In the midst of the banking crisis, on the eve of a bailout to the tune of $700 billion dollars … $700,000 BILLION, with housing prices plummeting, crushing fuel prices, and with the sound of my 401K screaming “I’m melting, melting, melting…” I watched the first presidential debate. No disrespect to these two men vying for the right to take on this mess, but I don’t feel it is possible to for either one of them to save this country from the greed and corruption that got us where we are today. Makes me wonder if a sane person would be running for office right now. But someone has to be willing to try.
I have Christian friends who intend to vote for Obama and those who intend to vote for McCain and some who do not intend to vote at all. They all seem to have very well thought out reasons for the stances they have taken.
All I can tell you is that we – the USA as well as the rest of the world – we all need a hero – a real hero, like Superman. Someone unstoppable. Someone incorruptible. Someone with the power to change human behavior by changing the human heart.
We need Jesus. There is no other solution. I pray God will speed the day of His return to take over this mess and make sense of a world gone crazy.
You can vote for whomever you want or you can abstain, that is your right as an American citizen. But real, true change will not occur until Jesus returns. So, what is a Christian to do? Pray. Praying isn’t a “do nothing” position. It is, in fact, the best thing we can do. Praying for national leaders is addressed in I Timothy 2:2, where Paul encourages us to “pray for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace…”
Pray for Jesus to return and in the meantime, pray for our leaders, no matter who they are. God ultimately places them in office any way (see Romans 13:1-4). They need YOUR help. It is right and proper to pray for whoever becomes president of this country. I urge you to spend significant time each week, before and after the election, praying for the leaders of this nation and the world and praying for the coming of the one, true hero who will ultimately save us from them all: Jesus.
God speed that day. I need a hero. Don’t we all?
With love, Nancy
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
MORE THAN THE "BIG BANG" FOR YOUR BUCK
Sandwiched between articles on the political fray of the coming elections in the US, hurricane Ike and remembrances of 9/11/01, I found the extremely significant story of physicists trying to recreate the “god particle” – that initial particle that defined the start of life, from non-life. The physicists are trying essentially to recreate the so called Big Bang and the beginning of evolution.
I have one question for them. If you succeed in recreating the start of life, what are you going to do with it? I’m not talking about the obvious answer of using it to “prove” the theory of evolution. I’m asking, now that you have become a creator, what will you do with your creation?
After all, mankind has a history of creating things for one purpose and ultimately using it for another (and often more destructive) purpose entirely.
I am not an evolutionist. I am a creationist and very thankful to be a part of the creation of caring and thoughtful Creator God who planned every aspect of this life and the next prior to beginning the project. God knew what He intended to do with each part of His creation before He brought life to any of it. He did not make anything without a reason for its existence.
God also knew exactly what it would take to make that plan work and He has been working that plan ever since. I don’t know God’s schedule. I am not privy to exactly where we are on His timeline. But I can be confident that His timing will be followed, because He has always been a faithful Creator – always stuck to His own master plan.
What is that plan? “To bring many sons to glory.” (See Hebrews 2:10) God created us to be His sons, forever in His family as Spirit beings. His plan is drawn out for us in the Bible and those of us who keep the Holy Festivals outlined by God (Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day) are privileged to act out that plan in these annual observances.
I won’t go into the details of the plan of God here or the Holy Days and their meanings here. We have all sorts of booklets on the Dynamic Christian Ministries Web page that will explain them and answer any questions you might have about them or God’s plan and purpose for mankind.
However, while physicists work hard to reproduce the “god particle” that they hope to use to prove the evolutionist theory of creation without a creator, I will be observing the fall Holy Days, which actually give to all of us details of God’s plan and our purpose in that plan.
Eternal life in the family of God is way more exciting than life beginning with a sudden, scientific event. For me, it represents way more bang for my buck than anything man could envision for the new life these physicists hope to create.
With love,
Nancy
I have one question for them. If you succeed in recreating the start of life, what are you going to do with it? I’m not talking about the obvious answer of using it to “prove” the theory of evolution. I’m asking, now that you have become a creator, what will you do with your creation?
