Boxes and Unexpected Gifts

"Then they did... what?" I find myself stopping and asking questions like that while studying to prepare Bible Class materials. I stop often to look back over the verses with my husband, both of us dumbfounded by some of the things we find in the Bible. There are some pretty odd things in there. A dream about a barley loaf knocking over a tent. A goat appearing in a bush just before a fatal sacrifice. And how about the Israelite people who were constantly doubting that God knew how to take care of them, even though He had made it clear over and over?

One thing that is so glaringly obvious about the Old Testament is how God's people repented and fell again, repented and fell again, and so on. And how they seemed to forget God and what He had done for them. I sometimes laugh a little at the Israelites who, after being saved from the Egyptians in nothing less than a miraculous way, are complaining and whining and doubting God just a few chapters later.

But I do that. Today I realized how much people stay the same. And how much God stays the same.

Our decision to move back to Colorado has brought so much joy, and so much stress. As does any life changing decision. There are "pros and cons", happy things and sad things. I have allowed the ups and downs of the whole moving process to get to me at times. My husband can bear witness to that.

We truly believe that we belong in Colorado right now, near our families, and we are thankful that we are able to make the move back. We are also thankful for our year in Florida, because without it our lives would be missing so many good things (and people!). We made a prayerful decision and went for it. Yet sometimes I doubt that God has it under control. How silly. How short-sighted.

A few weeks ago the fact that we had no boxes to pack in worried me slightly. I commented to Alan that night that I wondered where we would ever get enough boxes to get our stuff to Colorado. Looking back, it was a silly thought and a needless worry. At the moment it didn't seem like it. I went to sleep wondering about boxes.

The next day I parked in my normal spot at work and looked at the recycle bin next to me. It was overflowing with big, sturdy, new computer boxes with handles. I was told to take what I wanted. I loaded up and filled my car with even more the next day. Those computer boxes KEEP showing up in the recycle bin, along with plenty of other box varieties. Maybe it seems like an unimportant thing for God to spend His time thinking about. But you can't tell me that a dumb little worry that only I and my husband knew I had was solved the very next morning at my parking spot, and God had nothing to do with it. I think He had everything to do with it. And I was humbled to realize how much He cares about the "small" things and how He 100% totally has my move under control.

For a while, I was at peace. But a few chapters later...

I find myself thinking about different aspects of the move, stressing some, worrying a little. I promise I really am excited, but the ins and outs of the whole thing do take some juggling. Last night I had a particular concern that kind of bummed me out. I went to bed a little sad that something hadn't worked out, rather than praising God for the boxes.

Today at work someone blessed me with a wonderful gift that directly halts the concern I went to bed with. After being blessed with this unexpected gift, I was so filled with faith and conviction. I knew that God knew what He was doing and had everything under control. I then went into one of the kindergarten classes at work a little teary eyed, and mumbled an excuse about my tears when the teacher asked if I was okay. Then I cut out what seemed like a thousand president hats.

I came home and told my husband about my excitement, and I called my parents to tell them too. Then I remembered the boxes. And I felt like a wandering Israelite, always unsure and complaining even though God has revealed Himself so many times. I hope that a few chapters later I will finally have grown up and have full confidence in God's plan for my life, even in the "small" things like shoes not wearing out in the wilderness or a pile of nice boxes laying next to a parking spot.

Chicken Enchiladas and Mother's Day

In my childhood days, Chicken Enchiladas were the tastiest and most wonderful food in the world. When my mom and dad were young newly weds in college, they were invited to supper at a family's home. They were served Chicken Enchiladas and loved them, so they asked for the recipe. They became my mom's "company meal" and I have many fond memories that include Chicken Enchiladas.

I remember the Chicken Enchilada assembly line made up of my mom, my sister, and me. Someone would put on the sauce, someone would put on the filling, then someone would roll them up and put them in the pan. I liked being the "roller". The next few hours would be spent making the house look nice for company the next day and setting the table pretty.

When the company did arrive, a beautiful meal would be set before them and hours of conversation and fellowship would follow. My siblings and I always looked forward to Chicken Enchilada days.

I just finished making a batch of Chicken Enchiladas for company tomorrow. It wasn't quite the same without the assembly line. But it brought a lot of good memories to mind. And it made me think about the things I learned from my mom. It seems like an appropriate time to write about them, since it's Mother's Day week.

My mom taught me many things throughout the years, from character lessons to special company recipes. But a few things especially come to mind today.

My mom taught me to live by my convictions, even when it's hard and the people around you aren't supportive. My mom lived by her convictions, especially in the way she raised her children. It was not an easy lifestyle, but it was peaceful. She taught me that no matter how hard it is to live a lifestyle of conviction, God will give you peace if you will just obey Him. Thanks to her willingness to persevere, she now has a legacy of children who share and live by the convictions she established by obeying God and His Word.

My mom taught me that my worth as a person does not come from my physical accomplishments, but from my spiritual accomplishments. She taught me that my pursuits should revolve solely around God's desire for my life, and that my talents and interests could be developed for His purposes. Sometimes the world will look down on you for not following the commonly accepted path to success, but what matters is what God sees.

My mom taught me to love the church. In an age of church bashing and making fun of the truth, she stands by her preacher-husband as he speaks the truth and does his best to live by it. She was in the midst of disagreements and challenges in the church, but stayed and continued loving Christ's bride. She builds up and encourages the saints at Pleasant Valley and finds ways to encourage other preacher's wives and young mothers. For almost 25 years she has been serving the Pleasant Valley congregation as the preacher's wife and she truly loves the friends and family there.

My mom taught me to love children. Through foster care and adoption, she touched many lives and taught many little ones about Jesus. I was lucky enough to be born into her home, others were lucky enough to be influenced by her for a few years, months, or days. Children are precious in God's eyes, and influencing the life of a child brings eternal results. My mom taught me to see children as the blessings that they are, and that when my time comes I should fully embrace the role of mother.

My mom taught me that femininity is not old fashioned or out of date. She taught me that being feminine is the role God gave to women, and that submission is power and not weakness. She showed me what it looks like to be a keeper and home and to put family first.

My mom taught me that the simple life is the best life. Life is not just about pursuing money, education, and bigger and better things... but about loving the simplicity of every day life and being joyful and content in whatever circumstance you are in.

My mom taught me that wearing aprons is cool, tea parties are not just for little girls, dolls can be collected over a lifetime, and sarcasm is a form of communication. She taught me that clothes lines are better than dryers, shopping is a form of exercise, and that the people in your family can truly be your best friends.

And in case you were wondering, Chicken Enchiladas are still the tastiest and most wonderful food in the world. So as I made some today, I shed a few quiet tears (and not just because the onions were strong). I'm thankful for my mom, the friend she is to me, the childhood she gave me, the lessons she taught me, and the memories she provided me with. I do not get to spend this Mother's Day with her, but on Sunday my husband and I will enjoy a special Mother's Day meal of Chicken Enchiladas, in honor of mom. I love you.

For the Young Ladies

I am not usually a very teary-eyed person. Lately, I have found myself on the verge of crying almost all the time. I think this has something to do with the fact that I am leaving 4 of the 5 people I love most in this world. I am not leaving the relationships, but I'm leaving the closeness with them physically- heading across the country to begin a new journey with my husband. While we may return as soon as 16 months after we leave, it still seems like an unimaginable separation to me.

Being married is a wonderful blessing and I am thankful every day for God's timing in giving me the man I will spend my life with. So many things lined up perfectly to show us that it really was God who brought us together at this time, for His purpose. My life up until marriage was lived with the hope of becoming a wife and mother, and God has abundantly blessed me by putting Alan in my life. So sometimes I wonder what's wrong with me. Why am I so sad to leave my family when God has given me the very thing I spent my life asking for? Today I've been thinking about it, and I think instead of something being wrong, something is very RIGHT.

