Lessons Learned from the Far Side

I love this. No matter how many times I see it, it still makes me laugh. I think Laron's Far Side appeals to my inner cheery pessimist, who finds that life's more depressing realities can be a source of humor as well. And perhaps in his art I see reflections of myself at times. Like the poor chap...pushing as hard as he can on the door that clearly says "PULL"...I've done it too, more times than I'd care to admit! And of course, there are the times when I step on the elevator and wonder why it's not moving...until I realize I've forgotten to push the button. 

And then of course, we have the rebel livestock:

"Wait! Wait! We don't have to be just sheep!"

There are so many times that I've just gone day after day after day doing the same thing, following the same routine, because, well, it's just what I do! One of the most beneficial lessons I've learned over the past year or so is to question myself every once in a while. Not enough to be obnoxious, but enough to shake up my comfy pattern of life and see where I can change or improve things. 

And the Vikings always have good things to say. 

Typically, if there's a problem with the end result of an effort, it's because something went wrong along the way. It's not brain surgery or anything...For goodness sake, be the one to step up and take care of it! Maybe take a break from looking so far ahead that you lose sight of what's right around you. Having a higher vision, one where you're willing to do something because something should be done, takes courage and determination. You have to challenge today's cultural influences of "not in my backyard" and "how's that going to benefit ME?" and "it's not going to make a difference anyway."

Really, all this to say, take a break every once in a while and laugh over a Far Side moment. Unless, of course, you're someone who doesn't get Larson's humor, in which case looking at his comics will probably result in confusion, frustration, and hurling the book across the room in disgust. In that case, I'd suggest a bowl of ice cream as an alternative. Does wonders for me!

When Things Just Aren't Fair

I recently had a situation that made me pretty mad (and it takes a LOT to make me mad). My opinion: It wasn't fair. People got away with something that could have been easily handled if another person had been willing to step up and say something. I immediately thought of Edmund Burke's "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" quote. Why can't people just do what is right? I'm talking about basic, societally-accepted behavior. Seriously people, just tell the truth, don't make stuff up to cover a mistake you made, and act like an adult. To make matters worse, my hands were tied in this particular situation, and there was virtually nothing I could do. Oh man, it made my blood boil. I went right to Scripture with the intention of justifying my "righteous indignation." But I paused for a moment and took the time to evaluate my intentions. I felt wronged, and wanted to use the Bible to confirm that my "wrongers" were truly in error, and I had every right to fight for truth. I listened to what I was saying and laughed at my immaturity. Okay, reality check. Stuff happens, and if I were to be honest, I'd have to admit that I've been blessed to not have as much go wrong as I actually deserve.

So, after I gave myself time to simmer down, I went back to the Word to see how I should handle situations like this. Specifically, when someone spreads a lie about you, and you personally can't speak the truth without causing MORE of an uproar, what is a Christian to do?

Truth is so important. Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6). God Almighty leads us in truth, and His Truth prevails: "Make me known Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art the God of my salvation; for Thee I wait all the day" (Psalm 25:4-5), "All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies" (Psalm 25:10), "Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do wrong...Surely God will not act wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice" (Job 34:10, 12). The Bible is replete with verses about truth, justice, and the pursuit of such things. So naturally, as a Christian, I should be concerned with the spread of untruths, correct? Of course! But it's how I respond that is the issue.

My situation: I was accused, I couldn't defend myself, someone else had the opportunity to speak up and didn't, and evil wins. Or not...

