Archive for November, 2009
The “visitors”
This is a dumb post but but I’m going to write it anyway. I was lying in bed last night unable to sleep because my neck muscles were tight causing a headache. It got me thinking about the science-fiction television series V, which we have been having fun watching each week. The alien “visitors” as they are called, are reptilian creatures in human skin. This week, one of the undercover aliens was complaining about living every moment of the past 20 years trapped in the hideous body of a human. Got me thinking about how wonderful it will be when we are free from the earthly bodies. But they are–as are all our aches, pains, allergies and illnesses–a constant reminder that we are also “visitors,” sojourners whose citizenship is in heaven even though we are here on earth for now.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20
Add comment November 22, 2009
High-tech salon color
Ruthie Krauss recently switched to Aveda products at her Petoskey, Michigan, salon, Trillium. “As a cancer survivor, I am very passionate about product research and treatment as well as organic and natural therapy.” Her feelings reflect those of salons and salon users across the globe, who are making decisions based on the impact products have on the environment and on themselves. Not an easy task when it comes to color.
Ammonia and its popular alternative MEA allow the penetration of the oxidation dye intermediates and remove the natural pigmentation or melanin, which is damaging to hair. PPD, whose alternative PTD is relatively unknown, is needed to impart color on the hair but may cause allergic reactions and is feared by some to be a carcinogen.
Brands are aware of the negative reputation of chemical hair dyes yet finding natural alternatives that don’t sacrifice performance has presented a challenge. As technology improves and the demand increases, however, manufacturers are taking steps in the right direction. Read more in the November 2009 issue of Hair’s How magazine. “Hi-Tech Color: Down to Earth Facts.”
Add comment November 20, 2009
Not here, but there
The past few weeks have been an important Godstop, one of those moments that you have to record because it’s evidence of God working in your life. But I don’t know if I have the words. It’s like suddenly, somebody flipped a switch and I can see more clearly now. And I didn’t realize how lost I was until the lights came on.
It’s been the result of the perfect spiritual transformation trifecta: reading the book Crazy Love, the study of John in BSF, and a study on abiding in Christ with my church small group. (Our study leader is writing an amazing study as we go through it on the city of man versus the city of God to get to the heart of how we should live as Christians in a secular world. We’ve been joking about turning it into a book, and I for one will be very disappointed if he doesn’t.)
I’ll confess, I have been tired. I have been working really hard to “do the right thing,” to do what “God wants me to do,” and even “be different” so that I could be a witness to others. But in my effort to appear to be the perfect Christian, I was being exactly what I was trying to pretend I wasn’t: a hypocrite. And I was getting really frustrated because whatever I would “do” just that, I would fail. It wasn’t what I was doing but how or why, but it was for all the wrong reasons. I was so focused on the here and now, so full of myself that I had no desire or love in my heart for God. Daily Bible reading was a chore, a big bore (unless someone else was doing all the work for me), and my prayers were dry and lifeless.
Crazy Love hit it right on the nose for me:
Lukewarm living and claiming Christ’s name simultaneously is utterly disgusting to God. But the solution isn’t to try harder, fail and then make bigger promises only to fail again. It does no good to muster up more love for God, to will yourself to love Him more. When loving Him becomes obligation, one of many things we have to do, we end up focusing even more on ourselves. No wonder so few people want to hear from us about what we ourselves feel is a boring, guilt-ridden chore!
I went to God and confessed that I was trying to do everything on my own because I was living for me, admitted that I didn’t want to spend time with Him, and expressed my desire to let Him to change me. I can’t remember now what I said exactly because it didn’t seem that important at the time. Could it really be that simple? But now, I have a new perspective. A realization that I am not a citizen of this world. Nothing here matters. For the first time in a long time, I desire to do not just what pleases God but to do what he has called me to do, to serve Him by doing His will … not for myself but to honor and glorify Him.
One example: I’ve tried in the past, albeit halfheartedly, to witness to my co-workers or my neighbors. I’ve desired to set myself apart, as a Christian, and realized all I had done is physically set myself apart. I haven’t made any effort to foster relationships with non-Christians. I’ve had fleeting thoughts of hosting a Bible study and inviting neighbors or putting signs in my yard or being outrageous for God with grand gestures. But I knew I was never going to do any of that!
I realize now it’s not about that, but simply loving others. That is what Jesus calls us to do. And I knew that before but I was trying to do it on my own and how do you make yourself love someone that you don’t? You can’t. Not on your own. But Jesus has given me the desire to open my home and my life to others. Being willing to drop anything to make a meal for someone who has had surgery or being able to pick up someone’s daughter when she’s stranded at WalMart because her car won’t start. No matter how inconvenient it may be … without grumbling. So, I invited the women in my neighborhood for a girls night in at my house. Opening my doors. It’s not the end all be all. But it’s the first step to being where I need to be. God can’t use me if I am not available and in connection with those around me.
CS Lewis wrote: “Throughout history, Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
1 comment November 18, 2009
Not guilt or obedience, but love
I had lunch with a former colleague today. Well, she was my boss. But I had a hard time thinking of her that way. We did not get along. I didn’t respect her and she didn’t trust me. We tried, but there was always tension. Well, she tried. I would have none of it. But I was a Christian and should have known better. My behavior was downright embarrassing. When I left the company (almost 6 years ago now!) to be home with my first born, things didn’t happen the way I had hoped (I wanted to keep working part-time) and when they didn’t, I was angry and hurt. Frankly, I blamed her. Eventually, I worked through most of that, knowing that God worked it out to keep my attention at home, where it needed to be. Clearly, I couldn’t make that decision on my own, so He made it for me. Anyway, my co-worker was laid off in August with a few others. It was truly unfortunate. But, I have to admit, I rejoiced a little bit. So, I knew I hadn’t completely healed. I ignored the feeling.
