Here I Come Ready or Not!

This was a wonderful weekend.  Spent time with Karen my seventeen year old, while Ken and Bekah did yard work at the other house, went to church this morning, slept most of the afternoon, and then it was off the Charlotte.  Ken is leading an evangelistic Bible study there using in part Tim Keller's book The Reason For God.  Great time.  I pray that God would be pleased to give the increase.  

Tomorrow I am driving eight hours to Chattanooga to pick up Margaret from school for the holidays. Eight hours there and turn around and drive eight hours back, sixteen plus hours in a car.  I am planning on bringing The Count of Monte Cristo on CD.  I am looking forward to seeing my Margaret.  Ready or not Mo, here I come.  

Sin is a deadly business

When sadness takes over my soul one of the first things that I turn to is The Lord of the Rings.  Last night and tonight I have watched Bilbo, Gandalf, Frodo, Sam and company as they battle Sauron, and try to stop the onslaught of evil in Middle Earth.  It is a great reminder that we also are in a battle as well.  When the darkness seems to want to swallow me or those that I love, I turn to Tolkien and remember, oh yeah, we are not home yet and the battle is fierce.  

 Watching Bilbo try to equip Frodo for the next leg of his journey is particularly insightful. Bilbo is giving Frodo his sword Sting, and a shirt made of Mithral.  Frodo has looked up to Bilbo's strength all of his life.  He feels inadequate to carry on the mantle that Bilbo wore for longer than he has been alive.  In his eyes you can see that he is touched, overwhelmed and excited with the gifts that Bilbo is passing on to him.  Bilbo encourages him to try on the shirt of Mithral that in a future battle will save his life.  Frodo goes to put it on, and Bilbo catches a glimpse of the ring that he once possessed.  He asks if he could just touch it one more time.  Frodo knowing the power of the ring backs away and won't give Bilbo a chance to even see it.  Bilbo reacts with a face full of violence against the one that he loves most in all the world.  Then he collapses with the weight of it all on the bed and begins to sob telling Frodo, "I wish this had never happened.  I wish the ring had never had to come to you.  I am so sorry, my boy.  It is all my fault."  Oh how many tears I have shed over the reality that this poses to me.  How many times I have cried seeing my sin hit me square in my face wishing that my children did not have to face the same sin as their mother.  When I see the attitudes that I modeled, that I taught by just being me, I weep.  I weep for the depravity that I have passed on.  Yes, I have equipped them with a sword and other things to make their journey safe.  But when I look at the ring and realize the sin that weighs them down, the reality of the sin that also weighs me down, I feel so very sad.  I see my close friends looking at their sin and wishing also that they had not had to pass it down to their offspring as well and the sadness that they feel.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming.  All of us human beings have to face it.  Even our precious ones.  The same ones that we gave birth to, watched as they took their first steps, rode their first two wheeler, go off to school, and have their first date.  They are "precious" to us.  They also must join the battle that is raging.  They must also wield the sword and slay their dragons, without us.  But......thanks be to God who has slayed, conquered, destroyed evil and death for us and our children.  But.......thanks be to God who gave His only Son so that we can face this reality of our sin, and be free!  Yes, free!  He came to set us free.  We cannot take this burden from our own hearts and we cannot take it from our children either.  But......thanks be to God who came to do just that.   In this world we will have tribulation, He promised it, and that tribulation has to do with sin, sometimes our own, sometimes others.  But.....be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  Christ has overcome the world by His death.  Thanks be to God.  Frodo forgives Bilbo, because he also knows the depth of his own sin and the hold the ring has on him.  Thanks be to God for the Saviour Jesus Christ.

Technology failure

My Internet has been down since Wednesday.  Right now I have to get cleaned up, which is a major deal since I have cleaned house all day, hung some Christmas decorations, done laundry, etc.. etc... Bekah wants to go to the movie Twilight, so I am off to the show.  

I will post later on tonight about the movie.  

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

If a movie is a book first, I really try to read the book before going to the movie.  I was very much interested in this movie, so I bought the book and read it in a couple of hours.  It is Young Adult Fiction, and if you are at all interested in Holocaust literature it is a must read.  