After all, mankind has a history of creating things for one purpose and ultimately using it for another (and often more destructive) purpose entirely.
I am not an evolutionist. I am a creationist and very thankful to be a part of the creation of caring and thoughtful Creator God who planned every aspect of this life and the next prior to beginning the project. God knew what He intended to do with each part of His creation before He brought life to any of it. He did not make anything without a reason for its existence.
God also knew exactly what it would take to make that plan work and He has been working that plan ever since. I don’t know God’s schedule. I am not privy to exactly where we are on His timeline. But I can be confident that His timing will be followed, because He has always been a faithful Creator – always stuck to His own master plan.
What is that plan? “To bring many sons to glory.” (See Hebrews 2:10) God created us to be His sons, forever in His family as Spirit beings. His plan is drawn out for us in the Bible and those of us who keep the Holy Festivals outlined by God (Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day) are privileged to act out that plan in these annual observances.
I won’t go into the details of the plan of God here or the Holy Days and their meanings here. We have all sorts of booklets on the Dynamic Christian Ministries Web page that will explain them and answer any questions you might have about them or God’s plan and purpose for mankind.
However, while physicists work hard to reproduce the “god particle” that they hope to use to prove the evolutionist theory of creation without a creator, I will be observing the fall Holy Days, which actually give to all of us details of God’s plan and our purpose in that plan.
Eternal life in the family of God is way more exciting than life beginning with a sudden, scientific event. For me, it represents way more bang for my buck than anything man could envision for the new life these physicists hope to create.
With love,
Nancy
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Smoke and Mirrors
It has gotten to the point that might cause us to wonder if anyone, anywhere can be trusted to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about anything. Are we a world where “smoke and mirrors” are perceived as being necessary to success?
Forget athletes and their steroid scandals. Forget politicians, whom we have come to expect to lie, misdirect and hedge. Forget accused criminals who might lie to get out of trouble. In the same way that you might find fashionistas saying “grey is the new black,” I wonder if it has come to the point where the reality is that “perception is the new truth.” In other words, what we want the world to believe about us is as good as the truth.
In an August 11 article in Information Week, Thomas Claburn reported that China provided an altered video of the fireworks at the Olympic opening ceremony. Apparently, event organizers feared they would not be able to capture the pyrotechnics live on camera. In an August 12 Associated Press article, Cara Anna reported that a member of China’s Politburo asked for a last minute change to the Olympic opening ceremony that resulted in a “cute” girl lip-synching the “Ode to the Motherland” because the actual 7-year-old girl who sang it had crooked teeth.
Call me crazy, but I think China’s national reputation could have handled the “ill effects” of less-than-stellar footage of fireworks and a 7-year-old singer with crooked teeth. Considering their horrible record on human rights, China might actually have come out looking more genuine and less plastic if they had allowed these minor imperfections.
China may be an easy target to call out on this issue, but don’t think they are unique to the human race. I believe that each of us has to fight the tendency to white-wash our lives. After all, it isn’t easy to admit our flaws. But when we fail to be as open to criticism as we are to praise, we do two negative things.
First, we inhibit our own ability to change. I don’t like criticism any more than the next person; but you and I have to be open to seeing our flaws if we want to change. We have to be open to having our flaws pointed out by God’s word in our personal Bible study, from the pulpit, and one-on-one by friends and foes alike. It may be tough to swallow; but, if you are wrong you are wrong, even if the person pointing it out to you is doing it from a wrong motive. We have to be willing to accept accurate criticism, even if it comes out of the mouth of a proverbial donkey. We have to be willing to look at the validity of the criticism itself, regardless of the source.
Second, we inhibit our ability to help others see their own faults and make changes. When we go to others with faults and problems (even those that are not sins), we should be going out of love and genuine concern. We don’t want to be seen as the donkey used by God to call out another’s mistakes. However, if you cannot take criticism brought to you, others might have trouble accepting even the gentlest guidance from you.
