Getting a Biblical Perspective on Social Status

Due to being out of town, childrens church, and nursery...I was a little behind on my favorite pastor's sermons (great theology, great passion, and very attractive...you can't get a better combination from a pastor ;) )

Anyway...Vermon's James series has been so good (in my completely unbiased opinion). I just listened to this sermon on James 1: 9-11.

I HIGHLY encourage you to listen:

Getting a Biblical Perspective on Social Status

her name is "mommy"

I really have the best job in the entire world… I feel like I am doing it injustice by even calling it a job…finally, I get paid to just be Dennae. :) I really would work at Sojourner Center for free (shh…don’t tell anyone, the pay is kinda helpful for paying bills!) Often, I get in my car after a long, exhausting, draining day and I pause before turning the key. In that pause, I just get this big smile on my face as my mind is flooded with all the precious moments I had that day and great life lessons I learned. There is something about working with hurting children that constantly reminds me of the simplicity of life and the value of love, touch, and belonging. I feel like I have, in many ways, learned more from my kids that I work with then I have taught them.

One of those learning moments happened right before I left for the long weekend on Thursday. I was walking around the center when I found a wandering kid running around in the grass. I asked the four-year-old if I could hold his hand and walk with him back to his room and I said, “I am going to go find your mom, what is her name?” He looked at me and said, “her name is mommy.” I smiled. “Yes, I know, but what do other people call her?” He got a puzzled look on his face and said, “her name is mommy.” I knelt down on his level, so I could be face to face with him, and tried again, “friend, I know you call her mommy, but what about people who aren’t hers, what do they call her?” “mommy.” Hmm…this line of questioning wasn’t working, so I took a different route. “what does she look like?” “She looks like my mommy.” I had to hold in the laughter. “what color hair does she have?” He paused, looked like he was thinking, and with complete sincerity said, “the same color hair all mommies have.” At that point I just decided that I loved this child’s heart and decided to play with him until she came back to the room.

Sometimes I feel like I approach God in that way. I can take the complex, mysterious, awe-inspiring God…and in a few short breaths, simply reduce him to a three letter word, void of meaning and emotion. To a child, “mommy”= “my mother”; to an adult, “mommy” = “billions of women all over the world.”

To me, “God”= my creator, my passion, my love; the one who has rescued me, through Christ, from a life of meaningless existence where the world revolved around me and brought me to a life of purposeful mission where the world revolves around God and his good, justice, grace, and mercy. To the world, “God”= whatever you want him to be.

I think this is why that street corner “preacher” on Mill avenue that says, “repent you evil sinners, the end is near and you are going to burn in hell” really gets my blood pumping. I imagine a person walking up to him and saying, “Who is it that we are supposed to repent to?” The “preacher” looks at him with a “your stupid” look and says, “God.” “Ya, but who is God?” “duh, God is god.” “Okay, I understand that, but who is this God you speak of?” “He is God.”

How quickly that conversation would grow old and annoying. I feel like too often, we approach God as though he were the same as every other “god” in the universe. There is more to “God” then five minute evangelistic tactic could ever present. Are there times where we are given only a five minute opportunity to really share with someone who Jesus is and how he has totally changed our hearts, our passions, our lives? Absolutely. But should that be the majority of times we are talking about who this God is? Absolutely not.


If I believe God to be all that he says he is then my thoughts, my reading, my conversations, my relationships, my time should be consumed with Him. It should be evident in every moment of my life that I am on a life-long quest to intimately know my God and act in a way that reflects His goodness and kindness. I need to have more words in my vocabulary to describe Him then simply, “God.” So much so, that I can spend not just five minutes, but hours and days explaining, describing, and articulating who He is, what He looks like, and what He cares about.

happiness is just a curly fry away...

Vermon and I spent the day yesterday walking along a beautiful beach by my aunt and uncle’s house in sunny southern California. I was struck all throughout our walk by God’s majesty and beauty. Nature has a way of making me stop, swallow that lump in my throat, and stand in awe of God. This weekend has been nothing but one happy moment after another, which is why I found this so amusing…at the end of our walk, Vermon and I came across this empty soda cup that said:

“Happiness is just a curly fry away.”

Interesting statement. I kind of smiled as I pointed it out to Vermon, “This would be the winner if our culture could be defined by a soda cup…” I joked. At that moment it seemed funny, but as I reflect on it, I do not know how far I was from the truth.

