Following the Crowd

I have noticed a tendency among  Christians today to follow the example of the world in a number of areas.  I think caution should be advised here.  It is so easy to be influenced by the world.  Our deceitful hearts will trick us into thinking we are doing okay when really we are becoming weak. Also, whether intentional or not we are influencing our peers to follow along creating a trend that weakens many thereby affecting the Church as a whole. .
Here are a couple of things I have noticed.
Instead of time honored, doctrine infused hymns, we are listening to and singing choruses...which is okay. Frankly I enjoy them.  I find them worshipful but... they do not strengthen me according to knowledge. Knowledge of the scriptures is the most important thing for a Christian. Choruses have a place, I believe, in our services but should not supplant the use of hymns totally.  When you go through trials it is a blessing to be able to sing a hymn to the Lord.  The rich lyrics remind us of promises from God's Word and are very comforting.  If we don't sing them enough to learn them, we won't have that as a resource when we are in need.  Think about the children and teens who are growing up on the diet of music being offered in our services today.  Will they be able to sing the rich hymns of our faith to themselves when they need some encouragement?

Instead of adhering to strictures about what we allow through our ear and eye gates, we attend the R rated movies and listen to contemporary music just like everyone else. Oh, the things that we see on those screens. I love motion pictures as an art form.  But while movies can be extremely beautiful, and moving much of what Hollywood produces falls short of uplifting. Are we any different from our unsaved friends in this area?

Drinking and smoking: Yes, I understand that Jesus drank wine. But we have to be careful. An occasional drink with a meal is okay even, some would say, healthy.  But social drinking is highly questionable.  What is the purpose?  Isn't it to fit in with contemporaries? To look like them?  Aren't we the ones who are supposed to be different?

 It's the same with the issue of dress.  Sometimes we dress just like people who have nothing better to wear.  Isn't there something worth dressing up for? Isn't God good?  Isn't he worthy of honor and respect?  Don't we show that in the way we dress? Would you wear holey jeans to meet the president of your company or to a wedding?  Isn't there a balance that can be achieved to the end that we don't make visitors in church feel uncomfortable but at the same that defines us as being different and desiring to  show honor and respect to God?

And now it's okay to smoke cigars. That's really crazy to me. There are significant health risks with this.  Even if you are not inhaling...what about the second hand smoke that lingers in the air that our children breathe?  What about nicotine addiction?  What example is being set for our children? If our children perceive that we allow these liberties in our lives, you can bet they will take it a step further and we won't have a leg to stand on  to counter their arguments.

Remember the story of the frog in the pot?  Because he is cold blooded (insensitive, not knowledgeable), when the water is heated, he is totally unaware that he is about to be cooked!

Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13,14

White As Snow

As I look out my windows at the white, clean snow and enjoy its beauty I am reminded of Isaiah 1:18. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..."

The Bible talks about sin.  It tells us "All have sinned..." Romans 3:23  and .... "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23.  "Death"  meaning eternal separation from God.  Isn't that something to take seriously?

The Bible also tells us that "Even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us..."Romans 5:8,  It says  "...as many as receive him, to them gave he the power to become the sons (and daughters) of God...." John 1:12  God provided the solution to our sin problem.

My concern  is for people who call themselves Christians but live as though there is no God,  no final authority about life and how to live it, no right and wrong, no standard for living.

First let me say that I am grateful that when I was young someone told me about my sin and Christ's sacrifice for me. I accepted Christ as my personal savior and forgiveness for my sins.  I am so grateful that my sins are made white as the snow by my faith in Christ and daily repentance.  I know there is nothing I can do to earn eternal life.  If I had to work my way to Heaven my gut would be tied in a knot all the time because,

1. I cannot live a sinless life and

2. I cannot do enough good to even remotely make up for or cover my sin.

This doctrine of faith in Christ and salvation through him is the defining factor of my life. 

Based on this, I am burdened for those who take for granted that because they go to church and believe in God that they are saved from the eternal punishment that the Bible tells us of.  Despite this many live their lives the way they wish, profaning God's name and ignoring the precepts of His Word.  Don't they know better?

I wonder how can one say they are a Christian and take God's name in vain when the Bible says "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."?

How can one say they are a Christian but ignore His Word and go along with our culture that tells us it's okay to be sexually active outside of marriage? Scripture tells us that God ordained marriage Genesis 2:24, and to "Flee fornication." 1Corinthians 6:18,19.