My parents, and my siblings, have nurtured an environment in our home that makes it very difficult to leave. As a teen, I had no desire to "find myself" or "spread my wings". I didn't dream about days of independence to come. I always believed that God had placed me exactly where I belonged- in my family. As a sixteen year old I made the decision that I would remain with them until marriage. They gave me a home so wonderful that my only desire was to be a part of it, and to someday nurture my own home and family in the same way. I knew that even if God never chose to give me a husband and children, I would have a place to belong and a family to serve alongside.

I have come to appreciate the power of a daughter serving alongside her parents and family. I have been asked in recent years if I ever regret the decision not to go to college. Staying with my family presented many more opportunities for me personally than the college campus would have, given my life goals. I was able to seek educational opportunities from home, as I have my whole life. I was able to spend that many more years with my church family at Pleasant Valley, nurturing relationships with the brothers and sisters there longer than would otherwise have been possible. I was able to seek many job opportunities and build up my resume, all while building up my bank account so as to bring money, rather than debt, into my marriage. I was able to watch my brother's middle school and high school sports career unfold, and to be one of his biggest fans and cheer leaders. I was able to grow into a young adult along with my sister and to share life experiences with her as they came. I was able to grow under and along with my parents, and to watch their vision for our home unfold and become reality. I was able to share in my family's hopes and dreams for the future- the hopes and dreams that we worked on together. These are experiences that I would not give up for anything. While these years were not perfect, they were well spent and I will value the education, relationships, skills, service, and income that I gained for the rest of my life.

Many of my friends have chosen college. College is a tool and it can be used well if it does not become a god. I have been greatly convicted in my own lifestyle. And my goal in sharing it through my blogging is to let young women know that there are options. Leaving home and pursuing schooling is not the only way to success in this life. It's okay to think and live differently. In fact, in our society and in the church I think often we have very strong beliefs and opinions, but we don't even know where we got them. If our goal is to live a life that is pleasing to God, we need to examine every life decision. We can't fall into society's idea of what comes next in life, or the world's idea of what makes a person valid and successful. If I put God first in my life, my decisions will not reflect a desire to make "me" happy or to make "me" successful or to make "me" important or to make "me" rich or to make "me" famous or to make "me" comfortable. My life decisions will instead reflect a desire to strengthen the church, the country, and the family. My decisions will reflect a desire to live according to God's plan for me, not to live according to what the world says I should do.

As I am preparing to move across the country, where I will live far from my parents and my siblings, I wanted to take the opportunity to let other young women know what a blessing remaining in a Christian home can be. And if I have been so very blessed by this lifestyle, I believe it is my responsibility to let others know. Several friends have confided in me that they wish they had known there were other options before they left home. They sought after schooling because others told them it was so necessary. They now "have it all", but can't figure out why they ever wanted it all. If someone had just told them somewhere along the way that their worth does not come from a piece of paper or four years of independence, they would have explored all their options. The country needs faithful daughters. The church needs faithful daughters. And the home needs faithful daughters. My hope is that these daughters will examine every decision and how it will effect the ultimate goal before pursuing it.

In closing, I realize that I now have a new goal. My goal is to provide the kind of home for my future children that my parents provided for me. A home of industry, education, hospitality, love, and purpose. A home that will be very hard for them to leave, even when the time is right.

The perfect snack for a snowy day...

A Feminine Design

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were designed and shaped by the Creator Himself. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. While you were in the womb, growing and thriving within your mother, He knew you.

And He knew that you were a woman. He knew that your body was to be intricately woven and formed to be all things womanly and feminine. He created your body and your cycle. He gave you the ability to carry new life within you and to deliver children. He designed the life stages you would go through physically and emotionally as a woman.

Over the last few years I have studied more in depth the design of a woman's body. As I have studied, I have found a stigma that seems to run through talk about a woman's cycle and body and fertility and child bearing. It is almost a dirty thing to discuss a period and it's somehow embarrassing to ask questions about our cycles. While I am not here to get into the blatant details of a woman's body and cycle, I am here to say that it is a beautiful thing. And I am here to say that Christian women, more than anyone else, should have an understanding of and appreciation for everything about the bodies that God has given them.

Our Creator made us knowing full well that we would have a womanly cycle, through the entire month. He created sex and fertility. He designed our bodies to carry and give birth to children. He also knew that there would come a time that each woman would no longer experience this cycle and the ability to bear children, but instead move onto a new stage of feminine life- every bit as beautiful. The more I study, the more excited I am about the design of the feminine body. God has handed us the ability to understand our own personal fertility, to know how to please our husbands sexually, and to handle the ups and downs of our emotions and hormones (monthly, or as the years go by) in a godly way. I truly believe there is no excuse for us to be ignorant of our physical femininity. And I believe there is no reason that a young woman in a Christian home should be embarrassed to ask questions about her body. I would like to make several points that I have prayerfully considered over the last few months.

Periods are not "dirty". The period is one part of the monthly cycle that most women will experience. When young women are taught about their periods, they should understand that it is not something to be ashamed of. Obviously discretion about when and where to discuss this should be taught, but women of all ages should understand that God gave them their period as part of a greater feminine cycle that is crucial to life.

Pregnancy is not an illness. While I don't think our society outright states that it is such, I think there is an underlying idea that pregnant women are ill in some way. Pregnancy and child birth are beautiful and natural. I am so thankful for modern medicine and the ability to ensure even safer pregnancies and deliveries. But not every pregnancy is high risk and not every expectant mother is ill. There are so many health benefits that come with bearing children. God has chosen to make new life a blessing to the bodies of mothers. Young women often have the idea that child birth is just not worth it because "it hurts" and that pregnancy is uncomfortable. I have yet to bear children, so I speak with some amount of ignorance. But I do know that a loving God created pregnancy and child birth for the benefit of everyone involved and that the blessings far outweigh the challenges.

You do not have to be ignorant about your fertility. God has set up a beautiful, track-able cycle that women for many generations have learned to understand. Unfortunately, in a society of government taught sex education courses, many young women know nothing more about their own cycle than that they have a period once a month. Christian women need to take the responsibility of teaching their daughters and granddaughters to understand their bodies. If we do not, someone else will. And the information may be greatly lacking and sometimes misleading.

Doctors don't have all the answers. Once again, I am so thankful for modern medicine. I'm thankful for people who dedicate their life to studying the human body and medicine so that they can help others live healthy lives. But whose job is it to educate young people about their bodies? The doctor's? The sex ed teacher's? No. It is the parent's job. When your young daughter is taken into the doctor's office and asked if she is sexually active and if she has need of free condoms, she should have an adamant answer otherwise. When the doctor asks questions about the feminine cycle, young women should have a genuine understanding of what is being discussed. When government required information about female health is given to a young woman, she should know what is true and what is not. And if she doesn't know, she should know who to ask or to find out before blindly following a health care provider's advice. We can help our doctor to help us better if we understand our own bodies and beliefs.

We live in a pill-happy society. Christian women should not be ignorant of what is being put into their bodies. Doctors will prescribe the pill for many many things other than birth control. I cannot say that it is wrong in every instance because I do not know of each individual health situation. However, I personally have been prescribed the pill for a completely unnecessary reason and refused, first because of the abortifacient qualities and second because of the many other side effects. Women need to be ever-vigilant and educated on any kind of medicine they are prescribed. The pill is a dangerous thing and should not be taken lightly, considering that hormones are involved and so crucial to a healthy cycle.

Purity does not mean ignorance of all things sexual. Christian women, in their purity, should know the true design for sexual relationships and bearing of children. Women should understand their value and beauty and the way the Creator planned for them to use and enjoy their body. Christian women should not fear the unknown or have to wonder about their body. They should know the proper avenue to gain information about and learn to appreciate every part of feminine health.

On a related note, as Christians, our children should have a better understanding of the value and purpose of sex than the average playground bully. They should have enough guidance to understand what is right and wrong. They should not see sex as a filthy thing that cannot be discussed. When sexual comments are made, they should not be vulnerable to lies and misconceptions. They should fully understand that God created sex and that it is good, but that sinful people misuse it and only then does it become wrong.

Ignorance about our bodies can cause fear about what we might not understand, confusion about what is normal in general or normal to us as individuals, and wrong ideas about sex and what it is meant to be. Women who are ignorant of their bodies are vulnerable to lies and misinformation.

