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.”

"The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

For all of you who wanted to participate in the book discussion...here is the link:

http://christianbookdiscussion.blogspot.com/

Matthew 10:16-24

I love reading the Gospels. I love seeing the heart of Christ and thinking about the life he is calling us to. I read this passage of scripture a few days ago and have been chewing on it for a while...

Matthew 10: 16-23 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

Jesus tells his disciples that they will be flogged, persecuted, and hated for His name sake. The same God that called for such selfless sacrifice to the point of pain, torture, and death is the same God that calls for disciples to follow Him today.

It makes me wonder why the invitation to follow Christ is often portrayed as an inviation to a life filled with happiness and smooth sailing. Why do we often depict relationship with Christ as this simple, brainless, easy choice? When I think about Christ sharing this with his followers, I do not imagine them thinking this future sounded like the "married with 2 kids, a dog, and a white-picket fence" life they maybe had aspirations for.

Is following Christ an easy choice? It makes so much sense for me. I could write for pages why it makes sense, but it definitely has not been a choice that has always led to the easiest path. And it definitely hasn't been the path of smooth sailing, unending bliss, and constant happiness. It has been a while since I have seen the movie, so my analogy may be a little hazy, but a scene in Patriot comes to mind as I think about this. There is a scene where there are all these people sitting on the side of a hill, under the cool shade of a tree, watching the battle unfold before them. Contrast that to the soldiers fighting, shedding their blood, giving their life for a cause they are passionate about. That is what the Christian life should be more described as. Given the choice to chose between being a part of something that will change history, see justice served, people healed, and lives changed...or to sit on the sidelines...that is an easy choice for me...but the actions are not easy and there will be consequences, wounds, and sacrifices. It would be much easier for my physically body to sit and watch. I would never have to get my heart rate up, I would never have to risk pain or hurt, I would never have to worry about the blood of others splattering on me and getting me messy and dirty. It would be easier to not be a part of it, to not participate...but it would not be the life I would rather live. Christianity is too often depicted as being an audience at a symphony. We can sit together and enjoy the beautiful music, bask in the artist’s work, enjoy the sounds as we sit and listen. Our intended purpose being to take part in producing the song instead becomes the passive enjoyment of a spectator. Unfortunately, the closest many get to taking part of God’s work is in sharp critiques and criticisms of the players, another passive approach to a life where God demands anything but passivity.

We talk about longing for community, but when you get to the heart of what we really want, it isn't for a group of people to get dirty with, to fight with, to pour out our sweat, blood, and tears with, to sacrifice our life for...it is for a group to sit, sip fine wine, and enjoy life with. What kind of Christianity are we offering the world? What kind of salvation are we offering if we are not offering a salvation for the empty, fruitless life they are living right now? Do we really believe following Christ to be something that is worth throwing our entire life into? Our entire family into? Our entire body and mind into? Are we offering the world an invitation to just sit, listen, and enjoy with us? Or are we offering them an opportunity to be a part of something so much greater then sitting on the sidelines or in the stands?