip side:
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

Some Good News

2005-02-07T14:16:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I like to see what other bloggers are posting. I found an interesting post today on an evangelical blog that gives the “gospel” in 10 steps. The blogger’s wife had developed these points as a simple way to explain the good news to young children. Keep in mind the target audience. Many of the comments he received seemed to forget that this is a simplification for children.

I’ll leave it to true theologians to debate steps #9 and #10. But I think the earlier points may help clarify how Jesus is our “ransom.” Remember recently when we discussed love and sacrifice, and I said that the price Jesus paid was “essentially a ransom”? Warnock’s outline sets forth the separation between a holy God and us – a separation caused by sin that holds men and women captive.

The Bible tells us the “wages of sin are death.” In His love, God sent Jesus to set us free. He, holy and perfect, gave His life on the Cross as a ransom, a payment to set us free. It’s as if a judge sentenced you and me to death, but an innocent man (Jesus) steps forward and says, “I’ll take the sentence on myself.” And then we are allowed to live.

Will we live perfectly? No. Grasping this concept is just the beginning of a new relationship, an eternal process of living for God and with God in your life. Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24

How to Stay Christian in College

2005-02-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

A week with a sick child at home and sundry obligations has left me with little time to write anything original. So today I’m going to direct your attention to an article published on the Prison Fellowship website.

With a Little Help from Your Friends was written by J. Budziszewski, author of the best-selling book How to Stay Christian in College. Much of what he writes could also be applied to high school, particularly if you attend a public school. Acknowledging that many youth stray from their faith during their college years, he poses the question: “Is there hope?” And then he answers it:

Of course ... To paraphrase Saint Paul in Romans 8, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor professors, nor administrators, nor dorms, nor drugs, nor degree counselors, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We can be separated from Christ only by acts of our own will.

Do read the whole article. One thing the author emphasizes is the importance of Christian fellowship. Positive peer pressure, you might call it. I made a lot of mistakes in high school and college. But I’ll attest that without the encouragement and accountability of many dear friends in the faith – one of whom later became my husband – I would have made many more errors and many worse messes.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25

A Picture is

2005-02-03T10:01:00.000-05:00

worth a thousand words. Go here and see a photo from last night's State of the Union address. In some respects, this image is so powerful I'm hesitant to comment at all. But I know my own teenager went to bed in the middle of the President's speech and hence missed the night's high point. A quick scan of the major network websites this morning showed no visuals of this moment. In fact, you would think the whole speech had been about Social Security.

So ... to give context, the woman beside Lady Bush - as our youngest has named her - is an Iraqi whose father had been murdered by Saddam Hussein. Now she leads a women's movement in Iraq and risked her life, along with millions of other citizens, to vote this weekend. The woman in blue whom she is embracing is the mother of a soldier slain in Fallujah. That's his father shaking hands with an unidentified military man.

Wow. What a picture of redemption. Both families united in grief and tragedy, but also in hope and mutual comfort. We glimpse the good God is working through the sacrifice and suffering of those who laid down their lives for others. As people of faith, that's our hope on display - that in the darkest hours God has not forgotten, and God, in His time and in His way, will redeem our troubles and pain.

"For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too." II Corinthians 1:5

Truth

2005-02-02T11:39:00.000-05:00

As I’m writing this post, speculation about the authenticity of a photo is swirling. Some terrorist group has published a photo on the internet, supposedly of a captured U.S. soldier. However, bloggers and others have taken a close look and are claiming the “soldier” may actually be a GI Action figure - “Cody” made by Dragon Models USA, to be specific. Now I don’t know the bottom line. I don’t know, but certainly hope, it is a farce.

It’s a bit unnerving how information ebbs and flows. Not that long ago, CBS News was shamed by publicizing what turned out to be forged documents about President Bush’s military service. Then accredited voter services published misleading poll results early on election day, figures that turned out to be way out of whack and a major embarrassment for the organizations involved. I’m sure you have examples from school how false ideas and rumors can spread and cause confusion or worse.