I immediately thought of Christ's example of perfect submission in John 18. Suddenly, my situation felt trite. Here is Jesus Himself, Who possessed (and possesses!) all power over heaven and earth, stripped of his dignity and reviled before men, abandoned by his closest friends, and accused of crimes he did not commit. If I were in His place, with His power, I in my humanness would have called down fire from Heaven to consume the high priests and taken care of them right then and there. But no, God in His mercy had a greater plan for mankind, and Jesus suffered unimaginably to bring to me the promise of eternal life with Him. Because of His sacrifice, I can know God. I have His Word at my fingertips, and direct communication with the Almighty because I am covered with the blood of Christ. Think about that for a moment. That should do something to you. Do you even know all the He's done for you? I recently heard something that changed how I think about the crucifixion. Jesus' sacrifice wasn't notable because He died on a cross. Yes, crucifixion was brutal and excruciating (the word itself was created to describe the pain "of the cross" since there was previously no word to describe the experience), but thousands of people were crucified by the Romans. Crucifixion wasn't the sacrifice. His taking on the sins of the world was the true sacrifice. Beginning what that means will completely change how you understand Christ and the meaning of grace. And that will be a subject for another post on another day.

So back to my situation.

I can't be surprised when people say things about me that aren't true. After all, suffering, tribulation, testing, persecution are all hallmarks of discipleship. But I can rest on the confidence that my character is established and my conscience is clear before God, and anyone who wants to know the truth of the matter can seek it for themselves. And I feel sorry, not for myself, but for the person who started this all. I don't know why they did what they did, but I hope that they can get a handle on whatever is going on within them.

Me, I'm happy to have grown a little bit more, learned a little bit more, and taken another little baby step on the narrow way. I feel like I've wasted so much time regressing that any progress at all is amazing to see!

May the Lord bless you on your journey as well.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

Back to Belize

I've gotten too busy again. Classes, clinical, homework, meetings, writing, applying for internships and scholarships, studying, home responsibilities, teaching, work, research projects...why do I do this to myself?
I miss Belize. I want to go back. The laid back atmosphere, a stark contrast to the fast-paced American lifestyle. And yet we managed to accomplish so much!
I need to find a way to mentally pull myself out of the fray and just stop. Take a moment to pray, think, breathe.

Why Do I Believe? Part II

So, to continue where I left off in an older post, I never got around to answering my question (posed by myself to myself), why do I believe what I believe? Specifically, the Bible? Why do I believe it's true? What makes it so special to me? And why should anyone else believe it? Is it something I just need to take in faith and because someone in authority over me told me that it's true?

C.S. Lewis, in his essay "Is Theology Poetry," said "I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." Likewise, my reason for my belief is due to seeing It, and also because of It, having the ability to comprehend the world around me.

And what is "It"? The Bible, my faith, my daily walk. It is the core of my being, that internal plumb line that holds me to account for every thought, action, and spoken word.

Interestingly, today's sermon was on the sufficiency of Scripture, and it couldn't have been more timely. There is a smorgasbord of reasons scholars cite for the validity of the Bible (Focus on the Family provides a pretty good overview here). But for me personally, if I claim Christ as my Lord, and He is the Son of God, the best way for me to know Him is through the Word. And if even one passage of Scripture is errant, then the whole Bible must be tossed out as a work of fiction. For those who say they use the Bible as a guidebook for how to live a "good" life, but do not accept it as inerrant and all-sufficient, which Scriptures do you toss out? Once again, man becomes his own judge as to what is right or wrong, and the Bible is not the ultimate authority. The Bible is either true in its entirety, or merely a collection of moral suggestions that I can follow on a whim if I agree with them. And time and time again, the Bible has proved true in my life. It applies to economics, politics, and societal issues of today. It is dynamic. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Note well though (THIS IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT!!!), that there are those who claim that we need nothing but the Bible to live a successful life, as it is all-sufficient. That we have no need for preachers and the modern church gathering. That there is no value in studying the works of Calvin or Luther or St. Augustine. This is not what is meant by the sufficiency of Scripture. For goodness sake, "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness," (II Timothy 3:16) and you have to preach and teach the Word in order to fulfill that verse! Those who claim that they only need the Bible  and that's it are using an argument rooted in the belief of the autonomy of men. Which is unbiblical. The Word commands us to not neglect the brethren, to receive correction, to encourage each other in the Word, and to seek understanding of passages in the Bible that we do not understand. Without recent teachings of godly men, I would not have been challenged to return to Scripture and test what I know!

