Out with the OLD and in with the NEW! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  It's a phrase that will echo across the world this evening.  While I do hope each and every one will have a great 2012, I always find myself on New Years' Eve reflecting on the previous year and sometimes years.  As I told my dear "George and Martha" earlier this evening, I am soooo thankful to God for all He has done and brought me through.  As with life in general, we find each year brings its share of joys and sorrows.  With each year we experience a variety of changes.  However, One thing is always constant.  That is God.  He changes not.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He is awesome - full of power, wisdom, holiness and love.  Wherever we find ourselves, He is there - if we will but acknowledge Him.  He and His blessings are unmeasurable.  2011 has come and gone, and I've found that it was He who carried me through the rough times and He who danced with me during the times of happiness. He is beautiful and I love Him. I don't know what 2012 holds, but as the old song says, "but I know Who holds my hand." It is exciting thinking about a new year with Him. Sure, there will be trials. But I know God is able to turn every trial into a triumph and every test into a testimony. So, as the old saying goes, "To God be the glory, great things He has done... Though the past be glorious, the best is yet to come!"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Two Atoms

Two atoms were out shopping, buying Christmas gifts for friends and family.  Suddenly one atom looked at the other and exclaimed, "Oh man, I think I dropped an electron!"  His friend replied, "Really?  Are you sure?!"  His response:

"YES!  I'M POSITIVE!"


Ok readers, you know you laughed!  Chuckled?  At least smiled??  I know it's been months since I have blogged.  I guess you could say, "Oh no, she's back!!!"  :)

HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS WAS VERY MERY AND YOUR NEW YEARS IS HAPPY HAPPY!  

BELIEVE IT... OR NOT!?

As an educator, I have often heard administrators use statements like, "Well, according to research..." to encourage teachers to get on board with various trends in education.  Over the years I have become cynical to the point of wanting to roll my eyes and shut down when someone in leadership uses "research" to make their point.  Why?  Well, if we don't all know, we should know by now that research can be found to support ANYTHING.  So I've grown to "mistrust" in educational circles "research" and want to find out for myself what is actually "truth."  Meanwhile, in my personal life, when I've heard a Christian friend tell me something I often take what they say at face value, even passing on the information as if it is "gospel."  So, while I've rolled my eyes at some, I have recently discovered I am one that from time to time should have people rolling their eyes at me!  What misinformation have I unknowingly passed on, you might say...  Well, what do you really know about two people:  Rob Bell and J.K. Rowling?  I thought I knew some things.  Now, I’m not sure what to believe.

Rob Bell and J.K. Rowling may seem to have nothing in common.  Rob Bell is an author, teacher, and pastor of Mars Hill.  J.K. Rowling is the author of the well known Harry Potter series.  What they have in common...  I owe them both an apology for believing unsubstantiated things that were simply passed on to me by word of mouth and then repeating the false information.  So, Rob Bell, and J.K. Rowling, and anyone else I've believed falsities about - I'm truly sorry!  To those of you I may have shared things about these or anyone else with - thinking I was doing my "Christian service," I apologize.  My intentions have always been to stand up for what is right.  However, I have been misled just like many others.  In particular, let me share a little bit about these two.

Let's begin with Rob Bell.  For years his teachings, his Nooma videos, and writings have ministered to me.  Yet, a few months ago when some people shared that he had written a new book and it looked like he was supporting some universalistic teachings, I jumped on the band wagon.  I shared my disappointment with others and even stopped a study in our Sunday school class using the very videos that had made such a positive impact in my life prior to this "new knowledge."  Recently, I discovered that all of this "hoopla" started when one man read a quote from the back of the book (the man didn't even read Rob Bell's book at all - just the back cover!)  He went on to call Rob Bell a Universalist and from there the rumors flew!  Rob Bell has denied that he is a Universalist.  Yet, he is still being seen as a heretic by many Evangelicals.  Has anyone actually read his new book to find out what he has really said?  To be honest, I haven't!  In fact, many people were debating Rob Bell and his new book, Love Wins before it even was finished!  In all honesty, I can't make a judgment about something I've not even read.  And I should not have.  There is a fascinating article reviewing the book at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/books/reviews/25070-love-wins-by-rob-bell.  From this article I gather there is both good and bad, and both truth and misinterpretations from Scripture in Love Wins.  Again, I have not read it - so I cannot pass judgment on Rob Bell, his beliefs, or his teachings.  If we really want to know what he believes and says we should read the book ourselves, yes?  I myself have had one reservation - "what if he is teaching heresy and I get 'sucked in' by reading his book?"  Here is the thing.  Jesus made it clear that He is "the way, the TRUTH, and the life."  He also said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you..."  Before we pick up Rob Bell's book, or anyone else's for that matter, maybe we should pick up THE BOOK.  Let's try reading Scripture for ourselves.  As we do, SEEK GOD!  Pray!  Ask God to truly reveal Himself and what He is saying to us!  In James it says, "If any man lacks wisdom let him ask..."  He goes on to say He will give us wisdom if we ask believing.  My point, we should be seeking to know God first and foremost.  We should be praying and studying His Word.  If we are truly in right relationship with Him, seeking to know Him more, we should be able to read a book and ask for God's discernment in seeing the truths of that book and the errors.  He can give us that.  He is God for pity sake!  Again, I'm not supporting all of Rob Bell's teachings because I don't know ALL of his teachings.  At the same time, I am sorry I almost threw out what I know are true, Biblical based ideas Rob Bell expounded on because of the “rumor mill.” 

