petty

My chronological reading-through-the-bible plan has me studying the gospels right now.

"John answered, 'Master we saw somene casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us.'  But Jesus said to him, 'Do not stop him for the one who is not against you is for you.'"  (Luke 9:49-50)

What came to mind when I read that, and stopped me in my tracks, was this question - is that what Jesus would say to our petty denominational disagreements today?

John's statment - he doesn't follow with us - sounds like their version of "he doesn't listen to the pastor i listen to" or " he goes to a lutheran church, not an evangelical church."

Don't get me wrong - there are majors and minors - and I don't want to brush over the majors.  I'm not advocating some peace circle where we all sit around and sing kum-by-ah with every one that says "I believe in my God, you believe in your God, what's the difference?" 

That Jesus is God - major
What you wear to church - minor
That the music at church lifts high the name of Jesus Christ and the truth of God's word - major
The style of that music - minor
The style of the church building- minor

We need to know who's on our team, but be careful how we define who is on our side.

I imagine myself asking the question John asked... "Master, we saw someone                           [fill in the blank] and we tried to stop him because he doesn't follow with us."

put it this way...

Me: Jesus, I saw someone singing hymns instead of contemporary Christian music in church last week and I tried to stop him because he's not with us - you know, you, me, and contemporary Christian music.

or

Me: Jesus, I saw someone who doesn't go to adult sunday school after church and I tried to correct him because he's not with us - you know, you Jesus, me, and the way we do church.

I then imagine Jesus answering, "Don't stop him.  For the one who isn't against you is for you."

Let's agree that we'll always do the minors differently.  But we better be functioning in unity as the body of Christ and realize who is truly "for us."  How much more could God use us if we weren't busy fighting battles with those on the same team?

I am totally guilt of this!  John and I, we're in the same boat.  Lord help me to not get caught up on the minors, and to work together with other believers to accomplish your work here on earth.

In progress,
Renee

Postmomdernism quote

"Postmodernism tells us there’s no such thing as truth; no such thing as meaning; no such thing as certainty. I remember lecturing at Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in this country. I was minutes away from beginning my lecture, and my host was driving me past a new building called the Wexner Center for the Performing Arts. He said, “This is America’s first postmodern building.” I was startled for a moment and I said, “What is a postmodern building?” He said, “Well, the architect said that he designed this building with no design in mind. When the architect was asked, ‘Why?’ he said, ‘If life itself is capricious, why should our buildings have any design and any meaning?’ So he has pillars that have no purpose. He has stairways that go nowhere. He has a senseless building built and somebody has paid for it.” I said, “So his argument was that if life has no purpose and design, why should the building have any design?” He said, “That is correct.” I said, “Did he do the same with the foundation?” All of a sudden there was silence. You see, you and I can fool with the infrastructure as much as we would like, but we dare not fool with the foundation because it will call our bluff in a hurry."     - Ravi Zacharias

The weirdest thing happened the other day!

So I was watching a basketball game (well, half-watching) and it's going along, everything as normal.  Back and forth.  2 points here, 3 points there.  Every other shot, there's a foul and a free throw.  But then... I heard the crowd go wild.  I looked up at the t.v. to watch the replay and I see the player with the ball (we'll call his team the Bulls) accidentally step out of bounds.  Of course he tried to save it and throw the ball to an "in bounds" teammate, but he was definitely out of bounds with the ball.  That's not the weird part.  The weird part is the ref blew his whistle and signalled it was the other team's ball.  The out of bounds Bulls player argued... not that he was out of bounds but that there should be a new boundary in this incident.  The ref thought about it and then okayed it.  The fans went wild.  The fans were ecstatic. 

Weird, right?  When have they ever moved the boundaries in a basketball game?  So now, the boundary was an arbitrary foot outside the real boundary.

Fast forward a few minutes later.  A player on the opposing team (we'll call them the Lakers) falls out of bounds by a couple feet, crashing into the court-side chairs.  The ref blows the whistle.  The player argues that previously the Bulls player had stepped out of bounds and the boundary had been moved, so why wouldn't they just move it again.

Lo and behold, the ref agreed.  They asked everyone with court-side seats to move.

This went on for the rest of the game until the boundary was a jagged line around the court jutting as far into the stands as 4 rows up the bleachers.

I had never seen anything like it.

..................................................................................................................................

Ok, but honestly, moral relativism.
We have an agreed upon boundary.
Someone steps outside said boundary.
So, instead of helping them back in the boundary, we make the boundary a little bigger and cheer them on.

The implications in a basketball game are so obvious.  Clearly, chaos ensues if you stretch the boundaries.  That's why it never happens.  There are boundaries on the court for a reason.
The implications in life - well, many people reading this would be ticked.  They would say who the heck are you to tell me where my moral boundaries should be?   

[I'm not saying MY moral boundaries are perfect... but there is a perfect standard, and that is God's.  His are perfect.]

The Bible says the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. (Psalm 19:7)

Some would say, even to God, who the heck are you to say there should be moral boundaries?   On a much less serious, but equally absurd level, it's like the basketball player saying to a ref who the heck are you to tell me I can't step out of bounds? 

But if we stretch the boundaries, when do we stop?