How do we know what is true? How do we know whom to believe? Truth is an important and ever elusive attribute in our culture. And the failure of adults to speak truth without spin or varnish makes it even more difficult for teens to find it. I hope you will search for Truth – with a capital T - and not give up, especially in relation to moral issues. God created you. He knows and loves you more than anyone on this earth. Search His word, the Bible, for Truth in this life.

“Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32

Reaching for High Ground

2005-02-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

One man who took a God Pause, reflecting on the tsunami, was Chester Debnam, a local pastor. He wrote an article, The Recent Earthquake Tragedies, calling for a renewed commitment to evangelism and to remember spiritual food as we rush to meet physical needs. He cited Revelation 6:15-17: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

The December tragedy provided just a glimpse of what the “great day of wrath” could be like. These verses remind me of a friend of my in-laws. He is a former Silicon Valley executive who had made his fortune in America and lived around the world, eventually settling down in Thailand. According to news reports, the 73-year-old man had been chairing a meeting for members of a private club on the coast when the wave hit. He was washed into the ocean and spent several hours at sea, clinging to a tree branch, before a change of currents and his own efforts brought him back ashore.

The resort was wiped out. Even the clothes he wore had been stripped away by the force of the waves. Many of his friends were lost. He found that some resort guests and employees had taken refuge on higher ground and survived. As in the verses above, rich and poor alike had scrambled for the high ground and hoped for mercy.

It didn’t matter whether you were a wealthy vacationer or the resort gardener, the tsunami was a great equalizer. And when the end comes, our own purses and billfolds, cell phones and passports, Nike Air Jordans and Uggs will be stripped away. In material terms, we will all be equal before the Lord. What will we have left to show for our life here on earth? What will remain of your life that is eternal and unshaken?

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Heb. 12:28-29

God Pause

2005-01-31T13:02:00.000-05:00

I’ve been home taking care of a very sick little girl this weekend and today. Whenever one of the children is like this - so still, so weak - something moves in my heart. When I check on them during the night, touch their brows, and listen for their breathing, I’m reminded anew how precious they are. Gifts sent from heaven. It’s a sort of “God Pause” – to steal a phrase from David Wilkerson of World Challenge.

I think most of us don’t take God Pauses often enough. Pastor Wilkerson’s latest ministry letter discusses how quickly people have moved on from the tsunami disaster. Around our house, we have. Right after it happened, we (and most of America) spent a good bit of time watching the news reports. Our church jumped into action as I’ve discussed before. Millions of individuals wrote checks and sent aid.

How much time did we, as believers or not, spend asking God what He is doing through this event? I confess not enough on my part.

Wilkerson reminds his readers of the sheer magnitude of the earthquake and resulting devastation. Remember, one island was moved nearly 100 feet! Then he continues:

“...when power is unleashed that was one million times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima . . . when thinking men everywhere have an intuition that “somebody is tinkering with nature, something is happening that cannot be explained away” . . . when society moves on without a single “God pause,” without even a thought that God will not be mocked. THAT IS WHEN I SAY WE HAVE COME NEAR OR CROSSED OVER A LINE INTO A SPIRITUAL STUPOR THAT NO AMOUNT OF DIVINE MERCY CAN AWAKEN.”

Spiritual stupor. Let’s not be caught. Whether reflecting on a natural disaster, watching events unfold in the Middle East or facing a personal “tsunami” at school or at home, take some time to seek God in the middle of it. Take a God pause.

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.” Proverbs 2:13, 14

No Greater Love

2005-01-28T01:28:00.000-05:00

One morning recently, I awoke before dawn to howling wind and driving rain pelting the window. I knew my husband had left just minutes earlier to drive several hours away for work. Flipping on the radio, I heard news of a tornado sighting 9 miles away. Seemed so odd to me in the dead of winter.