How can one say they are Christian and be profane in their speech?  Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth..."

Hmm... God's Word also tells me to have "bowels of mercies." Colossians 3:12.

I am admonished. The truth is that many who live with disregard for God's Word probably do not know His Word... even church goers.

Whose fault is that?  Isn't it the fault of pastors who don't preach the full counsel of the scriptures? Isn't it the fault of Christian parents who don't implement God's assignment for the family by fulfilling their obligation to bring their children up in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord" Ephesians 6:4?  Isn't it the fault of those of us who know what the Bible says and are reluctant to stand up and speak out?  Yes, yes and yes.

So... the people who frustrate me, the ones who claim to be Christian but who live as though they aren't... probably AREN'T.

God's Word reminds me...  I have a purpose.

I have a command to obey.

'Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  Matthew 28:19

Father, please give me the strength and the will to obey you.  Please give me the words to write and to say so that others' can see and receive Christ and so their sins can be as "white as snow".

Family Time

We had a sweet time with our family this weekend. Three of our five children plus 3 grandkids were here to help celebrate their Dad's birthday. I love spending time with my loved ones and being a part of their lives. I thank God they enjoy coming home.
I fixed some birthday fare, including carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. So good. Then we played Farkle, Ker Plunk and Bopit and watched UP together. There was time for talk too.
I thank God for the relationships we have with our children. The groundwork based on Biblical principles was laid while they were little and through the teen years. Even today it takes effort and wisdom to keep our relationships strong. I think of so many families that are broken having followed the "wisdom of the world". It is so easy to stray from God's way but the blessings of walking closely with Him are too many to number. Psalm 40:5 "Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward; they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

Was That You Talking God?

For the past few weeks we have had a visitor in our adult Sunday School class. She has been coming with her sister and brother in law.
During her first visit she indicated that she was going through a difficult time right now, but she gave no details. As usual I didn't give it much thought, didn't take time to speak to her.
But she has continued to come. She participates in class answering questions brought up for group discussion.
Still it has been a number of weeks and until today I had not taken the time to introduce myself. I wonder how she felt about that? Did anyone else take the time to talk to her? Honestly I didn't notice anyone doing that.
Today, however, she contributed an answer to a question which in my mind showed me how much she is searching and how much she is leaning on God and the Church...the body of believers who are supposed to:
Love one another (John 13:34)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
Carry one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15)...and a whole lot of other "one anothers".
Hmm...

And then she asked a question. Not a question that the teacher would have studied in preparation for the lesson. Nonetheless it needed to be answered. The teacher responded with a general thought. I added some direction and one other person chimed in with some valuable input. So it was...sort of answered...and we went on.
Did anyone realize that she was really asking for some concrete answers? Did they notice that she was honestly seeking direction?
We don't see that very often... honest seeking and transparency. It can easily be missed.

I thought to myself, we are treating her as though she is a mature Christian, as though she knows where to go in the scriptures to find this answer.
She was being overlooked and her need is not being met as well or as thoroughly as it needs to be.

What?
Was that you God?
She needs some encouragement?
She needs someone to teach her?
She needs someone to show they care?
Oh...
Me, Lord?
Yes.
You are My voice, my hands, my arms, my feet while you live on the earth.
Hmm...

So after Sunday School dismissed I went and sat down beside her. We chatted for a while. I apologized for not remembering her name and introduced myself. I asked a few questions.
I know her name now and she knows mine. I know a little bit about her situation and some needs that she has. I can pray for her and feel comfortable with her.

I believe she left Sunday School with a smile today, feeling a little encouraged, maybe a little more hopeful.
I feel better too!
It wasn't hard.

Christmas - Decorating

I love to decorate for Christmas but for a number of years now I have struggled with a sort of guilt about it. It just seems so vane. It takes a huge amount of time. It creates clutter in my house and interferes with productive space. Maybe I am a "follower" of the decorating concept that touts positive flow of energy within a space. I just didn't know it until this moment. With this kind of thinking the decorating pendulum swings in a minimalist direction.

On the other hand time and accumulation of things seem to go hand in hand. My decorating forces lie in wait in my basement in an old trunk style freezer, Breyer Carolers, angels, Christmas village pieces, a precious nativity made by my daughter, snowmen, Santas, innumerable garlands, swags, beads and baubles all vie for a place in the pageant. Many of them gifts from my family,I love them. They are pregnant with memories of Christmas past and the love which prompted there giving. So,on the other end of the pendulum swing is a tendency to drag everything out and display it all.