It continues until... when?  Forever?



p.s. the other night at bible study, we were talking about the fall (Genesis 3).  A discussion about boundaries came up and my sports efficianto friend Trevor commented that there are boundaries around a basketball court for a reason.  He originated the analogy :) 

wholeness

I have been doing a bible study through the book of James.  (and by "a" bible study, I mean an awesome, eye-opening, life-changing, faith-altering bible study.)  I always thought James seemed similar to Proverbs - a bunch of random topics squeezed together.  But I'm learning that is so not true.  One theme in his letter is that of wholeness, completion, or perfection.

"Let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:4)

"Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (1:21)

"If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." (3:2)

Those are a few verses that discuss "perfection" explicitly, but much of James' letter touches on the concept of moral completion...  well, at first glance, it seems like we might as well just give up this whole Christianity thing because i have been "at fault in what I said" more than once or twice.  But James isn't expecting that we as Christians be perfect, or even suggesting it's possible.  He writes "we all stumble in many ways" (3:2) and "no one can tame the tongue, it is a restless evil" (3:8).   He is honest that perfect isn't attainable, yet urges us not to lower the standard.

There's much more that could be said about James, his letter as a whole, and his theme of perfection.  And I'm certainly not suggesting that I, or any other Christian, is or should be perfect.  What I wanted to share (and what I thought needed a slight preface) was this quote I read that discusses wholeness in the book of James.

"Wholeness cannot be found simply by accepting whatever one is in all one's disordered and distracted existence.  Wholeness is a goal towards which one can move only in relation to a centre which is already whole and from which one can gain wholeness.  This means moving in one direction rather than others.  It means rejecting values and behaviour which are inconsistent with the goal... The quest for wholeness is important today because it responds to another cultural trend, which accepts and even celebrates the fragmentation of life in the name of openness and diversity" (Bauckham, James, 179).

That statement is very thought provoking for me.   Do I acknowledge there is a centre which is already whole that I could gain wholeness from? Is wholeness my goal?  Am I moving in that direction, or just hoping I'll end up there by accident?  Do I embrace values and behaviours consistent with the goal of wholeness?  Do you?  

imperfect,

renee

p.s. the bible study I'm doing is this one... it's awesome! (If you wanted to just download the mp3 videos and do the study on your own, it'd be $20) :) Not a bad investment for life-change.  

the truth

lately God has reminded me of these truths:

I am his precious daughter because of HIS love, not because of my achievements.  Therefore, my lack of achievement does not affect his love.  Really, anything I do is out of the equation.  He loved me first.

He sees me as righteous through the blood of Jesus, not because of my good deeds.  Meaning, when I am conceited or rude or judgmental, he says to me "repent and use your freedom in Christ to be FREE from those sins that entangle you.  You have the freedom - choose it today.  I have washed away your sin and see it no more.  You're forgiven.  Live freely."

i need these truths. every day.  i need to have the truth way down deep in my heart and soul where even the enemy that is trying to devour me cannot take it away.  the truth sets me free. 

do you need to hear it too?  God values you. He loves you. do you know him?  he knows you and desperately longs for you to know him.  He sent the Savior of the universe, and the Savior of you and me to earth so that we might, if we so choose, know him intimately.  

can i get an amen? ;)

Kisses from Katie

That is the title of the book I just read.  Just read in a total of 4 hours.  Just read in 3 hours last night and 1 hour this morning. 

Just read, as in, finished 10 minutes ago. in tears. happy and sad tears.
Tears for the brokenness of this world.
Tears of repentance for my materialistic dreams, self-reliance, selfishness, desire to live in safety.
Tears of rejoicing in the truth that Jesus has come to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free.
Tears of rejoicing that Jesus will return again to take his children home to an eternity where we are restored.

Long story short, a young woman from a wealthy neighborhood in Tennessee was obedient to God's call on her life - she moved to Uganda and he is using her miraculously to accomplish his purposes there.  He is using her story to convict my heart (and probably many others).

This book is not a guilt trip.  It's a testimony of God's greatness.  Of the truth of the gospel.

I am still processing it and don't have anything more insightful to say, except that I will be sharing it with everyone I know.

Go get it.  Immediately :)


If you can't stop what you're doing right now and go get it, here's the link to her blog... a good place to start.
And THIS is the website for her ministry.  Perhaps all the women in your family should get a necklace from this ministry for Christmas this year?!?!? 

changed

I never get tired of seeing videos like this.
of hearing how God is moving.
of hearing how Jesus Christ is changing lives.
society puts labels on Christianity. All sorts of labels ...fundamental, weird, evangelical, right wing, Jesus-freaks,

but really, it doesn't matter what you wanna call it.
or what you say about it. or what anyone says about it.
Jesus is real.
He is alive.
He is risen.
and that day changed history.
the day that Jesus rose from the dead, conquered death once and for all...
it changed everything.

He changed me deep inside my heart.
He gave me new life.
He gave me a reason to live.
He has lifted me out of the slimy pit and he set my feet upon the solid rock.
I am not perfect. and I do not claim to know all the answers.  But I know that Jesus Christ changed my life.  
And I will never cease to proclaim that.

This is what real change looks like:

Thankful Thursday #3

Ooops! I missed Thursday... where did this week go!?