Understanding the feminine body and cycle boosts self esteem and protects Christian women from lies- whether blatant or underlying- about their bodies. When we understand our own bodies and appreciate them as temples we can help our doctors and care providers to give us better care. Helping our daughters understand their bodies will nurture physical, emotional, sexual, and spiritual health in all of life. When we know our bodies well we can have even more fulfilling marriages and we can offer so much comfort and advice to the women around us. Open discussion between women and their daughters will prevent young women from seeking advice in less than acceptable places where they might receive false or biased information. Let's not fear or ignore areas of our bodies. Please never think there are things you just don't need to know about your body or cycle. As Christian women, let's have a deep understanding of the beautiful design that is the woman's body.

I've been a bit distracted...

More posts soon to come:

* Lessons learned from engagement, wedding, and a new marriage.

*Respect, understanding and appreciation for the design of our bodies as women.

*Evidence of and praise for the power of prayer in my life.

And now I write and blog as a Mrs. :)

Dale's Car

There was once a man named Dale who lived up Rist Canyon and drove down the canyon into town every now and then. He had a beautiful wife and he truly knew what it meant to love. He collected train sets and she collected Hummel dolls. Their home was not only up the canyon, it was up a steep and rocky hill that was treacherous in the winter. For this reason Dale owned two Scouts and a plow, making it possible for him to clear his way down the hill after snow storms. Dale's wife was a quilter and enjoyed her home in the trees, quilting her days away and loving her husband. This couple knew their home and surrounding so well that even the birds would rest on their hands for a cracker or piece of bread.

Every time Dale drove into town he'd pass the little white "Church of Christ, Welcome" sign in the town of Bellvue. He was always interested, but never stopped.

After Dale's wife died, he was lonely. One day he did stop at the Church of Christ welcome sign and the rest is history. My mom likes to say that God sent us an angel.

Dale was a worker and an encourager. The more we learned about him, the more there was to learn. He grew up in Amish country and preferred a rather plain lifestyle. We were invited to his home where we saw his train tracks and trains that decorated his attic. He showed us his wife's Hummel dolls and the quilts she had lovingly sewn, all with her initials and a date in the corner. He never once spoke of her without a tender love and respect in his voice.

Dale showed us how the birds up Rist Canyon had come to trust him, and how they'd perch on his hand for a snack. He had rigged his house with all kinds of interesting contraptions to open doors and such, you just never knew what you were going to find.

When I needed case study clients for my herbal course, Dale gladly volunteered. He was interested in everything I had to say about natural health. He admitted his love for chocolate, rather shame-faced. Much to his surprise, I returned his case study with information about the health benefits of dark chocolate for older men. He was happy.

Dale provided us with so many books and so much information and supported us completely in our home schooling vision. He became a source of great knowledge and always had something wise to say about everything. When he found out my sister was in the "jewel business", he gave her his wife's collection of gem and rock books.

I remember one of the first times Dale came to worship with us I noticed his cute little red car. It had a personality all its own and I loved it! Whenever I saw that car, I immediately thought of Dale and his simple- and yet rich- lifestyle. The little car was a 1985 Ford Tempo that he had bought new. Perhaps one of the most interesting characteristics about this car was the passenger side mirror, which was fastened to the hood. That was just one of several "upgrades" Dale had installed on the car, as I would soon find out. Because little did I know, that little car was soon to be mine.

It was a sad day when Dale told us he'd be moving out of state to live with his kids. We knew Dale was old, but we didn't see him that way. We had a hard time picturing him anywhere but up that rocky hill in Rist Canyon. We had a hard time picturing our congregation without him. But he knew it would be safer for him to live with someone who could help care for him as he aged.

God really did send us an angel. All Dale ever did was give and love. Even when he joined my family for holiday meals, he showed up with gifts in hand. He was always at least half an hour early, and we were honored that he so enjoyed our company. I know that he blessed my family and I know that he anonymously blessed others who will probably never know, until heaven, who it was that gave them such needed gifts. I also know that I am a better person because I have been able to know him, and I hope I can be like him.

When Dale said his car was for sale, it was a given. There was no way I WASN'T buying that car. I bought it knowing I'd have the memory of him driving it every time I looked in the mirror that was fastened to the hood. And wow, did that mirror get attention. I think I got more questions and interest in that car than anyone driving the newest, shiniest vehicle.

"Is that a...mirror on your hood?"

"What's that there on your hood?"

I would always answer, explaining that my sweet friend Dale made it easy for me. All I had to do was glance at the hood instead of actually turning my head. Saved my neck some work.

We also found that Dale had welded pieces of metal to the screws in the license plate for un-screwing ease. Saved my fingers some work.

That car came loaded with a mini air compressor, snow scraper, jumper cables, tools, a spotlight, chains, tow ropes, and every 1985 Ford Tempo book ever written... I was always prepared for whatever might come, thanks to Dale's preparation.

Even through selling his car to me, Dale found a way to bless me even more. He sold me the car at very little cost, saying that I had helped him several times with herb consultations at no cost. The truth is that he had helped ME by allowing me to gain experience and credit in my herbal studies, as someone very new to consulting as an Herbalist. But there was no convincing him to take more than the price he had decided on, and I was very blessed. That car was an answer to prayers, and I know that Dale allowed himself to be an answer to prayer by blessing me the way he did. God DOES answer prayers, even those that may seem insignificant. And I have learned, Dale being one of my main examples, that God chooses to use those who serve Him to bless others. I experienced this in a big way.

That little car never broke down. In three years I never had to put any major money into a car that is 6 years older than me. The paint and interior were as close to perfect as most people have seen in a car that old. It was fun to drive- I felt powerful driving my stick in a world of automatics. It definitely had personality and I was recognizable, driving my little red classic with the bumper stickers and funny mirror.

I sold it today and looking back, I know why I shed a few tears. Not only was it my hard earned first car. It had personality and a history. And I will always be thankful to my friend Dale who set me up with such a fantastic vehicle for 3 years. Ultimately setting me up to save the money I did (can you say almost 40 mpg?) to be able to buy the new car to help me prepare for the next big step in my life

Family Heritage

On July 4th I was given my soon-to-be-husband's great grandmother's ring along with a marriage proposal. After saying "yes", I had time to admire my beautiful ring. As a family heirloom, it represents the history of a family I will soon be a part of. I could not be more honored. The more I think about it, the more precious it becomes to me because it is a piece of their heritage, given to me as I prepare to join their family. This beautiful ring was taken care of and treasured and is now mine to treasure for future generations.

As I thought about an heirloom ring and its significance to a family, I began thinking about the heritage I want my family to have. I believe God always meant for His people to think about generations to come. Human beings can become so "me" focused and live so much for the moment with little thought about the future of their family. We can also become so zealous for evangelism that we forget to think about the spiritual heritage of our own families. What heritage do I want to leave for my children and their children's children? There is no greater treasure than that which God's people will receive as their reward in Heaven. And as I think about my family and the family I will soon be part of, I want nothing more than to insure that treasure for my children and generations to come. I seek multi-generational faithfulness.

Ps 71:17-18 O God, You have taught me from my youth and I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.

This passage of Psalm 17 really sums up what I'm trying to say. Here is someone who was taught from his youth and still faithfully praises God. The declaration that even when he is old and gray he will declare God's strength and power to "this generation" and "to all who are to come" truly encourages me. This is a picture of multi-generational faithfulness to the glory of God.

In Paul's letters to Timothy we also see a picture of generational faithfulness. Timothy's grandmother and mother taught him to love God, and we see very clearly that they were successful in their desire to raise a faithful follower of Christ.

Ps 78:1-7 Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.

Deut 4:9-10 "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'"

God has always had a heart for the future generations of his people. His desire is for His people to love Him enough that they actively seek ways of insuring the faithfulness of their families until Christ returns. Salvation is a treasure above any other treasure. We have it. It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to safe guard it for future generations, just as my fiance's family took great care with his great grandmother's ring. It is our job to shift our focus from the treasures of this world to the treasures found in obedience to God and His Word. May we, as His people, seek what He seeks for our families- faithfulness for generations to come.

