Hebrews 12:12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.

Are you mourning, believer, because you are so weak in the divine life: because your faith is so little, your love so feeble? Cheer up, for you have cause for gratitude. Remember that in some things you are equal to the greatest and most full-grown follower of Christ. You are as much bought with blood as he is. You are as much an adopted child of God as any other believer. An infant is as truly a child of its parents as is the full-grown man. You are as completely justified, for your justification is not a thing of degrees: your little faith has made you clean every whit. You have as much right to the precious things of the covenant as the most advanced believers, for your right to covenant mercies lies not in your growth, but in the covenant itself: and your faith in Jesus is not the measure, but the token of your inheritance in him. You are as rich as the richest, if not in enjoyment, yet in real possession. The smallest star that gleams is set in heaven; the faintest ray of light has affinity with the great orb of day. In the family register of glory the small and the great are written with the same pen. 

You are as dear to your Father's heart as the greatest in the family. Jesus is very tender over you.

You are like a bruised reed; and any less tender hand than that of the Chief Musician would tread upon you or throw you away, but he will never break the bruised reed. Instead of being downcast by reason of what you are, you should triumph in Christ. In Christ I am made to sit in heavenly places. Am I poor in faith? Still in Jesus I am heir of all things. 

adapted from the writings of Spurgeon~

 

searching for a country of my own

Election 2012 is almost behind us. I've done my civic duty. Gone are the commercials that threatened to wear out the mute button on our remote. The lawn signs will be out of sight...eventually...hopefully. The great USA is my country of residence albeit temporarily. Thad Cockrell says it well - 

"When I’m asked about this situation, Where it is I’ve been and where I’m bound, I’ve got no home, I’ve got no home but I’ve got a destination"

In The Eye of The Storm ~ Offers of Prayer

In The Eye of The Storm ~ Offers of Prayer 

syndicated columnist-nancy hart

With Hurricane Sandy bearing down, one phrase (or a variation) was offered over and over to those in its path: "Our thoughts and prayers are with you."

Newscasters, politicians, government officials and countless souls on Twitter and Facebook uttered such thoughts. We come across such phrases all the time during tragedies.

Call me a cynic, but this drives me a little crazy.

That's because I doubt that everyone (or even many) saying "You are in my thoughts and prayers" is really getting down on his knees and imploring God to intervene in the matter at hand.

Such a phrase has become more like "God bless you" after a sneeze. But at least there there's some 2,000 years of tradition involved. Evidently, its earliest known use was in the first century. Different legends hold that it was started for various reasons, such as: the soul was thought to be leaving the body; evil spirits were thought to be leaving the body; the heart was thought to be stopping and "God bless you" would help to revive it. Guess what? No one knows for sure why it originated. What we do know is that it's obligatory today and to not recognize someone's sneeze with a "bless you" is considered rude.

Prayer is a little different. Or, I think it should be. I believe that prayer is powerful. Apparently, a lot of people do and that's why folks intuitively want to go beyond "my thoughts are with you." Just offering that to an afflicted person would seem a little silly. Why would you care if I'm thinking about you if I'm not doing something about it?

That's why casually saying "My thoughts and prayers are with you" seems a little insidious to me. There's a sense in which folks who offer what is for many just a platitude are invoking God's name and power, recognizing that it's uniquely meaningful. But they are essentially taking that name in vain when they don't truly and humbly go before God on the other's behalf.

There's only one thing that's worse in this regard, and that's when we Christians look someone squarely in the eye and say, "I am going to be praying for you in this" -- but then don't.

Now that I am guilty of. Most of the time it's because I really meant to -- and then simply forgot, got distracted or whatever. Or offered up a quick "Please, God, bless so-and-so" because I wanted to check my to-do box but then didn't take the time to really intercede for that person or situation.

But all the casual "thoughts and prayers" banter in response to Sandy and other tragedies has got me focused on exactly that. When I say I am going to pray for someone, I need to believe that really means something, and obligates me to humbly go before God for that person or situation. And if I really believe that God is all-powerful and loving, why would I tarry even one moment anyway?

That's my challenge to myself.

To those souls casually offering that their "thoughts and prayers" are with someone, I'd invite them to ask themselves: "Am I willing to implore God to intervene here?" If not, why offer the phrase? What is it that you think about God -- what is it that you intuitively grasp about his power -- that makes you want to utter those words in the first place?

The answers might be interesting.

