As I have mentioned before, I live in a small college town of 27,000 in the Pacific Northwest. A little over a year ago, my family and I relocated from a Midwestern thriving metropolis. It is interesting to compare the differences between the two places. Due to the size (and downright craziness of some of the people that live there) of the Midwestern city, there is quite a bit of crime and homelessness. Please do not get me wrong, I know that there are millions of other factors, including the economy, that attribute to these things, but I do know that size is a major factor. Anyway, in my quaint little Pacific Northwestern town, there are no homeless people. . .well, there weren't any until now.
Recently, a 28-year old convicted rapist, who is homeless, has moved to our town. It is unbelieveable. . .all local university employees were notified of this sex offender's presence by e-mai; there was a blurb in the newspapers; and posters up at various establishments. Wow! That's pretty cool. In the Midwest, we were surrounded by approximately 20 registered sex offenders and for the longest, we didn't have a clue! I really appreciate the community making its residents aware of potential danger as I certainly do not want my children in the presence of a convicted rapist.
On the other hand, is that really "pretty cool"? I'm not sure how long he has been in town, but already, just about everyone knows of his existence and his status. Consider this man for a moment. . . He is a registered sex offender and so probably as a result, he is homeless, he is probably having difficulty finding a job. Perhaps, he just wanted to move someplace else and start over, has anyone even considered that? Probably not. . .we just hear "convicted rapist" or "registered sex offender" and the person is automatically shunned. I know this is controversial and I am not at all excusing his actions. But, I did a little investigation into his case. As it turns out, this man did not comb the streets looking for his next victim. Rather, this was an acquaitence-rape situation. It did not appear as though the woman was under-age, but that this was a question of whether there was consent or not. He said yes. She said no. By no means am I down-playing the seriousness of the crime. . ."no" means "no"!!
I guess what I am saying is I have mixed emotions about this whole thing. I have kids. I want them to be safe. But, I am also reminded of the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4 of the Holy Bible, that by the way, I just recently read to my kids. Jesus, a Jew, goes to a well in the city of Samaria, and asks a lady for a drink of water. She was stunned because back then, Jews had no dealings with Samaritans. He goes on to converse with her and tells her that He can offer her Living Water for He is the Messiah that she believed that was coming (my paraphrase). This woman was not only rejected by Jews because she was a Samaritan, but most likely she was ostracized by other Samaritans, as well, because of her lifestyle. She had had five husbands and the man with which she was living, at the time, was not her husband. Yet, Jesus spoke to her in love, kindness, gentleness, and I think it is safe to say. . .with forgiveness.
Hmmmm. . . . .how can we apply this? I know there are people who will struggle with this post. As evident in the title, I obviously do. But as Christians-followers of Christ-aren't we supposed to do what Jesus would do? Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God". So, what does that look like?
Just a little somethin' to get you thinkin'. . .
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Foundations
I live on a college campus and during the last school year, I worked out quite a bit at the outdoor track. The outdoor track is located just east of the football stadium and south of the fieldhouse. There is a space where all of those facilities meet that used to be a small parking lot. Okay, so much for that visual. . .trying to describe it is getting confusing even for me.
Anyway, shortly after the school year ended, the space was blocked off and suddenly, a really deep hole or pit appeared. There is some construction going on at the neighboring stadium, so it looked as though the workers were connecting some pipes or something. Like I said, the space in which they were working was really deep and they worked in that pit forever, it seemed like. Well, today, I went up to the track for the first time in several weeks and as it turns out, it looks like they have built a new restroom facility. My first impression was, "They went through all of that for another set of restrooms?" But then I saw it from a different perspective. How many of us are willing to do the really hard work or go through the tough times to insure that our foundations are solid?
The first example that comes to mind is rearing children. It can be tough trying to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, or as Proverbs 22:6 says, " Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Quite frankly, on some days, it wears me out! But, I have another example. . .
Lately, I have found myself getting a bit frustrated with God. I feel as though God has put all of these ministry/career ideas in my mind and on my heart, but I feel as though things are moving at the speed of molasses! I'm like, "Let's go, God! Let's get on with it (while snapping my fingers)". But I am reminded of Matthew 7:24, where Jesus says, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Like the restroom facility that has a solid foundation, I must be deeply rooted in Jesus and in the Word of God for any ministry/career idea to be really successful. And it is important to note that success is not and should not always be measured in terms of money.
I am also reminded of 1 Peter 5:6,7: Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. God loves me and He wants what is best for me, always. So, perhaps my roots are not deep enough. I know I can always dig deeper in the Word. One thing I know He has urged me to do is read the Bible in its entirety, something in all my years as a Christian I have not done (shame on me). Perhaps He is waiting for me to stop tryin' to run things and simply trust Him. I could go on, but I won't. One thing is for sure, in His timing, when my foundation is solid, completely rooted in Him, He will use me in ways I could not have imagined.
