Growing 4 Life

Freedom isn’t free

Leave a Comment / May 30, 2011 May 25, 2015

Most people view Memorial Day as the beginning of summer. But think with me for just a minute about the actual holiday and what it stands for.

You see, many men died so that you can be eating that hamburger. Many men died so that you can be sitting comfortably by your pool.

Many are those who would criticize, humiliate, and otherwise degrade our leaders and our troops. It pains me to hear it. For I realize that if America had not stepped in on many occasions, the world would look very differently. Your life…my life…would look very differently.

I think that we may have become so far removed from World War II, the last war that was felt by every citizen in the United States, that we forget how much freedom truly costs. We also forget the great reward for the fight. We do not remember the emotions that surged upon VE-Day or VJ-Day. You see, if there is going to be freedom, there is going to be a battle. For there are always evil men trying to rule the world. Whether it is their own personal world or the entire world. And when someone tries to stop them, the cost will be great. And many men will pay with their lives. I thank the men (and women) who have stood up for freedom and offered their lives, so that many could be free.

On this day, let’s remember those that fought the fight for freedom across this great land. And their families, as well. Let’s not forget that someone paid a high price for us to live free here in America. And for many others across the world to enjoy that freedom, as well. And, lest you shout, we are not free here in America…do a little checking. Read about the daily life in most of the countries in the world. Yes, America has changed and it does grow worse…but it is still where I would choose to live, given the choice!

And one more final thing to think on. Christ died so that you could be free. Free from the penalty of sin. He paid the price. He fought your war and paid the ultimate price of His life. He has given the gift of salvation…if you choose to accept it. I hope that your own personal country is free and secure and at peace. (John 3:16)

On love and respect…and tone of voice

1 Comment / May 26, 2011 May 26, 2011

The other day, as I was shopping in the store, I heard a woman’s voice say, “You bring too much junk food into the house. You have to stop it”. Or something like that. But her TONE of voice said “You stupid idiot, what is wrong with you?! ” I turned to see who she was speaking to and found an older couple. The woman was speaking in this condescending, holier-than-thou, tone to her husband, who was shuffling behind her with his head down. What is wrong with this picture? This is one of many times I have seen a person treat someone who should be…at one time probably was…the love of their life with condescension and unkindness.

Have you ever seen spouses treat each other like this? Have you ever treated your spouse like this? I know I have. I recognized the tone of voice the woman was using, because, sadly, I have used it on occasion. But if we get in the habit of treating our spouse this way, we are essentially adding bricks to a wall that will grow taller and stronger with each incident. And, if we are not careful, it will end up casting a dark shadow over the relationship, eventually drowning out the light. We need to constantly be on guard against treating our spouses in this way.

And this goes for your private moments, too–just because you are a model wife or husband in public does not mean you are treating them with love and respect at home. Many is the couple who look so happy on the outside, but their true relationship is quite the opposite. And, oftentimes, the breakdown in these relationships started when we stopped treating one another with respect and kindness.

The other day, I came across a couple I had never met. The woman had to leave for a moment and the husband proceeded to spout off several unkind remarks about his wife, then rolled his eyes when he told me they had been married 50 years. I got the impression that he felt like the last 50 years had been a mild form of torture. The only thing that made him light up was when I asked about his grandkids. When the woman returned, she gave me the impression that she was unpleasant and bossy. From the outside, it looks as if this couple has lost all respect and love for one another. It was heart-breaking. I wonder if all of those years of treating one another with disrespect and unkindness had changed a couple who had pledged to love one another for eternity to two people that couldn’t stand one another?

If this is something you struggle with (and, if we are honest, many of us do, at least on occasion), why not sit down and have a heart to heart with your spouse and ask them if they feel like they are loved and respected? And, if not, why not? Find out if your words have degraded them…discouraged them…disheartened them. And if they work up the courage to be completely honest with you, do not make excuses. Do not grow defensive. Listen carefully. Apologize.