Today, I'm thankful for grace.  Costly grace.

I am reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship (slowly but surely) and his words have challenged me to meditate on the cost of God's grace towards me.

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he made himself nothing, taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (philippians 4:5-8)  [did you catch that or did you just read it?  Jesus Christ did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped. in order that he might provide a way for ME to know God.  Wow]

grace is receiving something one does not deserve.  (not to be confused with mercy, which is NOT receiving what you DO deserve).

Bonhoeffer writes, "Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: 'my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'"

Redeemed at high cost.

Christ paid a debt he did not owe because I owed a debt I could not pay.

The thankfulness that wells up in my heart when I think about that - i mean, really think about it - it can't really be put into words and yet here i am trying.

Sometimes I just listen to this song.  and think. and usually cry.  and it feels good.  to think about the Lord and all he's done for me.  (p.s. it's not the best version, but that's youtube for ya)

Forever thankful,
Renee

Good to Great in God's Eyes

Good to Great in God's Eyes by Chip Ingram, proposes that the human desire for greatness is God-given, that God designed us to want greatness.  People want to be great professionals, careers, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, athletes, scholars, artists, musicians, etc...  Chip writes, "But when  ask believers if they watn to be great Christians, they seem to be afraid to answer the question.  They become unassuming and deferential, concerned that an ambition to be great in this most important aspect of life would seem arrogant.  Yet what's the alternative?  Should we aspire to be mediocre Christians?  Is it prideful to want to honor God with lives of great faith and excellent work?  Even after spending 3 years with Jesus, the disciples didn't seem to think so.  They argued about which of them was the greatest, and though Jesus had to redefine greatness for them, he didn't tell them they were being unspiritual or arrogant because of their...desire to be great.  Instead he laid out a clear but counterintuitive pathway that 11 of the 12 eventually fulfilled.  And their greatness, as they followed that pathway, turned the world upside down in less than a century."

Ingram goes on to suggest God loves it when his people achieve greatness for God's glory and that our purpose of glorifying God "isn't served well by mediocrity." 


He clarifies that "great" Christians aren't more loved by God and that great works have nothing to do with salvation.  "These principles are, however, an opportunity to fulfill the highest and best purposes God has for your life.  Great athletes don't spend years practicing because they have to; they do it because they have a dream.  Christians who want to live the average Christian life can do so almost by default.  None of the practices in this book are required for that.  But those who dream of eternal impact in the kingdom of God, who envision crossing the finish line as one of God's great saints, are motivated to do whatever it takes to be used powerfully by God... If the honest desire of your heart is to stand before God one day and, like Jesus, tell him, "I have brought you glory here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do" (John 17:4), these 10 practices will make a huge difference in your life."



The chapters are set up to work well with small group discussion, although I read it on my own and really gained a lot from it.  If you read it, let me know what you think!

Desiring greatness for God's glory,
Renee

Philosophy of Biblical View of Immigration

Ben and I are taking a new-people intro class to the church we've started attending in Lincoln.  They gave us a booklet that has several ministry philosophies written by the church elders.  (i.e. philosophy of leadership, ministry to the poor, children's ministry, discipleship, Biblical instruction, service, worship, etc...)  We didn't really discuss it in class, but it was given as extra info if we wanted to read it.  Both Ben and I found their "Philosophy of Biblical View of Immigration" particularly helpful, especially since it's such a hot-button issue right now.  So, here it is... word for word.  If you don't have a Bible on hand, google the references to read the short passages while reading this not-so-short article.  The scripture references they've included are helpful!  (Italics emphasis throughout is mine)  I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this philosophy!

"The establishment of La Iglesia Berea, the Latino ministry of Lincoln Berean Church, and LBC's involvement in helping establish ethnic churches in the state of Nebraska, raises several important issues, not least of which is the debate over undocumented immigration, in purely political terms.  When questions surrounding immigration arise, one tends to adopt the stance of one's own political party.  Christians need to think differently.  Our default position on matters of immigration should not be those of our political party of choice.  We are required first and foremost to respond to immigration issues from a perspective shaped by biblical principles rather than the current political rhetoric which is often based in misinformation, fear, and self-interest.  In cases of conflict between any particular political perspective and a biblical perspective, the biblical perspective must override one's political allegiance.

A number of biblical principles and themes guide the Christian's understanding of how one should respond to the issue of immigration.  First, immigrants of image-bearers of God and objects of God's love.  As image-bearers, immigrants posses both inestimable worth and full moral status, and thus, are to be treated accordingly.  How we treat those, including immigrants, who image God, is an indication of what we think about God.  Their immigrant status (whether legal or illegal) neither diminishes their image-bearing nor the degree to which God loves them.  They are our equals.

Second, the Bible is filled with stories of people who were outsiders and foreigners whether exiles, refugees, or immigrants.  The nation of Israel itself lived in foreign lands (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, etc...) and suffered abuse at the hands of the host nations.  The stories of Joseph, Ruth, Daniel, Esther, and others portray the difficulties of living in a strange land.  Many forget that Jesus was an immigrant for a time in Egypt with his family (Matthew 2).  The Christians to whom Peter writes (1 & 2 Peter) were displaced people not only spiritually, but socially and politically as well.  The Christian experience is also depicted in scripture as a story of being a foreigner and outcast in this present world with all the accompanying dangers Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 1:17, 2:11).  The immigrant's story is our story and Christians should be in the best position to identify and sympathize with their plight.  Part of the reason God requires his people to care for the foreigner is because that was their experience (i.e. Exodus 23:9, Leviticus 19:33-34).