Set in Germany during WWII the nine year old son of the Commandant of Auschwitz befriends the nine year old son of a polish watchmaker.  One is obviously free, and the other one is behind the fence of the concentration camp.  Told from the point of view of Bruno (the son of the Commandant) John Boyne does a brilliant job as an adult remembering how little boys think.  I can't give up the end, which is pretty shocking, but get a copy, read it before you go see the movie.  I am curious to see what Hollywood will do to the story.  

suffering

"And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When he saw that he could not prevail against him, he touched the socket of his hip, and the socket of Jacob's hip became dislocated as he wrestled with him. And the angel said, 'Let me go, for dawn is breaking,' but Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' So the angel said to him, 'What is your name?' and he said, 'Jacob.' And he said, 'Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for you have contended with God and with men, and have prevailed'" (Genesis 32:25-29).

Revelation 2:8:  To the angel of the church in  Smyrna write:  "The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life."

Sam Storms in his book To the One Who Conquers, says there are two reactions of the soul to suffering; dependency and disillusionment.  He uses Paul as an example.  Paul the Apostle, came through great tribulations and was able to say suffering was to, "make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead (II Corinthians 1:9)."  Of course as believers we know that we are not to slip into despair or disillusionment.  Our loved ones may be hurting, our finances in shambles, our health keeps us from doing what we once did (for Christ I might add), our spouse has left us, or we live together but alone in one house, loneliness, heartache, the list goes on and on, put your own suffering in this list.  It does, if we are honest with ourselves, push us into disillusionment.  We ask; "where was Christ, when is He going to show up at all, why, why, why?"  I agree with Storms except that I think in order to KNOW that we can fully trust "the first and the last,"  we must go through the times of questions, and doubt.  Without talking to Mr. Storms, his devotion comes across as if there are only two reactions and one is right and one is wrong.  I disagree.  The one (disillusionment) so often leads to the other one (dependency).  If we just wake up one morning and our world has shattered and we say, "Wow, great, I am more dependent on Christ now."  I think we are probably not human and in denial.  God takes us through the "world falling apart" in order for us to question, to doubt, to wrestle, with Him.  Job wrestled.  Jacob wrestled.  I believe even Joseph wrestled, even though some would disagree with me.  I think Joseph started out a bit arrogant, and learned through his suffering.  Hebrews tells us that Christ learned through the things that He suffered as well.  

Christ is the first and the last.  He was there, He is with you.  Ask God for the grace to hold on to His perfect sovereignty that will result in His glory and your good (to quote the catechism).  Cling to Him through the doubts.  Tell Him you are not leaving until He blesses you, as Jacob did.  Jacob left that place with a limp, totally dependent on the Lord.  Wrestle with Him.  Through your wrestling you will be given the grace to carry on, and you will then know that it is all of Him.  

From one who has wrestled much and will in the future..........Lynn

Feasting on the Tree of Life

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."  Revelation 2:7

I am reading Sam Storms devotional book on the churches in Revelation.  It was especially powerful this morning.  I actually have been meditating on this phrase quite a bit lately, "to the one who conquers."  That is the title of his book, and also it hearkens back to Natalie Grant's song that I posted a couple of weeks ago.  Both seem to be pointing to the same premise.  To the one who conquers, what does that mean?  Does it mean I crank out good deeds by the skin of my teeth, working ever so hard to produce "something" for God's glory?  When I live that way, all I hear is "what if's" or "if only I..."  When I live that way I sooner or later end up spiraling down a long dark tube of regret, misery, shame, and discouragement.  So, what does it mean to conquer in the Christian life?