Treat your spouse with love and respect. Honor them. Be grateful for the way God made them. Remember why you fell in love. And, in the process, let’s be a shining example of marriage as God created it. Let’s show the world that it is possible to be in love for a lifetime!

Ephesians 5:22-33

God isn’t surprised.

2 Comments / May 23, 2011 October 12, 2014

The other night our family was on the back porch on a lovely evening. We were talking about something. I can’t even remember what it was. But our whole family was surprised about a decision someone had made or something someone had said when out of the darkness we heard a small voice say, “God isn’t surprised.” Some of the wisest statements come from 12 year olds sometimes.

God isn’t surprised. So simple and yet so profound. God knows everything you and I will think–do–speak–accomplish–or not accomplish while we live on this earth. He knows when we will leave this earth. He knows absolutely everything about us and about everyone else. So nothing surprises Him.

The cancer is not a surprise. The car accident is not a surprise. The betrayal of a friend is not a surprise. The lost job is not a surprise. The tornado, the tsunami, and the flood–none of these surprise God.

I know we all “know” this. But have you ever thought about what this means? It means that God is in control. God is Sovereign. And if we believe what the Bible says–that God loves us–then we can rest in His will for our lives. It will not always be pleasant. It will not always be easy. But we can trust Him. We have to trust Him. What else is there? What else is there for us to grab hold of?

We have a choice to make every day. We can respond to the trials of life, be them great or small, by trusting our Heavenly Father or we can grow bitter and angry. It is a choice. God will not force you into His will.

I would like to leave you with something that was written by Octavius Winslow from a book entitled Soul Heights and Soul Depths (1841)–

The royal path to glory is a divine mosaic paved with stones of diverse lines. Today, it is a depth almost soundless; tomorrow a height almost scaleless. Now, a shadow drapes the picture, somber and rayless; then, a light illumines the camera, brilliant and gladsome. Here, the “song” is of mercy, sweet and entrancing; there, it is of judgment, sad and mournful. “When men are cast down, then you shall say There is lifting up.” But, a divine Hand, veiled and invisible to all but faith’s eye, shapes and directs the whole; and, assured of this, the believing soul is trustful and calm. “He led them about, He instructed them,” was the history of the Church in the wilderness; and each stage was a school, each condition a blessing, each event a lesson learned, and a new beatitude experienced, –learned and experienced as no other. Variety, rich and endless, is stamped upon all God’s works and operations; not less is this seen in the circuitous path by which He is leading His people home to Himself. It is this ever-dissolving, ever shifting scenery of the Christian’s life that unfold new views of God’s character, and brings him into a closer acquaintance with His own.

The Story Behind JellyTelly

2 Comments / May 19, 2011 December 6, 2020

Disclaimer: Since this was written in 2011, I have been very dismayed to see Mr. Vischer go a very heretical direction. While this is still an interesting testimony that we can learn from, I recommend that you take it at face value and do not follow this man who has proven himself to be very confused at best or a false teacher at worst. December 6, 2020.

I had the wonderful privilege of listening to the testimony of Phil Vischer the other day (the link is below if you are interested in listening). Phil Vischer created Veggie Tales in the 90s. My kids grew up on Veggie Tales and I had always wondered what, amongst the rumors I had heard, exactly had happened. The podcast will give you that story. But he also shared the reason why he named his new venture “JellyTelly”. And that is what I would like to share with you.

You see, he was a man with a mission when he created Veggie Tales. He had a dream. And he fully expected God to come alongside him and support that dream. His dream was to accomplish great things for God using animated films. Of course, God would bless it! Why wouldn’t He?

But Mr. Vischer learned a great lesson. Just because you dream something wonderful to do for God, doesn’t mean it is His will. He talks about how dreams have become idols in this culture. “Dream your dreams” and “any dream is possible” are the mantras of the day. It is okay to have dreams. But not if the dream itself becomes more important to you than God.