The final step, after accepting your faults, is occasionally that we have to admit them publically. Occasionally, we will have to openly say, “I messed up here. I was wrong and here is what I’m going to do about it.”
To be sure, we do not need all our sins and faults made public. I’m not advising we air dirty laundry as standard operating procedure. I am suggesting that there will be times these things need to be acknowledged and dealt with in a public forum. I am suggesting that being human, making mistakes and sinning is as natural to human beings as breathing. I’m saying that your good reputation can withstand the accurate criticism of others. I’m suggesting that your reputation can actually be improved by being willing to admit your mistakes and flaws. And I’m advising that the place to start is by being able to accept criticism and learn from it no matter what the source.
For Christians, reality is the only truth. We Christians don’t need smoke and mirrors to clean up our lives for the sake of standing in the community or ego or reputation. We need to be genuine – crooked teeth and all. For Christians, it is the only way to live.
With love,
Nancy
Forget athletes and their steroid scandals. Forget politicians, whom we have come to expect to lie, misdirect and hedge. Forget accused criminals who might lie to get out of trouble. In the same way that you might find fashionistas saying “grey is the new black,” I wonder if it has come to the point where the reality is that “perception is the new truth.” In other words, what we want the world to believe about us is as good as the truth.
In an August 11 article in Information Week, Thomas Claburn reported that China provided an altered video of the fireworks at the Olympic opening ceremony. Apparently, event organizers feared they would not be able to capture the pyrotechnics live on camera. In an August 12 Associated Press article, Cara Anna reported that a member of China’s Politburo asked for a last minute change to the Olympic opening ceremony that resulted in a “cute” girl lip-synching the “Ode to the Motherland” because the actual 7-year-old girl who sang it had crooked teeth.
Call me crazy, but I think China’s national reputation could have handled the “ill effects” of less-than-stellar footage of fireworks and a 7-year-old singer with crooked teeth. Considering their horrible record on human rights, China might actually have come out looking more genuine and less plastic if they had allowed these minor imperfections.
China may be an easy target to call out on this issue, but don’t think they are unique to the human race. I believe that each of us has to fight the tendency to white-wash our lives. After all, it isn’t easy to admit our flaws. But when we fail to be as open to criticism as we are to praise, we do two negative things.
First, we inhibit our own ability to change. I don’t like criticism any more than the next person; but you and I have to be open to seeing our flaws if we want to change. We have to be open to having our flaws pointed out by God’s word in our personal Bible study, from the pulpit, and one-on-one by friends and foes alike. It may be tough to swallow; but, if you are wrong you are wrong, even if the person pointing it out to you is doing it from a wrong motive. We have to be willing to accept accurate criticism, even if it comes out of the mouth of a proverbial donkey. We have to be willing to look at the validity of the criticism itself, regardless of the source.
Second, we inhibit our ability to help others see their own faults and make changes. When we go to others with faults and problems (even those that are not sins), we should be going out of love and genuine concern. We don’t want to be seen as the donkey used by God to call out another’s mistakes. However, if you cannot take criticism brought to you, others might have trouble accepting even the gentlest guidance from you.
The final step, after accepting your faults, is occasionally that we have to admit them publically. Occasionally, we will have to openly say, “I messed up here. I was wrong and here is what I’m going to do about it.”
To be sure, we do not need all our sins and faults made public. I’m not advising we air dirty laundry as standard operating procedure. I am suggesting that there will be times these things need to be acknowledged and dealt with in a public forum. I am suggesting that being human, making mistakes and sinning is as natural to human beings as breathing. I’m saying that your good reputation can withstand the accurate criticism of others. I’m suggesting that your reputation can actually be improved by being willing to admit your mistakes and flaws. And I’m advising that the place to start is by being able to accept criticism and learn from it no matter what the source.
For Christians, reality is the only truth. We Christians don’t need smoke and mirrors to clean up our lives for the sake of standing in the community or ego or reputation. We need to be genuine – crooked teeth and all. For Christians, it is the only way to live.