Third, God repeatedly issues commands to his people to care for and love the foreigner, outcast, oppressed, and marginalized.  God's covenant with Israel required them to treat the foreigners and strangers among them as one of their own and to care for them (Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:18-19; 14:28-29; 24:14, 19-21; 26:12-13).  The prophets frequently warned Israel of coming judgment for not honoring this requirement (i.e. Amos, Micah).  Under the new covenant [new testament] it is not different.  Jesus (re)issued the obligation to love God and our neighbor with our whole being (Matthew 22:34-40).  In Jesus' explanation of who our neighbor is, he used an example of an outcast (Luke 10:25-37).  Beyond our general responsibility to show love, compassion, and care for all the marginalized among us, the Christian is given a special responsibility to care for fellow Christians (Romans 12:9-13; Galatians 6:9-10).  Many, many immigrants we encounter today are followers of Jesus and part of the family of God to which we belong.  We, the church, are responsible for their welfare.  One of the indications that we are followers of Jesus is our love for others who likewise follow Jesus (John 13:24-25; 1 John 1:3-11).

Fourth, the consistent biblical teaching on love and justice focuses on others and not me.  The love that God expressed toward us and that we in turn are to express toward others is one that seeks the best interest of the other person (Philippians 2:3-4).  Moreover, at the heart of the biblical concept of justice is the idea that justice is accomplished when we disadvantage ourselves for the advantage of the community, particularly the least well off.  Justice is not solely making sure my rights are protected or someone gets what they deserve for breaking the law (though those have their place). Justice is done when we sacrifice for the least well off.  Consider God's justice in disadvantaging himself (the Incarnation) for the advantage of all of us who are desperately needy people (Philippians 2:5-8).  We may be most like God when we bring about justice.  Putting aside our "rights," resources, and privileges to aid those in need, including immigrants, is what God calls "good" and what he requires from his people (Micah 6:8).

Fifth, Christians are to be good citizens and honor their governing authorities and respect their laws (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).  Jesus modeled this for us (e.g., Mark 12:13-17).  But, this does not require blind adherence to any law passed on by governing authorities.  Laws that go counter to God's commands, principles, and values are not binding upon Christians (cf. Acts 4:8-20; 5:27-28).  Certainly laws requiring violation of one's commitment to follow Jesus do not have force upon the Christian.  Christians must give serious thought to whether and what extent current immigration laws are unjust, and whether they require Christians to act and support actions that are contrary to God's desires as to how we are to treat immigrants.  We must recognize that the church and the government have two different missions.  The mission of the church is to announce the Gospel of the Kingdom to all people and work for God's Kingdom making disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).  There are no boundaries or preferred groups of people.  The mission is global and the final authority is God's rule.  The aim of the state is to look after its own citizens ensuring their protection and well-being through legal, economic, military and institutional means.  The mission is local, or national, and the final authority lies with the agreed upon laws of the state and those who enforce them.  While ideally the two missions should work together, this is unlikely in a fallen world.  Though we respect the state and its mission, in cases of conflict between its aims and the church's, the Christian must give allegiance to the mission of the church.  For example, if the state or national government passes a law requiring churches to report undocumented immigrants in the midst or lose their tax exempt status, the church should not obey that law, but continue to carry out its divine-given mission of welcoming, loving, ministering to, and supporting those undocumented immigrants in its midst. 

It is through this biblical grid that the church as a whole and Christians individually must consider how to respond to immigrants and the immigration issues that confront us.  The church is called to treat immigrants (image-bearers of God living in very difficult circumstances) with love, compassion, mercy, and justice exactly as God has treated us, and because as "strangers in this land" we can identify with their plight.  We are to look after their best interests.  The church also has a special responsibility to those immigrants who are of the "household of faith" to use its resources to care for them.  They are part of our family and fellow co-heirs with Jesus."



Seeking God's heart for immigrants,
Renee

Random Link Fun

I am not informed enough to post links to cool things on the internet consistently, but these are some things I've found that I  thought might be interesting to others...

Study the Bible more effectively with these tips.  (It's geared to preachers but applicable to all us non-preaching-lovers-of-God's-Word too.)

Flying on 9/1//2011  Woman racially profiled

What to do with kids and technology in this generation? (nope- not having a kid yet :) but we were just talking about this topic in our small group) technology and kids

I'm considering ordering this to create a fun, efficient calendar!  Plus it's pretty 

Pretty Fall Decor #1

Pretty Fall Decor #2


Happy web-surfing!  [remember when people called it that? i'm bringing it back] ;)

God at Work

Our culture today is seemingly a disaster.  It seems messy.  And it is.  And it would be easy, in the midst of the real problems we are experiencing today, to think that Christianity is dying.  That secular lifestyles or radical Islam is winning.  But the t.r.u.t.h. is, well, we know the ending.  