When I was in college the phrase that was batted back and forth all the time was, "the victorious Christian life."  I am still not sure what the proponents of that way of living actually meant, but I know what I thought I heard.  If, I wasn't living victoriously, then I was a sub-par Christian.  What was wrong with me?  Sam Storms says Jesus here is telling us to remember the tree of life and meditate on it's provision for the one who conquers will eat of its blessed fruit forever.  He goes on to say that this points directly back to the place where we fell.  This is a restoration.  Our first parents were expelled from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating of the tree of life.  We will at last be restored!  Storms also says that the "tree" here is an allusion to the cross.  In the ancient cult of Diana the temple in Ephesus was dedicated to criminals fleeing and gaining asylum in order that they could continue in their life of rebellion and crime.  This cult was the tree cult.  "The contrasts are both stunning and encouraging.  For the Ephesian believers, 'the cross (the tree of life) was the place of refuge for the repentant sinner in contrast with the tree (in Diana's temple) which marked the asylum for the unrepentant criminal.'  Diana's so called tree of refuge gave the criminal immunity and license to continue his life of rebellion and crime.  Christ's tree of refuge, on the other hand, grants the repentant sinner eternal forgiveness and the power of the Spirit to pursue holiness (p. 54)."  For the church of Ephesus to hear about the tree of salvation they would have immediately identified with it, but would have seen the grace and salvation of Christ as the superior tree.  

What does this have to do with the victorious Christian life?  Everything!  I mentioned Natalie Grant's song, and have put it on the blog before, but it speaks to this very thing.  Here it is again.  

I have been the wayward child

I have acted out

I have questioned Sovereignty

And had my share of doubt

And though sometimes my prayers feel like

They're bouncing off the sky

The hand I hold won't let me go

And is the reason why...

Chorus:

I will stumble

I will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved

Bitterness has plagued my heart 

Many times before

My life has been like broken glass 

And I have kept the score

Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed 

That I was far too gone

My brokenness helped me to see

It's grace I'm standing on

Chorus

And the chaos in my life

Has been a badge I've worn

Though I have been torn

I will not be moved

(Natalie Grant)

We will not be moved, we will conquer, we will persevere not because of our good works, but because of His good work.  His good work on the tree to bring us salvation, refuge for criminals, guilty as charged.  Grace is what keeps us going, and in the words of Natalie Grant "my brokenness helped me to see It's grace I'm standing on."  It's not me cranking up another round of good works, exerting more and more self.  God shows us our brokenness and by grace we rest in the good fruit of repentance.  That's the Christian life!  My need of Him.  

To God be the Glory as He more and more shows His Church just how much we need Him........................Lynn

More from the Spotted Owl; Obama Rents Dr. Strangelove Movie to “Brush Up” on Nuclear Strategy

Obama Rents Dr. Strangelove Movie to “Brush Up” on Nuclear Strategy

From The Spotted Owl

CHICAGO (TSO) - President-elect Obama and his national security advisory team popped some popcorn and watched "Dr. Strangelove" in an effort to learn something about nuclear deterrence and strategy.

The 1964 Stanley Kubrick dark comedy classic about nuclear war, starring Peter Sellers and George C. Scott, provided a hilarious introduction to the horror of thermonuclear annihilation. One advisor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confessed, "The scene where Slim Pickens rides the bomb down to the earth like a cowboy was a riot." "Barack was laughing so hard some of his chai latte was coming out his nose."
After the movie, the President-elect took a moment to speak with reporters, "I think that, when one considers the concept of a rogue nation acquiring the bomb, we have to be careful about blowing it out of proportion." "As this movie demonstrates, even during the height of the cold war the subject of nuclear war was pretty lighthearted."

The President-elect then sat down to watch "Delta Farce," starring Larry the Cable Guy, to catch up on current conventional military strategy.

*Check out all the political satire of The Spotted Owl;  http://thespottedowl.typepad.com/

Tagged I'm it; for right now!

My friend from California has tagged me for a book meme.  This one is actually very easy!  "Here's how it works: I am supposed to pick up the nearest book with at least 123 pages, turn to the 123rd page, find the 5th sentence, and then post the three sentences immediately after that. "

Right now I am surrounded by books.  This is fun.  The nearest one is To the One Who Conquers by Sam Storms.  Let's see page 123:  

"Because such 'words' from God are direct and immediate, and can't be explained by appeal to what one knows by natural means, they are falsely perceived as carrying greater authority than the inspired text itself.  Or it is revelation that allegedly provides a superior and formerly unknown interpretation of Scripture that makes it possible to circumvent or at least treat with casual disdain the Bible's doctrinal precepts and ethical commands."

"A person with a 'Jezebel spirit' is one who appeals to his or her 'spirituality' to rationalize or again, at minimum, to overlook sensuality."

Interesting quote.