With love,
Nancy
Saturday, August 30, 2008
The Next Great Leader of the Free World
What a great summer it has been! First, the Olympics, next the Democratic National Convention, shortly the Republican Convention. Although political conventions and sports events don’t seem to have a lot in common, perhaps because of them occurring back-to-back, or maybe because of the venue of the Olympics being in China, I found a common thread that you might not typically consider – false promises.
The Chinese government, not known for its honesty and fair treatment of the average citizen, out did itself in the Olympics. In a future blog I will use more of that detail, but today I want to highlight one particular incident.
The August 21 issue of the New York Times ran an article titled “Too Old and Frail to Re-educate? Not in China” about two seventy-year-old women sentenced to “re-education through labor” for applying to hold a legal protest in a government-designated area. Note: their crime was for APPLYING for government approval to protest. They did not protest. The Chinese government told its citizens that they could protest during the Olympics, but only in a particular area and only after written approval from the government. Then they arrested two feeble old women for applying for approval to protest.
I wish I could say that a government that does just the opposite of what it promises was a unique thing. I wish I could say, “Well, you’d never find this type of ‘bait and switch’ tactic in the USA.” While it is true that American’s have an unparalleled right and ability to protest when, where and how we want, the connection here is that even the US government cannot be trusted to always keep its word or honor its promises either.
Who can you believe? Who can you trust as a leader?
As I watched the Democratic Convention and listened to the speeches, I was very much impressed. The words and delivery showed that among the group were some great orators. The crowd was rallied, encouraged, uplifted, stirred to action, etc. I was impressed with their words. I’m looking forward to more great speeches and inspiring words from the Republicans.
With the nomination of a black man as Democratic presidential candidate and the nomination of a woman as the Republican vice presidential candidate, it is going to be an exciting election process if nothing else. Should be good, clean fun to watch; but I don’t intend to get suckered in by what they actually say.
I’m not judging the intent of the candidates or the politicians that support them. I’m certainly not judging the intent of the delegates. I’m just saying, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” There is only one leader who can be trusted to do 100% of what He says He will do. There is only one leader who CAN follow through with all intents and promises, and that leader is God.
Jesus Christ, when He walked on this earth in human flesh, was the only human being whose words and actions always perfectly aligned. More importantly, He is the only one who will ever bring about the kind of world-changing government, the world-wide peace, the universal prosperity and the return to a Garden-of-Eden environment that He promised. It is in Jesus Christ and God the Father that we must put our trust. It is in them that we can put our faith. They are the leaders to believe and follow.
A new world order. Real change. Peace. Freedom. Prosperity. None of these things will be achieved, no matter what government leaders and leader-wanna-be’s promise, until Jesus Christ returns to the earth and establishes God-rule, God’s government and Himself as King of kings and Lord of Lords. There is no debating that!
Thankfully, we have the Fall Holy Day season right around the corner – with the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day – to remind us that the only true government “for the people” will not be a government “by the people” but will be the government of God established on this earth. God speed that day!
With love,
Nancy
The Chinese government, not known for its honesty and fair treatment of the average citizen, out did itself in the Olympics. In a future blog I will use more of that detail, but today I want to highlight one particular incident.
The August 21 issue of the New York Times ran an article titled “Too Old and Frail to Re-educate? Not in China” about two seventy-year-old women sentenced to “re-education through labor” for applying to hold a legal protest in a government-designated area. Note: their crime was for APPLYING for government approval to protest. They did not protest. The Chinese government told its citizens that they could protest during the Olympics, but only in a particular area and only after written approval from the government. Then they arrested two feeble old women for applying for approval to protest.
I wish I could say that a government that does just the opposite of what it promises was a unique thing. I wish I could say, “Well, you’d never find this type of ‘bait and switch’ tactic in the USA.” While it is true that American’s have an unparalleled right and ability to protest when, where and how we want, the connection here is that even the US government cannot be trusted to always keep its word or honor its promises either.
Who can you believe? Who can you trust as a leader?
As I watched the Democratic Convention and listened to the speeches, I was very much impressed. The words and delivery showed that among the group were some great orators. The crowd was rallied, encouraged, uplifted, stirred to action, etc. I was impressed with their words. I’m looking forward to more great speeches and inspiring words from the Republicans.