So, how is your "foundation" holding up? Is your "foundation" built on The Rock or is it built on the external and fleeting (i.e. money, good career, good looks, material possessions, etc.)? Is your reason for living to live for Christ by loving, serving and giving to others? Or, are you living to simply eat, drink, and be merry? Or, is there a struggle going on? Perhaps once upon a time, pleasing God was all you wanted to do, but slowly the pressures of the world have diverted your attention, causing "cracks" in your foundation. Remember, Jesus is here and if you're still here, it's not too late to call on Him.
Until next time, may you be encouraged!
Anyway, shortly after the school year ended, the space was blocked off and suddenly, a really deep hole or pit appeared. There is some construction going on at the neighboring stadium, so it looked as though the workers were connecting some pipes or something. Like I said, the space in which they were working was really deep and they worked in that pit forever, it seemed like. Well, today, I went up to the track for the first time in several weeks and as it turns out, it looks like they have built a new restroom facility. My first impression was, "They went through all of that for another set of restrooms?" But then I saw it from a different perspective. How many of us are willing to do the really hard work or go through the tough times to insure that our foundations are solid?
The first example that comes to mind is rearing children. It can be tough trying to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, or as Proverbs 22:6 says, " Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Quite frankly, on some days, it wears me out! But, I have another example. . .
Lately, I have found myself getting a bit frustrated with God. I feel as though God has put all of these ministry/career ideas in my mind and on my heart, but I feel as though things are moving at the speed of molasses! I'm like, "Let's go, God! Let's get on with it (while snapping my fingers)". But I am reminded of Matthew 7:24, where Jesus says, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Like the restroom facility that has a solid foundation, I must be deeply rooted in Jesus and in the Word of God for any ministry/career idea to be really successful. And it is important to note that success is not and should not always be measured in terms of money.
I am also reminded of 1 Peter 5:6,7: Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. God loves me and He wants what is best for me, always. So, perhaps my roots are not deep enough. I know I can always dig deeper in the Word. One thing I know He has urged me to do is read the Bible in its entirety, something in all my years as a Christian I have not done (shame on me). Perhaps He is waiting for me to stop tryin' to run things and simply trust Him. I could go on, but I won't. One thing is for sure, in His timing, when my foundation is solid, completely rooted in Him, He will use me in ways I could not have imagined.
So, how is your "foundation" holding up? Is your "foundation" built on The Rock or is it built on the external and fleeting (i.e. money, good career, good looks, material possessions, etc.)? Is your reason for living to live for Christ by loving, serving and giving to others? Or, are you living to simply eat, drink, and be merry? Or, is there a struggle going on? Perhaps once upon a time, pleasing God was all you wanted to do, but slowly the pressures of the world have diverted your attention, causing "cracks" in your foundation. Remember, Jesus is here and if you're still here, it's not too late to call on Him.
Until next time, may you be encouraged!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Are You Ready?
Recently, I received an email notifying me that a fellow college alumnus had died. His name sounded familiar to me, so I looked up his obituary. I realized that while we also graduated from the same high school, he was a bit older than me and so our paths never crossed. From reading the obituary and the brief news article, he was a young man; he seemed to have a rewarding career; and he appeared to be loved by many. According to the newspaper, he was traveling on a motorcycle (and wearing a helmet) at about 30 mph when he came to a sudden stop. His rear tire went up and ejected him from the bike. It does not appear as though there were any another vehicles involved. He seemed to be doing everything right. He took the necessary safety precautions by wearing a helmet and not speeding. But, while he survived the accident, he died later at the hospital. My question is: was he ready to go and meet his Creator? I am not suggesting that he was not, I am just wondering if he was? So often I think we get in our heads, "I'm young", "I have a family", or "I'm this or that. God surely would not end my life now." I have certainly been guilty of that way of thinking. But the fact is tomorrow is not promised for any of us, so we need to make an important choice on this side of eternity. Are you ready to meet Him? Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation? If not, what are you waiting for?
Friday, June 27, 2008
This is not my home. . .
I lived in the Midwest for over three decades. . .until last summer when my family and I moved to the Pacific Northwest so my husband could attend graduate school. What an adventure! What a leap of faith!!