Naturally, sleep wouldn't come as worry pressed in. I didn’t call him. It’s hard enough to drive in such weather without fumbling for a cell phone. And I knew he could have easily avoided all the trouble. You see, he had been in the same town the day before and could have simply stayed for the next day’s business. But he likes to come home when feasible, eat dinner with us, hear about the children’s days. Lead family devotions. Tuck us all in. Even at the price of foul weather, extra hours of driving, and predawn alarms.

I have a small, framed picture on my dresser. Love is inseparable from sacrifice, it says. All I could do was lie there in the dark and pray for my husband’s safety. And I thanked God for this man whose silent sacrifices speak volumes about his love for our family. It reminds me of Jesus, who gave his very life for the ones he loved.

The little picture has a drawing of nails and a crown of thorns. Jesus loved us so much he left the beauty and peace of heaven to come to earth, to spend time with us and teach us about the kingdom of heaven. And he paid a heavy price, essentially a ransom, through his death, nailed to a cross. He could have called down a legion of angels to rescue him, but he didn’t. Love is inseparable from sacrifice. Do you know how much he loves you?

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

One Body and One Spirit

2005-01-27T01:12:00.000-05:00

I have been disturbed today as I’ve pondered recent incidents within the Christian community. In one instance, a high profile Christian leader’s views on a couple of issues have been misquoted and misrepresented by the news media. I’m not too concerned about the response of Non-Christians. The Bible says their minds are “darkened” anyway.

But these godless reporters have been able to create quite a ruckus within the family of faith. Some believers have jumped to conclusions and caused great disunity by being quick to publicly criticize, condemn, and fault this leader – without getting their facts straight.

Many verses in the Bible refer to all those who are in Christ as one Body. And just as Christ extended grace to us as sinners, so should we extend grace to one another. Too often gatherings of believers, ministries and churches have been torn apart by rumors, public criticism and the mishandling of disagreements.

The New Testament has some good pointers to keep in mind for such difficult situations. I suggest you read the fourth chapter of Ephesians for starters and search other places for how to handle conflict and disagreement in a kind and godly way.

Are you at odds with a brother or sister in Christ? Are you angry with anyone at home or at school? Carefully consider how you should approach the situation. And don’t be too quick to judge. How you react can make a huge difference in the outcome for yourself, for the other person, and for the Non-Christians around you who may be watching how Christians treat each other.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2, 3

Shepherd in the Shadows

2005-01-26T01:03:00.000-05:00

One paragraph from Wead's column reminded me of a classic Bible story. Wead wrote:

“When Augustine Washington lay dying, all his hopes were on the shoulders of his son, Lawrence, who had been given the best education, trips to London, the estate of Mount Vernon and most of the money. But it was the little, unnoticed, uneducated, 11-year-old George, who stood in the shadows by his father’s side, who would achieve glory beyond anything his father could have ever imagined.”

Are you familiar with King David’s origins? I Samuel 16 describes how, long ago, the prophet Samuel was sent by God to anoint a new king for Israel. The Lord directed him to meet a man named Jesse and his family and told him to anoint the one He indicates. When he saw the son named Eliab, Samuel assumed this tall, handsome lad must be the one.

But here’s what God said: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) After Samuel nixed Eliab, Jesse brought out seven more sons, one by one. Each time, Samuel rejected them.

Finally Samuel asks, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse had not bothered to fetch his youngest son, who had the lowly job of tending sheep. Jesse failed to see anything particularly winsome or kingly about the boy. However, God did. Samuel anointed him immediately, although it would be many years, many hardships and heartaches later before David would take the throne.

As a woman, I know we spend a lot of time worrying about our looks – fixing our hair, choosing our clothes, applying makeup and selecting just the right earrings. But do you realize the Lord is most concerned about our inner beauty? Are we taking time to develop and cultivate an inward spirit that will equip us to carry out the work God has planned for us? And are we encouraging our friends to be as inwardly attractive as they are outwardly? Try to read the first 13 verses of I Samuel 16.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7

Into the Light

2005-01-25T06:12:00.000-05:00

Did you read the column from yesterday’s post? In it, Wead describes how various U.S. Presidents were actually the underdogs of their respective families. For instance, Joe Kennedy was the one expected to go far, but it was his “sickly,” nonacademic, younger brother who won the nation’s hearts and gained a foothold in history books. And George W. Bush was viewed as the “family clown,” and yet now he is beginning a second term as our President.