With the nomination of a black man as Democratic presidential candidate and the nomination of a woman as the Republican vice presidential candidate, it is going to be an exciting election process if nothing else. Should be good, clean fun to watch; but I don’t intend to get suckered in by what they actually say.
I’m not judging the intent of the candidates or the politicians that support them. I’m certainly not judging the intent of the delegates. I’m just saying, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” There is only one leader who can be trusted to do 100% of what He says He will do. There is only one leader who CAN follow through with all intents and promises, and that leader is God.
Jesus Christ, when He walked on this earth in human flesh, was the only human being whose words and actions always perfectly aligned. More importantly, He is the only one who will ever bring about the kind of world-changing government, the world-wide peace, the universal prosperity and the return to a Garden-of-Eden environment that He promised. It is in Jesus Christ and God the Father that we must put our trust. It is in them that we can put our faith. They are the leaders to believe and follow.
A new world order. Real change. Peace. Freedom. Prosperity. None of these things will be achieved, no matter what government leaders and leader-wanna-be’s promise, until Jesus Christ returns to the earth and establishes God-rule, God’s government and Himself as King of kings and Lord of Lords. There is no debating that!
Thankfully, we have the Fall Holy Day season right around the corner – with the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day – to remind us that the only true government “for the people” will not be a government “by the people” but will be the government of God established on this earth. God speed that day!
With love,
Nancy
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Leading from the Shield
I caught a small part of a History Channel program on Vikings the other day. What I heard, however, really made me start thinking.
One fierce Viking leader, called Ivar, had the nickname “Boneless.” No one was sure why, but they know that Ivar was unable to walk and had to be carried everywhere on a shield. Whether this was a disease or injury, it impresses me that Ivar continued to be a man that could rally troops and lead battles from this position and with this disability.
If I picture well-decorated generals in history – whatever the country – and the image is always of a man standing straight and tall, marching or riding into battle, wielding a spear, gun or sword – not of a man being carried into battle.
Obviously, something in the character of Ivar drew others to follow his leadership.
It goes without saying that we should all follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and both the teachings and example of Jesus. But what about the people who come into your life and influence you? Do you look to the rich, the good-looking, the powerful, the successful or the famous in this world to find your guidance and examples in decisions for your life?
When Israel sought a king and God offered them Saul, it seemed like a good thing. Saul looked the part – head and shoulders above the rest of the men of the country. Originally, Saul had the right heart, but he lost that along the way. All his kingly stature could not make up for his poor character.
When God choose David even his own father could not believe the boy would be considered for the next king of Israel. God explained that HE looks upon the heart – not the outward appearance.
Since we don’t have that luxury – of truly knowing another person’s heart the way God does – all we can do is judge by whether or not their actions follow God’s word.
Follow those who have proven themselves by weathering storms and trials in life without losing their character or convictions. Follow those who, when they do make mistakes, have the strength to admit they are wrong, the courage to seek to correct that wrong and conviction to strive to change.
Sometimes these people are easy to find, they live under public scrutiny because they are in a visible leadership role. Other times, you will have to seek them out and get to know the ones that quietly live their convictions and maybe feel too insignificant to lead from the front of the line.
These are the ones who are leading from a shield – maybe too feeble, or too poor, or too humble to promote their own lives. You will have to go to them – seeking out the quiet widow who served as the support for a more gregarious or honored, but now-dead mate. Maybe it is an old man in a wheel chair, who served before you were ever converted, but now is too weak to even lead songs or give a closing prayer.
These leaders are still worthy of following and maybe more worthy that the obvious leaders. What they have to offer in the history of their battles can’t be found anywhere else except in the sharing of their scars – their triumphs and their tragedies and the lessons gleaned in each.
Maybe you are at that point in your own life. You have a lot to share, but no one to carry you into battle. Please reach out to those of us who need you. We need you to help us in our current roles, and we will need to follow your examples when we too can only lead from the shield.
