The Cross of Christ

I just started reading a new book and have already been challenged by the first chapter. I am trying to expand my reading library to include a wider range of authors and eras. Limiting resources only shelters our point of view and hinders thinking for ourselves. I don’t want to become comfortable and mindless in my reading. I want and need to be continuously growing, all the while holding on to the absolute timeless truth of God. In this effort my new venture is a book by Charles R. Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip. I came across a poem that I wanted to share:

I simply argue that the cross he raised again
at the center of the market place
as well as on the steeple of the church,

I am recovering the claim that
Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral
between two candles:

But on a cross between two thieves;
on a town garbage heap;
At a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan
that they had to write His title
in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek…

And at the kind of place where cynics talk smut,
and thieves curse and soldiers gamble.

Because that is where he died,
and that is what he died about.
and that is where Christ’s men ought to be,
and what church people ought to be about.

-George MacLeod

The Lake House

This past weekend my aunt and uncle came in town. I hadn’t seen them since they moved from Clearwater shortly after my college graduation, so I was glad to see them. Sunday I left with them and my cousins to go up to a lake house. We spent the next few days just having fun in the sun. We had boats, tubes, jet skis and schedule free days. We enjoyed grilled out meals out on one of the decks. Hawaiian sausage, barbeque chicken, corn on the cob, fruit with cream cheese dip, pasta salad and so much more filled us up each day. The girls watched a movie each evening while the guys were out fishing. At night after everyone was asleep in the house I liked to go outside and just sit on the steps leading to the dock surrounded by the quite night sky and still waters. The moon was not quite full but it was beautiful. The top deck of the house was like being in a tree house engulfed in the branches and leaves. It was a good time and a great opportunity to just relax and play. My only regret was that I forgot to take my camera so I am left with no pictures.

I Corinthians 15

I was just reflecting on my favorite verse. It’s a verse of motivation, challenge and promise. I rarely use KJV anymore, but I love this particular translation of the verse. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).” This life is short and the work of our lives should boil down to this passage. I love to return to this portion of Paul’s letters from time to time. The whole chapter recounts the cornerstone of our existence in Christ, which is so much bigger than this life. The focus and glory found in Paul’s writing provides us believers with hope, but it also presents an undeniable command upon our lives. We need Him to be the center of our quickly fading lives and it’s an individual’s decision to make Him that.

Beautiful Release

The concept really makes sense. It’s not easy, but it makes sense. My personal struggle of letting go is evident in the majority of my posts as I battle with the concept. A couple days ago the realization began to free my overbearing analytical thoughts. How do we expect to hold His full power when our hands are so full with our own securities? We grasp so tightly while we call to God for His hand. We stumble like a child refusing to release a single treasured toy to take our Father’s outstretched hand. God reiterated this lesson to me this last week. I’ve been reading through I Samuel and as I read through the story of David and Goliath again I made special note of David turning down Saul’s battle gear. Great equipment, but it would have only weighed him down. What “security” is weighing us down? I read about the incident again in a book I just completed. So here I am with the lessons God is presenting me and realizing that the beauty of the moment can only be fully captured in if I pry my fingers from my own securities. We can only experience the day as God made it when we lay down everything we are carrying. This is the moment I’m given and it won’t return.

Just a few other challenging thoughts I crossed in my last reading (Life Wide Open, by David Jeremiah):

“From God’s point of view, the greatest waste in life is the gap between what you are and what you could be.”

“God has given us two promises: His presence and His power.”

“God is pleased to work not through ability but through availability.”

“Failure is one of life’s greatest teachers – or it certainly can be if we choose to learn from it rather than let it crush us.”

“Perfection is the goal, but it’s not the journey.”

Crazy Tourist

I’ve always avoided infamous tourist activities. Maybe it has something to do with growing up in one of the biggest tourists’ traps this world has. I also am not big on being an uncontrollable overzealous fan of famous people. So every now and them my path crosses with someone considered famous. I’m not the type to take advantage of the photo op or an autograph.

Well, I faltered today. I blame the billboard. I’ve had to pass it a few times recently since I’ve been in Indiana. There it was again today, exit 55. It really was just shameful. I could take it no more! I wanted to explore the roots of James Dean. He’s probably one of my favorite actors of all time.

I wasn’t sure what to expect in this small town adventure. I first met Lenny and his dog at The James Dean Gallery. Lenny was definitely the friendly type of person you’d expect to meet in this town. He was eager to have me explore his collectibles and thought it was just so cool for me to have the same birth date as James Dean. I bought my usual shot glass for my collection from him and he gave me a map of everywhere I needed to go next.

I went to the high school that young Jimmie attended. This was when I was caught being a tourist. A man mowing his lawn across the street stopped his mower to inform me that I could get in trouble for my illegal activity. He laughed and told me he was only kidding and just wanted to tell me more about the building. My second nice encounter said James Dean visitors were so obvious (officially slapping the tourist stamp on me). He pointed to the boarded windows of what had roomed the acting class.

Next it was time for the museum containing so much of James Dean’s life. His cousin, Marcus Jr. remains the owner. There sat James’ Bible with his name neatly printed on the cover along with his birth certificate and so much more. Sketches and sculptures he had crafted were on display. The one thing that caught my eye was a letter to Marcus Jr. He was in New York at the time and wrote about some of Marcus’ drawings. He encouraged young Marcus to not draw so much of manmade things. He told him to look around and draw things like the hills and people. He noted how Marcus was blessed by the Lord God to be amidst such surroundings. He wrote, “…they are harder to draw because they are harder to grow.” It made me smile to read in his words his appreciation for the things God creates in comparison to mans’ efforts. As a New York lover, I also smiled as I noticed in a letter to his pastor he wrote, “…it’s as fascinating as it’s big.” A few samples of his school work reminded me of my own. His reports contained lightly colored drawings behind the words. I always loved providing some type of illustration.