Americans…maybe just humans in general, pine for a life of happiness. It is even valued as high of a right as life and liberty! Think about what that means? Should the pursuit of happiness be a human right and if so, should it be equal to life and liberty?

And…just like everything else, we don’t want that pursuit to be a hard, toilsome work. Put it in the microwave, set it to high…instant happiness. It is “just” a moment away…quick, pull over, buy these curly fries and you will be happy.

You fill in the blank. Happiness is just a soul mate away. Happiness is just a dream house away. Happiness is just an adventure away. Happiness is just a satisfying job away. Happiness is just a __________ away.

The more we pursue happiness the less happy our world gets. It is in pursuing our own agendas and desires that we become more evil. We were created to serve. We should be pursuing a life of constant sacrificial, self-emptying service to God and others. What if the Decleration of Independence read, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the right to live a life of constant, Christ-like service to God and each other.”

It is in service, many times a tiring, exhausting act, where we will find the deepest satisfaction and happiness ever known. There is nothing instant about it. You can’t pull over the moment you get a craving, whip out a $5 bill and purchase it. Living a life of constant, selfless service is work, hard work. But it is a work that will lead to endless and limitless rewards.

One of the most incredible lessons I have begun to learn through my relationship with Vermon is that happiness is simply a side benefit. Marrying him because he makes me happy would destroy us, because it moves the epicenter of our marriage from Christ to us and our desires. If I walk forward in marrying him simply based on my happiness, then I am missing the entire reason God created marriage.

God created marriage to express himself and to glorify his name. In marrying Vermon, I am given the gift of being able to reflect the image of God to him and him to me. And the image of God is shown in his son, Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a sacrifice for us. How beautiful. It is beautiful that our love will only be as deep as we are able to reflect Christ to each other. It is only in self-emptying, sacrificial love and service to each other that we be able to fulfill the purpose that God intended for marriage.

Of course, if we both strive to, by God’s grace, do that…we will know an indescribable amount of happiness. What I value more then happiness is the deep, divine-like love that I have received from Vermon. The moments in life that I have pursued happiness do not compare to the moments where I have been able to love and serve Vermon in ways that are not normal or natural…and times when I have received acts of service from him that are far from what I deserve. We cannot afford to pursue happiness. Happiness is not the chief end of man.

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him fully.

God, help me to pursue that.

A Culture of Violence

There are certain topics that get me very fired up. I know my friends and family think I am extreme and hate television. I do not hate television, I hate the amount of time it takes away from people’s lives. I hate what it does to families, children, and our culture. I know this is lengthy and most of you are sick of hearing about it from me...so only read this entire thing if you really love me. :) (just kidding!)

I think entertainment is a great thing. Unfortunately, I think our society approaches entertainment just like they approach the rest of life: entertainment=consumption. That one word “consume” sums up the purpose of entertainment in the lives of many. We cheapen our lives when we limit our definition of entertainment to, “a painless activity that gratifies and satisfies me.” There is so much more to entertainment.

Entertainment is simply occupying your mind with something enjoyable, amusing, or even pleasurable. In a dark world filled with evil, we need space in our life and our minds to enjoy the earth that God has given us. Entertainment can be playing with children, drinking coffee with friends, fellowship with community, sitting around a campfire, hiking through the Adirondacks, reading a great book...anything that glorifies God and allows us to enjoy him more can be entertainment (by that definition, I have no problem with any media that does that).

It is interesting when I begin to explain my views on media, that people automatically jump to the conclusion that I am extreme and find no value in entertainment. I think this just sheds light on the fact that their definition of entertainment is narrow. This post was inspired by a recent 24 episode I watched. Trying to prove that I was not an enemy of television, I decided to pick a show to watch that Vermon is watching. I thought it would be a fun compromise, since he often does things with me that I know he never thought of doing pre-dennae. I had watched every episode this season, until a week ago, when I felt the violence really crossed the line.

Now, I do think that violence is okay to portray through art, music, movies, etc. I think it should be done in a way that draws people towards a resolution. It needs to be something that sickens and outrages people at the evil in this world and compels and pushes them forward toward being a vanguard of social change. I think there is something wrong when violence is nothing more then, “a painless activity that gratifies and satisfies me.”