Those who lead from the shield still have the heart for battle. They still have the wisdom to lead the fight, even if they have to be carried into battle.
With love,
Nancy
One fierce Viking leader, called Ivar, had the nickname “Boneless.” No one was sure why, but they know that Ivar was unable to walk and had to be carried everywhere on a shield. Whether this was a disease or injury, it impresses me that Ivar continued to be a man that could rally troops and lead battles from this position and with this disability.
If I picture well-decorated generals in history – whatever the country – and the image is always of a man standing straight and tall, marching or riding into battle, wielding a spear, gun or sword – not of a man being carried into battle.
Obviously, something in the character of Ivar drew others to follow his leadership.
It goes without saying that we should all follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and both the teachings and example of Jesus. But what about the people who come into your life and influence you? Do you look to the rich, the good-looking, the powerful, the successful or the famous in this world to find your guidance and examples in decisions for your life?
When Israel sought a king and God offered them Saul, it seemed like a good thing. Saul looked the part – head and shoulders above the rest of the men of the country. Originally, Saul had the right heart, but he lost that along the way. All his kingly stature could not make up for his poor character.
When God choose David even his own father could not believe the boy would be considered for the next king of Israel. God explained that HE looks upon the heart – not the outward appearance.
Since we don’t have that luxury – of truly knowing another person’s heart the way God does – all we can do is judge by whether or not their actions follow God’s word.
Follow those who have proven themselves by weathering storms and trials in life without losing their character or convictions. Follow those who, when they do make mistakes, have the strength to admit they are wrong, the courage to seek to correct that wrong and conviction to strive to change.
Sometimes these people are easy to find, they live under public scrutiny because they are in a visible leadership role. Other times, you will have to seek them out and get to know the ones that quietly live their convictions and maybe feel too insignificant to lead from the front of the line.
These are the ones who are leading from a shield – maybe too feeble, or too poor, or too humble to promote their own lives. You will have to go to them – seeking out the quiet widow who served as the support for a more gregarious or honored, but now-dead mate. Maybe it is an old man in a wheel chair, who served before you were ever converted, but now is too weak to even lead songs or give a closing prayer.
These leaders are still worthy of following and maybe more worthy that the obvious leaders. What they have to offer in the history of their battles can’t be found anywhere else except in the sharing of their scars – their triumphs and their tragedies and the lessons gleaned in each.
Maybe you are at that point in your own life. You have a lot to share, but no one to carry you into battle. Please reach out to those of us who need you. We need you to help us in our current roles, and we will need to follow your examples when we too can only lead from the shield.
Those who lead from the shield still have the heart for battle. They still have the wisdom to lead the fight, even if they have to be carried into battle.
With love,
Nancy
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Olympic Dreams and Annoying Realities
The world is all about the Olympics right now. And why not? Thousands of athletes from the world over have worked and sacrificed for years just for the chance to compete. For those who make it, it must be surreal just to be there. For those who win a medal…. I doubt I could imagine, let along express, how it must feel.
Competing among your peers , doing your personal best, pushing yourself, setting and achieving goals, using discipline and sacrifice to reach your dreams – this is commendable behavior.
While the USA cheers the American swimmer Michael Phelps, who (as of August 13) has already achieved five gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, I am fascinated by Eric Shanteau who put his life on the line by postponing cancer surgery in order to have the chance to compete. He made the cut to be on the US team. He did not succeed in the pre-trials in Beijing. No chance for a medal. He will go home now to receive his treatment.
It makes me wonder: is he happy with his decision now? He may be just fine after a successful surgery or he may find that he made the wrong choice. Either way the cancer goes, would he have been vindicated in making that decision if he had won a gold medal?
What drives a person to risk his life for a dream?
Each Olympian may have a different motivation. They each have unique skill sets and practice schedules. They will certainly have different results from their Olympic competitions. But they will have in common the fact that each and every one made it to the Olympics where, in one way or another, they had the opportunity to be among, to compete along side, those who are arguably the best in the world, and maybe, if luck and effort align, to achieve the designation as the best in the world.