Now, let's talk about J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter.  When this series first came out Christian friends told me the author was a witch who used real incantations in her stories.  I believed it.  I passed on the information fearing our children were being influenced by Satan working through this woman.  Boy does it look like I was dreadfully wrong.  Does anyone know where all of this "Harry Potter is of the devil" stuff began?  It began in an article in "The Onion."  The article was satirical!  "The Onion" itself is totally satirical in its stories.  Satire...  Not truth!  Not actual interviews and such!  It is sarcasm and fiction at its best (or worse).  However, some people began quoting from this article and sharing the information from it as if it was true.  We believe.  We panic for our children.  We share.  It's like that gossip game we play where we all sit in a circle and someone whispers something into their neighbor's ear, but by the time the message gets back to the original person it is so twisted it is hysterical.  I had some Christian friends tell me they'd heard the negative hoopla was based on rumors.  So I began watching the movies with a friend.  They are to today's generation what Star Wars was to mine - great fantasy stories of good verses evil.  In fact, the more I watched them the more I saw CHRISTIAN parallels in the stories.  I thought maybe it was just because of my background.  Then I went to see the newest Harry Potter movie.  I left thinking, "Ok, it can't just be me!  I'm not just reading my own belief system into the movie.  There were some serious Spiritual parallels."  So, I came home and began doing some "research."  Ha!  I know you can't believe everything you read!  However, I cannot dismiss what I found.  Here's a couple of things that will make you re-think the "Harry Potter is of the devil" belief though:     http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1572107/jk-rowling-talks-about-christian-imagery.jhtml and http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/potter.asp.  There is plenty more out there on the issue - just look at Christianity Today.  It's still a topic of debate.  However, as I said, it would seem the original basis for the criticism begun against Rawling years ago is satire. 

All of this being said, I apologize for sometimes jumping to conclusions and believing the worst about people - even going to the point of sharing what I've heard before truly knowing the truth.  Furthermore, I have been challenged and I hope to challenge others.  We need not just take things that are said or read (especially on the internet) at face value.  We should test things, try things, and more than anything, ask for God and His wisdom to show us what is really true before we "believe it...  or not!"  

Let the Church be THE CHURCH!

After a wonderful evening with my church family, I came home and got online to make a hotel reservation for a little trip I'll be taking in a couple of weeks.  The plan was to attend a Christian artist's (comedian, story-teller, and singer) event in a city in which I used to live and work.  Since the event is scheduled for 7:00 on a Saturday evening, and the city is a good 3 1/2 hour drive from here I decided to rent a room and visit the church I used to attend when I lived in that city.  After making the hotel reservation I "Googled" the church to see if there had been changes in service times, if the pastorial staff was the same, etc.  Keep in mind, as I'm searching I'm excited just thinking about being back in that church.  Well, it no longer exists.  Yes, you heard me...  It's not there.  Instead of a church coming up, posts, blogs and other interesting tid-bits came up discussing how this church had been sued by the very denomination that I hold credentials with as a minister.  It was the very headquarters of this denomination that I worked for at the time I lived in this town.  The reason the church was sued - the pastor declined renewing his license with this particular denomination.  In one particular blog a former staff member there posted his letter to this particular organization in which he informed them he would not be renewing his license with them.  The organization sued the church two days later to seize all of the churches property and assets.  You ask, if the pastor and the majority of this church no longer desired to be affiliated with this denomination, why couldn't they just break free? Well, I'll tell you.  In our by-laws it basically states that a church, its properties and assets belongs to the organization.  In my endeavors to become licensed with this organization, one of the classes I took was a history and bylaws class.  I don't remember reading that...  However, it is there...  I'm not sure how I feel about that...  According to the bylaws it is the local church that is to run itself.  However, if the local church decides to disassociate they have to give their building, property, and everything else they labored for to the organization.  I know as I read many blogs, ministers should be aware of this.  It is stated in the bylaws...  However, do we really remember every bylaw of every organization in which we are a member - even if we read them?  I took a class and I missed that regulation. 