And, so, after the Veggie Tales dream turned into a nightmare and then proceeded to die, he had a decision to make. He is incredibly gifted (I am saying that…he did not say it!) and wanted to continue using his gifts for the Lord. And, so, he ventured back into the world of animated video. Slowly and on a much smaller scale. And he started JellyTelly.

He named JellyTelly after jellyfish. And this is the heart of what I want to share today. Because his reason for doing that challenged me. I thought it might challenge you, as well.

Have you ever seen a jellyfish on land? It looks like a drowned plastic bag that somebody forgot to throw away. It cannot move, it cannot do anything if it is cast up on shore. It just lays there dejectedly…hopelessly.

But if it is in the water…if you could see it in the sea…it is a thing of absolute beauty! It flows with the current and the ebb and flow of the current causes its tentacles to wave about in the water. It is where it should be. The current directs it to food. The current determines if it will live or die. It can only move slightly up…and slightly down. That is the only movement a jellyfish has.

If Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we are like that jellyfish. We can choose to be like that flat, discarded plastic bag on the shore when we choose to disobey God’s Word and ignore His wisdom…when we choose to rebel against His will…when we tell God that we know best and “this is what I’m doing, God, and I expect you to bless it”.

BUT…when we, instead, submit our gifts and talents to the Lord and His will…when we rely on His wisdom and obey His commandments…when we rely on Him to meet our needs and to give us our dreams..then we become like that beautiful jellyfish floating in the water. Reliant upon the Lord for our needs and our desires. Knowing that He will take care of us better than we could ever take care of ourselves. He will provide in ways you never dreamed possible. But only if you get back in the water. If you are stuck on the seashore, stubbornly telling God what your plans are…you will miss out on so much. Let’s make sure we are in the current of God’s will.

Here is the link, if you would like to listen yourself to his wonderful testimony–

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/Radio.aspx?ID={D70BEA02-B56B-423D-A1BB-75A61996D0C0}

Weighing ourselves on the carpet

Leave a Comment / May 16, 2011 May 16, 2011

The other day, in the midst of cleaning the bathroom, the scales had left its normal home and instead found itself on the bedroom carpet. When my daughter stepped on the scales, she weighed a mere 64 pounds. That number was considerably lower than reality. And it got me thinking…

You see, in our day to day conversations, we love when people agree with us…compliment us…sing our praises. But some of us are always weighing ourselves “on the carpet”. We only listen to the good things. We only want to hear the positive.

When someone comes to us with a criticism…or they disagree with us…we tend to do two things. First, we may rationalize in our heads why the “mean, unloving” person could not possibly be right in their estimation or conclusion. And then, oftentimes, we put our feet firmly on our comfortable “carpet” and ask those we know who will agree with us what their opinion is about the criticism or statement.

I am not referring to biblical issues here. I am referring to…

*When your husband tells you that the dress you are wearing isn’t the most complementary to your figure. Instead of getting mad and turning to your friends (who often do not tell you the truth, anyway), be thankful your husband is willing to tell you the truth.

*When your wife tells you that you never listen to her. Instead of finding your buddies and talking about how “needy” your wives are, take her out to dinner and really listen to her.

*When your kids tell you that you have been grumpy lately. Instead of getting defensive and spouting a list of excuses, try examining your words, actions, and reactions…one by one…so that you can see how they might be reaching this conclusion.

*When your friend tells you that your child was caught smoking, or at the R-rated movie you told him was not allowed, or that he cheated on a test. Instead of turning away from your friend and defending your child, ask the hard questions and deal with the reality of where your child may be spiritually.

*When your pastor convicts and challenges you from the pulpit. Instead of looking around at others who “should be listening”, look at yourself.