After leaving I drove by the home he grew up in. The farm is still functioning and all was neatly painted white. I drove passed his old church and then I did what I had to in order to complete my visit. Despite my major dislike of all graveyards, I went by his site. Eww! It was weird to think that years ago his 24 year old body was laid in there.

“Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.”

–James Bryon Dean

Christmas in July

So I have been thinking about this idea for a while and really think I want to commit myself to it this year. Please first note that I am not a Scrooge and I am not staking claim to be against all holiday traditions. I say holiday because I believe it fits most traditions better than a linkage to a true Christmas. What about them is centered on Christ? For some believers there may be a moment during the season that reflections of its origin takes place. Maybe it’s through a reading, a time of singing or a Christmas church program. But haven’t even these things been found tainted with selfishness? We want to sing our favorite song, not because of its message but because of its happy tune or because we like the way the different parts sound together. We leave a church program feeling in the “Christmas spirit” because of the warm and fuzzy storyline. One of the better intentions of holiday traditions has got to be the emphasis on family time. It’s a quality factor in our lives, but the presence of Jesus is still missing from the equation.

Of course, today’s reality of the whole season is spent restless with the strangers around us on the roads and stores. American marketers know it is the time to push consumers to spend well beyond there means. Gift giving can be more about meeting expectations than sharing a heart of love. Many people find themselves in the weeks prior Christmas day saying to themselves that it doesn’t feel like Christmas. I’ve said it. I’ve even felt that way in the midst of family at a dinner table on Christmas day. What does that mean? It doesn’t feel like Christmas? Does it mean all of our expectations of the holiday are not in place? Does it mean the fresh blanket of snow isn’t in its place (not for a FL girl)? Does it mean we weren’t able to find that perfect gift for someone we love?

Well, all of this is to say I am planning to commit this year to be free of all expectations and traditions. I want to go back to the core. I’ve heard others say and have said to myself before that I need to focus more on the meaning of the season. I want it to be more than a Bible study. I don’t want it to be about me at all. When I think of Christ’s entire existence on this earth I think of selflessness. I don’t want an empty Christmas, but I do want to discover a selfless one.

What is Christmas? It’s a celebration of Christ’s birth. Birthdays are meant to be about celebrating an individual’s life. Sure we celebrate Christmas, but who’s our celebration for? When we celebrate a person’s birthday, gifts and special time with that individual are commonplace. How can I give to my Savior? How can I spend time with Him? As I considered these questions my mind went directly to the Scripture I want to hold as inspiration for this coming season.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

(Matthew 25:34-45, NLT)

Where can Jesus be found? In the least of these. That’s where I want to be. That’s where I need to be.

I want to spend this Christmas with those Christ would want to spend His birthday with. I plan to make it happen. It’s not going to be a matter of putting a portion of my time into this, but giving the whole season back to my Christ.

Many Christians have expressed outrage as the term holiday has become more prominent in attempt to be politically correct. But, has Christmas been missing from our season for much longer? I’m afraid that for many “righteous” followers it has.

Therapeutic Writing

This is my middle of the night blog that just had to happen. Thoughts are in my head, yet it also feels so empty. I’m not sure what all of this leaves me to write about, but writing is the outlet I’m opting to at this hour. I guess basically my life is bringing me more questions than answers and it leaves me a little unsettled. I know without any doubt God has a plan and I’m trying to take one step at a time with Him. I feel like I have my foot lifted and I just don’t know where to place it. I think part of me expects the pieces of my puzzle to just merge together. I also know that revealed answers don’t require faith. Faith needs to be the center of who God is making me. I believe when we seek to become stronger in an area, God gives us opportunities to grow. I know my battle is that of control. So as hard as it is to muster the words, I say to God keep me in the dark if it’s where I need to be to walk beside you. But, help me to know your presence and to know when and where to put my foot down. I can’t help but think of the words Leeland sings,

Time keeps moving on
Through the sunshine and the storm
And my dreams are set in stone
And someday I’ll be who I want to be
For now I’ll wait
For the sun to shine again
And for now I’ll wait
For the rain to pass away

And I’m looking for the brighter days
When all my hurts seem to fade away
I’m looking for the brighter days to come my way

Faces come and faces go
But none seem to look my way
And walls have stood and walls have fallen
But my heart seems to wait
For now I’ll sit at the end of the road
And for now I’ll wait
At the end of the pathway

I’ll see the sun one day shine upon me
I’ll see the sun one day
And watch the nighttime turn to morning
But for now it all comes back around

This post may not make a whole lot of sense, but this one isn’t so much for the reader as it is for me, the writer. It’s almost hard for me to post, because it is so much easier for me to keep my image pulled together. I think it's necessary for me in helping me to let go. Maybe, that's what God is molding within my life. I've been working on letting go of control, but my strongest grip has got to be on my personal guard. Opening up to my struggles is beyond uncomfortable to me. I enjoy experiencing life with people, but it's always hard to let people get to close to me. I enjoy helping others, but I think it can often be a scapegoat to turn the focus away from myself. I know it prevents more meaningful relationships, but I continue to keep the wall up. This may be one of the hardest walls for me to conquer. It may very well be the essence of my control.