Whatever these men and women achieve this year, except for a select few like Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz before him, the annoying reality is that all too soon the glory of this competition and set of achievements will be forgotten or replaced by other news of the day.
For those who follow Jesus, we have a better crown awaiting us – an eternal crown that will not be erased or forgotten when the next Olympics competition comes around, nor even in tens of thousands of years.
I saw an awesome synchronized diving competition where the Chinese team won gold. I have no idea who those girls were – don’t know their names, can’t remember their faces or their scores. Perhaps they will remain famous in their home towns for years to come, but ultimately that will fade too.
For those of us who follow Jesus, we do well to remember his admonition to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven where months don’t eat it, rust doesn’t ruin it and it can never be stolen by a thief or even the next deserving athlete.
Unlike Shanteau, we will never risk more than we can get in return. Jesus laid everything on the line for us. He expects the same from us, but no more than that. Our investment in Christian living will never fail to result in the ultimate crown of righteousness – eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Our reward is sure and it will never tarnish or be forgotten or be replaced by the next contender. There is room for EVERYONE on the gold medal stand in the Christian race and Jesus will welcome us ALL to the ultimate winner’s circle.
With love,
Nancy
Competing among your peers , doing your personal best, pushing yourself, setting and achieving goals, using discipline and sacrifice to reach your dreams – this is commendable behavior.
While the USA cheers the American swimmer Michael Phelps, who (as of August 13) has already achieved five gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, I am fascinated by Eric Shanteau who put his life on the line by postponing cancer surgery in order to have the chance to compete. He made the cut to be on the US team. He did not succeed in the pre-trials in Beijing. No chance for a medal. He will go home now to receive his treatment.
It makes me wonder: is he happy with his decision now? He may be just fine after a successful surgery or he may find that he made the wrong choice. Either way the cancer goes, would he have been vindicated in making that decision if he had won a gold medal?
What drives a person to risk his life for a dream?
Each Olympian may have a different motivation. They each have unique skill sets and practice schedules. They will certainly have different results from their Olympic competitions. But they will have in common the fact that each and every one made it to the Olympics where, in one way or another, they had the opportunity to be among, to compete along side, those who are arguably the best in the world, and maybe, if luck and effort align, to achieve the designation as the best in the world.
Whatever these men and women achieve this year, except for a select few like Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz before him, the annoying reality is that all too soon the glory of this competition and set of achievements will be forgotten or replaced by other news of the day.
For those who follow Jesus, we have a better crown awaiting us – an eternal crown that will not be erased or forgotten when the next Olympics competition comes around, nor even in tens of thousands of years.
I saw an awesome synchronized diving competition where the Chinese team won gold. I have no idea who those girls were – don’t know their names, can’t remember their faces or their scores. Perhaps they will remain famous in their home towns for years to come, but ultimately that will fade too.
For those of us who follow Jesus, we do well to remember his admonition to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven where months don’t eat it, rust doesn’t ruin it and it can never be stolen by a thief or even the next deserving athlete.
Unlike Shanteau, we will never risk more than we can get in return. Jesus laid everything on the line for us. He expects the same from us, but no more than that. Our investment in Christian living will never fail to result in the ultimate crown of righteousness – eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Our reward is sure and it will never tarnish or be forgotten or be replaced by the next contender. There is room for EVERYONE on the gold medal stand in the Christian race and Jesus will welcome us ALL to the ultimate winner’s circle.
With love,
Nancy
Saturday, August 9, 2008
MAKING SILK PURSES OUT OF SOW’S EARS – PART 2
The thing about making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear is that the two have absolutely nothing in common with each other. The reason for the saying being popular among my grandmother’s generation must have been that it so adequately expresses the fact that it cannot be done. At least, it cannot be done by mere mortals.
In the business section of the August 2 Dallas Morning News, there was an article about the changes made to the McDonald’s European division restaurants. In addition to sleek, new decor, the European group features menus that are varied by region, including some regional favorites along with the standard burger and fries. The menu for French McDonald’s restaurants includes wine (McMerot maybe?) and the tables include iPod stations. In Britain you can order porridge at breakfast instead of an egg McMuffin. In Italy, there is pasta on the menu – although surely they don’t say “do you want fries with that pasta?”