"God exalted him [Jesus] to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name.  That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."  (Phil. 2:9-10)  

That's the end.  Everyone will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord.  Whether we want to or not.

BUT... sometimes, we look around and feel discouraged.  A sickness in the family, a relational problem, a job we don't like, lonliness, hurt, on and on.  And those things are real.  And then, there are the hot-button social issues: gay rights, abortion, religious freedom, on and on and on.

And, so here we are.  Wondering if, in fact, Christianity is dying, because sometimes we don't see the results.   

I would argue that Christianity is spreading like never before.  

Real Christianity where Jesus is Savior and He changes lives.
When we who were once lost, become found. 
And we can see it if we choose to. 
Or we can jump on the woe-to-this-generation-it-all-sucks train. 
We can choose to get involved and be part of the spreading. 

Or we can hide inside our basements and hope that we make it to the end.  

God is at work.  Like never before. Can you see it...


...In Anaheim, California (and around the U.S.)

...In India

...In the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of the founding members of Hamas.  (You should read this book.  No, seriously.)

In the Middle East.

  

...in Suburban Chicago  (gotta click for that one)

and in my new home, Lincoln, Nebraska

Find ways God is at work in your community and around the world.  Then, join.  Jump in.  Find a way to be a part of His Work.  Right where you are.  That has been God's challenge to me lately.  So, here we go....

Church

The first church I have memories of attending is Our Saviour Evangelical Free Church in Wheeling.  I remember AWANA and VBS mostly - one time they had a giant whale made from garbage bags and fans were inside blowing it up.  We sat inside and learned about Jonah.  And I remember Mrs. Dondit.  She was the pastor's wife and she was also my piano teacher... for 12 years.  She set my foundation for learning music and inspired me to do it as a career.  She loved Jesus and others, seemingly unconditionally.  She was so patient and SO creative.  Beyond creative.  In high school, I remember thinking, if I could be half the woman she is, I'd be pretty well off. 

Then, when I was in 3rd grade, we started going to Harvest Bible Chapel.  My dad had driven by this big warehouse with a neon blue sign, which was the only reason you'd ever know it was a church.  He wanted to visit.  My mom said, no I've heard of that place. It's a holy roller church.  He found out they had AWANA (which is a Bible-teaching kids program that only puts their program in churches who agree with their doctrinal statements) and so she said fine we can visit.  My parents still go to that church. 

At a Harvest junior high winter retreat, I accepted Jesus and REALLY understood what it meant.  At Harvest, I got baptized.  At Harvest, I had amazing junior high and high school mentors who patiently taught me what it looked like to love Jesus.  They unconditionally loved me, regardless of the stupid choices I made at times.  At Harvest, I met some of my closest life-long friends.  At Harvest, I sat under the careful teaching and exhortation of God's Word week after week...after month after month... after year after year.  At Harvest, I learned what it meant to follow after Jesus with my whole life and whole heart and not just my sunday-church-time.  God's work through the people at Harvest set the course for my life. 

After going to Harvest for about 13 years, I got married and we moved to the city.  After about a year, we moved to Nebraska (as you know well if you've been reading this little blog for any amount of time).  As soon as we knew we were going to relocate, we started praying to find a church in Lincoln.  A church that would be home - that would first and foremost preach the word of God boldly and unapologetically.  A church that would challenge us to grow spiritually and provide opportunities for service and worship and connecting with other believers. 

God answered that prayer.  Almost as soon as we moved here, we visited Lincoln Berean Church.  The first message "had us at hello."  We learned that the pastor had spent 15 summers teaching through the book of Psalms.  Each week, he'd teach a new Psalm.  10 Psalms per summer (not necessarily in order) for 15 summers.  We were there on the 150th Sunday, where he was teaching the last Psalm yet to be studied - Psalm 137.  The last verse of Psalm 137 reads "O daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us - he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks."  You can see why he said many pastors pray for the rapture the week before they teach this one :)  But, by God's grace and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, he shed light on the meaning of this Psalm, one that I might have just skipped over because I didn't understand.  Curious?  You can listen to it for free here!

All that Psalm 137 explanation to say, both Ben and I were hooked.  We both felt inside that this could be the church we prayed for.  We quickly joined the new-people-intro-class to learn more about the church's ministries, doctrine, etc... 

So here we are.  We've gone to Lincoln Berean for 4 weeks.  We're going to visit a young married couples small group on Thursday.  The Lord led us to meet a one of the pastors on staff, who we really connected with.  And get this- his wife is a private piano and voice teacher and works with the choirs at church!  What a great connection :)

We think this is the church for us here in Lincoln.  God's Word is taught, Jesus is worshipped, and I have to say, the people are pretty darn friendly.  And yet, sometimes, I find myself secretly nostalgic for Harvest.  I've thought a lot about this - why can't I just "get over it?" Why can't I just like this new church 100% and not compare it? 

My super-wise husband suggested that maybe it's more than church style, preaching, or worship music.  Maybe it's the fact that I gave my life to the Lord at Harvest.  Maybe it's the fact that most of my spiritual journey - the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, the times of rejoicing and the times of mourning - most of those times have been right in that warehouse off of Highway 53 and Rohlwing Road.  The Lord has met me there time and again.  His Spirit has instructed me, corrected me, and given me insight through the preaching.  His Spirit has touched me as I worshiped Jesus wholeheartedly weekend after weekend, right in that warehouse.  God gave me the passion to minister to and love high schoolers in that warehouse. And some of my dearest friends are there - right in that warehouse.  I'm talking about the friends that know you inside and out.  The ones you can pour your heart out to.  The ones that you have served God alongside.  The ones who inspire you to live more passionately for Jesus.