While I'm not sure whether or not a denomination seizing all of the assets and properties associated with a church when that church wants to disassociate with the denomination is right, I do know this:  Scripture is clear about believers taking each other to court.  It shouldn't be done!  So while according to the bylaws of this organization and laws of the land they could take this church to court and win (which the denomination did), I don't think they should have.  This is what I read about the matter in I Corinthians 6:1, 6-11:
"If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?... But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!  The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.  Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

The entire issue breaks my heart!  It breaks my heart for everyone involved!  It baffles my mind as well.  Although it shouldn't!  I've seen my share of church politics in this particular organization.  The truth be told, the church I attend now is not affiliated with this denomination.  I'm glad for it!  While I know no church, or denomination is perfect, it hurts my very soul to think of the pain this body must have gone through.  It makes me question whether I want to continue holding a ministerial license with this organization.  Sorry there are no jokes or fun stuff in this blog.  My heart is just too heavy.  It is time for me to go lay this all before the Lord.  My mother and I discussed last week how the "entire world seems to be going crazy."  It's a sad day when we see that in the church as well.   

"Crossing 'Lions'"

Lately I am reminded of the story of Daniel.  Daniel 6 holds the famous account of “Daniel in the Lions’ Den” that we’ve all heard since Sunday school.  There are some interesting parallels in this passage that have encouraged me at times and I hope they will encourage you too.  You see, in the time of Daniel, the other leaders tried to find something against him…  They couldn’t find anything except that he was a man of prayer.  So they got King Darius to pass a law against prayer.  What did Daniel do?  HE PRAYED ANYWAYS!!!!!!!!!!  It got him thrown into a lion’s pit.  However, as we know, God is bigger than any lion!  He closed the mouths of the lions.  And Darius was grieved and upset because he had passed the law!  But when he went to get Daniel the next day – sure enough, God had delivered Daniel from the lions!  Darius pulled him out and threw the ones who made the stupid law in the lion’s pit. 

I say all that to say, while I agree we are to obey the laws of the land as Paul says in the Romans 13, I also know there are exceptions to that!  The exceptions include when the law causes us to sin, or keeps us from worshipping or praying to God!  I mean, we could say Daniel “crossed the lines.”  He could have kept his window shut and prayed silently to the Lord so that he was keeping in line with the laws and still praying.  He did what he felt he was supposed to do. He may have done what the law says he was not supposed to…  But in reality he really didn’t do anything wrong.  It seems that just as in the time of Daniel, some of our laws have been made erroneously and are gross misinterpretations of what our founding fathers intended when they established the Constitution. 

Historically, our founding fathers came to this land and established the Constitution to escape religious persecution FROM THE GOVERNMENT.  Separation of church and state was never intended to keep the church out of the government.  It was established to keep the government out of the church!  Our forefathers did not establish this “NATION UNDER GOD” as a “NATION UNDER WHOEVER YOU THINK IS GOD…”  They never intended religious freedom to mean people who worshipped Satan or pagan gods to do so openly in our country!!  Their intentions were that we would all worship THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD…  AND BE FREE TO WORSHIP HIM AS WE EACH SEE FIT!  If they saw the gross misinterpretations we currently have of the original intents of the law they established and the laws that have come from that misinterpretation, they’d have a fit!  

Now, don’t misunderstand what I’m getting at here.  Again, I know that as Christians we should “obey the laws of the land.”  I know God puts leaders in place and we have a responsibility to pray for them and follow them as long as they are not leading us to sin or away from God.  Still, I find it interesting that Daniel did not say, “Ok, well, I’ll go pray silently with my window closed so I am both praying and keeping the law.”  Also, I find it interesting that his peers, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego weren’t looking up all the laws and getting in Daniel’s grill about how he needed to obey the law, how he could do that and still pray, etc.  The opposite is true too.  It’s not recorded anywhere that Daniel called all of his peers together and told them to keep their windows open and pray louder.  In fact, it may be that some of his peers simply prayed silently behind closed doors and windows.  THEREIN IS MY POINT – RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS LETTING PEOPLE WORSHIP GOD HOW THEY ARE COMFORTABLE!  If the “Daniels” of the world want to open their windows and pray aloud even though there may be some silly law against that, LET THEM!  And if others want to close the windows and pray silently – LET THEM!  God knows what we are going to say before we even say (or think – Psalms 139) it!  He knows the cries of our heart!  He hears our prayers!  And He answers – be they silent or loud! 

Now, the “Daniels” need to know they may end up thrown in a lion’s den.  Just as God delivered Daniel, He can and often delivers us as well!  Furthermore, just like He took care of the ones who started the mess by passing this ludicrous law, He can and will take care of evil doers today.  Finally, just as He made Himself known through this entire situation to Darius and others, He can make Himself known through our life’s messes. 