The argument has been made, “just because I watch a violent show does not mean I am going to be more violent.” I agree. It does not mean that. Just because I watch a movie with graphic sexual content, does not mean I am going to have premarital sex. The point I am trying to make is not how you, personally, are effected by meaningless acts of violence. Jack Bauer killed a terrorist. The writer of the show could have portrayed it in a way where it gave the audience a healthy sense of justice. But instead, men and women all across America thought or said, “ooohh…Jack is so awesome!” as he brutally an inhumanely killed a man in a five minute killing scene that ended with the terrorist’s neck snapping as his body hung from a metal chain. And our society doesn’t even flinch when it's over and spends the next day at the water cooler talking about the great episode.

The fact is violence is real. I work with women and children all day, every day that have lived a reality that is the entertainment of so many. I have kids that have seen bodies hang from beams just like that scene that millions watched for pure entertainment. Bloody, beaten bodies is not out of the norm for some of my six, seven, and eight year old children, but it also is not entertainment to them. It is a frightening nightmare that they don’t know if they will survive. I am not being dramatic, I am not being extreme, I am being honest. We live in a violent and disgusting world in which evil triumphs when good men sit idle.

If you think that this is my soapbox just because I am around it all day, then I challenge you to move your life to a place where you can see the world for what it really is. You don't have to be around hungry people to be passionate about feeding the hungry and not wasting food. You don't have to be around illiterate families to be passionate about educating children. You don't have to be around alcoholics or drug attics, marriages that are dissolving, oppressed women, slaves, families breaking because of debt, races being wiped out by genocide, or children who are abused to be passionate about seeing those social ills resolved.

Our lives need to be a little more black and white if we want to start to see change happen. Deciding not to endorse meaningless violence on television is not about legalism, it is about being sick and tired of a society and culture that embraces a culture of violence.

I believe that there are hundreds, maybe thousands of social ills that could be alleviated if Christians would reject the definition of entertainment as, “a painless activity that gratifies and satisfies me" and make entertainment a very small part of their life instead of the focus. If you are still reading (then you get 100 extra points and must be a REALLY good and dear friend of mine! :) ) Take some time to read these stats: http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_vlent.shtml In my experience, people don’t really care about stats because all they care about is that they are not affected by it, but my challenge is to stop thinking about yourself and how you are effected and start thinking about society and culture as a whole and take a stand against violence.

the proposal... =)

I already talked to most of you who read this, but I wanted to share some pictures with you! Thanks to Vermon's sister and my sister's willingness to hide in the bushes and take pictures...we were able to get some special moments on camera. ;)

conviction...

It is so easy to wander through life, not noticing the great blessings God has bestowed upon us. For example, If I flip the switch on and get light several times a day, every day, for 22 years, then I very rarely think to stop and thank God for light. When I go a month or longer without electricty, I begin to praise God every time I flip that switch and light enters the room.

I would like to compare that thought to how blessed I am to have a Bible and the ability to study it.

According to UNESCO, in the world today there are about 1 billion non-literate adults.

• This 1 billion is approximately 26 percent of the world's adult population.
  Women make up two-thirds of all non-literates.
• 98 percent of all non-literates live in developing countries.
• In the least developed countries, the overall illiteracy rate is 49 percent.
• 52 percent of all non-literates live in India and China.
• Africa as a continent has a literacy rate of less than 60 percent.
• In Sub-Saharan Africa since 1980, primary school enrollment has declined, going from 58 percent to 50 percent.
• In all developing countries, the percentage of children aged 6-11 not attending school is 15 percent. In the least developed countries, it is 45 percent.(UNESCO 1998)
  

Combine that with these facts:

• Of the 2,400 language groups with portions of the Bible, roughly 1,115 have the New Testament.
• Only 426 have a full Bible, including the Old Testament
• (If I am reading these stats right) that means, of 2,400 languages (that HAVE portions of the Bible, this does not include language groups that do not have portions of the Bible!), 53% do not have bibles translated into their language, only 46% have the New Testament, and only 17% have both old and new testament translated into their language (that means 83% of the world’s languages that have a portion of the Bible do not have the entire Bible translation).