You see, so many of us want to just weigh ourselves on the carpet. We only want to surround ourselves with people who will tell us the things we want to hear. But be careful. Because you will harm yourself and your family if you aren’t willing to listen to the truth. And let’s face it…we all have areas in which we need to grow. We all have areas in which we are not pleasing our heavenly father. And if we don’t have anyone in our lives that will help us see what areas still need work, then our growth will be seriously stunted.

Sure it hurts when people tells us a painful truth about ourselves. It hurts a lot. But, in the long run, if we can receive someone’s godly counsel with humility and grace, we will be thankful to the person who stuck out their neck to tell us that painful truth. And we will realize something. That person really cares about us. They cared enough to tell us the truth. Don’t get angry. Be grateful!

And, listen…if the person talking to you is not right in what they are saying…then…SO WHAT? Let it roll. Examine yourself, just to make sure. Then talk with someone who will be honest with you, so you can be doubly sure…and then…let it roll right off of your back. Accept the criticism with humility, recognize it as false, and then move on. Don’t sit in bitterness and resentment. It is not worth it!

Why don’t you move your scales today?

Proverbs 13:1

“It makes sense, if you don’t think about it”

1 Comment / May 12, 2011 May 12, 2011

I heard this in a movie once. It made me laugh. But it also made me wonder. How many of us live life like that? Just having the perspective that was handed down to us by our grandparents and parents. Never stopping to think if that perspective is in line with God’s perspective.

When my husband was just out of college, he got a job in a machine shop over the winters. Working there was a guy who had a real chip on his shoulder about the owners. They were thoughtless, careless people who didn’t give a rip about him. Any new plan they put into place was viewed with suspicion. Everything new was bad. And, yet, we knew, that wasn’t the case. This man had grown up thinking the boss was always bad. Perhaps his dad or his grandfather really did have an evil boss who took advantage of his employees. Who knows?

Ironically enough, this man’s son came to work for us. And guess what? He, too, came with the same large chip on his shoulder. I will never forget the time we tried to put a matching and fully voluntary IRA in place as a benefit for our employees. He thought that somehow we were trying to take advantage of him and take something from him. He refused to participate for years, because of his fear that we were out to get him.

He never stopped to truly think about it. To truly understand that there was no possible way the company could be taking advantage of him by giving him a matching IRA. In his mind, he could not comprehend that owners would ever want to do something nice for their employees.

We can judge these guys I have talked about, but you know what? We do it, too, don’t we? We have assumptions and perspectives that we never stop to think about. We go along in our lives daily and just assume them. As I already said, some of them come from our heritage. But some of them we have made up along the way.

Perhaps someone said something in an irritating or angry way a time or two and you made an assumption about them that will never leave you. Even if that person is aware of that sin and is working on it, people like you and I do not make it very easy on them. We continue to hold it over them, remembering one or two (or a thousand) moments when they have hurt us.

But I am not really sure that we are to live like this. Wouldn’t it be better, for peace and unity, to examine our perspectives from time to time and figure out if they are truly a godly perspective or just something that was handed down to us or perhaps developed from our past experiences?

And perhaps-if we really stop and think- we may even realize that the Christian brother or sister that isn’t quite like us is a really nice person. Or perhaps we might realize that our supervisor is filled with anxiety over some issues outside the office or that our professor has a child in the hospital.

Of course, sometimes, we will reach the conclusion–the boss is really out to get me. That Christian sister or brother really doesn’t like me. That salesman really likes himself. But that does not mean all bosses are out to get me. Or that all churches are filled with hate and dislike. Or that all salesmen really like themselves. We cannot make assumptions like that.

Let’s live our lives, instead, by the motto “it makes sense, if you DO think about it.”