It has been a wonderful experience. I had never been to this state, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful rolling hills, the mountains, and just the lush-ness of the region. On a sunny spring day, it is not uncommon to think to oneself, "Ahh, indeed, this is God's country ". That didn't take much getting used to at all, however, the inches-upon-inches of snow, this past winter, did. But more than that, there is something that I'm still wrestling with. . .and that is the transience of the town in which I live. For someone who lived in the same city all of her life, except during the college years (yes, I was on the 5-year plan), I was not prepared for this. I live in a small college town on campus, so I expected student families to come and go. Or, so I thought. I guess I figured that everyone we met would be here for the same length of time as us. Uhhh. . . no, that is not the case. We have not been here a full year yet and we know of nine families who have moved or will be moving soon. Four of those are non-student families. One family is even moving to another country! And these are people that I have gotten to know and appreciate. I'm not the most outgoing person, so it is rather difficult for me to make friends. The friendships I have (from the Midwest) took years to cultivate into what they are now. So, what's a girl to do? While I do love it here, I'm almost afraid to lay down any roots, because we plan to move again once my husband graduates and I'll just have to cut them (the roots). . .yet again. Well, I had to take this situation to the Lord in prayer, because, believe it or not, this kind of thing can be rather traumatic.
Through His Word and various sermons, I felt the Lord reminding me that this is not my home. Not the Pacific Northwest. Not the Midwest, either. This earth is not my home. Heaven is. So, any roots I lay down anywhere on this earth will be cut or plucked up when I leave it, and only He knows when that will be. Yet, we were created to be in community with one another. . .to encourage one another, to support one another, even if only for a season. So my "solution" is really not a solution. Instead, I am reminded to continue in God's work; to trust Him in the areas in which I am being "stretched", knowing that He will be there for me when "it" is hard, or when "it" gets to be too much to take, or I'm just sad when He moves another person/family to take on another "assignment" somewhere else. Now, that's not really what I wanted to hear, but I'll take it. . .because I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
My point is that it is so easy to get caught up into the things of this world, good and bad, but it is imperative to keep in mind that this is all temporary. Don't stop what you're doing, unless it is not pleasing to God, but rather do what you're doing as unto the Lord and do what you're doing in light of eternity.
It has been a wonderful experience. I had never been to this state, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful rolling hills, the mountains, and just the lush-ness of the region. On a sunny spring day, it is not uncommon to think to oneself, "Ahh, indeed, this is God's country ". That didn't take much getting used to at all, however, the inches-upon-inches of snow, this past winter, did. But more than that, there is something that I'm still wrestling with. . .and that is the transience of the town in which I live. For someone who lived in the same city all of her life, except during the college years (yes, I was on the 5-year plan), I was not prepared for this. I live in a small college town on campus, so I expected student families to come and go. Or, so I thought. I guess I figured that everyone we met would be here for the same length of time as us. Uhhh. . . no, that is not the case. We have not been here a full year yet and we know of nine families who have moved or will be moving soon. Four of those are non-student families. One family is even moving to another country! And these are people that I have gotten to know and appreciate. I'm not the most outgoing person, so it is rather difficult for me to make friends. The friendships I have (from the Midwest) took years to cultivate into what they are now. So, what's a girl to do? While I do love it here, I'm almost afraid to lay down any roots, because we plan to move again once my husband graduates and I'll just have to cut them (the roots). . .yet again. Well, I had to take this situation to the Lord in prayer, because, believe it or not, this kind of thing can be rather traumatic.
Through His Word and various sermons, I felt the Lord reminding me that this is not my home. Not the Pacific Northwest. Not the Midwest, either. This earth is not my home. Heaven is. So, any roots I lay down anywhere on this earth will be cut or plucked up when I leave it, and only He knows when that will be. Yet, we were created to be in community with one another. . .to encourage one another, to support one another, even if only for a season. So my "solution" is really not a solution. Instead, I am reminded to continue in God's work; to trust Him in the areas in which I am being "stretched", knowing that He will be there for me when "it" is hard, or when "it" gets to be too much to take, or I'm just sad when He moves another person/family to take on another "assignment" somewhere else. Now, that's not really what I wanted to hear, but I'll take it. . .because I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
My point is that it is so easy to get caught up into the things of this world, good and bad, but it is imperative to keep in mind that this is all temporary. Don't stop what you're doing, unless it is not pleasing to God, but rather do what you're doing as unto the Lord and do what you're doing in light of eternity.