The fact is…if I was born in any third-world country, the chances are that I would be highly unlikely to pick up a Bible and start reading it. Even worse, if I was born into one of those people groups without a Bible…I couldn’t even have someone in my community that does read, read it to me.

But the possibility of not having access to read God’s word is not secluded to third world countries. I interact with people every day…right here in America…who cannot read. I have met a few who cannot even write their own name. They aren’t stupid and they don’t have learning disabilities…they were just born into violent, abusive, and neglectful families that never sent them to school.

But I walk by 4 bibles and many shelves of books filled with books explaining passages of scripture every single day. I live in a country with over a hundred evangelical bible colleges, universities, and seminaries. There are hundreds of sound theologians that are publishing books faster then I will ever be able to read that exegete and expound on scripture. I could sign up to study Greek and Hebrew and study God’s word for myself in the original language.

Failure to study God’s word is more then a lack of discipline in my life, it is foolish and sinful. It should be as repulsive as a nation starving to death while there is enough food for a daily thanksgiving day feast sitting in storage.

To go throughout my life without studying God’s word on a consistent and continual basis, is like going through life with a million dollars in my bank account, yet sleeping in Central Park in the middle of the winter. It would be stupid, and yet…when I stood before God, I feel like that would make more sense then trying to account for why I was not immersed in this great gift that God has given me while so much of the world has lived without it.

Sunday Reflections...

I came to church this morning feeling a little drained, but the songs and the message cut to my heart as we talked about God’s promises and God’s will. I want to cling to the promises that God has given us in His word. God promises to redeem this earth and redeem his children. I want to look at this world and be moved (to action) with compassion like Christ was, not distracted and apathetic at all the chaotic mess.

This is the first week since I began my job that I was counting down the days for my weekend to begin. I was feeling discouraged the past few days as I encounter so many people who are living devastating, destructive lives...not just at work, but everywhere I look. I am surrounded by many people who are living in a man-made hell on earth. As I look at all the hurt, pain, and suffering in everyone’s life, sometimes I feel so weighed down. I only personally know the human suffering of a small handful in comparison with the billions of people that walk this earth. That thought is overwhelming, but at the same time makes me want to fall on my face and worship my God.

I cannot believe that I follow a God that sympathizes with the pain and suffering of humanity and desires to redeem it…not only does God desire to see us walking in unity with Him, but he gave his son, to die for our sins, that we may have the hope of living a life in unity with God’s heart, desires, and passions.

Vermon read Ephesians 3:20 this morning and it struck my heart in such a special way, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

If I, a human, a sinner, can ask and think of the worst of situations to be made whole and complete in Christ, then how much greater is God’s desire to do that for humanity? It is incomparable. I serve a God that is ABLE TO DO far more ABUNDANTLY than all that I ask or think. ..ABLE…TO DO…FAR MORE…ABUNDANTLY…ALL…that I ASK…OR THINK… I am truly in awe of God when I think of this. How can I be discouraged when I think about God’s great heart of love, compassion, justice, and righteousness?

Just wanted to share the words of some songs we sang today that really touched my heart.

The first one touched me because I feel like I can easily get lost in trying to understand what God has willed and planned. When I can freely admit that I am not skilled to undertand those things, I am freed to look at what I do know…I know that at God’s right hand is my Savior.

The second song touched me because I do not want to ever claim freedom from sorrow, pain, or care, I only want to glorify God’s name. The same goes for this world. The deepest fulfillment and joy comes not in freedom from pain, but in glorifying God’s name and to steal John Piper’s famous quote, “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him” (and being satisfied in God, will one day lead us to eternity freed from pain and suffering and a present life filled with a role in GOd's mission to redeem all of humanity from the death that sin has trapped us in.

My Savior, My God

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at his right hand
Stands one who is my savior

I take him at his word and deed
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
For him to be my savior

That he would leave his place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my savior

My savior loves, my savior lives
My savior's always there for me
My God he was, my God he is
My God he's always gonna be

Yes, living, dying; let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring
That he who lives to be my king
Once died to be my savior


Be Glorified

Not from sorrow, pain, or care
Freedom dare I claim
This alone shall be my prayer
Glorify thy name

Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified

Can I child presume to choose
where or how to live?
Can a father's love refuse
all the best to give?

Let my glad heart while it sings
Thee in all proclaim
And whatever future brings
Glorify thy name

Romans 8:18-25
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”