The bottom line is that, partly in response to Sandy, it's my genuine prayer that anyone talking about prayer would take the power of prayer a lot more seriously.

And, yes, that starts with me.

Upon Further Review

Earlier this year our family was inching its way back into a place of being connected and active in a local expression of "church"...Brenda and I were seated at a table along with Don Reynolds, the Worship Arts Director at Granger Community Church in Elkhart for a class we were all involved with. Don and I knew each other but only casually. So after the class we sat and started doing the "where do you live"? "what did you do before GCC"? etc...questions. Turns out that his father founded Master Craft in Shipshewana, Indiana and Don had worked there prior to coming on staff at GCC. I too had worked in Shipshipshewana for a number of years. As I asked more questions we realized that we had   both been employed in the same small town during the same time period. 

As we talked I asked if he remembered an accident that occurred on State Road 5 directly in front of the Master Craft offices in October of 2001. (Click here for more details.) He responded that yes, he did  in fact remember that incident. I replied that I was the person in that head-on car collision in the early morning hours of Friday, Oct. 12th. For a second, we let that settle in and then with astonishment he said "I prayed for that man and it was you"?! As we embraced and wept, I was filled with deep gratitude for all my friends known and unknown who had prayed diligently for me and for my family during this deeply difficult crisis. 

From that day forward Don and I became fast friends. Now, ironically, we work together on staff at GCC. My day, October 12th was celebrated again this past week and once more I'm reminded that UPON FURTHER REVIEW the experiences of a life given to Jesus for his purposes are simply crazy good! Even when they hurt. Hurt so much it takes our breath away. UPON FURTHER REVIEW we catch a glimpse of the greater purpose. Who but God could have seen our two life paths somehow crossing when we least expected it. 

I'm grateful for life, I'm grateful for family and friends to do life with and I'm grateful that there will be more times that UPON FURTHER REVIEW we may all see the greater purpose of God in our lives. 

The Illusion of Politics - Argumose 3:12-17

From "The Christ Follower's New Clothes - The Illusion of Politics"

...and now, much like a naked emperor, we have in essence rewritten Colossians 3:12-17 to read:
"Since God is most fond of your political party, clothe yourselves with condemnation, accusations, being right at any cost, steadfast positions and intolerance. Point out your enemy's faults and make them pay for their offenses. Remember, this is war, show no mercy.

Above all, clothe yourselves with self-righteousness, because your cause is just. And let the anger of others’ wrongs burn in your heart. For as members of your political party you are called to live in a war paradigm. So remember your enemy’s offenses.

Let the message of your favorite cable news show, in all its fervor, inflame your lives. Teach and incite all your friends with all the dogma it provides. Fill Facebook and Twitter with the clichés of your politics with reckless abandon. And whatever you do or say, make sure you represent your political party and its ideals well, giving thanks to cable news that keeps it all going.”  Argumose 3:12-17

Now, the real deal - Colossians 3:12-17

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

To “clothe ourselves” means this is something you and I must do. It’s action- oriented. It’s a moment-by-moment, day-by-day choice. Notice that mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are not the ways of politics. Nor is making allowance for and forgiving other’s faults. They are the way of Jesus.

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

We must put on love and be people of harmony—togetherness—people of peace. The way of politics is enemies in a war paradigm. The way of Christ is unity in a love paradigm.

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

Let the message of Jesus fill our lives. Excel at the application of biblical precepts, not political platforms. Live out of a thankful heart, not out of fear of losing political ground. Whatever we say or post on Facebook and Twitter, let it reflect the way of our Savior.
Let all of our words, spoken, tweeted or Facebooked, be worthy of the life that was paid for by the blood of Jesus the Christ. 

"The Christ Follower's New Clothes - The Illusion of Politics"

Dad

My Dad is incredible! He loves Jesus and my Mom, can fix anything and is one of the kindest men I know. Thanks Dad for loving your family and leading by example. Happy Father's Day!

This spring I needed some help with a mailbox fantasy....

Dad helped bring it to life...

measuring and hand filing until...

Finished product. Perfect! 

Happy Mother's Day!...honoring the one that despite our differences and preferences - loves her kids. She gives us plenty of ammunition for laughter and joking at her expense. She is quick to speak her mind and is miserable when she has to hold back and so she usually doesn't. :) Grateful for her good health and keen mind and...her cinnamon rolls.

I love you, Mom.