Now I get to tag people.  I tag;   Belinda

                                                         Sondie

 Susie

                                         Deborah

                                                         Cheryl

*I am sure none of you mind looking at a book!

Princess

I remember in the early years of feminism when girls weren't supposed to be princesses.  We were told we were just like men, and didn't need a prince to come our way.  Even if they did come they would disappoint us, and then we would be devastated.  "Princess wear" for little girls was even out of vogue.  Princesses have certainly made a come back in the last few years, which I am very glad of.  

I was listening to the radio the other day on the way to Greensboro when a new song came on by Taylor Swift.  My teens have introduced me to this young lady, and I do like her music.  She has a new song which shows us the deep longing of every woman's heart, I mean every.  We all have a need to be rescued.  Here are the lyrics.  

"Love Story"

We were both young, when I first saw you.

I close my eyes and the flashback starts-

I'm standing there, on a balcony in summer air.

I see the lights; see the party, the ball gowns.

I see you make your way through the crowd-

You say hello, little did I know...

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles-

And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet"-

And I was crying on the staircase-

begging you please don't go...

And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.

I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess,

It's a love story, baby, just say yes.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.

We keep quiet, because we're dead if they knew-

So close your eyes... escape this town for a little while.

Oh, Oh.

Cause you were Romeo - I was a scarlet letter,

And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet" -

but you were everything to me-

I was begging you, please don't go-

And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.

I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess.

It's a love story, baby, just say yes-

Romeo save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel.

This love is difficult, but it's real.

Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess.

It's a love story, baby, just say yes.

Oh, Oh.

I got tired of waiting.

Wondering if you were ever coming around.

My faith in you was fading-

When I met you on the outskirts of town.

And I said...

Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone.

I keep waiting, for you but you never come.

Is this in my head, I don't know what to think-

He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said...

Marry me Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.

I love you, and that's all I really know.

I talked to your dad -- go pick out a white dress

It's a love story, baby just say... yes.

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.

We were both young when I first saw you.

The Gospel tells us that we need rescuing.  We need the perfect love story, and that is between Christ and His Bride.  He alone has paved the way for us to belong.  God has given every human heart that longing.  If you have that deep, heart longing to belong, to be loved completely, to be swept off your feet, to be delighted in, to be someone's princess, that longing comes from our perfect Prince, the Lord Jesus.  He will never leave us, let us down, ridicule us, or tell us anything but the truth.  

Longing is one of those things that we love and hate.  We long for a family, a true family.  We find an earthly one, or the one that we are born into lets us down, big time.  We long for a daddy, one that doesn't die, leave, or abuse.  We long for a love, a princess and prince type love, and the one we have hurts so often.  Hey, look at the news now, people want a "political prince to save them."  

Remember, we are not home yet.  All of those earthly feelings, loves, stability, etc.. etc.. will always let us down to a certain degree.  But our Heavenly Prince never will.  When you have those longings, especially around the holidays, KNOW that those longings are for Jesus, He wants to be your prince, your one true love, your family.  The more we turn to Him to meet those longings of our souls, the stronger we will be for our loved ones here.  

Waiting for my Prince...............................Lynn

Holiday Joy

This is the first year in many a year that I am actually gearing up for Thanksgiving and Christmas, joyfully I might add.  I have been trying to figure it out for days.  Why?  In the past I was the one to say, "bah-hum-bug,"  I know that sounds awful, because it is the time when we are "supposed" to meditate on thanking God, and meditating on the First Advent.  The last few+ years I have been so stressed out between kids productions, teaching, teacher gifts, gifts for family, decorating, traveling, gifts for friends, gifts for kids that all I did was run around like a turkey who had lost its mind.  Will I get give the gifts evenly between the five, will I pick out the right things at the right times for all the others (the one that are obligations).  I used to always bake for the neighbors, haven't done that in about five years.  I used to send out Christmas cards, haven't done that in who knows how long.  In years past I could feel this knot in my stomach come into play around the first week in November and there it would stay until after New Years.  Every time I would see some one really enjoying the season I would get this guilty head ache.