Pass the Salt, Please

Leave a Comment / May 9, 2011 September 9, 2014

Salt has gotten a bad rap in the last few years. High levels of it are thought to cause high blood pressure. Have you ever tried to eat any vegetables or soup without salt? I never realized the importance of salt until my mother started cooking without it. Needless to say, we keep the salt shaker close by when we go there for dinner. Salt is necessary to make food taste its best. Salt is also a necessary nutrient our body needs. But salt needs to be shaken on carefully. Because if you use too much the food becomes inedible.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells believers that we are the “salt of the earth”. If we think about this in light of the salt shaker on our table, we can draw a few useful conclusions–

1) The salt is useless if it is in the salt shaker. In other words, if our only circle is made up of Church, Christian Schools, and spending time with our Christian co-workers, we are hanging out in our own personal salt shaker. Don’t get me wrong, my own kids are in Christian school and I know what a blessing church friends and Christian co-workers can be. But are you spending any time getting to know unbelievers? Are you getting opportunities to share the gospel? Do you have some contact with people who do not know the Lord? We cannot reach a lost and dying world, if we have sequestered ourselves in the salt shaker.

2) The salt needs to be shaken on in a small, measured amount. We need to season our speech with comments that lead the discussion towards God. We need to carefully discern the other person’s interest in the things of the Lord, and not come on full blast with heavy doctrinal issues that will make no sense to an unbeliever. We need to take the opportunities God gives us instead of trying to create our own opportunities.

3) We need to season the world, not be like it. It says in Matthew 5:13 but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. While I think it is good to have contact with the world and be friends with unbelievers, be very careful, lest you lose your saltiness. If you are becoming like your unbelieving friends in your thoughts and actions, you may have lost your saltiness. If you never feel uncomfortable or never speak up against something they want you to do, you may have lost your saltiness. If you join them in their bad language, coarse joking, and partying, you probably have lost your saltiness. And if you have lost your saltiness, you have become an ineffective witness for Christ, no matter how much time you spend with unbelievers.

4) Salt is a necessary nutrient for our bodies. You cannot eliminate all your sodium intake or you would see very negative consequences. Christians are on this earth for a reason–we should provide light and joy and life to those around us. We should bring a presence of unconditional love, boundless joy, and peace to relationships and situations. If we are criticized or disliked, it should be because of our stand for Christ*–not because we are a hypocrite or talking only of ourselves or causing strife or gossiping about a friend, etc.

May we represent Christ in such a way that we are sprinkled out on the world with grace, with love, with joy, with peace. Always in moderation and with wisdom. May we stand for truth, so that we still provide flavor instead of caving in and becoming flavorless and worth only to be trampled upon the ground. What kind of salt are you?

*2 Corinthians 2:14-15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Not all Muslims are Terrorists

Leave a Comment / May 5, 2011 May 5, 2011

So, imagine with me, if you will…It is September, 2000, and you are a man who wants better opportunities for his family. You were born in an Islamic country that provides few opportunities. And, so, with excitement you decide to pack up your family and move to America–the land of opportunity! Things go pretty well for a year…until that fateful day. September 11, 2001. Suddenly, you and your family become the “enemy”. You love your new country and you despise what happened. And, yet, somehow you are labeled and branded.

The same thing happened in this country in World War II with the Germans and the Japanese who lived here. Suddenly, innocent people who had moved here years ago and had proven themselves wonderful neighbors and friends were viewed with suspicion and fear.

The purpose of this blog is not to discuss immigration law and it is not to discuss the Muslim religion. What I want to think about for a moment is the individual Muslim.

The individual who is hopelessly following a man-made religion that their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers followed before them. They are trying to please a god that cannot be pleased and working frantically to get to heaven through their good deeds. But most of these lost souls are not our enemies. They are just people trying to work their way to heaven, just like many other people in your neighborhood.

If we are to go to all ends of the earth to tell the world about Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20), then we need to approach all races and people groups with love and the good news of Jesus Christ…not with hate and fear. Imagine how often Satan has used hate and fear among Christians to shut them up through the centuries! But perfect love casts out fear. (I John 4:18).

My fellow believers in Christ, we cannot afford to allow hate and fear to grow in our hearts. If God provides an opportunity for you to share the good news with someone, do so with love and boldness…no matter their religion or race. And let us remember that NOTHING good comes from hate and fear.