Whether you are fourteen or forty, it’s easy to feel pressured by expectations – real or perceived. Television and movies conspire to make us feel inadequate. We think we aren’t smart enough, or thin enough, or athletic enough or popular enough. Sometimes the damage to our self-esteem comes from the very people we love the most.

Though we may feel like we are living in the shadows, no one knows what life has in store.

God has a plan and a purpose just for you. As long as you are doing your best, keeping your eyes on Jesus and seeking His will, you can live a fulfilled life. The Bible calls it “abundant” life. You may never find fame in this world or you may end up President one day. Either way, God's plan is perfect and every day with Him can be an adventure. After all, he is called the Light of the world. He is the one who brings us out of the shadows.

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28

For Shadow Dwellers

2005-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today’s post may seem a bit ironic in that we have spent several days praising the value of reading the Bible, and today, for the first time in this blog’s [short] history, I’m not giving you a Bible verse or passage to read. No. This should be as easy for you as the click of a mouse or tap on the touchpad.

Last week with the inauguration approaching, USA Today ran an interesting column by Doug Wead, entitled Bush Comes Out of the Shadows. Click on it and read it. Set politics aside for a couple minutes – they don’t matter. I had everyone in our family read it, too. Every teen should take its basic message to heart. Wead puts it this way:

“The bright sunshine of excessive expectations can sometimes scorch and kill,
while the shadows offer room for maneuver, mistake, learning and healing. “

I hope you find his words encouraging. We’ll talk more about it tomorrow.

Freedom

2005-01-21T16:47:00.000-05:00

Our family enjoyed watching the inauguration yesterday. Like World Series games that air too late for school children to watch, this piece of history would have been missed, too, except for the kindness of snow in our area, closing schools and workplaces. As the President’s speech went along, we found ourselves asking, “How many times has he said the word freedom?”

Freedom is a transcendent value. However for freedom to enjoy its greatest promise in a political sense is dependent upon the inherent morality of the people governed. As with raising children, the more a parent can trust them to do the right thing, the more freedom we can give. Or, conversely, the greater the immorality, the more legislation is needed to direct actions. That’s why laws in our communities are becoming increasingly intrusive. One California city is even considering an ordinance mandating the particulars of pet care.

Spiritual freedom, on the other hand, is a personal matter, mostly independent of those around you and apart from your circumstances. The apostle Paul was imprisoned for his work preaching the gospel. In a political sense, he was literally in chains and closely watched by guards. But the letters he wrote to his friends were full of joy. Read the first chapter of Philippians, for example. His satisfaction and fulfillment came from his relationship to Christ and serving as God called him – no matter the circumstances.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” II Corinthians 3:17

Glomerulonephritis and Such

2005-01-20T13:34:00.000-05:00

When our son was three years old, he began having some disturbing symptoms. We took him to the pediatrician who quickly referred us to a nephrologist, that is, a kidney doctor. Some tests were done. Then the doctor called us into his office to discuss the results.

It was not good. He suspected a possibly fatal disease. And as he talked, I was struggling, fogged somewhat by emotion, but also in an academic sense, straining to understand. You see, he was droning on about proteinuria, glomerulonephritis, nephropathy and the like. And I was still back on first base, trying to recall from basic health class whether we have one kidney or two! If I had had some more sophisticated schooling, a medical degree, for instance, I’m sure we could have connected. My mind would have been more prepared to absorb what he was saying.