But never is it permissible to add to Scripture by declaring the teachings of men as binding on another man's conscience. That's the sufficiency of Scripture. It's complete, finished, and written. There are not new truths about God to be "discovered" by some self-proclaimed anointed man (Matthew 15:8-9, Mark 7:6-8, Galatians 1:6-8, 10, II Timothy 2:15) and there are not parts of Scripture that are rendered irrelevant by changes in society. The Bible speaks strongly against this in Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, Galatians 1:9-10, II Corinthians 11:4, and Revelation 22:18-19. There is not a hierarchy  among men on earth, where one man is viewed more highly than another because of the Lord's revelations to him. Even Paul, the Paul of the New Testament who was selected by God to be an apostle and messenger of the Word, and who clearly received divine revelations that were to be included in the Bible, condemned this sinful thinking, even though he was clearly a man of incredible spirituality, if you will (Corinthians 3:6-9). Paul makes it clear the God is the one who causes growth, and man is nothing, and most certainly no man is more "spiritual" than another.

For those who doubt, I would challenge you to try living your life according to the Bible. Examine today's teachings about Christianity, and challenge what you are told about the Christian walk. Read what the Bible says about how men are to live their lives and why we are commanded to live that way, study what Christ says about the Law and consequently grace, and realize that in your ultimate decision, you must either accept the whole Word as true, or none of it. There is no middle ground.

A Good Day

Went to my five youngest siblings' swim meet this morning and cheered them on (my youngest sister's valiant attempts at the butterfly stroke were precious), then took advantage of the mild weather to go mountain biking with my dad, and for the first time that I can remember, came home without a major injury. Muddy and exhausted, but not broken! (Which reminds me that my two broken toes aren't completely healed from trying to do a backflip off of my door frame last week...I should probably tape them up again...)

The rest of the night was spent watching Dolphin Tale (GOOD movie! One of the few that I can actually recommend as family-friendly), making popcorn, watching my brother distend his mouth in an unhumanly large "O" shape as my mom tossed him Trader Joes Scottie Licorice Dogs from across the room, and telling each other funny stories until late into the night.

The older I become, the more I realize what a privilege it is to have the family that I do. We're all crazy, and have our own quirks and issues, but we love each other deeply, and my parents' commitment to build a household of faith has kept us together over the years. By God's grace of course. So many of my friends have siblings that they don't talk to because they can't stand each other, and parents who are separated or divorced. Sitting with both of my parents and the oldest three of my siblings tonight, I offered a quick prayer of thanks to the Lord for this life He's given me. I'm not denying that there are times when I want to scream at the top of my lungs because of something that's driving me crazy at the moment, but no matter how irritated I am or how fed up I am with this or that, I know that I still wouldn't trade my family for any other. I know few other people who can say that they've had the opportunities that I have: helping my little sister with her phonics lesson, teaching another sister how to sew, playing airsoft with my brothers (and enjoying it!), reading stories and saying prayers with the three youngest, and remembering when each of my siblings was born. And changing their diapers. And feeding them. And rocking them to sleep. Those are just some of my memories over the years.

I'm falling asleep tonight feeling very lucky, knowing that "luck" really has nothing to do with it at all. It's all been by design. And that's amazing to me.

Why Do I Believe? Part I

A couple nights ago, I was lying in bed, fidgeting and sleepless, thinking over a recent conversation I had. The individual I was talking with was challenging my beliefs on Scriptural authority and the assurance of salvation, while I in turn was challenging her arguments that the world is constantly improving due to the efforts of mankind, there isn't necessarily a life after death, and we are currently living in a heaven of our own design.

I was upset after the conversation, not because I felt like I wasn't able to debate articulately, but because I felt like without some common ground, we were arguing semantics. When she said "good" it meant one thing to her, and when I said "good" it meant something else to me. There was no point of reference as to what her beliefs were (she did make a reference to her college philosophy professor), and although my source was the Bible, she didn't believe that the Bible was true, which threw out my arguments. I was frustrated internally, she probably felt like I was intolerant and narrow-minded, and, the interesting part...both she and I are professing Christians.