A Plentiful Harvest

Gal 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

It is a time of great harvest in Bellvue, Colorado right now. The garden behind my house and the Pleasant Valley church building is full of yellow squash, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, okra, yellow squash, green beans, pumpkins, and tomatoes. But especially yellow squash. Every morning we walk out to the garden and pick from the bounty, and by the time we return to the garden in the afternoon there is even more to pick. We make stir fry and salad and zucchini bread and squash casserole and more squash casserole. We share with the church and friends in the community. And what's left gets placed on the picnic table at the church building with a sign practically begging passers-by to help themselves. The garden is a fun and practical way to build up our community, and to bless ourselves and others with the fruit of the earth.

As we collect basket after basket of garden goods, we're thankful. When we taste the first fried okra of the summer, or pull the first loaf of chocolate chip zucchini bread out of the oven, we barely remember the work that went into it. When the community garden share coordinator is amazed at the amount of yellow squash we bring in, we're proud.

However, when I think back to the plowing and the digging and the watering and the weeding, I realize the great effort that went into the garden. When we feel the need to pray that it will rain enough to relieve our watering duties for a day or two, the garden can seem like a great burden. When we''re sweating in full sun with dirt under our finger nails and sore backs but can STILL see endless weeds, we start to wonder why we bother. The challenge is to not grow weary, but to think of the great harvest later in the year. The challenge is to remember all the people who will be blessed by the bounty that will result from the hard work of planting and caring for a garden.

Spiritually, we become weary. Day in and day out we work. We teach and preach and study, praying that someone will hear and believe and act on their faith. We toil in God's Kingdom and we are often met with trials, suffering, and heart ache. We watch people fall away, often for trivial reasons. We listen as the world, and sometimes those who call themselves Christians, mock the Church- Christ's own bride. Sometimes it would be easy to give up. At one time or another, I'm sure that each Christian has asked themselves, "Why?" Why bother with the hard labor of daily bearing a cross? Why even try to live differently from the world, when it attacks our lifestyle at every angle? Why teach people who laugh, ignore, or walk away? Why bother challenging wrong doctrine when it seems never ending? Sometimes we can look up from our work and see that there is so much more to do, as we can look up from our weeding in a garden and see that there are so many more weeds to pull.

While a garden can fail, we still put much work into it and have faith that it will supply us with much fruit to enjoy and share. The good news for us as Christians is that if we continue with the work of God, we cannot fail. As Jesus was being beaten and mocked and spat on and hated, He could have given up. But he didn't. Why? Because Jesus knew the end result. He knew that through his anguish, a great harvest would be collected. He knew that through His pain He would enable people to return to their God. He knew that through His suffering, the Church would begin.

Gal 6:7-8a Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption.

Whether we are sowing fleshly things or spiritual things, we are sowing something. With sowing comes work and with work comes weariness. When we're in the midst of hard spiritual labor, it may seem easier to just give it up. But when we do, we automatically begin fleshly labor which may seem easy for a time, but ends in a weariness full of corruption.

The hopeful end result of sowing a garden is a plentiful harvest of vegetables to share with friends and to enjoy as a family. As Christians, we KNOW the end result of our work:

Gal 6:8b But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Eternal life through the Spirit is our goal and the result of our sowing here upon this earth. Do not grow weary of doing good. Know that the harvest is plentiful and the end result is eternity with your God.

The Big 21 Celebration

Just an FYI, I won't publish anonymous comments unless they are signed.

I'm turning 21 next week. Yesterday, my mom happened to run across this article on the website for our local newspaper:

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011306120005

In case you don't take the time to read it, it basically sums up "another night in Old Town" Fort Collins. This night seems to include plenty of people hitting the bars and drinking it up. Some of them cause fights which can lead to death, others get so drunk they can't remember that they were hit by cars, and still others collapse in the street.The article is accompanied by pictures of people being carried away on stretchers, friends trying to pull their drunken friends off the road, and a bride-to-be so drunk that she won't remember her bachelorette party. This is truly the picture of total human depravity. It is hard to look at. It is disgusting.

The article states:

Most had a few drinks, or talked with friends, or danced a bit. Mostly, they went home safely. Mostly.Some went home with scrapes and twisted ankles, from falls suffered as they tottered on tall heels, too drunk to walk.And two went to the hospital, too drunk to comprehend they had nearly been killed by a car that crashed into the bench they had been dumped on.

"Mostly, they went home safely. Mostly."

I wonder how many of those who "went home safely" couldn't wake up the next morning to work and provide for their families. I wonder how many of them lost their license in a DUI check. I wonder how many got home "safely" and angrily beat their families. I wonder how many barely 21 year old girls put themselves in a vulnerable situation and couldn't even remember what had happened to them. I wonder how many caused car wrecks or even "fender benders".

And that is what I have to look forward to on the night of my 21st birthday? I think not.

I know, I know, some people drink "responsibly". Some people can "handle" their alcohol without becoming vulnerable or harming others. But I have seen alcohol cause even those who can "handle" it to put themselves in dangerous and foolish situations. Growing up in a foster family, I've seen the pain of children who can't be with their drunken parents. I've watched those children pray that their mommy would be sober in time for their next potential visit with her. I have seen good families fall apart because of a hidden alcohol addiction leading to divorce, abuse, death, and suicide. I have seen TOO MANY children, including my own dad, lose their fathers to alcohol abuse. I have seen too many children, thankfully not my own dad, who have grown up to follow the pattern.

I hear a lot of "But Jesus turned water to wine!" given as a reason that drinking is okay. I have always failed to see why that is even a discussion or something worth bringing up. Based on everything we know about Jesus, our Lord, are we really silly enough to think that He provided the wedding guests with a substance that would cause them to wreck their donkeys on the way home? Did he give them something to help them commit adultery and fornication and not even remember who they committed it with? Would He provide his mother, who was present at the party, a drink that would cause her to be vulnerable to the abuses of drunken men? Would Jesus Christ give his followers a drink that would rip apart their families, cause them emotional and physical harm, leave their children abused and/or fatherless? Would He give His people something that would make them act like fools and become vulnerable to Satan's temptations? Think about it.

The Bible commands me not to get drunk. I see no better way to prevent myself from getting drunk then by not drinking alcohol at all. Besides the fact that I want to obey and remain sober, I refuse to support an industry that leads to abuse, carousing, foolishness, rape, and suicide. I won't participate in the pastime that leads to hang overs, car wrecks, and embarrassing behavior. We are supposed to be the picture of sobriety, grace, and dignity. I fail to see how alcohol can ever help to achieve that picture.

Let me also say that just because YOU can handle your alcohol does not mean the people around you can. Can your weaker brother in Christ? Can your spouse? Can your children? Can the non-Christians around you, who you are supposed to be setting an example for? Far be it from me to be the example that causes even one person to fall into a lifestyle of drunkenness and alcoholism.

Unfortunately I believe the Christian community has become somewhat comfortable toying with alcoholism. We might preach against it on Sundays, but is it shocking to us if people get a little tipsy at weddings or on special occasions? Would we be surprised if a 21 year old had a little too much to drink in celebration? Are we okay with joking about getting drunk or having hang overs? Please, let us not make light of a sin that has caused so much pain and hurt in the world and also in Christian families.

So for those who might ask what I'm doing for my 21st, with that expectant look in their eyes, I won't be joining the Old Town crowd to try my first alcoholic beverage. My society tells me it's time to jump in with the rest of the "grown ups" and participate in the pastime of drinking, to whatever extent I might enjoy. My God tells me to be sober at all times and to remain on the alert because my adversary, Satan, is prowling about like a lion seeking someone to devour.

Next week I'll probably blow out some candles and eat cake, which sounds like an excellent way to celebrate to me. :-)

How Rats Changed My Life (yes, seriously.)