Studying the Bible can be like that. It can sound strange and hard to understand. But Jesus offers us help in the form of the Holy Spirit. Without delving too far into theological issues, I believe the Bible is clear that those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior also receive the Holy Spirit. Like having an M.D. would have helped me eight years ago, so having the Holy Spirit helps your mind decipher the Bible. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus to us and to reveal truth.

But don’t sweat it if you’re not a Christian and don’t have this divine helper. Many people, famous, infamous and unknown, have come to faith by reading the Bible. And others - such as Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Christ - came to faith even as they set out to disprove and discredit the Bible. And I eventually did grasp what the doctor was saying. It just took a bit more effort on my part - studying the Merck Manual, talking to relatives with medical backgrounds and asking lots of questions. So don’t give up. Keep reading and ask God for help as you go along.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13

Diving In

2005-01-19T08:49:00.000-05:00

As with any skill – swimming, for instance - you can learn a lot by being around a pool: by watching others swim; reading a book on swimming; talking to instructors; and admiring the skills of Olympic racers. But you won’t really learn all that much until you take the plunge and start flapping those arms.

Bible study can be like this. Going to church, talking with others, listening to pastors and reading about the Bible can all be informative and encouraging. But to really benefit, you need to dive in. It may be difficult at first. The language is sometimes complicated, sometimes not. The Bible is filled with wonderful stories about a wide array of men and women and, yes, children. Then there are all those “begats,” unusual rituals, and vague prophecies, too. If you’ll persevere, though, it will get easier and more enjoyable. If we all stopped trying to swim the first time we got water up our nose, few of us would be strokin’ today.

If you’re just starting to have quiet times, teachers recommend you start with the book of John or one of the other gospels that begin the New Testament, basically the second half of the Bible. These books – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – describe events in the life of Jesus. It’s also helpful to read in small “chunks,” just a few verses or one chapter at a time.

Tomorrow we’ll talk about some help you have available for understanding what you read. For now, let’s just get started. Here’s the first verse of John:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Quiet Time

2005-01-18T11:51:00.000-05:00

Here’s some advice. If you aren’t a Christian, but want to know more about the faith ... read the Bible. If you are a Christian, and want to know more about your faith ... read the Bible.

Although there are many excellent books about Christianity and the Christian life, there is no substitute for simply reading the Bible itself. Millions and millions of people read and study this bestseller, the world’s all-time bestselling book. The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book. And people of faith believe it presents God’s words for humans, a primary mode of communication from heaven to earth.

Josh McDowell, author of Evidence that Demands a Verdict, points out some amazing facts about the Bible, which make it unique and different from any other book ever published. It was:

written over a 1,500-year span
written over 40 generations
written by more than 40 authors
written in different places, on three continents, in three different languages
And yet there is "one unfolding story: God's redemption of man."

When I first committed my life to Christ as a high schooler, a mentor taught me to schedule a daily “quiet time.” She said to set aside time every day – alone, if possible – to read the Bible and pray. Now, more than 20 years later, I am thankful I took her advice; however imperfectly I’ve carried it out, I have no regrets for the time spent searching for truth, encouragement and help in its pages.

“. . . and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

II Timothy 3:15

Relaxing . . .

2005-01-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

Holiday today!

Intelligent Designer?

2005-01-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

I’ve watched some interesting DVDs lately in which renowned scientists discuss evolution versus creationism – a hot topic recently if you’ve been watching television, reading the papers or listening to talk radio. The DVDs include a wide spectrum of experts from physicists to archaeologists to biochemists, who have identified major flaws in evolutionary theory and have come to support the view that an “intelligent designer” must exist. Some had a religious faith; others did not.

These increasingly vocal researchers have created quite a stir in the scientific community. Moreover, their ideas and opinions have such credibility and weight they are causing crises far outside the scientific realm - in education and politics, for example.

Then, last month, famed 81-year-old atheist Antony Flew made international headlines by declaring his belief in some sort of god. Now Flew is not just any ol’ atheist. He is a highly respected British professor of philosophy, who has been an outspoken, worldwide champion of atheism for 50 years. He was quoted in major media as saying that biologists’ investigation of DNA “has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce [life], that intelligence must have been involved.”