Suggestion: Take a look and a listen to the lyrics of "Not Home Yet" by Stephen Curtis Chapman.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A Call to Action
Last weekend, I was in the mood to watch a movie, but not in the mood to spend $5 to rent one. So, I checked the TV listings and saw that "The Last Days of Left Eye" was on. Perhaps you've heard of Left Eye. She was the "L" of the all-girl group, TLC. Or, perhaps you know her, from the tabloids, as Lisa Lopes, her legal name. I was fond of TLC when their first album came out in the early 90's ( I was in college at the time). They seemed to represent a new kind of "girl power", however, they were a bit outspoken when it came to sexual issues. . .a bit too liberal for my taste. Anyway, as time passed, my interests in music changed and I didn't listen to them anymore, but I would hear, from time-to-time, about the troubles of the group like bankruptcy, for example. I would also hear of Lisa's run-ins with the law and issues with her NFL-player-boyfriend (at the time), Andre Rison. To be honest, I would read the stories, make my judgemental comments about celebrities who ain't never had nothin' runnin' through their money and then filing for bankruptcy. Or, I'd comment on that crazy Lisa Lopes setting her boyfriend's house on fire. And when the media suspected that alcohol was involved in the car accident that took her life, I just assumed it was true and shook my head in disappointment.
Well, out of curiosity, I watched "The Last Days of Left Eye". It was a video diary of her last 26 days of life. You see, Lisa took her family and some friends down to Honduras, a place that she frequented for rest and relaxation, for a 30-day retreat. They were not at some plush beachfront resort. They were straight up in the BUSH!! The purpose of the retreat was to do some cleansing-physically and spiritually. During that time, Lisa had hoped to film the diary so that people would understand her a bit better. While the documentary turned out to be a pleasant surprise in some aspects, in that, I realized that she wasn't the person that the tabloids had made her out to be. After watching it, I was deeply saddened. . .
You see, what I came away with was that Lisa Lopes was a person like you and me. . .tryin' to make through this thing called life. She grew up in a not-so-good situation. Her father was a strict disciplinarian and her mother was verbally and physically abused by him. After their divorce, Lisa and her siblings lived with their mom, but later, they went to live with their paternal grandmother, which Lisa describes as "Mommie Dearest" (and she was not exaggerating when she said that). After running away several times, she left her grandmother's home for the last time at age 17 to seek her fortune in Atlanta with $750 in her pocket. Shortly after that, TLC was born. One would think that after becoming a star with money and fame that everything else that was bad would just disappear. I have no idea why we think that. . .I've been guilty of that too, but that is certainly not the case. Lisa battled alcoholism. Her relationship with Andre Rison was unhealthy to say the least, but can you blame her? What role-models did she have?
Lisa did some wonderful things. She cared for the people (the children, in particular) of Honduras. At the time of her death, she was in the process of creating a educational/community center for some children in Honduras She adopted a little girl in an effort to help the birth mother take care of the child. She sought out new musical talent in hopes of educating them on the pros and cons of the music business. She felt as though she had learned so much from her experiences.
Unfortunately, Lisa Lopes practiced Numerology and Astrology, which is associated with the occult, and that's what saddened me most. As a Christian, I know that there is an afterlife. Eternity does exist, but we must choose, while we are here on earth, where we will spend it. If we accept God's free, precious gift of salvation that comes only through Jesus, we will spend eternity or eternal life in Heaven with God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). If one rejects this gift, one will spend eternity in Hell (a very real place with Satan and his angels). It's that simple. One's salvation isn't dependent on how good one is, how nice one is, how giving one is, or on whether or not one's mother is saved. Every one must make a choice-on this side. . .afterwards is too late. I didn't know Lisa or her heart, only God knows a person's heart, but based on His Word, if she had not accepted Jesus' gift of salvation, she could very well be living in Hell even as I am blogging. That saddens me because while I was making judgments about her, I should have been praying for her. Not "Oh Lord, please save this heathen girl", but "Lord, here is someone who appears to be lost, like I was (like I still act sometimes), please send someone or somebodies to her who will show her Your love and lead her to You."
So, now I'm examining my life. . .what am I doing to advance God's kingdom? Am I willing to step outside my comfort zone to lead souls to Him? Am I really living my life so that when people see me they see Jesus ? When I wake up every morning, am I focused on eternity? As in, this may be my last day on earth, am I doing all I can to impact God's Kingdom, today? Or, am I just concerned with getting through my to-do list? My friends, time is winding up. People are dying and going to Hell everyday. In the immortal words of Dap (Laurence Fishburne's character from Spike Lee's movie, School Daze), "Wake up!" It's time for me to get busy. It's time for all of us to get busy!
Well, out of curiosity, I watched "The Last Days of Left Eye". It was a video diary of her last 26 days of life. You see, Lisa took her family and some friends down to Honduras, a place that she frequented for rest and relaxation, for a 30-day retreat. They were not at some plush beachfront resort. They were straight up in the BUSH!! The purpose of the retreat was to do some cleansing-physically and spiritually. During that time, Lisa had hoped to film the diary so that people would understand her a bit better. While the documentary turned out to be a pleasant surprise in some aspects, in that, I realized that she wasn't the person that the tabloids had made her out to be. After watching it, I was deeply saddened. . .