On Election and Education

Leave a Comment / May 2, 2011 May 2, 2011

Okay…so the two things have very little in common. Except for one thing. They are huge topics of debate in Christian circles. Are we elected or does man choose God? Should you public school, homeschool, or Christian school your kids? Of course, there are many other topics and many other sides to arguments…too many to recount here.

While I believe healthy debate is a good thing and is instrumental in helping us to grow and think, we need to be careful lest we make our side of an argument the all important thing, while not caring that we make the other person feel like an idiot.

Now, of course, we have biblical principles upon which to stand. The election of the saints is clear in the Bible (Ephesians 1). It cannot be denied. But if you search there are also some Bible verses that would imply that man has a choice (Proverbs 1:24). I am unapologetically a Calvinist. But the point of this is: Why do we think we have to understand how it works? Only God knows. Why do we– in our finite human minds– think we have to get this? Perhaps we should just submit ourselves to the fact that we can’t understand how the two work together?

And schooling…why do we have to preach that one is better than the other? Yes, I have a pretty strong opinion on what I think is best for my family. But maybe…due to circumstances unknown to you and me…a different option is better for another family. Maybe for them, the opposite of what you are doing is the best choice for them. Why does this choice have to be such a source of division among believers?

Why do we argue and debate on the things that we can’t understand (i.e. election)? Or the things that do not have a biblical principle to support them (i.e. education)?

I know I am putting myself out on a limb because so many people have such strong feelings about these two topics. And, again, I am not saying that there is no place for argument and debate…because there IS. But not at the cost of broken relationships and hurt feelings. Is it more important that we prove we are right than that we edify one another in the body of Christ? Perhaps a statement given with dignity and love would actually cause a person to think much more about the other side than a heated statement that implies the other person is unintelligent for even holding their viewpoint.

And, lest I be misunderstood (if you know me, you already know this)…I do believe it is of utmost importance to develop biblical opinions about things…and to encourage believers to adhere to biblical principles. But when it comes to the stuff we can’t quite understand or state with unequivocal certainty…well, perhaps we need to state our opinion with love and then walk away.

Idol Building

Leave a Comment / April 28, 2011 April 28, 2011

The other day I read the following verses in Isaiah 46. As I read them, I found myself wondering how Isaiah might have worded them in modern day America–

Here is how it is written in Isaiah 46:5-7:

⁵ “ To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal
      And compare Me, that we should be alike?
       ⁶ They lavish gold out of the bag,
      And weigh silver on the scales;

They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god;
      They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.
       ⁷ They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it
      And set it in its place, and it stands;
      From its place it shall not move.
      Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer
      Nor save him out of his trouble.

Here is Leslie’s Modern American Translation–

“ To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal
      And compare Me, that we should be alike?
       They lavish gold to buy tickets for athletic events,
      And they spend oodles of time watching screens;

They hire a trainer, and he makes the care of his body a god;
      They miss church for their children’s sporting events, yes, they worship.
       ⁷ They dwell on these things
      And set it in its place, and it stands;
      From its place it shall not move.
      Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer
      Nor save him out of his trouble.

Of course, I am not saying it is wrong to watch sporting events, TV, or our children on an occasional Sunday morning. I am not saying it is a bad thing to take care of your body. I am, however, concerned about the priority these things take in many of our lives. They often start taking first place in our hearts. Sometimes I think I am caught up in these things unawares…and, all of a sudden, I realize they have eaten up a ton of time. And, yet, while these things are okay, and even good, in moderation, when we invest too much time in them, these things often become an idol for us.

When trouble comes, we cannot save ourselves with our TV, our sports, or our perfectly sculpted body. God is our help in time of trouble. He is our rock. He is our shelter. May we invest our lives in Him, so that we already know Him when trouble comes. May the other things that we do in life take second place to the God that loves us.