And then we bring in a tree decorate it! Yikes! I am beginning to feel claustrophobic!

Add to this the reality of limited space which shrinks even more when it becomes filled with the physical, space occupying bodies of my loved ones... all 13 of us. Next year, Lord willing, there will be 15!

I have to have a strategy! I want things to look pretty without interrupting the flow of life. I want to display items that my loved ones have given me without having my house look like a Christmas warehouse. I want my family to enjoy our home. I want it to bring a smile to their faces. I want to acknowledge the season peacefully and joyfully.

So, I follow my gut feeling about space and the flow of energy and limit my Christmas decorating. I use my favorite things and rotate other things from year to year. I discipline my thinking and don't don every surface with some sort of Christmas representation. That way I keep the clutter under control and still am able to show my appreciation for gifts. That way during a season full of hubbub my family can function and I can have peace.

Christmas - Presents

Christmas is a demanding holiday and I am finding that it becomes more so with each passing year. I guess that makes sense when you consider it is no longer just our children we shop for but with spouses and grandchildren we have an additional 6 people on our list. Next Christmas, Lord willing, we will add two new bundles of blessing to our shopping list.
It was easy when our children were little. I knew what they needed and wanted and it was relatively simple and pleasurable to go shopping for them.
Now they are all adults, each one very different from the other with different sets of circumstances surrounding their lives and different needs. We really try to get things that they want. We have them give us lists of things they would like to have or need and that really does help.
We have simplified some of shopping by purchasing gift cards which saves a lot of time, plus then they can get what they want and have the pleasure of going shopping when it suits them and when they can maximize their buying power during the after Christmas sales.
Shopping on line makes Christmas easier too. We did more of that this year. We even did some of our shopping on e-bay. Probably the biggest time saver is not shopping for a lot of clothes. When the children were little we didn't just splurge on toys and gadgets. We used Terry's Christmas bonus to buy needed clothing items for them. Of course they were growing so fast, keeping up with wardrobe needs was constant. That was true for us all the way through their college years. Doing that now would be exhausting. It just gets very complicated trying to find the right size, style, particular item and at the right price! This year even though I did buy clothes for everyone I bought fewer clothing items than I ever have. In all I think I only went Christmas shopping 3 times with Terry doing the last minute shopping for the few items that rounded out our gift giving.
I hope our family would agree that it was a very pleasant Christmas. I don't think I wore myself out as much as I might have and I think for the most part needs and wants were attended to.

I Don't Work

For me there are "times of year" that dictate what I do. Do you find this to be so with your life?
For example in the spring my main focus, in addition to regular housekeeping and family responsibilities, is working outside, getting the garden ready for planting, cleaning up the yard and flower beds, moving/dividing perennials, and planting annuals. These activities carry over to our church because I am in charge of the outdoor flower committee which sees to the maintenance of the church grounds, not mowing but the annual and perennial flowerbeds. During this time also our youngest son comes home from college the beginning of May. It is always a bit of a task to get the returning ones moved in a settled again.
Right of the heels of Spring are a number of summer events. For the past few summers I have found myself involved with a number of church activities, weddings and anniversaries. I decorate for these things. The weddings in particular take a lot of time. In addition, this summer I initiated a program for teenage girls. This ran for 6 weeks and garnered a fair amount of my time.
Fall is consumed with outdoor clean up and producing a DVD for our local high school football team. From August until the beginning of December this defines my life. My husband, eldest son and I go to and tape all the games. I take that into post production and put together a film that shows the heart and soul of the team, coaches and their efforts over the course of the season. With our son and his family coming to help with the taping throughout the fall I find myself cooking and having additional housekeeping to do, sheets to change and wash, picking up to do, etc.
Usually January and February are quiet times of the year but last year I filmed and produced a DVD for the annual stockholders luncheon for the bank where my husband works. That project took me from January through the middle of April. I will be doing another one for the bank in 2008. In fact filming begins Jan.6th!
Then there is Christmas. Christmas occupies much of the rest of the year. By the time the presents are all opened, the cookies eaten, the Christmas tree is taken down and ornaments and decorations put away it has been a full year!
Add to these things the production of a wedding video, and two small video projects one for family and one for our church, plus travel to San Antonio TX, Amelia Island, Fl, two trips to Watertown, WI, and Los Angeles, CA and various other short trips to visit family andyou have a fairly busy year for someone who doesn't work!