You see, what I came away with was that Lisa Lopes was a person like you and me. . .tryin' to make through this thing called life. She grew up in a not-so-good situation. Her father was a strict disciplinarian and her mother was verbally and physically abused by him. After their divorce, Lisa and her siblings lived with their mom, but later, they went to live with their paternal grandmother, which Lisa describes as "Mommie Dearest" (and she was not exaggerating when she said that). After running away several times, she left her grandmother's home for the last time at age 17 to seek her fortune in Atlanta with $750 in her pocket. Shortly after that, TLC was born. One would think that after becoming a star with money and fame that everything else that was bad would just disappear. I have no idea why we think that. . .I've been guilty of that too, but that is certainly not the case. Lisa battled alcoholism. Her relationship with Andre Rison was unhealthy to say the least, but can you blame her? What role-models did she have?
Lisa did some wonderful things. She cared for the people (the children, in particular) of Honduras. At the time of her death, she was in the process of creating a educational/community center for some children in Honduras She adopted a little girl in an effort to help the birth mother take care of the child. She sought out new musical talent in hopes of educating them on the pros and cons of the music business. She felt as though she had learned so much from her experiences.
Unfortunately, Lisa Lopes practiced Numerology and Astrology, which is associated with the occult, and that's what saddened me most. As a Christian, I know that there is an afterlife. Eternity does exist, but we must choose, while we are here on earth, where we will spend it. If we accept God's free, precious gift of salvation that comes only through Jesus, we will spend eternity or eternal life in Heaven with God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). If one rejects this gift, one will spend eternity in Hell (a very real place with Satan and his angels). It's that simple. One's salvation isn't dependent on how good one is, how nice one is, how giving one is, or on whether or not one's mother is saved. Every one must make a choice-on this side. . .afterwards is too late. I didn't know Lisa or her heart, only God knows a person's heart, but based on His Word, if she had not accepted Jesus' gift of salvation, she could very well be living in Hell even as I am blogging. That saddens me because while I was making judgments about her, I should have been praying for her. Not "Oh Lord, please save this heathen girl", but "Lord, here is someone who appears to be lost, like I was (like I still act sometimes), please send someone or somebodies to her who will show her Your love and lead her to You."
So, now I'm examining my life. . .what am I doing to advance God's kingdom? Am I willing to step outside my comfort zone to lead souls to Him? Am I really living my life so that when people see me they see Jesus ? When I wake up every morning, am I focused on eternity? As in, this may be my last day on earth, am I doing all I can to impact God's Kingdom, today? Or, am I just concerned with getting through my to-do list? My friends, time is winding up. People are dying and going to Hell everyday. In the immortal words of Dap (Laurence Fishburne's character from Spike Lee's movie, School Daze), "Wake up!" It's time for me to get busy. It's time for all of us to get busy!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
I absolutely love a good makeover!
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for makeovers. It all started with the Merle Norman advertisements (I know some of you are like, "Who's that?"), then, it (the obsession) moved to before and after pictures, on Oprah, of people who lost lots of weight (and kept if off). From there, it moved to Extreme Makeover-both people and home editions-and now, since we have cable, I have become a fan of Stacy and Clinton, from TLC's What Not to Wear. But more than that, I am most impressed when an "internal makeover" occurs.
Last week, I read in the New York Times about David Tyree of the Super Bowl-winning, New York Giants. I have no idea what position he plays (so don't ask me). As a matter of fact, before last Monday, I didn't even know he existed! Anyway, his story moved me. Although Tyree was a good ball player and was drafted in 2003, he spent much of his pre-NFL life abusing drugs and alcohol. This continued after he began playing for the Giants. Eventually, he took on a second job as a drug dealer; however, that career didn't last long because it landed him in jail. In early 2004, after leaving jail, he decided to make a change. Unfortunately, this is where many of the makeover stories end. . .the people are changed and then run off into the sunset. But, there's more. . .
Tyree rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. As a result, he realized that he was not put on this earth to simply play football and enjoy the lifestyle that a 6 or 7-figure salary can afford. He seems to realize that his greater calling is to use his position as a catalyst for change in others. The writers explain that while Tyree has gained fame from making possibly the greatest catch in the history of the Super Bowl, he remains more concerned with changing lives. Tyree and his wife started Next in Line, a project that counsels teenagers. I don't know about you, but I think that is absolutely wonderful!
At a time, when we are bombarded by political rhetoric, news of economic woes, earthquakes everywhere and tragedy at every turn-home and abroad, it is nice to hear of some good that is taking place in the world. Be encouraged, hearts are still being changed for Him, one at a time!