So I'm grateful to have found Lincoln Berean.  More than I can say in this already-long blog post, God is doing a mighty work in this community through that church.  And I am excited to jump on board!  But, for now, I also have a part of my heart in that warehouse near Chicago.  Sometimes I wonder if a small piece of my heart will always be there, or if it will move over somewhere else?  I'm not sure. 

One thing I'm sure of - the same God that I came to know over 13 years in that Chicago warehouse church, He is the same God I'm worshiping here in Lincoln.  He's the same God believers all over the world are serving.  He's the same God that Paul, Joseph, Abraham, Mary, Ruth, Esther, Moses, and Adam worshiped.  He is Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8)

Worshiping the One and Only King (from Nebraska),\
Renee

   

Distractions

Yesterday, I wrote about how Satan is a liar.  One way I think he lies is through distractions.  huh? you say... well, let me give you a personal example.

I use this website as a way to help me memorize (and remember!) scripture.  I usually do this first thing in the morning... cup of coffee in hand, of course ;)  Recently, I signed on to memverse, and while it was loading opened a couple more tabs for email, blogs, and facebook.  because, why not have social media overload.  oh, she moved there? and they got engaged? and answer the email from my mom.  and respond to new student emails. and fun new blog post. and.... wait, what did I get on the computer to do?

Now obviously we've all experienced this in other ways.  I.e. flashback to college.  for me, not that long ago.  get online to do research, next thing you know, 1 hour has passed and you're on facebook.  with no research.

But how much more detrimental to be distracted from God.  from meditating on his Word.

convicted.

I truly believe that Satan whispers things to us to distract us from activity that honors God.

Reading the Bible... He's whispering don't forget to do this later, you need to check the laundry, email so-and-so, put up that sign, post that blog, defrost that chicken.  seriously. personal experience. 

Quality time with spouse... think about this. read this book. you don't want to watch that movie.  what'd he say? whatever.

Getting ready for church... distracted by rushing around, petty arguments, tiredness

Small group... how is it that a million other things come up that night of the week to say "no" to.  Coincidence? I think not. 

you get the picture... 

So, no matter how long that memory verse website takes to load (sometimes, it's slow) I resolved not to open any more tabs.  I will wait patiently and not be distracted.  I will ignore the enemy and tell him to go away.  Because he is "roaming around like a roaring lion, seeking those he can devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Here's to resisting distractions!!
-Ren


p.s. I've been loving this blog, recommended to me by this friend... hence the rainbow text.  (scroll down the "whatever" blog and you'll see what I mean. the lady likes her rainbows)  you might be seeing more rainbows here. what can i say? it's cheery :)

Name the lie... insert truth

Satan is a liar.  John 8:44 says "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

James 4:7 tells us to "resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Well, how do we resist lies? 

The most succinct answer I ever heard... name the lie, insert the truth.

Examples:

Lie - you're not good enough. you're a failure.

Truth - God knows me and loves me "How precious about me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17)

Lie - nobody will know.  just try it.  

Truth - "Your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23) 

Lie -  nobody cares about you.

Truth - Indeed the very hairs on your head are numbered.  You are much more valuable than the sparrows which God cares for. (Luke 12:7)

Lie - you're not gonna make it. you're running out of money. do something drastic. worry worry worry! 

Truth - "If God so clothes the grass, whcih is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, o you of little faith!  and do not seek what you are to eat and drink... your Father knows you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (Luke 12:28-31).

See how it works?  Identify the lie and insert the truth. 

  

 

Excerpt from "The Faith"

I'm finishing up The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe it, and Why it Matters by Charles Colson.  Excellent book outlining the foundations for a Christian worldview.  Here is a story he tells in the chapter titled, "The Sanctity of Life."  (This LONG excerpt is several pages into the chapter which discusses the Christian belief in "the sanctity of life at every stage, from conception to death.")

Belief in the sanctity of life may be fine as an ideal, many will say, but there are real-world problems that demand exceptions.  It's hardly compassionate to bring millions of unwanted children into the impoverished nations of the world where they will experience hunger and be afflicted with disease from the moments of their births to their premature deaths.  There are genetic "defects" that can now be detected in the womb that condemn children to lives of misery.  Why should we obliged to perpetuate their lives through modern medicine when nature has so clearly decided against them?  And there are many less extreme but still difficult situations in which reasonable people believe that the termination of a pregnancy or the practice of euthanasia offers the only way out.  What about the promising, bright, fifteen-year-old girl whose pimply-faced boyfriend as much as forces himself upon her in one overheated backseat encounter?  Why should that young woman and her family's hopes and dreams be dashed unnecessarily? 

Many Christians think this way; our secular neighbors generally all do.  So many people, in fact, that even if the U.S. supreme Court were to return the abortion issue to the states, half would vote to legalize it.  Even many Christians have succumbed to a "lesser of two evils" mentality.  After all, this world is hard - it truly is - and the prospect of avoiding further pain by choosing the seemingly "lesser" evil has strong appeal.