It was my first experience with someone who says they are a Christian, but doesn't believe the Bible. I knew in my mind that many, many people have rejected Scripture as God's Word and an authority in their lives, but I had never personally experienced a conversation/debate on the topic.

So back to my sleepless night. I was lying awake asking myself, Why do I believe the Bible is true? My alter ego and I wrestled back and forth with the question.

Alter ego: What makes the Bible so special? Why do you believe it's true?

Me: Because it's the Word of God?


Alter ego: Say's who?

Me: Well, God, and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit...and, everyone


Alter ego: No way, lot's of people don't believe it's true.

Me: Well, I believe it's true because Christianity is founded on beliefs supported by the Bible


Alter ego: But there are lots of people who are really nice and do really good things and say they are Christians but don't believe the Bible is to be taken literally, and after all, you can't really know God can you?

Me: If you don't believe the Bible is 100% true, then you might as well throw the entire thing out, but if you say you're a Christian, then that means you're claiming to follow Christ, and in order to follow Christ you need to know about him, and in order to know about Him you need to read the Bible. And in the Bible, Jesus says that He came to fulfill Scripture.


Alter ego: Yeah, but back to my first question, why do YOU believe that the Bible is true, and none of that "Because it's true" stuff. Really, why?

Me: Okay, okay, I obviously need to do some thinking and studying and praying, but can I do it tomorrow? I'm tired!


Alter ego: That's fine, thanks for talking!

Me: Always a pleasure *Despairing sigh*


My personality tends to be rather accepting. So when someone I trust tells me something, and it "feels" right, I usually accept it as true. That is a good attitude in some cases, and a very dangerous one in other situations. In recent months and years, I've gotten much better at being skeptical, but there's still that underlying thought in my mind that "I believe what I believe because I believe it's true."

Raised in a Christian home all my life, there was never any argument that the Bible was true, my parents were to be obeyed whether I thought they were right or wrong, and Jesus came to save me from my sins and give me eternal life. End of story.

But then I began encountering people who challenged my beliefs, who asked valid questions, made convincing arguments. That's when I began examining my convictions, and realized that I was doing some things just because in my mind they were the "right" things to do. The problem with that kind of reasoning is that the moment your mind changes on that subject, your "convictions" really aren't convictions any more, and your principles shift in a different direction.

I learned the hard way that living a certain lifestyle because it's the "right" way to live is not a good reason at all. "Right" and "wrong" are completely subjective in today's society. My standards and practices need to be based on the Bible.

So back to my original question, why do I believe that the Bible is true?

Reflections on Another Year Past...and a New Year Ahead

In my mind, I'm floundering somewhere in mid-October 2011, my world a myriad of shapes and shadows. A sort of empty dream-catching where once seized, the dream crumbles in your hands and scatters to the winds. Everything is blurred, like my vision when I'm not wearing my contacts and no matter how I squint my eyes, I can't quite make out what the image is before me. But that's in my mind.

In reality, it's January 1, 2012. The first day of a new year, and in a way, the start of a new life.

I shake my head to dispel foggy memories and the air clears. Who I am, the place in which I find myself, and the things that I am learning in this present time are so far beyond what I could have imagined for myself. This, this thing called "my life right now," was never part of my plan for my life, and months ago I would have surely scoffed at the thought that my plans could go so terribly awry. But God chose to answer my prayers at that time. Prayers to know God more deeply, to possess a greater love for Him and knowledge of His ways. He promises to hear our prayers, He just doesn't promise to answer them in the ways we want Him to. And while my prayers were answered in a way that I would never have chosen, and it was tempting to turn to Him in anger and question His judgment, I know enough of Him to realize that there's a bigger picture that has not yet been revealed to me. And although I can't see the full tapestry that is being woven by the hands of the Master Artist, I do realize His hand is at work, and recognize that my most recent heartaches were caused, not by a cruel God, by by a loving Father who saw me weaving my own pattern and tore out my stitches before I could do more harm to myself. It's a severe mercy, aptly described by Sheldon Vanauken, a friend of C.S. Lewis, as "a mercy as severe as death, a severity as merciful as love."