I’m no expert in these matters, but I do find it an interesting debate. So must the evolutionists who are working overtime to muzzle their colleagues on the other side. But ask yourself this: would you rather believe that there is a God who created you and has a purpose for your life or that you are just a freak protoplasmic accident biding your time until death?

Your answer to this is more important than you might think. Remember the question we discussed last week: Why Did you Get Up This Morning? What you believe about such a fundamental question of life will influence how you live. What a society believes will, to some extent, determine how it is governed and how it functions. Think about it.

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16

Who Taught the Sun?

2005-01-13T12:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we were discussing how looking at creation – in this case the stars in the sky – testifies to a Creator, a God who made everything and put the world in order. One of the great weaknesses of evolutionary theory is that it offers no explanation for the incredible order of the universe in view of a supposedly chaotic origin. As humans, we know our tendency is toward disorder, whether it is keeping a locker straight or a bedroom or a hairstyle; we must exert effort to put things in order. And most of us have an innate desire for significant order in our lives. We tend to eat on a schedule, sleep on a schedule, and, hopefully, study regularly if we’re to thrive.

Nicole C. Mullen sings Redeemer, one of my favorite songs. The lyrics pose these questions:

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
Who taught the ocean you can only come this far?
Who showed the moon where to hide till evening?

The chorus concludes: “I know my Redeemer lives. All of creation testifies there’s life within the Christ.” I’ll ask my more-computer-savvy-than-I-am teenager later if she can find an audio link to this song, and I’ll add it here. I'd love for you to hear the whole song.

The Bible says that people who reject God are without excuse because “what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” (Romans 1) In other words, God’s presence in our world is evident, and from the beginning of history, the vast majority of humanity has believed in God, although not in total agreement about who he is and how he operates.

Maybe you are wondering whether God is real. Maybe when I stated yesterday that he knows your name, maybe you doubted. Try looking for him, for evidence of his work on earth. You might be surprised what you find.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20

When You Wish Upon a Star

2005-01-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

A friend was telling me recently of a vivid memory she has from her childhood in which she was crossing a field near her home. She clearly remembers looking up at a bright star in the night sky and aching to know about God and to know God. She was spurred to ask questions, even at her church, and no one really gave her satisfactory answers. It wasn’t until she was in her thirties that her search ended, her soul’s yearnings quenched, when she came to know God as her Father through giving her life to his Son Jesus.

Her story reminds me of a passage in Isaiah, which says: “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.” (Isaiah 40:26) Not only does the Creator of the universe know your name and my name, but He also knows the name of each star. I wonder if one day, when we get to heaven, Jesus will tell my friend the name of the star that called to her heart.

Today’s challenge is to read all of Psalm 19. I’ll get you started with the first verse .... “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

In the Wake of the Wave

2005-01-11T10:44:00.000-05:00

The international response to the tsunami disaster has been heartwarming. I hope you are careful, though, to give only to organizations you can trust to use resources well. As soon as possible, our church sent a pastor, George, to an afflicted area of India, a place where we already had ties. Working alongside a native pastor, George has helped load trucks, transport goods, and distribute "survival" packages. Even better, God gave these leaders a vision to help in a way that would provide ongoing, not just temporary, benefits.

Here's what they're doing, in George's own words, as posted on New Directions:
"Sure we can give them food, etc., but what if we gave them a means to go back to work. So, we're starting a new business. It will be called the Simon Peter Fishing Company. So far we bought two boats at $3,000 apiece, which includes nets and a motor."

They figure they'll need 200 boats to support the entire village that had been washed away and will work through the local church there. George adds:

"This village is on an island. You have to cross over a large concrete bridge to get there. When the wave hit, mothers and fathers picked up their children and ran for the bridge, which carried hundreds to safety. I was asked to share a word at the distribution of the food, and I told the people that Jesus is the only bridge between us and God. He is the only one that can rescue us from our sin."