I thought about this appeal when I visited my daughter, Emily, in Massachusetts.  One Sunday afternoon we attended a special needs basketball game in which Max, my autistic grandson, was participating.  The game was in an elementary school on a tree-lined suburban road.  The school itself was... the epitome of New England architecture. But the gymnasium had been added on.  It looked like a big sandy-beige concrete-block cube... I thought it would be dreary inside.  But inside it was anything but dreary. There were about thirty children in attendance who suffered from autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or other conditions.  Almost an equal number of parents and high school student volunteers ahd shown up as well so that each youth or child had his or her own caregiver.... Not one kid among the thirty could fully manage for himself or herself.  One of the boys, who looked to be in his midtwenties, was helped onto the court by his middle-aged mother... She held on to her son, keeping him drawn up with a tight grip on his jacket in order for him to stand.  He wasn't able to speak but evidently communicated well enough with his mother through his eyes.  The parents and volunteers were excited to see how eager the kids were to play.  

After everyone had dribbled and thrown the balls about for a while, the group assembled for a prescribed warm-up.  They formed a big circle around one of the baskets and every participant took a turn shooting baskets until he or she made one.  A few scored on their first shot.  Max was actually one of the more functional kids, although his first couple shots missed wildly before he sank one.  Most of the kids had to take five or six or as many as ten shots.  Every time a participant scored, a look of pure joy appeared on his face and on the volunteers' faces and the family's.  There was tremendous enthusiasm with whoops and hollers at every basket...

Then they had a game.  Half the kids composed one team and the other half their opponents.  No one was allowed to interfere with anyone who had the ball.  The coach, his assistants, and some of the volunteers now turned into helping-hand referees, supervising the kids as they dribbled, passed, and took the ball up and down the court... It was well organized and exciting for the kids.  

After the game, the mother who had to help her son stand was about to leave a bag behind when Emily noticed it and brought it to her.  It was filled with diapers.  Imagine being the mother of a twenty-year-old whose diapers still need changing.  I wondered whether I could ever summon the stamina and grace these kids demand of a parent.  My daughter will tell you, however, that Max is the greatest blessing in her life.  What occurred to me that day, though, was that all of these parents, as well as coaches and volunteers, displayed a love that was utterly missing in most of society today.  Their reaction to the situation was, indeed, the exact opposite of what one might expect.  They were the happiest group of people I'd met in a long time.

Why were they so happy when so many others in Western society who live privileged lives, utterly free of such cares, are so miserable?  It's because, whether they know it or not, they are doing God's work.  It's not that autism or Down syndrome or cerebral palsy are good things; they are consequences of the fall.  It's not that raising such children or caring for the hungry in distant lands doesn't entail incredible sacrifice.

But when I reflect on the joy in that gym, I realize God gives a special anointing to those who care for others - even to those who don't believe in the God who is blessing their actions.  [This reminds me of something my dad says often, The Bible is working for or against you whether or not you believe it.]  The disabled and the poor end up being God's gifts to us, for they present opportunities to serve our common Creator, who has fashioned each of us in His image.  As Mother Teresa said, "The poor, in whatever part of the world are to be found, are the suffering Christ.  In them, lives and dies, the Son of God.  Through them, God shows us His face."

I left that day with two other thoughts.  The greatest advocate in our day for utilitarian ethics, Professor Peter Singer, argues for infanticide and euthanasia as good things, since they are free resources to maximize the happiness of the majority.  And if life has no inherent worth, he's logically correct.  So why don't we get rid of these burdensome kids?  Because the truth about life is understood - the imago Dei is in us, even when we don't want to acknowledge it.  

Also, how could anyone watch that game and still believe that Darwin's theory of natural selection is correct?  According to his theory, natural processes would have selected out those characteristics which do not strength us in our struggle to live.  In other words, the strong would eliminate the weak.  But why hasn't that happened?  It's because of what Darwin and his defenders could have never understood - human kindness and altruism.  Darwin's defenders would deny us the blessing of caring for people like Max and those who played basketball that day.  It's not a burden, thank you.  It's a joy.

Later, Colson concludes his chapter with this statement: 

Christians propose to society a biblical humanism "deeply grounded in the dignity of the human person at every stage of development, disadvantage, or decline."  It would be difficult to find a more effective answer to the encroaching culture of death than the love and justice of God.  

~Colson, p.180-185

On Forgiveness

"Now it seems to me that we often make a mistake both about God's forgiveness of our sins and about the forgiveness we are told to offer to other people's sins.  Take it first about God's forgiveness.  I find that when It hink I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality (unless I watch myself very carefully) asking Him to do something quite different.  I am asking Him not to forgive me, but to excuse me.  But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing.  Forgiveness says, 'Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology; I will never hold it against you and everything between us two will be exactly as it was before.'  But excusing says, 'I see that you couldn't help it, or didn't mean it; you weren't really to blame.'  If one was not really to blame then there is nothing to forgive. In that sense, forgiveness and excusing are almost opposites." 