This year is different.  I have already started decorating for Christmas, getting ideas in play, and putting up the garland with lights.  Today I went to Greensboro and bought a Turkey platter (mine broke last year).  I tried to find the bookstore, but got lost instead.  I couldn't go to a big city without at least trying to go to a bookstore!  

A few years ago we decided that we would only give the kids one present a piece, except for stockings.  That has helped a great deal. This year I have planned all sorts of things.  Maybe it's because I am at the lake house and we have much more room to decorate.   Maybe it's because we don't have much money this year, and I am having to really use my creative skills.  I have designed cross stitch patterns, went to a saw mill the other day and designed a shelf for my wall, made a dog bed for Dallas.  I have been scouring the junk/antique stores trying to find treasures, and have seen lots of things that have given me ideas.  I refinished two tables.  I am having so much fun.  

It has really gotten me to thinking about creativity.  Teaching brought out one set of creative necessities.  Now that I am home, it is bringing back some that have laid dormant for a long, long time.  Our Father is the Great Creator.  We are made in His image, and He takes great delight in creating everyday.  Just think, our creator is not just a watch maker who has wound up the world and left to go on vacation.  He watches over His creation daily, and daily re-creating.  The birds are not without His thoughts, the leaves as they fall, the animals, the grasses, etc, etc., and He creates them all.   I am sure He looks on His world and laughs with joy as He sees what He has made.  We are made the same way.  This season I am delighting in the things that I have made, and delighting in giving them to those I love.  May my attitude, not just the end result, bring God glory, and those that I give to, laughter and joy.  

Ronald and Nancy Reagan

I found this sweet photo of The Ronaldo Maximus today.  Thought I would share it with you all.  

Thank You

Currently Reading

I don't know about how you read, but I pick up a book and begin reading, then a day later I pick up another one, and on and on.  Some where down the road I get to feeling  I haven't finished anything and that is when I really "get serious" and finish all those titles I haven't yet completed.  I am currently in the middle of those string of events, but I know I will finish the current one in short order.  Eric Cohen's In the Shadow of Progress:  Being Human in the Age of Technology  is so captivating that I cannot put it down.  I have read maybe three fourths of it and want to commend it to you all.  With what is happening in the world today, it is a must read for all of you who are concerned with our culture.  He does a wonderful job explaining the philosophical underpinnings of biotechnology, it's ramifications, and the questions we all should be asking ourselves.  It is not technical at all, and deals with the big picture. 

He begins with a short concise history of where, during the Enlightenment, we lost our way, and how it plays out in our culture currently.  He then goes into several chapters on the specifics; Bio-ethics in Wartime, The Embryo Question, The Commerce of the Body, and A Jewish-Catholic Bioethics?  The last two chapters (I always read ahead) deal with where these ideas play the most part for us everyday people.  They are worth the whole book; Why Have Children? and In Whose Image Shall We Die?  He speaks of the redeeming nature of Christ with the eloquence of a saint. I really thought He was going to say that He was a completed Jew.  We as believers will more and more link hand in hand with anyone who has a Judeo-Christian Worldview in the coming years.

It is only 159 pages, but it is jam packed to the brim with wisdom for those who wish to speak to a postmodern culture.

ERIC COHEN is the founding editor of The New Atlantis and a longtime advisor to the President’s Council onf Bioethics. He has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, The Weekly Standard, Commentary, and First Things. Mr. Cohen is also a regular commentator on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer News Hour, Charlie Rose, and All Things Considered.

Keep reading till He Comes.....................Lynn

My Precious Family

These are two of my daughters, Karen and Margaret.  Mo, that's her knickname, scored 8 points in her college b-ball game last night.  Way to go Mo.  Two were three point shots.  She is doing very well for a freshman.  

Oliver and Mo are in the other picture.  Oliver runs cross country for his college and did GREAT this year.  He beat his personal best in a couple of categories, and finished with a godly attitude, even though the ending of this year was not right.  I am very proud of him.

The picture on the porch of our Southern Pines home, not the lake house where we are currently living, is the whole clan.  My oldest daughter Katie and her husband of one year!! Michael, Bekah, Ken, Oliver, Karen, Margaret, my 87 year old mother, and our 2 golden retrievers, and my grand doggy Addis.  My daughter and her husband fell in love in Addis Abbaba (sp?) Ethiopia so thus the name.  I am so proud of all of them.  Karen (17) has gone through a tough time this year moving her jr. year, having to take stands for her faith, oh how proud I am of her.  She is growing up to be a godly young woman able to hold her own in a culture that is 100% antagonistic to the gospel.  I love my family and can't wait to see them all on Thanksgiving.  