I learned these past few months that when God calls Me to Himself, it's not a intangible emotion of "belonging" to Him, of shallow prayers and occasional references to some ethereal Deity I profess to know. It's a powerful, dynamic relationship where a sovereign God takes over my entire being, demanding everything from me, and tearing away elements that are foreign to His holy nature. I have experienced what it is to be a sinner in the hands of an angry and living God. And to have Him treat me not as I deserve, but grant me a fierce saving grace that requires me to change my life in conformity to His will. And that's the essence of salvation by grace, not by works, but salvation by grace that works. Works within me to refine and redefine who I am.

Elisabeth Elliot, in her book Discipline: The Glad Surrender, addresses the much-neglected concept of Christian responsibility. Much of Christendom today professes a gospel stripped of its original power. Phrases such as "Jesus loves you," "As long as your heart is in the right place," and "God wants me to be happy" open the door to a lifestyle that is devoid of holiness and the fear of God. Elliot refutes the message that you need simply repeat the words to a prayer of salvation and ka-POW, puff of smoke, and your ticket to Heaven floats down from the skies and you can go off and live your life however you want. She states, "Discipline is the believer's answer to God's call. It is the recognition, not of the solution to his problems or the supply of his needs, but of mastery...The unwillingness on the part of men and women to acknowledge their helpless dependence is a violation of our 'creatureliness,' The unwillingness to be obedient is a violation of our humanity. Both are declarations of independence and, whether physical or moral, are essentially atheistic. In both, the answer to the call is no...Discipline is the wholehearted yes to the call of God. When I know myself called, summoned, addressed, taken possession of, known, acted upon, I have heard the Master. I put myself gladly, fully, and forever at His disposal, and to whatever He says my answer is yes. "[15-16]

This past year was a year of me chasing my dreams and seizing opportunities that came my way. Looking back, I have many happy memories, but little of lasting value. In essence, I squandered my time, a precious gift from God, on things of this earth. I have learned some difficult lessons as a result of my empty pursuits, one of which is that a relationship with God is not something that you inherit, or receive by diffusion because you go to a great church or have a great family or are a generally all-around great person. Me being a nice person, a Sunday School teacher, or a persuasive evangelist has no influence on my salvation or whether or not I will spend eternity with God. The Bible makes it clear in Matthew 7:21-23 that there will be many claiming Christ as their Lord who face Him on the Day of Judgment and cry out "Lord, Lord," saying that they performed miracles and prophesied and cast out demons, and yet, what will the Lord say? Not "Great job, I'm so proud of you, you wonderful amazing person, enter in and receive your reward." On the contrary, Scripture makes it clear that these men and women will be turned away, as Christ says, "I never knew you." That's frightening to me. That's what has driven me to my knees in repentance, praying for another chance to live my life not according to man's definition of godliness, but according to the Bible's. Following in the footsteps of Christ and Christ alone.

And so this next year will be a year of learning what it means to walk as a child of God, a much humbled woman seeking what it means to be holy. I feel as though I'm starting from the very beginning, where even the "colloquial" John 3:16 has taken on a whole new meaning for me. There is a passage that several years ago I claimed as my "life's cry," and yet strove to fulfill in my own strength and ability. This coming year, I am committing to seek the strength of the Lord to make this a reality in my life, not by my strength, but by the power of God working in my heart.

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, 

the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, 

the decision has been made:

I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

I won’t look back, let up, slow down, 

back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, 

my present makes sense, 

my future is secure. 

I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, 

smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, 

worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, 

my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, 

my way is rough, my companions are few, 

my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. 

I won’t give up, shut up, let up 

until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up 

for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, 

preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me

and when He comes for His own, 

He will have no trouble recognizing me 

because my banner will have been clear.”

(http://wayofthemaster.com/confession.shtml)