Jesus is the bridge, the way to God and our passage into the family of heaven.

"For there is one God and Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men . . ." I Timothy 2:5-6

More on Word Power

2005-01-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

On the flip side of Friday’s post about the negative power of words, we need to consider the great potential our words have for good. A brief exchange years ago brought this to life for me. Our son, barely out of diapers, had done something - I don’t even remember what – something noteworthy. And I praised him for it. I’ll never forget how he looked up at me and matter-of-factly explained, “I’m a quick learner.”

I was astonished. Toddlers don’t naturally think that way. He was simply parroting back to me something he had been told and which had obviously taken root in his brain. And what a great thing for a child to believe about himself at a time when everything in his world is new. Every day at that age is filled with learning experiences.

I wish all of you were growing up in affirming homes. Many are not. If you’re American, you are certainly growing up in a culture that hammers you with negative messages – ideas that are in direct conflict with what the Bible says. Here you are on the cusp of manhood and womanhood. What will you believe about yourself to help you cope with a challenging time of life? What words of encouragement and confidence can you speak to a friend today? Your kind words and sincere compliments could make a big difference in someone's day, maybe in someone's life.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up ....”
I Thessalonians 5:11

Word Power

2005-01-07T07:14:00.000-05:00

When I was a child, we recited a chant: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Is that still around? I hope not, because we all know it is ludicrously untrue, isn’t it?! Of course words hurt. And sometimes they hurt more than a broken bone.

A relative of mine recalls an aunt who told her she was the ugliest child ever born. This beautiful woman, now a grandmother, still remembers those stinging words from her childhood and still finds it hard to believe she is attractive. (The truth is all children are beautiful; they are all created in the image of God, but that's a topic for another day.)

We need to be cautious with our words, cautious about voicing criticism. A speaker once described our words as arrows shot at a fence. We can try to take them back, but they still leave holes behind. Undoing the damage of careless words is difficult. I know; I’ve tried. And I have many regrets in this area. Let’s resolve during this new year to watch our words.

“He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.” Proverbs 22:11

Going the Extra Mile

2005-01-06T12:24:00.000-05:00

If you read the Gospels - the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – you might notice that very often people don’t come to Jesus by their own initiative. Unlike the woman who touched the hem of his robe or the blind man who called loudly from the side of the road, many are helped by the actions of their families or friends.

One striking account in Mark 2 tells of four friends who brought a paralyzed man to a home where Jesus was teaching. Unfortunately, the place was jammed to overflowing, and they couldn’t get near him. They went to great lengths as they carried this needy friend on a mat, hauled him to the rooftop, created a hole in the roof and lowered him down. The fifth chapter of Luke adds that they set him down “into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.”

They didn’t let embarrassment or obstacles or a busy social calendar stop them from delivering their friend to the One who could heal him. Sometimes when I am praying, I mentally place my friends or family members on a metaphorical mat and bring them to the feet of Jesus, asking for His touch in their lives.

Perhaps you remember reading the Amber Brown series of books in elementary school. We’re reading them with our youngest daughter. And though we chuckle at Amber’s antics, I find myself fighting tears as she confronts the breakup of her parents’ marriage, rides an emotional rollercoaster, and deals with their new dating relationships. To me, young people are often paralyzed by divorce. Much, if not all, of what is happening is out of their control. Experts say it can take years, even a lifetime, for some to overcome this kind of trauma.

Can you think of a classmate or someone in your life who has been wounded by divorce? Maybe it’s you. Would you take a minute right now in your mind and heart to go before Jesus and ask for His healing and His help for your sibling, your friend, yourself or whomever comes to mind?

“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” I John 4:15,16

Why Did You Get Up This Morning?