Waiting for the time when Home will not just be a longing.....................Lynn

A Country Afternoon

Riding through the North Carolina countryside plastered with a cornucopia of yellows, reds, neon oranges, burgundies, and every shade in between were the smells and sights of onions, new mown lawns, majestic oak trees, farmers on their John Deers, and men working smiling as we passed.  We also saw old women with their grandchildren rocking on front porches, it seemed each little town we rambled through was advertising their BBQ fundraiser; the Millingport Fire Department, St. James Reformed Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant, and the Bazaars of other Churches along the way.  Stopping in to the BBQ dinner of the Presbyterian Church we had a picnic in their little playground along with the yellow jackets, bumble bees, and Tiffany the pastor's golden retriever.  

My husband taught Rebekah our twelve year old to play tether ball right next to the picnic table.  I just sat and watched the yellow lab across the street as he kept sticking his nose in the air catching a whiff of the chicken and beans.  The leaves were cascading from their homes that they have had since spring, landing all around me and every time a leaf would come close it was as if  little drops of peace were filling my soul.  The sun was striking every leaf as it fell surging life into it, but even as it fell, it once again was hitting the earth where it would then go back to nourishing the same tree from whence it came.  

On the corner in the ball fields, the town had come out to watch the children as they played soccer.  The parents were walking back and forth between the fields little ones in tow, some also stringing along a prancing puppy or two.  Ken had beaten Rebekah in tether ball and had also broken the ball off of the the rope.  He did manage to fix it, but it was then time to mosey on back to our house.  

We had gone out to the little area between Millingport and Mt. Pleasant to an antique dealer.  I was like a kid in a candy store.  This man had acres of rod iron, black rod iron furniture, collectibles, furniture piled to the ceiling in each of his barns, old wooden windows, and doors.  We ended up buying an old well bucket, rod iron hook (that Ken thought was totally cool), an old wooden bowl, and a little stool.  Next time I go, I want to get one of the copper buckets that were just sitting around in the weather.  This time I was pushing it with the wooden bowl!  Just to see the things that Mr. Cline has was an education in itself.  The hook was the kind of hook that they used to take the cast iron lids off of the iron stoves.  We saw old signs used to point the way to the negro only beaches (I had never seen one of those in my life time and I really don't know why you would want one), an old, old jack hammer that I pictured on some NY City street project long, long ago.  We understand that Mr. Clines is the place the restaurants get their decorations from.  All I have to say, is that they would have to do a lot of work on anything they bought there after being acquired from Clines Antiques!  Oh, we also saw a seven foot sign with Oliver Oil on it!  My wish list is growing.  

Every once in a while God graciously gives us relaxing days with (at least partial family) looking at His creation, feeling His breezes, and basking in the laid back countryside.  Today, I felt sorry for all the people who live in big cities.  

Thanking Him for the day..................Lynn

Now What?

Cal Thomas, a Christian political analyst, has an insightful post on Townhall.com today entitled "The Religious Right:  R. I. P."  Some of his analysis I agree with, his conclusion I do not.  To analyze his complete view I would of course need to interview him, so since I cannot do that, I will so the best that I can.  

He says that what evangelicals have been doing for thirty years obviously hasn't worked, I mean come on we just elected a socialist to the most powerful job on the planet.  Social change does not take place through the courts, or through political means.  We need to "love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison and care for widows and orphans," just as Jesus did.  I agree with that, but there are several things about what Mr. Thomas says and how he says it I disagree with.  The progressive, liberal theologians have also tried to do the above for longer than thirty years and it has only landed them in the Marxist christian camp believing nothing, except social change through social activism.  This eventually led to watering down the Scriptures and the Gospel, when all that was done all they had were social issues.  He does make a good point about evangelicals relying on government to our peril.  Change doesn't happen through political means either.  The Gospel's aim is not social change, and neither is it the right of an oppressive government on either side to change society.  