I just watched Trujillo Rat # 15, more commonly known as Leland (named after the news caster of our dreams, Leland Vittert), cross the bridge. I have become more numb to watching the little fellas die, but I can't say it ever gets easy. It's an odd thing to say that rats changed my life, but it's a very true statement and I'd be lying not to acknowledge it.

Just to give you an example, I would not be a Master Herbalist without having loved rats. My first rat, Nosi, died after only six months with me from a respiratory infection. Having very little "rat experience" at the time, I didn't do a whole lot to help her. I actually didn't even realize she was sick at all until one day I noticed she wasn't breathing well. I pulled her out of the cage and held her close to me, quickly coming to the understanding that she was dying in my arms. My 14 year old heart broke that day. After Nostalgia's death, I scoured the internet for information on what happened to my sweet friend.

The next time I had a sick rat I took her, Jumper (can you guess why we chose her name?), to the vet. I quickly found that vets know very little about rats. For some reason there's not really a high demand for rat health care. So I studied home remedies and became quite successful at putting together little "potions" to ward off respiratory infections, shrink tumors, and give over all good health to rats who were bred as nothing more than "snake food". As I got older, I wondered why the same types of remedies could not be applied to humans to give a better quality of life at a lower cost using natural remedies. Thus the MH and FH certifications. All for the love of a rat named Nosi, who died too soon.

For six years now I have been proud of my eccentric little pets. How many people actually have pet rats? As with many things in my life, I seemed to have a difficult time not becoming obsessed with my interest in rats. My little pets became a huge part of my identity. I studied rat health, rat training, rat nutrition, rat fashion, rat breeding, rat standards, and so on. My senior project was on rat health, care, and nutrition. I marketed my very own base rat diet. I designed my own rat hammock pattern and modified it for the more sophisticated rats who enjoy pockets. My persuasive speech in high school was about rats as pets. Notti, my first hooded lady, sat politely on my shoulder the entire speech- further proving my point.

I distinctly remember going through a stage of being enthralled by the thought of rescuing rats, to the point of driving my family crazy. I had dreams of opening "Nostalgia Rat Sanctuary" and adopting rats out to good homes. Every empty building I saw was the PERFECT rat shelter, if only my parents would buy it for me. Several of my rats came from "feeder" tanks anyway, but I was looking for actual rescues. I saw an ad in the thrifty nickel for a free rat and I begged my dad to take me to get him. Dad drove me across town on a dark rainy night to pick up the scariest, most gigantic, dare I say it... ugliest rat in the world. This was the kind of rat you expect to see beating up an alley cat in a New York City sewer. His name was Bartholomew Bogey, and I fell in love with him. He was from a tiny, dirty apartment where he was constantly harassed by cats and dogs. His diet was mediocre and he had very little human interaction. I quickly discovered that Bart needed very little to begin bruxing as if he was in Heaven. He needed Classical music, a corn cob, and a yogurt drop. He lived out his life in his mega black cage listening to Bach and chewing on corn.

Fifteen rats and I remember each distinctly because there is something very special about rats: they have personality. I quickly saw that each rat was very different. They had unique likes and dislikes. Some were quiet, some were loud. Nosi loved to cuddle. Margie didn't like being held, but she loved hanging out in her little pirate ship for hours and hours. Francie never stopped moving. Jumper... jumped. Mysty was in love with my brother (She would spend all day in her pocket hammock ignoring us. But if Karl walked by, her little head would pop out immediately.) Bart loved his Bach.

We spent hours watching pairs of rats run on their wheel, doing flips and all kinds of tricks. We watched rats run up and down the levels of their cage with mouths full of paper towels to add to their bed. We watched healthy rats take care of sick rats. We saw rats bruxing and eye boggling- signs of contentment. Our nails and hair have been groomed by rats. We cheered as our boy rats presented us with boxing matches.

I sought every opportunity to convert people to "rattism". Even the local newspaper took notice. I was immediately successful with my dad, who would watch TV at night while Nosi sat on his shoulder wrapped in a blanket. It took a little longer with my sister, since Notti saw fit to stick her tail in Sarah's mouth the first time they met. Notti was one of the rats that I will remember the most because of her constant antics. She strove to live up to her name. Daily. Disappearing into the couch, screaming during baths, jumping several feet onto my mother, chewing holes in computer cords, sticking her tail in unsuspecting mouths... After Nosi died, Notti showed a definite decline in her naughty habits and became quite the calm cuddly girl.

Through owning rats (truly being owned BY rats) I learned many things. I saw how excited baby rats get when they are introduced to new foods, given a cage of their own, and covered with a fleece blanket. I experienced bonding with tiny little beings who depended on me entirely, loved me unconditionally, and worshiped me willingly. I gained great debating skills through defending animals who are so misunderstood thanks to their wild relatives. I learned about providing for those I was responsible for by spending over half of my fast food pay checks on bigger cages, better bedding, hammock materials, natural remedies, healthy food, and lots of yogurt drops. I saw the connection rats make with each other, and how sad they became when a friend died. I helped them fight for their lives when needed. I had the difficult responsibility of deciding when we should stop fighting even though my rats couldn't tell me when they were through with the fight. And I learned to help my best friends cross over to Rainbow Bridge with as much love as I could. I saw the value of life even in these tiny animals.

Now that I'm a little older, I understand that I can't actually save the rats of the world by opening a shelter. But I can help everyone understand what amazing little creatures they are. Everyone, that is, except for the mail lady.

It's the end of the rattie era for me. So goodbye Nosi, Notti, Jumper, Mysty, Francie, Margie, Nilla, Wafer, Donovan, Bart, Scout, Opal, Zebedee, Forney, and Leland.

Why is a balanced view so difficult?

Osama Bin Laden is dead. A great evil has been removed from this earth. Praise God.

Christians have a right to celebrate today. Americans have a right to celebrate today. The world has a right to celebrate today.

Does celebrate mean get drunk and dance in the streets, cheering? No. An appropriate celebration would be to remain solemn, thank our military for a job very well done, and thank God for this victory. Let us also remember the many innocent people murdered by the efforts of a man who, thanks to our country, will never harm another innocent person. Let's be happy for the families of these innocent people, as they have been given a reason to celebrate.

I have not seen inappropriate rejoicing from Christians, so I'm not sure where people are getting that idea. The inappropriate celebrating I've seen has been on the news, a bunch of college aged partiers who will use any excuse to get drunk and "celebrate", mob-style, in the streets. These people do not understand what they are celebrating. They just like their beer.

For those who would condemn any form of joy over the death of a mass murderer, saying that it's wrong to celebrate a soul in hell- how do you know? I thought it was God's place to judge. Yes, Bin Laden lived a terrible life and did many wrongs, obviously. But ultimately it is not our job to judge if someone is in hell, so I don't understand why Christians feel the need to act like those of us who are proud of America today are celebrating a soul in hell. We are celebrating an evil man who has finally been taken from this earth, because of the efforts and victory of our military. There will be some who take it too far, but that does not make this occasion any less of a victory.

I am thankful for people willing to dedicate their lives to keeping me safe. I am thankful I serve a God who brings evil to justice. I am celebrating a victory over evil.

How to Describe Dean

Life is an interesting thing. Death is a strange thing. It was brought to my attention that four years ago today, my friend Dean Teter died. He has been enjoying his Lord for four years now. Not that four years means anything to him- he has eternity. But to me, and to the rest who are still here and loved him, years mean something.

Four years ago yesterday I got in the little green Subaru with my dad and drove up to Dean and Nancy's house to say a prayer and to say goodbye, as I realize now. Truthfully we didn't know how long Dean had left in his house on this earth with his Nancy, but we knew it wasn't long. Dean was always a picture of strength to me. That didn't change even as I saw him in his last hours and gave his forehead a goodbye kiss.

I was just talking to my mom about the significance of this day- the day we lost Dean four years ago- when something hit me. New people have come into my life in four years, some of them on a very close level. New people have come into the church in four years. These people do not know Dean. I can't describe how that makes me feel, other than to say that Dean was such a huge part of my life that it hurts to not be able to share memories of him with people I love. It is so much better for him to be with God, but he has left a void here that can't be filled. I look forward to sharing time with him again, when I have joined him where years have no meaning.