All that to say – KEEP THE FAITH!  (The title of a sermon I’ll be preaching in a couple of weeks at church if anyone wants to come…) Remember whose side we are on!  Whether praying in the closet or out the window, we are on God’s side and He is on ours!  JUST KEEP PRAYING!  KEEP LOVING AND GROWING IN HIM! 

Movie Madness

Shortly after entering the theater with "George and Martha" tonight to see a movie, I realized why I enjoy afternoon shows more than evening shows.  First, the cost!  The cost of an evening movie has just gotten ridiculous!  The second reason - the audience!  Since when did the 7:00 movies become the baby sitters of our pre-teens and young teens?!  It was ridiculous!  I love kids!  I teach 6th grade for pity sake!  However, from the time we entered the theater the 12, 13 and 14 year olds were being loud and obnoxious, running the aisles, going in and out of the theater, jumping from seat to seat as well as from the back to the front and from theater to theater.  Did I mention they were loud?  Where were the parents?  I thought they were supposed to be with a parent to see a PG-13 movie...  At any rate, the movie started and while I was praying they'd calm down when the movie started, they didn't.  So, I got up to get the manager.  As I got to the end of the steps I heard a voice over everyone firmly telling the young people in the front and in the back of the theater to shut-up and sit down and watch the show.  Wow!  It was about time!  What guts!  What boldness!  Who in the world?!  Wait a second, I suddenly realized - IT WAS ME!  Ok people - as a teacher you know you're at your limit when you find yourself at a movie theater correcting the youngsters all around you!  What in the world?  I don't even normally tell my students to shut up!  I think it's inappropriate!  But there I was - giving these rowdy youth "what for."  At any rate, I went ahead and got the manager, but for some reason, when I returned the climate was a little different...  We were able to enjoy the show.  While I'm not sure if "George and Martha" will ever want to go to another movie with me, I know those kids won't! 

 

Carry me, Daddy!

“Listen, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth.  Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you.”  Isaiah 46:3-4

Recently, my dear friend “Martha” announced the wonderful news that she is expecting.  Her ornery but fabulous husband, “George,” sent me a text this morning.  After congratulating him and rushing off to work, I got to looking at the Scriptures on my desk.  Someone at church gave me one of those sets that has a Scripture or passage on a card for each day of the year.  At any rate, I’d sent my students to their art class and was flipping through the cards.  I know, you are supposed to read one a day.  Sometimes that’s like trying to eat only one Pringle.  Anyways – the second one I read was Isaiah 46:3-4.  I didn’t get any farther in the stack.  There are so many things in this small passage that astound me!  First, God Himself is speaking to us.  God – the creator of the universe – all mighty, ever present, all powerful, God, speaks to us.  Even more amazing, that He would speak to me.  As the Psalmist said, “Who am I that He would consider me?”  Me and all my faults, quirks, questions, etc. etc.  Us…  All of us!  He wants to speak to me, to you, to us all!  No matter where we are, where we’ve been, what we’ve done.  He loves us and longs to have a relationship with each of us.  He goes on to tell us He has upheld us since we were conceived, carried us since birth.  Again, WOW!  Again, I think of a Psalms – 139 that speaks of us being “fearfully and wonderfully made.” 

Last night I was captivated as I watched an interview with Nick Vujicic.  This man was born without arms or legs.  He does have one foot with two little toes on it.  After the interview he spoke to a group of 7^th and 8^th grade students.  He has written a couple of books and has shared his life’s story with thousands.  He kept referring to the fact that God had made him with a plan and that God makes each of us with a plan.  I was amazed at this man’s faith, the peace of God that flowed from him, and Nick’s positive outlook on life.  Sure, he has struggled mentally, emotionally and spiritually at times in his life.  However, he really seemed to have a better understanding of the fact that God has a plan for himself and each of us than most.  Just this week, from sheer exhaustion, I found myself telling the Lord, “Remember your promise – ‘as your days, so will your strength be?’”  Nick Vujicic seems to live in the fact that God has carried us since birth…  AND HE WILL CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN US.

That’s the other part of this passage of Scripture that is so mind blowing!  He wants to continue to sustain us and even carry us through this life.  So, I think back to dear “George and Martha” and the new life growing inside of her.  God is knitting that precious life together.  He already has a plan for that dear child!  He will uphold and carry them throughout life…  If they let Him.  I pray he or she does!  I pray little “Martha” or “George” (help us all if that’s the case!  HA!  JK, George!) will allow God to carry him or her throughout their life!  As adults, that really is the challenge sometimes.  We try to carry ourselves.  We depend on ourselves and sometimes others more than we do the very one who formed us in our mother’s womb.  We don’t have to!  Life can be overwhelming – definitely draining sometimes.  God wants to sustain us.  He wants to speak to us, to love us, to work and move in our lives, to carry us through the dark times and rejoice with us in the victories.  So, if you are tired, weary, or just going through a really awful time in life – take heart!  Let God carry, you!  Jesus said “come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”