-Excerpt from On Forgiveness, a speech given by C.S. Lewis (written in collection of his speeches titled The Weight of Glory)

Good to Great

I recently started reading Good to Great in God's Eyes: 10 Practices Great Christians Have in Common by Chip Ingram.  I have finished the intro and chapter one and already highly recommend it.  Is that allowed?

He introduces the book and title by introducing greatness in God's eyes.  "Mediocrity is almost no one's ambition.  I've asked a lot of people about their hopes and dreams, and I usually get unapologetic answers about their desires to be great at what they do.  But when I ask believers if they want to be great Christians, they seem to be afraid to answer the question...  To talk about ambition in following Christ sounds like the opposite of humble spiritual maturity.  Yet, what's the alternative?  Should we aspire to be mediocre Christians? ... As for Jesus himself, he didn't seem prone to mediocrity either, did he?"

Chapter one is titled "Think Great Thoughts."  Besides explaining why and how to think great thoughts, Ingram gives four sources of great thoughts:
1.) Start with scripture
2.) Dwell on great truths 
3.) Take time to notice beauty
4.) Meditate on spiritual insights

This is one of those practical, underline-every-other-sentence type of books.  But, here are 2 things (out of about 57) that stuck out to me so far.

1.) Thinking great thoughts has to be on purpose, and the habit takes time to develop.  "It's amazing to me that our culture can be so smart and deliberate about physical nutrition and so mindless about the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional content of the ideas we consume.  We're casual about what goes into our minds and then end up in therapy desperately trying to change what's in there."

2.) "When we meditate on the truths of the gospel, we eventually internalize them.  And when they become internalized, they are life-changing." 

Well, I hope that was enough to convince you to read it :) I won't give away anymore.  Have you read it already?  Are you going to?  

My Utmost for His Highest

I picked up My Utmost for His Highest again for the first time in a long time.  If you're unfamiliar, it's a daily devotional by Oswald Chambers.  You can get the book at any bookstore, or check out the readings online. 

Here's a quote from today's reading that had me thinking all day:

"So often we mar God's designed influence through us by our self-conscious efforts to be consistent and useful.  Jesus says that there is only one way to develop spiritually, and that is by concentration on God... If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live."

Couple's Retreat

Ben and I currently attend The Moody Church.  We have been so blessed by this church in many ways, one of which is our Sunday School class, Covenant.  The class is advertised for newly weds, although there are some couples who have been married 10+ years.  There are probably 40 couples there on any given Sunday, but maybe a total of 60+ in the group.  The class teaches all sorts of things, from typical marriage topics to Revelation-- currently, we're in a study of the book of James.  Socially, the group organizes all sorts of things from basketball tournaments to women's retreats to book clubs to BBQs.  Each year they have a retreat in the spring, which we attended last weekend.  As we have never been on a couple's retreat before, we had no idea what to expect (although I was pretty sure there would not be crazy middle-of-the-night games like the junior high retreats of my past!)  We were blown away!  It was fun and refreshing.  The perfect balance of free time and organized activities.  A time to relax with your spouse, and get to know other couples better.  However, what I want to focus on in this post is the speaker... Jerry Root.

Jerry Root is a professor from Wheaton College who has spent most of his adult life studying C.S. Lewis, and is therefore often called upon to speak about the life of Lewis.  Since Lewis doesn't have a lot to say about marriage, his talks were broader than just focusing on the life of Lewis.  He opened the weekend by saying that if C.S. Lewis is a distraction from God - if we are so interested in this man and his books and whatnot - then we might as well quit and just read the Bible.  But if Lewis points us to His God, the God of the Universe, and the Savior of the World, then his books are worth reading, because it is really Lewis' God that is of utmost importance.  [Good to remember in general, since we, well I, seem to have the tendency to focus on a particular pastor or speaker or author or whoever...]

I cannot possibly articulate everything Mr. Root talked about in one blog post, nor can I articulate it as profoundly as he does.  (The man is an amazing story-teller and gifted speaker for sure, although you have to turn on your C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Plato listening skills, if you know what I mean...  If you don't know what I mean, he opened with "Reality is iconoclastic."  So, now do you know what I mean...?

My take-away from the first session: 1 Cor. 2:16 states "We have the mind of Christ" (talking about believers).  Root pointed out that having the mind of Christ is not an achievement, it is a resource, a resource which we can use by choice.  As a believer, I have the mind of Christ to discern, to understand, to gain wisdom, to learn...

Take-away from the second session: Obedience is taking advantage of God's omniscience.  He knows the beginning from the end; He loves me; then He tells me what to do.  Obedience seems to be a sensible, proper response.  He differentiated between wisdom (Hebrew-hockma) and understanding (beema).  The difference between wisdom from prohibition (hockma) and understanding why.  I.E. When you're little, you don't run in the streets because your parents told you not to (hockma- wisdom from prohibition), but when you get older, you realize the impact of cars, and bad drivers, and ... you get it (beema).
2nd Takeaway- We need to extend forgiveness and the "high courtesy of heaven" to our spouse.  Root explained the "high courtesy of heaven" as saying my life for you NOT your life for me.  I am still processing what that looks like in marriage... long term and day to day.
3rd Takeaway - There is a Satanic opposition to destroy our marriage.  We must work hard to fight.