Notes
Bishop, G. & Thamel, P. (2008, February 11). Spotlight shines on a changed man.
The New York Times, pp. D1, D4.
Last week, I read in the New York Times about David Tyree of the Super Bowl-winning, New York Giants. I have no idea what position he plays (so don't ask me). As a matter of fact, before last Monday, I didn't even know he existed! Anyway, his story moved me. Although Tyree was a good ball player and was drafted in 2003, he spent much of his pre-NFL life abusing drugs and alcohol. This continued after he began playing for the Giants. Eventually, he took on a second job as a drug dealer; however, that career didn't last long because it landed him in jail. In early 2004, after leaving jail, he decided to make a change. Unfortunately, this is where many of the makeover stories end. . .the people are changed and then run off into the sunset. But, there's more. . .
Tyree rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. As a result, he realized that he was not put on this earth to simply play football and enjoy the lifestyle that a 6 or 7-figure salary can afford. He seems to realize that his greater calling is to use his position as a catalyst for change in others. The writers explain that while Tyree has gained fame from making possibly the greatest catch in the history of the Super Bowl, he remains more concerned with changing lives. Tyree and his wife started Next in Line, a project that counsels teenagers. I don't know about you, but I think that is absolutely wonderful!
At a time, when we are bombarded by political rhetoric, news of economic woes, earthquakes everywhere and tragedy at every turn-home and abroad, it is nice to hear of some good that is taking place in the world. Be encouraged, hearts are still being changed for Him, one at a time!
Notes
Bishop, G. & Thamel, P. (2008, February 11). Spotlight shines on a changed man.
The New York Times, pp. D1, D4.
Friday, February 8, 2008
A Life Lesson. . .Taught by a 4-Year Old
I must admit , while I always wanted to have children, I never had a clue as to how much joy they would bring to my life. My kids are always making me laugh. And you know what they say about laughter. . .it is good for the soul.
Yesterday my 4-year old said (out of the blue) as I was helping her get dressed, "Mommy, I'm brown". I said (while wondering where on earth this was coming from), "Well, yes. . .you are brown". Then referring to her sister, she said, "She's yellow". I giggled because she was just callin' it as she saw it. My husband and I have never talked to her directly about race or ethnicity, so it was interesting that she was just now noticing the differences in skin color. So, then I started asking her about different people we know, "What about Daddy?". "He's brown", she said. I asked about her teachers. "She's yellow. He's brown." Then, I said, "What about Mommy?" She paused, put her hand on my face (turning it both ways as if to get a good look at me), and said, "What is it, Mommy? What is it?". Oh my goodness, I laughed so hard. You see, my skin color is just a bit lighter than hers, but darker than her sister's skin; and I have freckles on my face or "circles" as she calls them. It was a bit difficult for her to figure it all out. Anyway, I said, "Mommy's brown". She said "Yes, Mommy's brown", as if to say, "Yea, that's the ticket!"
The really cool thing (one of many) about my 4-year old is that while she notices the differences in skin color, to her, it's like pointing out the colors of the rainbow-"Hey, there's red, there's purple. . .and isn't that neat?" -and that's it. The differences do not affect who she talks to or with whom she plays. It does not affect who she holds hands with or who she hugs. Her nightly prayer list consists of people from all kinds of different racial backgrounds. She loves everyone!
Perhaps we (including myself) could all take a lesson from my 4-year old. Think about it, what would the world be like if we actually obeyed God and we loved our neighbors (regardless of their skin color) as ourselves? How awesome would that be?!
I am also reminded of a children's book, God Makes Us Different, by Helen Caswell. The last page of the book reads, "So I guess God makes our outsides all different , just for fun. But he makes our insides all alike, and He loves us, every one". Hmmm, unconditional love. . .what a concept!
Yesterday my 4-year old said (out of the blue) as I was helping her get dressed, "Mommy, I'm brown". I said (while wondering where on earth this was coming from), "Well, yes. . .you are brown". Then referring to her sister, she said, "She's yellow". I giggled because she was just callin' it as she saw it. My husband and I have never talked to her directly about race or ethnicity, so it was interesting that she was just now noticing the differences in skin color. So, then I started asking her about different people we know, "What about Daddy?". "He's brown", she said. I asked about her teachers. "She's yellow. He's brown." Then, I said, "What about Mommy?" She paused, put her hand on my face (turning it both ways as if to get a good look at me), and said, "What is it, Mommy? What is it?". Oh my goodness, I laughed so hard. You see, my skin color is just a bit lighter than hers, but darker than her sister's skin; and I have freckles on my face or "circles" as she calls them. It was a bit difficult for her to figure it all out. Anyway, I said, "Mommy's brown". She said "Yes, Mommy's brown", as if to say, "Yea, that's the ticket!"