Even with the realization that we will someday join Dean, the feeling that he cannot be described is haunting. That's why death is so strange. Dean has left this life but he left many who love him here, so bits of him remain. Even as I begin to describe him, please know that I can never do his life justice.

Dean:

Prayers. Long, sincere, beautiful prayers filled with respect, awe, and wisdom. I sat through many prayer meetings with Dean. His deep, strong voice would carry through any room- praising, thanking, and making requests of His God. The steadfast prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Maybe that's why my parents would call Dean when they felt in need of prayer. Whether it was a personal request or a church issue, often times the first thing my parents would do during a difficult time was to give Dean a call so that he would pray with them. What a testimony to him- a true person of prayer, sought after by others for His sincerity when approaching God.

Laughs. Where Dean was, laughter was. "Dean-isms" were well known at Pleasant Valley. "The J.A. Pan Company". "Them Hanyaks." and the list goes on. His huge smile and loud chuckle would make anyone happy. Joking with the young people in the church seemed to be one of the things that brought him the most joy. Kids of all ages loved Dean. My family commented after his funeral that we couldn't believe how many kids had been there. He took time to appreciate young people and to encourage them through jokes and kind comments. He genuinely cared about their lives and many of us had our own special nick-names from Dean. My sister was "The Blue-eyed Brat." I think that my generation may, in some ways, be difficult for older people to connect with. We are often caught up in our own lives. Somehow Dean broke down that barrier and was loved by the youth around him. Even as Dean aged, he did what he could to encourage the young. He hosted events and targeted specific groups of kids to encourage- such as the Bible Bowl participants.

Strength. Dean was probably the strongest man I've ever known. He was a strong leader in the church. There are so many times I can think back on that would have turned out so differently without his leadership. Dean was never an Elder in the church, but I have to say that I saw him as one. He was the person to go to for loving guidance based on the truth. He cared to check up on people and to truly be involved in their lives. Dean was a man who was not afraid to make a stand based on what he knew was right. He was also a strong man physically, and I never stopped seeing him that way. In his last years, Dean walked hunched over with a cane. But he never lost his strong appearance. Just recently I saw a picture of him standing upright and it shocked me at how much can change in a few short years. But really nothing at all changed. Dean was strong, no matter what his body was telling him.

Work. Dean worked hard. I remember him crawling all over my kitchen floor only a few days before his knee surgery, because he wanted to get the floor laid while he could! He spent endless hours doing those thankless tasks throughout the church building and on the grounds. I could go on here, but it wouldn't end. Dean spent his life working hard.

The sting of death might fade with time, but somehow it doesn't with Dean. Thinking about him today has as much joy and hurt as it did four years ago. And so I sit here typing, looking at what I've written, and realizing that I've failed. Such a significant part of my childhood and teen years can't be described in an article or facebook note. I can say all the good things about him and all my memories of him, but his life was lived in such a fashion that can't be summed up. Experiencing his friendship and learning from observing him were gifts that I was somehow fortunate enough to receive.

I am thankful that I have memories. I am also thankful for my church and Dean's family, because they know what I mean! Pleasant Valley has experienced his leadership and his family has experienced his love. I am thankful for his wife Nancy, who is a vital part of our congregation and a great friend. And I'm thankful for the beautiful roses in the church yard, planted in Dean's memory, that will be blooming soon.

A New Kind of Seen and Not Heard

I don't believe in children being seen and not heard. I believe children are a vital part of the family and should be included in conversations all throughout the day. The idea that children show respect through silence may be a thing of the past, but we have a whole new kind of seen and not heard today. We rid ourselves of our children through any avenue we can, as early as we can. Day care, preschool, grade school, extracurriculars, and so on. And
when we DO have them, we set them in front of the TV.

I just saw a news story about a grocery store offering carts for children with a built in TV screen to play cartoons. I remember grocery shopping with my mom as a child. We would pick recipes ahead of time and choose out the ingredients together. It was a time to visit with mom, learn to compare prices, and help plan meals for the week. It was a time to count out my own money that I had saved to buy something special. I was included in the experience and I'm sure it was early training for what my mom hoped to be good shopping habits later. It was actually a special time spent with my mom. But somehow parents today think a TV screen is the answer for entertaining their children during grocery shopping trips.

How sad. But I shouldn't be surprised. Road trips used to be times of looking for license plates from different states, playing I Spy, noticing the beauty of the surroundings, and conversing. Now every mini van has a screen to entertain the kids and keep them quiet. And to top that, some have two or three screens. Because we all know it would be the end of the world if little Johnny had to share a TV with his sister.

Meal times used to be times to pray together, enjoy a meal, and catch up with one another. Now families entertain themselves at the dinner table with the news, a cartoon, or a movie. TV is even used for "educational purposes" which, to throw my opinion out there, seems to be used as just one more reason to place kids in front of a screen instead of involving them in life and educating them through experiences.

What it boils down to is that we like to get kids out of the way. We check "have kid number 1" and "have kid number 2" off our life list, then we spend their childhood doing everything in our power to make sure they don't inconvenience us. Send them away, let someone else raise them, ignore them, distract them with the TV. It's so much easier to plop the crying child in the cart to watch Sponge Bob than it is to actually discipline. It's easier to let Sesame Street do the teaching than to sit down and teach a child to count. And it's easier to let Yo Gabba Gabba (yikes!) put your child to bed than it is to read him a story and rock him to sleep. So now we have a bunch of kids who are dependent on a screen to get them through the day. They can't eat breakfast without it, they can't go on a trip without it, they can't go to sleep without it, and NOW they can't sit in the shopping cart without it.

Instead of teaching our kids to be seen and not heard for the purpose of respect, we are now teaching them to be seen and not heard because it's easier than having to deal with them ourselves. What's next? Changing tables with built-in TV screens? Sand box sets that include a wide screen and speakers? Swing set cartoon stations?

Children deserve better. I hope we won't buy into TV parenting. I hope we'll take pleasure in the everyday tasks that come along with raising children. Children are eternal beings and life is too short to waste theirs in front of TV screens.

An Epidemic of "Happiness"

"As long as you're happy." seems to be a common theme in our culture. We seek happiness at every turn. In every part of our lives we strive to make ourselves, and those we love, happy.

What if I told you that I care very little about your happiness? The truth is, my goal for the people around me is not that they live happy lives. I believe the pursuit of happiness has become an epidemic, as we have tossed everything else aside in order to be "happy".

The pursuit of happiness has infested every area of our society: relationships, occupations, religion, education, etc. Happiness is such a shallow and relatively unattainable goal on its own. Yet we reach for it and turn to it as an answer to all of the big questions in life. For a nation that spends so much time seeking after happiness, is anyone actually happy? At the end of the day can anyone honestly say that they have arrived- that they have truly attained all that would make them happy?

I want something so much more than happiness for the people I love. I want them to live God-glorifying lives and to live forever in His presence when their time on this earth is finished. If that is the goal, we need to pursue something much more worthy than happiness, which will fade when real life hits. If you are living life to the full, you will probably have many unhappy times. What will replace the happiness is a peace because you know you are right with God. What results from peace is true joy, which is better than the momentary happiness of this world.

I want the people I love to have joy rather than happiness. When my friends choose men or women to spend their lives with I want them to focus on finding people who passionately love God. I do not wish for them to find guys and girls who "make them happy". There is so much more at stake than your happiness right now. Will he lead your home? Will she love you with a Godly submission? Would he die for you, as Christ did for the church? Will she raise your children for Heaven? Will he provide for you? Will she keep your home? Will he teach your children daily to love God? Is she worthy of praise? Is he a man after God's own heart? Read Ephesians 5:22-33.