As Christians we are to be salt and light where ever Christ leads us personally.  That may be into politics to stand for truth, justice and righteousness.  It may be in the home raising godly children, or in a business, or somewhere in the public square, even if that public square is hostile to our beliefs.  To pull out of all of these realms would be a disaster of monumental proportions.  Surely, Mr. Thomas wasn't advocating this, let us hope not.  That has been tried also and has failed miserably. Going back into our holy huddles and waiting till the storm passes doesn't work, the storm will only get worse, and we will be marginalized at best.  Christ never advocated a pragmatic approach to life anyway.  

Christ spoke His Gospel of grace where ever He happened to be.  Whether that was to the Pharisees (who had a great deal to do with the culture at that time), or to the money changers, or to the men that caught the woman in adultery, and he also dinned with the "sinners,"  the tax collectors (politicians all), and the prostitutes.  He did not just feed the hungry, although we are to do that, He did not just pray for His enemies, although we are to do that as well.  He confronted His enemies when it was right and just to do so.  He played with children, He lived life with a great deal of people, showing them the way.  He also suffered, died, and was crucified.  We maybe called to do all of the above, and as we go....we should show and tell others of the Gospel.  The Gospel is what changes people, neither social activism, nor holy huddles, nor anything else changes lives, the power of God through His Gospel.   God sent His Son so that we might be reconciled to Him, not by our works of our own righteousness, but only by Him.  Christ saw change.  He made great upheavals of change, before and after He died and rose again.  Think about the change he wrought for women, for children, for the sacredness of life.  That issue alone changed history forever.  

We in this great experiment of a country of ours have lived under freedom longer than any people in the history of the world.  That is amazing.  We have definitely taken it for granted.  The majority of the people that have lived on this planet have lived under tyranny.  I am reading The Black Book of Communism and the numbers in the last century that were killed under that philosophy are staggering.  The authors of the book estimate 100 million.  They say  Hitler's regime was just a drop in the bucket, but we in the free West have not been able to make this comparison without being labeled anti-Semitic.  How staggering.  Just think of all those 106 million (counting those who died under the National Socialists) who were followers of Christ.  If we think about it, it wasn't that long ago.  

We all need to read The City of God by Augustine.  Augustine says that there are two different kinds of people; those that belong to the city of God and those that belong to the city of man.  This world will never be a theocracy, it will never be a utopia (much to the liberal chagrin) because these two groups of people will never see eye to eye.  He wrote this just a few years before the barbarians sacked Rome.  

I picked up a book that I haven't read in many years yesterday.  Carl F. Henry wrote a speech on the coming of the barbarians in 1970, later on in 1988 he wrote a follow up volume called Twilight of a Great Civilization.  It was amazing to me how prophetic he was.  He was one of the most brilliant Christian minds of the last century.  He says, "When Protestant liberalism lost theological credibility, it deteriorated into a politico-economic program.  Cloaking Marxist revolution in the symbols of Christianity has become trendy since Castro's regime in Cuba."   Politico-economic programs, sound familiar?  The Black Book of Communism says that there are two "fantasies" about socialism, I will only state one here.  The first fantasy is a "thesis that purports to offer a non-violent, market road to socialism-that is, Marx's integral socialism which necessitates the full suppression of private property, profit, and the market."  Sound familiar?   The authors go on to say, that once the socialists get power, they have never seen or heard of any that could not give into the temptation of continued power.  "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, (Lord Acton)."  

This brings me to my final point.  Go read II Chronicles chapter 20 of the story of Jehoshaphat, Gideon, dad-gum the whole entire history of Israel.  We have always been in the minority!  Jehoshaphat was hit with the fact that his army was out numbered tremendously.  He is afraid and says, "We are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You," (II Chronicles 20:12).  All God does is a picture of the Gospel.  We are powerless to fix, change, save, etc, etc, ourselves.  When God puts us in times, predicaments, trials, fearful times it is only to prove His faithfulness in order to have freedom from fear, circumstances, trials, etc.  Then we have the abundant life that Christ has promised and God is greatly glorified, because He alone saves!