The really cool thing (one of many) about my 4-year old is that while she notices the differences in skin color, to her, it's like pointing out the colors of the rainbow-"Hey, there's red, there's purple. . .and isn't that neat?" -and that's it. The differences do not affect who she talks to or with whom she plays. It does not affect who she holds hands with or who she hugs. Her nightly prayer list consists of people from all kinds of different racial backgrounds. She loves everyone!
Perhaps we (including myself) could all take a lesson from my 4-year old. Think about it, what would the world be like if we actually obeyed God and we loved our neighbors (regardless of their skin color) as ourselves? How awesome would that be?!
I am also reminded of a children's book, God Makes Us Different, by Helen Caswell. The last page of the book reads, "So I guess God makes our outsides all different , just for fun. But he makes our insides all alike, and He loves us, every one". Hmmm, unconditional love. . .what a concept!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Some pre-Super Bowl thoughts. . .after the fact
Let me first preface this by congratulating Eli Manning and the New York Giants on winning the Super Bowl. I'm sorry that the Indianapolis Colts did not have the chance to repeat their 2007 Super Bowl win, but at least the brother of our Quarterback (If you haven't yet read my profile. . .I'm a Hoosier) won his Super Bowl ring instead.
Anyway, as I was alone with my thoughts last weekend, I thought about the millions of people who were preparing to watch the Super Bowl. Some paid upwards of $10, 000-$25,000 (or more) to attend the Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. While others spent hundred of dollars (or even thousands) in food and drinks to host parties at their homes to watch the game on their 50"+ flat screen TV's.
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not hatin' on those who were able to attend the Super Bowl or to host parties. Quite frankly, if I had the opportunity to go, I would have. With all of the snow we have received here lately, in southeastern Washington, some time in the "Valley of the Sun" would have been a welcomed change of atmosphere. But with all of the hype, I can't help but wonder how many of us are ready for the final "Super Bowl"?
What do I mean by the "Final Super Bowl", you ask? While some view it as a game, it isn't. However, there are two teams involved-Jesus vs. Satan-and the most important fact about this "match" is that the winning team has already been decided. Can you guess who is going to win?
Well, I'll just cut to the chase-Jesus is the winner. Folks, believe it or not, Jesus is the Son of God and He is coming back to get those of us who have committed our lives to playing on His team by accepting His free gift of salvation. This group will be going to Heaven upon His return. Those who do not commit to Him or reject His gift, will be going to Hell-plain and simple. Those are not my words (well, it is my paraphrase), but the words of God in the Holy Bible.
With all of the preparations that we go through for the Super Bowl, shouldn't we be even more vigilant about preparing for our eternal home? Just a few thoughts. . .
If you are interested in knowing how to start a relationship with Jesus, take a look (below) at the "Road to Salvation":
The Road to Salvation. . .
a) Know that the Triune God (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) exists and is perfect. (Genesis 1:26; Leviticus 11:44; 2 Samuel 22:31; 1 Peter 1:16)
b) Understand that as descendents of Adam and Eve, we were born sinful people. Our sin was inherited. (Genesis 3: 2-3, 6, 16-20)
c) Understand that in and of ourselves, we do not have the ability to get rid of our sin. (Romans 3:23' Ephesians 2:8,9)
d) Jesus, the perfect, sinless Son of God, was sacrificed (died) on the cross, so that all of our sins would no longer exist in the sight of God. (Acts 10:43; Hebrews 9:22)
e) Understand that the pentalty of our sin is death-eternal punishment in Hell which was created for Satan and his angels. (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 14:12-15)
f) Know that three days after Jesus died, He rose from the dead, to demonstrate His victory over death. (Acts 2:31)
g) In order to receive salvation, thereby avoiding eternal punishment in Hell, but living forever in Heaven with God; we must believe in our hearts that He did indeed die to take away our sins. (John 3:16; John 11:25-27; John 14:6)
h) By believing or accepting Jesus' sacrifice as a personal gift, He becomes our Savior. Out of our love and appreciation, we choose to live our lives to please Him, rather than ourselves. (Mark 12:29-31; Romans 12:1, 2, 9-21; Matthew 16:24-27)
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I can be reached at bloggermomof2@gmail.com. Until next time. . .
Anyway, as I was alone with my thoughts last weekend, I thought about the millions of people who were preparing to watch the Super Bowl. Some paid upwards of $10, 000-$25,000 (or more) to attend the Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. While others spent hundred of dollars (or even thousands) in food and drinks to host parties at their homes to watch the game on their 50"+ flat screen TV's.