This week, amidst the perfect spiritual transformation trifecta: reading the book Crazy Love
It wasn’t until I had told my husband about our plans and he asked if I was doing it out of guilt that I realized I completely and totally wasn’t (unlike Tuesday when I struggled with guilt over giving a homeless man a cookie). I was driven by obedience, not the “okay, I’ll do it but I don’t want to” kind but the “I’ll do whatever you ask me to do without even thinking twice about it” kind of obedience. Actually, maybe that’s not even it. I was driven by love.
Wow. Maybe that’s not profound to you. But, for me, it is. Right here, right now, I’m in awe of God’s amazing ability to transform my perspective. Just. Like. That. I’m not only saying “it’s not all about me,” I’m experiencing it. I didn’t know there was a difference. But there is. And it’s a wonderfully peaceful feeling.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Add comment November 16, 2009
Obedience or guilt: does it matter?
So, I was downtown on Tuesday morning for the monthly BI roundtable. I was able to get out more quickly than usual and nearly hopped on the 10:30am train back home. Unfortunately, it pulled away just as I ran up to platform 5. (I wasted precious seconds at the monitor deciphering whether the blurry number on the screen was 5 or 6, should have known better just to go and figure it out when I got there!) Anyway, I decided I had nothing better to do but eat lunch. At 10:45am. I got a sandwich, chips and a pop at Subway within the train station. I realized I wasn’t hungry so it sat there while I read my book. Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Remember the story where Jesus feeds the 5,000 with fish and loaves? Imagine if the disciples had simply held onto the food Jesus gave them, continually thanking Him for providing lunch for them. That wouldv’e been stupid when there was enough food to feed the thousands who were gathered and hungry.
Nicely illustrated as I sat there feeling stuffed from my more-than-sufficient early and unnecessary lunch. I debated with myself about buying another sandwich to take outside to one of the homeless persons I saw outside the train station as I rushed in an attempt to catch the train home. Chan also quotes pastor Robert Murray M’Cheyne: “Oh, my friends! Enjoy your money; make the most of it; give none away; enjoy it quickly for I can tell you, you will be beggars throughout eternity.” Ouch. I knew it was guilt I was trying to ease, but I also know it’s better to err on the side of doing good, rather than to talk myself out of it. So, without wanting to miss yet another train and feeling uncertain about the needs of those outside, I decided on a cookie. Not as big of an investment, and who wouldn’t like a cookie?
So, I bought a sugar cookie with M&Ms from Mrs. Fields, and marched on out to the nearest beggar I could find. I stopped next to a fidgety black man sitting on the bridge. When I met his eyes, he held out his cup for change. I suggested a cookie and he said “Su-ure.” I don’t remember much what happened after that, I turned to head back to get on the next train. Probably not exactly what God had in mind, but I knew I was making steps in the right direction. At least I knew I was obedient in that moment.
It certainly put things into perspective for me. I can see God is opening my eyes to a new way of thinking about this world we live in.
My plan for next month (or maybe earlier if we can swing it as a family activity), is I want to make lunches to take downtown and distribute. Maybe share a smile and learn somebody’s name this time while I am at it.
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:25
1 comment November 12, 2009
The dead feel nothing
For the past two weeks at BSF, we have been studying the “Samaritan woman at the well.” There are many lessons within it, but one that caught my attention was that she, an uneducated, pagan woman with a bad reputation, quickly responded to Jesus with sincerity (although not complete understanding). Jesus convicts her of sin, without judgment or condemnation, and she does not flee from him, she does not lie or justify her situation. Instead, she opens her heart to him, therefore, allowing Jesus to grant her the “living water” he promises that she desires.
Jesus goes out of his way and patiently waits for us to be ready for him. But in order to know the truth of who God is, we need to first know the truth of who we are.
Do not be discouraged if God brings sins to light that you haven’t seen before. “To feel a worse sinner than ever before, as a result of reading the Bible or deliberately receiving Christ through the person of the Holy Spirit, is progress. The dead feel nothing. (Lesson 7, Series V, BSF)”
We need to first be convicted of sin, grieve that sin and then turn from it. Do I want true repentance? Do I truly want to turn from my sin? Do I rationalize the truth? If I don’t, I can’t truly be satisfied by the living water Jesus offers.
“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ ” John 4: 13-14
Add comment November 4, 2009
Ribbon, Butterfly and Dave
Avery, who has never named any of her “babies” (that is, her stuffed animals), suddenly decided it was of utmost importance to give each and every one of them first, middle and last names. She spent her bedtime on Wednesday night coming up with most of the names (and calling me up to share each one as it was perfected). Some of my favorites are a pink hippo now named Ribbon Lola Pink, a white rabbit named Butterfly Fluffy Pink and a lion named White Orange Pawprint. There also is a brown puppy named Waffle, another brown dog named Brownie, and a third dog named Spotty. Quite a change from kitty, lion, puppy, lamby, bunny, etc. :) Caught up in the excitement, Charlie also told me, several times in fact, that his “black puppy” as he was previously named is now: Dave. The times they are a-changing.
Add comment November 1, 2009
