humility and my new model
even though i've wanted to write, i've waited for several days because i kind of backed myself into a corner with my last post; i have been pridefully feeling that if i were to write about anything other than what i deemed most important, i would be presenting myself as the huge hypocrite that i am...thanks to Grace and my dear friend Kevin, i'm able to emerge again, discussing things of the here and now, while "we still occupy this little spot." (I regained perspective because of my loving friend's words here while being uplifted and encouraged.)
over the past nine or so years, i have witnessed the wonder of a woman whom i have, of late, really grown to admire. i have decided that this person, in addition to my incredible Mother, is one whom i hope to be like when i grow up. she is full of knowledge and wisdom, rich in character and, without question, has wheelbarrows full of personality...she feels deeply, thinks critically, and speaks intelligently. her expressions are matchless, her voice is unique and instantly recognizable, and her presence is sparkling and inspiring. truly, she is one of the most inspirational persons i have ever known. her reputation, as she fulfills her worthy occupation of english professor, goes far before her. i only wish i could have had the opportunity to be under her tutelage when i was a student. she may be known as Mary Poppins on Speed to others, but i will be thinking of her as my new model. (i guess i'm her secret admirer.)
Children of God, Fiery Tongues, and Hell
when i hear the opposite of what's true being stated as truth, i have a hard time remaining silent. so for almost the past week, my insides have been coming to a slow, rumbling boil...call me narrow-minded, call me a fundamentalist conservative, you can even chalk it up to a game of semantics, but we are NOT all God's children. i wish it were so, but we're not. i don't doubt that most who are reading will agree with me on this one, but if you need (biblical) references, please see john 1, romans 8-9, and the entire letter of first john.
if we were all God's children, that would mean there is no hell. and the harsh, horrible reality is that there is one. (again, i realize that most of you agree.) i write with tears that several people i love will "live" forever in hell unless they choose Jesus before their earthly lives end.
and isn't this what we should be caring about? isn't this what our focus should be and were our passions should lie? not in passing circumstances or who the next president will be. [as somewhat of a large side note, let us put behind us all these thoughtless insults about both candidates: our tongues have become like wildfires. truly "the tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (james 3.6). yes, we should allow others to have their own opinions and express them, but especially during this time, we should be all the more obedient to God's command as expressed in paul's command to timothy in the second chapter (of the first letter): "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." when we resort to threatening that friendships will end over opinions or even over mistakes, i believe that either 1) we may not be exercising godly wisdom, exerting mercy and offering forgiveness (like the unmerciful man in matthew 18 who does not forgive his debtor, i have often been guilty of this) OR 2) perhaps there was never a friendship worth losing. i believe with all my heart, in the particular instance i am pondering, that the latter is not true. is this what we want the world to see? i carefully say that i do not believe we are doing a very good job of letting "all men...know that [we] are [His] disciples," because the way that we show them is by loving one another, as Jesus said in john 13.35. brothers and sisters, let us love one another!]
can we, at least momentarily, forget blog drama and other temporary matters? instead, our thoughts and efforts rightfully belong to our loved ones who are one day closer to spending forever separated from God. when we hear accurate descriptions of hell (essentially the absence of God and all that He is), how can we not weep over our loved ones, nay, our loved ones and ALL living persons who have rejected the Son of God?
Jesus described hell in this way: as being "thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (matthew 8.12). if i had one, i would not wish this on my worst enemy.
PEACE, my friends.
Bones & Happiness
Why can’t we live in a society where hot dogs are our currency? (anyone remember that one from SNL?) really, or cheerio’s or ANYthing besides stupid bills and clankin coins. And could we please just not completely jettison credit cards and checks? I hate them all. (Boy, rainy Monday? Or just maybe a bad mood. Or more specifically, a bad mood re: money.) It’s not that I don’t like math or balancing a checkbook or anything; I actually like doing both. It’s the incessant cycle of bad spending habits and therefore being IN THE RED continuously that I dislike. (and who doesn’t?) don’t get me wrong—doug and I haven’t put a hat at the end of our driveway or anything…truly we are so very wealthy, and that’s part of what my issues are, really. the Lord has given me a few eye-openers lately, the most recently being in the form of two incredible nine-year-old girls from Uganda. Last Monday-Wednesday, we were a host home to them and to one of their chaperones, who is from the Philippines. The three are part of one of the Children of the World choirs, under the organization called World Help (www.worldhelp.net), and they’re currently on a 10-month tour of the U.S. to raise awareness & funds for hungry, homeless, and orphaned children. (Joan and Teo are the first two on the second row in the above picture.) Because the leaders told us not to ask the children about their home lives, I do not actually know what their normal living environments are like. But I do know that they are both orphans, and they both have SEVERAL siblings. So…think, 3rd world country + previously stated information = [according to U.S. standards] “EXTREMELY POOR.” What struck me about these girls more than anything else was their happiness and laughter. Besides being literally the most incredible dancers I’ve ever seen, they laugh heartier and louder than all the richest men in the world combined. Their precious hearts (especially Teo’s, if I might be so bold as to choose a favourite) are so consumed with joy and love despite the events and possibly “God-forsaken” surroundings they have already experienced at such a young age. One might argue, “Well, I’m sure I would be that way, too, if I had been momentarily plucked from such a horrible life and put on an all-expense paid trip around the U.S.” Although I was only with these girls for a short time, I believe with all my heart that the way they behaved around me is exactly the way they behave at home. Their prayers were priceless, their hugs were immeasurably warm and loving, and their grateful attitudes were matchless. Oh, to be that rich.