2005-01-05T08:46:00.000-05:00

Dr. Chris Leland of the Focus on the Family Institute says one of the most important questions we can ask is “Why did you get up this morning?” Have you ever thought about that? Most people’s first instinct is to say something like “because I have to.” Well, why do you have to? “Because I have to go to school.” Why do you have to go to school? “Because my Mom makes me” or “It’s the law.” We could go on, but you get the picture. I encourage you to think through this question, to peel away the flip answers and really think about your motivations in life.

Today, I got an email from our school system announcing a new suicide hotline. Suicide, it said, is the 3rd leading cause of death among students aged 15-19. Seems to me a lot of you are having trouble answering the important question: Why did you get up this morning?

Dr. Leland says your generation struggles with three things:

A lack of Hope
A lack of Direction
A lack of Truth

Such high suicide statistics would seem to back this up. What about you? Do you lack hope? Jesus says He offers life. Do you lack direction? Jesus says He is the Way. Are you searching for truth? Jesus says He IS the Truth.

Take some time soon to skim the book of John. See how the touch of Jesus transforms lives from a blind man to a promiscuous woman to a scholar to a fisherman. . . He loves you and wants to touch your life, too.

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

Life's Tsunamis

2005-01-04T11:55:00.000-05:00

The tsunami coverage has certainly captivated our national conscience. Why do you think that is? I think that every once in a while life throws a curveball that reminds us essentially that our existence on this earth is fragile and that our general assumption that we are in the driver’s seat is merely an illusion. It’s not like these afflicted people were tempting fate. They weren’t racing NASCARS or living under Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime or playing Xtreme sports. They were reading books, nursing babies, walking the beaches.

In May of 2001, I went for a jog. I liked to circle our neighborhood park and run home on a dirt path, just to the side of the street, parallel to the curbing. On that particular day, a young man driving a Honda happened to run off the road, jumping the curb, at just the wrong spot and wrong time. He hit me from behind at about 30 miles per hour and stopped by crashing into some trees.

The car hit my legs first. Passersby also said they could see the imprint of my head in his broken windshield. Then I was thrown a few yards, landing on my back on the pathway. And my jogging shoes, interestingly enough, landed another 30 feet or so farther down the road than my body did. That I survived and survived so well is simply a miracle. It just wasn’t my day to go to the other side. But it was a wakeup call.

No one really knows whether they will have another year, another day or even another breath on this earth. Only God knows the length of days we have. The question is: are you ready? Are you ready to meet Your Maker? If you haven’t made things right with God yet, now would be a good time. Just talk to Him in your heart and give Him your life. Ask Him to show Himself to you and to be your Father and Friend forever.

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6

Happy New Year 2005

2005-01-03T22:48:00.000-05:00

At our traditional New Year's Eve dinner, my husband asked what we were all thankful for during the last year. Our seven-year-old's hand shot up. "For the new friends we made," she said. She was thinking of a girl in her class, who had moved into the area and started at her school in the fall. They had become fast friends immediately. The new girl is half Scandinavian and half Chinese, with her Asian features dominating.

CNN's tsunami coverage included a piece on how the crisis is breaking down barriers. Hindus and Muslims, Buddhists and Christians, are all helping each other, disregarding their customary tensions - at least in this one locale. As our daughter seems to understand intuitively and as the terrible disaster has made abundantly clear, relationships are our real treasures in life. If we overinvest in things, in achievements, in ourselves, we crowd out what is truly important and lose on the scale of eternity. This year, may we resolve to work on our relationships. First, the backbone of them all: our relationship with Jesus. And after that, may we seek to love and care for the others He has placed in our paths.

"If I .... can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." I Corinthians 13: 2-3

What are Grace Notes?

2005-01-03T21:34:00.000-05:00

Musically speaking, a grace note is often referred to as an embellishment or ornament. It's a short note, usually in small print, played just before the main beat. It's my hope that these blogs will function as grace notes in your life, tiny enhancements to the music you are making as you journey onward day by day. And, by His grace, these notes will help tune your ear to the Maestro, to seek His melody and to participate fully in the grandest Symphony of all.

"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him, we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:26-28