Flip-flops and Thanksgiving

A friend of mine gave me flip-flops this summer. They fit well. They’re comfortable. I love the pattern on them with its splashes of red. But that's not why I love the flip-flops. I love them because Mariana gave them to me. It’s not the what. It’s the who.

This Thanksgiving as we list what we’re thankful for, let’s remember whom we are thanking. I don’t need these things around me to be happy, but my life would be empty without the God who gave me the things.

Is Life Sacred?

Our hearts broke after the shooting in Newtown, CT. Whatever our religious convictions, we all seem to believe that human life is precious. Dare I use the Christian term sacred?

We tried to show support for the hurting. We flew our flags at half-staff. We posted pictures on Facebook. But do we have the courage to face the harder questions?

On December 26, Justice Sotomayor denied Hobby Lobby’s application for an injunction against part of the birth-control mandate in HHS. The Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby, are evangelical Christians and refuse to provide health insurance that covers the morning-after pill.

The Greens, like the rest of us, believe that life is precious. The only question is when life begins. Does life begin at conception as the Greens claim? Or 22 days later when the child’s heart beats with his own blood? How about week 6 when brain waves are detectable or week 8 when fingerprints begin to form? Maybe the unborn child is fully human in week 12 when he can finally suck his thumb. (See "Fetal Development" for more facts and pictures of unborn children.)

This is a fair discussion to have. You may disagree with the Green’s conclusion that life begins at conception, but I think we should all agree on one thing. The Greens have an honest conviction that the morning-after pill takes a human life. In the wake of the Newtown shooting, we should respect the Greens for standing by their convictions.

Does the government really need to fine them up to $1.3 million per day in January? Don’t we care more about life than that?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

Before you were born I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

What Seek Ye?

Ever get tired of Christians and their trite bumper stickers? “Try Jesus.” “Jesus is the Answer.” “Got God?”

We love sharing our faith because Jesus has filled the hungers of our souls. But Jesus doesn’t fill every hunger. Are you hungry for the praise of men? A comfortable life? Less pain? Jesus is not the answer. You will never find those things in Christ.

John the Baptist saw Christ and declared, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Two of John’s disciples followed Jesus (John 1:35-39).

Jesus did not rejoice that he was attracting a crowd. He did not put two more notches on His belt. He asked an honest question: “What seek ye?”

If we pursue the wrong things, we will never be satisfied. If we seek worldly things, we will find disappointment, even in Christ. If we seek the things of God, we will find the truth – Jesus is the answer.

“Music, Too, Could Lie.”

Stalin loved propaganda. In 1948 he even cracked down on music. Eliminate the clashing notes, the brooding minor melodies and all sense of emotional turmoil. Music must be happy. Tell the lie, “Life is getting better, life is getting gayer.”

How wrong! What is music if it cannot release the pathos of our souls? But do our churches make the same mistake?

Crank up the praise music. Beat the drums. Wail away on the guitars. Make the people excited.

It’s time to be honest before God. If you’re scared, tell Him. If you’re angry, tell Him. If you’re depressed, lay it at His feet. Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; 
Pour out your heart before Him;
 God is a refuge for us” (NKJV).

Share your heart with God today. He loves you, and He cares.

My information about Soviet music comes from Defining Russia Musically by Richard Taruskin.

Free to Be Bad

The Soviet Writers Union held its First Congress in 1934. Stalin’s Great Purge was just two years away. Did they sense the beginning murmurs of terror? Hardly. The members were elated. They would help build this new great society. Leonid Sobolev declared:

The Party and Government have given the writer everything, and taken away from him only one thing – the right to write badly.

But I’m inclined to say with Isaak Babel that the right to write badly is “a very important right.” Can we be creative, take risks and express ourselves if we’re not allowed to fail? Is there any freedom when the approved course is the only way?

What a gift God gave us in Eden when He let us choose between good and evil. We vilify God for allowing evil. But could we have freedom without that choice?

I thank God today for the freedom to be bad and the power He gives me to be good.

Crossing the Generational Divide

“Build Your Attendance: Children love church…when there’s something for them!” A bright yellow box highlighted this statement on an advertisement for Children’s Worship Bulletins. The bulletins look great. I’d consider purchasing them if our church were larger. But I doubt this is the secret to increasing attendance.

My friends and I tried a quick fix in church once. Our young-professionals Sunday School class had recently combined with the college-age singles. Well, combined might not be the right word. We were like oil and water.

So we smart professionals decided to show up early and stager ourselves throughout the room – checkerboard seating. We’d force the college kids to sit by us. Did it work? No, the college students moved chairs to sit by their friends.

Then one of my friends suggested a different approach, a radical approach. Every Sunday we’d try to talk with someone with whom we usually did not talk. We didn’t need a change in church structure to do this. We didn’t need to change the classroom setup. We needed to quit blaming the college kids for being clickish and change our own behavior.

Just as we wanted to integrate our Sunday School class, Family Driven Faith promotes a family-integrated church model. It’s a great idea, but many of us can’t change our church’s entire structure. We can let God change our hearts. What can we do today to cross the generational barriers in worship? It starts with us.

Coffee, Anyone?

I rush here and there. Gotta practice violin another hour. I’m behind on my business bookwork. My bedroom hasn’t been cleaned since…well, I won’t admit how long it has been.

My sisters suggest coffee together. Not one more thing for my schedule! Can I afford the time?

In Family Driven Faith, Voddie Baucham challenges families to cut back on their commitments, including sports and ministry events. He insists on scheduling family time.

If we don’t plan that family vacation, the summer will come and go and we will wonder what happened. If we don’t put that piano recital on the calendar, something else will fill the space. And if we don’t carve out time to disciple our children, it simply will not get done.

Dr. Baucham scored extra points with me for mentioning piano recitals, but he also steps on my toes. It’s time to schedule that coffee date.