"Godly marriages proceed from an obedient heart, and the greatest desire of an obedient heart is the glory of God, not the happiness of the household." -Douglas Wilson

When the people I love seek a church to worship with I don't want them to find a church that makes them happy. I recently heard about someone telling a group of young people to make sure the church they chose made them "comfortable". Well, it is not the church's main concern to make you comfortable or to make you happy. The Church's job is to glorify God and to save the lost. There is very little room for personal "happiness" when the goal is to please Jesus Christ, the One who died for the church, considering the fact that what makes me happy may be very different from what makes you happy. There is very little comfort in saving the lost from a dying world, when you consider that we are at war with the worst evil in existence in order to save those lost. But there is plenty of peace and joy in knowing that you are worshiping the Holy God the way HE loves to be worshiped. And there is plenty of peace and joy in knowing you did everything in your power to bring the lost to Him.

I fear that even the church has fallen into the happiness epidemic to some extent- adding all kinds of special groups, fun programs, and watered down teaching to draw more people in. If this culture of fun is supposed to save more people, why are the young people leaving in droves? Isn't the church making them happy enough? Or maybe there's something to be said about the simplicity of Biblical teaching and God-focused (rather than ME-focused) worship.

As the people I love choose a career/education path I do not want them to pick based on making themselves happy. I hope that they will choose their career based on the desire to use the talents and passions God has given them to glorify Him and to provide for the people they are responsible for.(1 Tim. 5:8)

When making entertainment choices, I hope the people I love will shun what is evil and cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9) The fact that a form of entertainment makes you happy is not enough of a reason to let sin into your life. It is not worth a laugh to be accepting of what you know to be wrong. Your soul is not worth losing over entertaining yourself for happiness rather than for edification.

I do not wish many friends upon the people I love for the purpose of happiness. The people you let intimately into your life will shape who you are. (1 Cor. 15:33) You may be happy and popular but headed toward destruction. It would be better to live without friends than to be led into a shallow lifestyle dependent on friendships. I want the people I love to be able and willing to stand alone when they have to. And I want them to cling to the edifying, true friendships they are blessed with- those friendships that lead them toward Heaven.

I don't want happiness from wealth for the people I love. (Mark 10:25) There is something to be said about living within your means and being content with "food and covering". (1 Tim 6:8) If you cannot have joy in poverty, you won't have happiness in wealth.

Chasing happiness leads to an unfulfilled and destructive life. Seeking to glorify God leads to a life of joy. Really, the truly happy times in life are a result of the true joy that comes from doing what's right- not from spending life in the pursuit of happiness.

So my hope for you is not a life filled with chasing happiness. I hope that you will chase after what you were created to accomplish. I hope you will pursue glorifying God with your life.

Eccl 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commands, for this is the whole of man.

Call me a threat to national security...

http://gantdaily.com/2010/12/14/child-nutrition-law-supports-healthier-school-menus/

At the risk of aiding in the national security threat of obese children (as referenced by Mrs. Michelle Obama after her husband signed the new school lunch bill), let me tell you about "healthy" school lunches. Every day I serve 150+ middle school kids. They can choose from usually about 10 meal options. There are deli meals, grill meals, pizza, and "ala carte" options. To qualify for free, reduced, or school lunch prices the meal needs several components. Typically I serve a steamed vegetable with the main meal choices. With grill meals the kids get fries. With deli meals they get chips. The student then must pick up a juice or milk and we make the "assumption" that he or she also visits the salad bar.

You should see the looks I get when I put steamed broccoli on the tray next to macaroni and cheese. Sometimes I get loud protests of "I don't want the green beans!" My garbage disposal in the dish room eats more steamed vegetables daily than the entire student body combined. I don't blame them. I don't eat the steamed broccoli either.

As much as we post "Eat your green veggies!" signs all over the lunch room, I see an average of maybe 10 trays (out of approx 150) each day that have any evidence of having been anywhere near the salad bar. And the evidence is usually a half-eaten pile of baby carrots drenched in an ocean of Ranch dressing. Of course, the number jumps substantially when we put pudding on the salad bar. Then nearly every tray has obviously been there.

We are required to have daily vegetarian options. This includes pre-packaged salads, veggie wraps, etc. We throw them into the compost pile. All of them.

From the "higher up" folks we hear constantly, "Let's sell more school lunches!" and "Let's get those lunch counts up!" Let me tell you right now that my most faithful customers are those who come every single day for their pizza or cheeseburger or spicy chicken sandwich. Pizza comes with nothing other than a milk or juice and the potential of salad bar. Cheeseburgers and spicy chickens come with fries and salad bar. The kids who DO choose a main meal option (i.e. the meals that come with steamed veggies) are always happy to pay an extra dollar to add fries to their meal. My garbage disposal doesn't even know what a french fry looks like.

My second most faithful customers are those children who don't even buy school lunch. They just keep us in business by buying snacks: muffins, fruit roll ups, chips, popcorn, fruit by the foot, gushers, cookies, brownies, etc. They never ask to purchase the salad bar. Even when there's pudding.

So how exactly are we supposed to make our lunches more healthy than they already are? Serve MORE vegetables to the garbage disposal and compost pile? Take away the fatty Ranch dressing from the salad bar? Then kids won't even eat the carrots. And if you get rid of the pudding, few kids will even bother to check the salad bar in anticipation of pudding days.

I know exactly what will happen if we try to make school lunches more healthy. Our faithful customers will leave us for sack lunches filled with powdered donuts, fruit gushers, and sodas.

Good job, Mrs. Obama.

Embracing the Role of Helper

When you think of a strong, powerful, worthy woman- what do you think of? In the beginning God created man. But God saw that man was lacking something... someone. God then created woman from man, and thus began a beautiful love story that has continued through generations until now. God knew that Adam needed Eve.

Gen 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."

Even from the very start we see two distinct roles given to man and woman. Man was created to lead. Woman was created to help. They complete one another. Things have not changed. Things have not changed because God knew then and knows now that His creations have true joy and purpose when they fulfill the roles that they were created to fulfill. He, our Creator, knows full well that we- through our roles- complete one another.

So I ask you again: when you think of a strong, powerful, worthy woman- what do you think of? I fear that today we see women imitating men and think that they have truly attained worth and strength. We see women pushing men into the role of coward and we think somehow that this makes those of our gender more powerful.

The truth is, women cannot fill the role of leader. Women are helpers. It's just a matter of helping well or helping badly. Men cannot fill the role of helper. They lead well or they lead badly- but they always lead. So what we have in our society is an excess of worthless leaders and failure helpers.

Are you helping the men in your life lead well? You cannot strip them of their role, because it was placed within them by God. If you are not helping them lead, you are failing at your role of helper and becoming a weak woman rather than a strong one. Women who spend their lives seeking to be what they are not- men- are weak in their purpose. We wonder where all the real men are as we trample them in our goal of becoming what they should be.

The role of helper is most clearly seen in the marriage relationship when a woman becomes a help-meet to her husband. But I believe that if God created women to be helpers, we have that responsibility in all stages of life. The role of help-meet to a husband is a specific and special role- different from that of helper to anyone else. But that does not mean that outside of marriage women are not to excel at helping those around them. When we choose to serve ourselves as unmarried women, perhaps attaining male-like character qualities, we miss out on what God has in store for us as women. He knows the innermost desires of our hearts and He has set before us a path where we can truly attain honor and glory through our service, and through our help to the men in our lives. I would like to state very clearly that even women who remain unmarried their entire lives should never be made to feel that they must fill a more masculine role to have worth. A lifestyle of godly femininity is something all women should seek.

It really doesn't matter what you or I think, or how we see women. What matters is how God sees us. Are we pleasing Him? Do we understand the role He has set before us and are we striving to do His will? Or are we giving into the lies of the world and forgetting why we were created? God said that He was creating a help-meet suitable for man. And we, women, were designed to be that help-meet. What can I do today to encourage the men in my church? How can I make sure my brother knows I support Him as he becomes a leader? Does my dad understand how much I appreciate his protection and leadership? How can I help them become even better men? Do I envy their role, or do I rejoice in the fact that God has placed good men in my life? If there are men in my life who are not leading well, do I try to steal their role or do I seek to encourage them to be better? Do I spend my life trying to be a man through my endeavors, or do I cherish the role God created me for?