Even so Come Quickly, Lord Jesus.....Lynn

 

Ideas Definitely Have Consequences

Please watch this video which I got off of Beauty for Ashes blog. It made my skin crawl. What has happened to us, to our humanity as a people?


Even so, Come Quickly Lord Jesus................Lynn

Freedom? Isn't it Way Over Rated?

I was reminded this morning of a Dostoyevsky quote from The Brothers Karazamov which says, “In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, 'Make us your slaves, but feed us.”  Scary thought.  If a people do not have someone to worship, they long, seek, and even give up their freedom for one whom they can worship.  Dostoyevsky, who spent eight years in a Siberian prison camp, came back from that experience a different man.  During that time he found someone to worship besides government or in his case seeking to over throw one tyrant for another one.  He had experienced the ways of government and had found them lacking, which would be an understatement.  A people that do not worship, seek something in which to worship.  That is the way that God made us.  In one way we can be grateful that God has made man this way, I guess in all ways really.  Our present state of affairs in this country, in my opinion, has come about in part because of this great void.  A messianic figure has come along to take this void in peoples hearts and it would seem that a great deal of people have allowed it, maybe because they do not have another alternative.   Isn't part of it our responsibility?  Have we kept silent when we had the opportunity?  Or like me, maybe have talked politics when I should have been speaking of Jesus.  

Dostoyevsky also said, “So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and painfully as to find someone to worship.”  In one way this is very convicting.  It presupposes that I think that somewhere down the line we will loose our freedom of speech as believers.  I really do not think that will happen anytime soon, but it could happen.  I have been reminded recently that we do not need to take this, of all freedoms, lightly.  I know I am one that needs to be much more vocal about what I say to people, not just the "way I live."  Someday it might not be near as easy to speak the name of Christ as it is now, but be encouraged!  Even if that right were ever taken away, the rocks and hills would cry out!  Dostoyevsky may have been only right about one of his quotes, cause think about it.....he came to Christ in a prison camp in Siberia.  Whatever the outcome of tomorrows election, let us go into the new presidency with a renewed sense of sharing the Gospel with the people we meet.  

I went to see Fireproof the other night with my twelve year old, Rebekah.  I cried through the entire movie.  Partly, because I had read that day that it had grossed more money to date than Religulous, and W (by Oliver Stone) put together.  I was praying for all the people that have heard the gospel through the film.  I also thought the writers did a wonderful job of picturing someone sharing his faith at work.  Some of his fellow firemen accepted and some of them didn't.  It was also shown as a process, a verbal process, as well as watching his life.  Good film.

One  idea, maybe you could strike up a conversation about the film with someone you know that is not a believer, yet has seen the movie, or maybe you could take someone to see it.  The teenage girl who sold Bekah and I our popcorn, asked us what we were seeing, and said, "Oh, I love that movie, I saw it twice."  She wasn't afraid of the "religious" connotations of it all, she just spoke our of her heart.  Who knows maybe it was the first time she had ever heard of the Gospel.  The possibilities are endless.  God is giving me renewed zeal.  I hope this election cycle has found you in the same place.  

P.S.   If you have not read The Brothers Karazamov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky now would be a great time to read it.  If you have read it and it has been a while, read it again.  He, in one way, goes through the gamut of humanity and shows how different people respond to the knowledge of having a God who is ruler.  It is fascinating how the different "brothers" have different responses.  I am by no means a literary scholar on this novel, it is one of the hardest I have waded through, but well worth it.  It is also well worth reading the great minds that have analyzed it.  

Slayings

hanging on till Trials are over,

holding strong to truths I know.

pulling up by the strength of another,

stretching forward to faith anew.

shaking muscles quiver, 

while hands are bloody and worn,

face is tightening, while eyes are straining,

to see the one who is bloody and torn.

soon the vista has come into view,

seeing Him who slays anew.

my savior's face with wounds and scars,

reminds me suffering was not just ours.

how could it be that I cry not fair?

when He who cast His glory by,

did so for me and went to die.

with blood and water, scorn and wrath,

faithful always towards the Father's eye.

my trials aren't over, they may never be,

but this child of His, will ever be,

 content to see the idols broken, 

and worship Him.....who yet slays me. 

"Though He slay me yet will I trust Him."  Job 13:15