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not hatin' on those who were able to attend the Super Bowl or to host parties. Quite frankly, if I had the opportunity to go, I would have. With all of the snow we have received here lately, in southeastern Washington, some time in the "Valley of the Sun" would have been a welcomed change of atmosphere. But with all of the hype, I can't help but wonder how many of us are ready for the final "Super Bowl"?
What do I mean by the "Final Super Bowl", you ask? While some view it as a game, it isn't. However, there are two teams involved-Jesus vs. Satan-and the most important fact about this "match" is that the winning team has already been decided. Can you guess who is going to win?
Well, I'll just cut to the chase-Jesus is the winner. Folks, believe it or not, Jesus is the Son of God and He is coming back to get those of us who have committed our lives to playing on His team by accepting His free gift of salvation. This group will be going to Heaven upon His return. Those who do not commit to Him or reject His gift, will be going to Hell-plain and simple. Those are not my words (well, it is my paraphrase), but the words of God in the Holy Bible.
With all of the preparations that we go through for the Super Bowl, shouldn't we be even more vigilant about preparing for our eternal home? Just a few thoughts. . .
If you are interested in knowing how to start a relationship with Jesus, take a look (below) at the "Road to Salvation":
The Road to Salvation. . .
a) Know that the Triune God (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) exists and is perfect. (Genesis 1:26; Leviticus 11:44; 2 Samuel 22:31; 1 Peter 1:16)
b) Understand that as descendents of Adam and Eve, we were born sinful people. Our sin was inherited. (Genesis 3: 2-3, 6, 16-20)
c) Understand that in and of ourselves, we do not have the ability to get rid of our sin. (Romans 3:23' Ephesians 2:8,9)
d) Jesus, the perfect, sinless Son of God, was sacrificed (died) on the cross, so that all of our sins would no longer exist in the sight of God. (Acts 10:43; Hebrews 9:22)
e) Understand that the pentalty of our sin is death-eternal punishment in Hell which was created for Satan and his angels. (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 14:12-15)
f) Know that three days after Jesus died, He rose from the dead, to demonstrate His victory over death. (Acts 2:31)
g) In order to receive salvation, thereby avoiding eternal punishment in Hell, but living forever in Heaven with God; we must believe in our hearts that He did indeed die to take away our sins. (John 3:16; John 11:25-27; John 14:6)
h) By believing or accepting Jesus' sacrifice as a personal gift, He becomes our Savior. Out of our love and appreciation, we choose to live our lives to please Him, rather than ourselves. (Mark 12:29-31; Romans 12:1, 2, 9-21; Matthew 16:24-27)
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I can be reached at bloggermomof2@gmail.com. Until next time. . .
Sunday, January 20, 2008
welcome
Since becoming a stay-at-home mom in 2002, I have developed a desire to write and through my writing to encourage others. Realizing that I'm more of a jack-of-all trades kinda girl, rather than a master of anything in particular (although my graduate degree says otherwise), I had a tough time deciding what I would write about (and yep, I just ended a sentence with a preposition). Then, I was introduced to "blogging" and I discovered that I could write about absolutely anything!
My goal , however, is not merely to write, but to write with a purpose -to encourage, to inform, to inspire, to motivate. . .so that all my know Him. Who is "Him", you ask? Him is Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the World! As one who has personally accepted His free gift of salvation (as a result of Him dying on the cross for my sins), my life is dedicated to glorifying God in all that I do. In Colossians 3:17 of the Holy Bible, it reads, "And whatever you do in world or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father through Him (NKJV)". So, I may write about something I have learned through personal experience (as a mom of a 6-year old and a 4-year old, I'm always learning something new). I may write about a book I have read, a movie I have seen, or just whatever pops into my head on a given day. Maybe by reading this blog, you will be introduced to Jesus or maybe you already have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Savior and Lord of your life and in need of a little inspiration. Whatever the case, my hope is that He would be glorified and you would be encouraged. I hope you will check in from time to time.
My goal , however, is not merely to write, but to write with a purpose -to encourage, to inform, to inspire, to motivate. . .so that all my know Him. Who is "Him", you ask? Him is Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the World! As one who has personally accepted His free gift of salvation (as a result of Him dying on the cross for my sins), my life is dedicated to glorifying God in all that I do. In Colossians 3:17 of the Holy Bible, it reads, "And whatever you do in world or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father through Him (NKJV)". So, I may write about something I have learned through personal experience (as a mom of a 6-year old and a 4-year old, I'm always learning something new). I may write about a book I have read, a movie I have seen, or just whatever pops into my head on a given day. Maybe by reading this blog, you will be introduced to Jesus or maybe you already have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Savior and Lord of your life and in need of a little inspiration. Whatever the case, my hope is that He would be glorified and you would be encouraged. I hope you will check in from time to time.
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