Let us love and support and honor the men we have been blessed with. Let us spur them on in their role of leadership. Let us seek to raise up more Godly men. Let us do all of this instead of trying, and failing, to become men ourselves. Let's stop asking, "Where are all of the real men?" while we forsake our role of becoming real women. I hope we will embrace the job God gave us to do and pursue true womanhood. This is how we become strong, powerful, and worthy in His eyes.

Lessons from the Gray-haired Row

There is a very clear image in my mind of a man named Dean. On hands and knees, this old man worked his way up and down the narrow side aisles of the church building- scrubbing the base boards. There is another clear image in my mind of Dean, this time praying to his God with truth and reverence. Long, beautiful prayers. They were beautiful, but mostly because of the honesty coming straight from his heart. I can hear him sing hymns such as "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Up From the Grave He Arose" in his gruff bass, making melody in his heart to the Lord. I can remember sitting at his feet, so to speak, learning from his stories and jokes and the years of wisdom in his day to day conversations. He knew His God. He knew God's Word. How? Because he read it. He studied it. And he lived it.



Dean was one of a kind, but he is also one of many. One of many Godly men and women from past generations who knew their God and His Word. And as I think of them, there are no words to describe how extremely thankful I am. These are people who started congregations and strengthened the congregations they were in. They raised their children to know how to get to Heaven, and how to serve the church in the mean time. They taught Bible classes and cooked for potlucks.They scrubbed base boards and mowed church yards. They showed hospitality to their friends and neighbors, and to one another. They sat in business meetings,working out how to best use what God had blessed them with. They stood for what was Biblical and spoke against what was not- ensuring that we, the future generations, would have solid congregations to serve and worship with.



Maybe the best way to sum up my feelings toward these people is to quote from the Bible that they loved so much:



Philippians 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.



And now as I look at my own generation, I see the result of their hard work and love. I see many strong congregations and I see people with a passion for serving their God. But I see something else that concerns me. I see an attitude of "Look how far WE'VE come! Look how educated WE are and look at what WE'RE discovering." Friends, there is nothing new under the sun. And we would do well to remember the people who set the foundation for where we are today in the Church.



I fear that we look at past generations and laugh. We laugh at their hymns and the words they use. We laugh at their methods of teaching and their understanding of the Scriptures. We laugh at them if they were "uneducated" and if they lacked a title. We laugh at their "rules" and the way they lived their lives and raised their children.



While we laugh, we're "coming up with" "new" ideas. We're so smart. We're so much more evolved than those old folks. Our "movements" are THE WAY to grow the church. Our state of the art preaching and teaching are such an improvement. Our contemporary singing and worship is so much more edifying! Our degrees and innovative educational endeavors are far superior. Right?



I would like to strongly disagree. As I said before, there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and forever (Heb 13:8). Really, we're the same. We're all people and we all sin. We all need God and we can all be redeemed through His Son, Jesus Christ. We can be in Heaven with God at the end of this life if we do what He has told us to in His Word. And that hasn't changed. The knowledge we have about salvation- our brethren in past generations had that too. And it hasn't changed. There is nothing new-and-improved about it and it has not evolved. It was perfect from the start. And since this is the case, maybe we need to be looking to the gray haired in our congregations for leadership, ideas, wisdom and advice. After all, they are the ones with the years of study and service. They have been living it far longer than we have, and I'd be willing to bet (if I did that...) that they know a little (a lot) more than we do about life and godliness.



I'm writing this because of what I sometimes see in myself, and what I have recently seen as a problem in my generation. When something strikes me as interesting and convicting, it's easy to get caught up in excitement and think,"Wow! Look what I discovered!" Perhaps a better approach would be to ask someone who knows much more about Christianity than I do to study it with me and to give me sound advice and encouragement in my own study. They, the older generations, have earned this respect. And little do we know what we're missing out on if we over look them in our quest to reach the world for Christ.



There may be a lot more to the polyester, gray haired row in our buildings than we think. And, you know what? Hymns are no less holy than"praise" songs. Your degree and title mean very little if you can't take instruction from the wise. Your "movement" has been tried before- I bet the "old folks" have some pointers. Your teaching methods, if they teach the truth, are nice- but not any more so than the methods that have been successfully teaching the Word for years before you were born.



I would rather sit at the feet of Dean than the most innovatively-educated, modern-speaking, praise-song-singing, up-to-date, movement-following man from my generation. Let's learn from these older people while we can. Let's sit at their feet and humbly realize that we do not know it all.

Swing Life Away

What does it mean to live the simple life? I think it means having a child-like excitement about the everyday things.

I was recently introduced to the song Swing Life Away by Rise Against. The words that really jumped out at me are as follows:



We live on front porches and swing life away.
We get by just fine here on minimum wage.

Maybe nothing too profound. Except that no one seems to get it.

"We live on front porches and swing life away." I have this amazing memory from my childhood. This memory is of sitting on my friend Nancy's porch swing, drinking lemonade, and enjoying conversation with this sweet older lady. I have plenty of other memories of spending time swinging on her porch swing, enjoying the breeze on sunny days. Simple. But why does that memory stay when so many other childhood memories are gone? It was special to me as a child, and still is.

So living the simple life may mean having a child-like excitement about the things in life. But the problem is, I think even kids today are missing that. Working at a children's party facility opened my eyes to a whole world of materialism that I never would have imagined. To say it's wrong to have a fun birthday party jumping on inflatables with friends is not my goal, nor do I believe that. (I've had my fair share of parties there, and I enjoy the environment ; ) ) But coordinating the parties for two year olds with 30+ gift bearing friends is an experience. As the mom carries out a load of battery run gadgets, video games, and bicycles she often calls out, "Thanks! We'll be back next year!" I always wonder what will be left to give that child on his third birthday. A cell phone? What about his 10th birthday? A car?

It also makes me wonder if the two year old has any concept of the fact that a fun day can consist of sitting in a sand box with a cardboard box and a stick for hours on end. Or sitting on a porch swing drinking lemonade with an older lady.

A few months ago my friend Ray, an older gentleman in my church, was telling me about his birthdays as a child. He described walking down the stairs on the big day, his excitement growing with each step. The source of this excitement? When he got downstairs into the kitchen, his mom would give him a kiss, smile and say, "Happy Birthday. I love you!". And maybe, if it was a good year, there would be a cake in the oven.

I compare this to the chaotic party room filled with jealous, crying two year olds and the birthday boy, covered in a pile of expensive toys, who can barely open another gift because of the overwhelming environment. I compare a kiss on the cheek and a happy birthday wish from a loving mom to a party that eventually adds up to several hundred dollars EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. And it makes me wonder what is wrong with us. We've forgotten the joy of simplicity. Not only have we forgotten it, we have robbed our children of it.

"We get by just fine here on minimum wage." Contentment is not often the forte of the American people seeking the "American Dream", and beyond. But nothing is as satisfying as being content in "whatsoever state you are in". (Phil. 4:11) Maybe kids require a more extravagant birthday party every year because their parents require a more extravagant lifestyle every year. Maybe kids are discontent with their toys because parents are discontent with THEIR toys (a new car here, a new house there). Kids have been taught that happiness can be bought. And they've been taught that by example. In case you didn't know, happiness can't be bought. And that's why materialism never ends. We think, "Oh if I could just have or do THAT , I'd be happy." And once we have or have done THAT there is always another THAT to have or do. And so true happiness always barely escapes us because we throw out the contentment that happiness requires. Children have been blessed with a natural appreciation for the simple things. Let's learn from that instead of training them out of it.

My hope for my friends and family is that you would all love living simply and find happiness in the everyday things. I hope the kids in my life know what to do when they're handed a cardboard box. I hope they have experienced a world made out of rocks. I hope they know that a Weeping Willow tree can provide days of happiness and entertainment and that a sandbox is where the real fun happens. I hope they realize that a kiss and "Happy Birthday. I love you!" from mom is worth excitement in every step to get to it. And I hope they know that to swing life, or the afternoon, away on a porch swing with a glass of lemonade is happiness.

"... Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands..." 1 Thess 4:11