While these innovations have the European division seeing huge McProfits, does this really represent change? Yes and no. McDonalds is still, at its heart, a burger place – although, arguably, a more hip and healthier burger place. But no American could walk into a McDonald’s in France and fail to notice that it is significantly different than what you experience in Dallas, Texas.
As Christians, we have to change. Left alone, we are able to make changes. But no matter what each of us alone is able to accomplish, it is not within our power to become silk purses. God, and God alone, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can do that.
Make no mistake about it, that is exactly what He does – He takes flesh and bone, mortal beings, and makes us into eternal, spirit beings. At creation, He took mud and made it flesh. At a wedding, Jesus turned water into wine. God is not bound by the laws of physics that He created. He is not constrained to working in the physical realm. God CAN make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
While we are in the flesh, there will always remain in us a portion of what we are at the core: sinners. But, sinners who are in the process of change. Linked to God by the Holy Spirit, we are able to make real, lasting changes even now. We are able to build right character by choosing right behavior. That is what we are to do each and every day of our Christian walk. Those around us should notice the change.
Alcoholic’s Anonymous teaches it’s members to always consider themselves to be alcoholics – recovering alcoholics. We are all recovering sinners throughout the course of our mortal lives.
Then, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the return of Jesus, we will be completely changed –TRANFORMED – from what we are now, to something that is entirely different. We will become what we have been destined to become from creation: eternal, spiritual beings in the image of our Father. Right now, the changes we make can seem small. Right now, the work to make those changes can seem huge. A single, desired change can be a life-long struggle. But each change builds upon the other and works together in us to become part of the final and complete transformation.
God makes silk purses out of sow’s ears – only He can.
With love, Nancy
In the business section of the August 2 Dallas Morning News, there was an article about the changes made to the McDonald’s European division restaurants. In addition to sleek, new decor, the European group features menus that are varied by region, including some regional favorites along with the standard burger and fries. The menu for French McDonald’s restaurants includes wine (McMerot maybe?) and the tables include iPod stations. In Britain you can order porridge at breakfast instead of an egg McMuffin. In Italy, there is pasta on the menu – although surely they don’t say “do you want fries with that pasta?”
While these innovations have the European division seeing huge McProfits, does this really represent change? Yes and no. McDonalds is still, at its heart, a burger place – although, arguably, a more hip and healthier burger place. But no American could walk into a McDonald’s in France and fail to notice that it is significantly different than what you experience in Dallas, Texas.
As Christians, we have to change. Left alone, we are able to make changes. But no matter what each of us alone is able to accomplish, it is not within our power to become silk purses. God, and God alone, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can do that.
Make no mistake about it, that is exactly what He does – He takes flesh and bone, mortal beings, and makes us into eternal, spirit beings. At creation, He took mud and made it flesh. At a wedding, Jesus turned water into wine. God is not bound by the laws of physics that He created. He is not constrained to working in the physical realm. God CAN make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
While we are in the flesh, there will always remain in us a portion of what we are at the core: sinners. But, sinners who are in the process of change. Linked to God by the Holy Spirit, we are able to make real, lasting changes even now. We are able to build right character by choosing right behavior. That is what we are to do each and every day of our Christian walk. Those around us should notice the change.
Alcoholic’s Anonymous teaches it’s members to always consider themselves to be alcoholics – recovering alcoholics. We are all recovering sinners throughout the course of our mortal lives.
Then, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the return of Jesus, we will be completely changed –TRANFORMED – from what we are now, to something that is entirely different. We will become what we have been destined to become from creation: eternal, spiritual beings in the image of our Father. Right now, the changes we make can seem small. Right now, the work to make those changes can seem huge. A single, desired change can be a life-long struggle. But each change builds upon the other and works together in us to become part of the final and complete transformation.
God makes silk purses out of sow’s ears – only He can.
With love, Nancy
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