10 things I hope to emulate about my mom, on her birthday

Today is my mom’s birthday.  There are lots of things that I love about my mom.  Here are a few things about her that I hope to someday emulate:

1) She is generous and holds onto material things loosely.  More often than not, if you admire something she has, she will give it to you.  Even special, big things.

2) She adopts people, and not just for a season.  My mom included some of my friends like family when I was growing up.  Not that they were just allowed to tag along.  She loved(s) them (probably more than I did at times), and, even now, she holds them very closely in her heart, prays for them and misses them.  She does this with lots of people, more than just my friends.

3) She is feminine, yet very very capable when it comes to all things electronic, fixing things, yard work, handling a chainsaw, and just hard work in general.  

4) She handles large life-changes with determination and grace.  Being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after 50 is a pretty big shock to the system, but she has persevered, throwing herself into the new lifestyle, and barely missed a beat.   

5) When she has guests over, she makes them feel like they are doing her a huge favor by being there.  As though, changing the sheets and making the food for them is a big honor for her.  

6) She is the best Nana I know, possibly the best the in the whole world.  She cares about and nurtures her grandkids’ spiritual development.  She babysits tirelessly.  She has a special and distinct relationship with each of her 12 grandkids.  They all feel very loved.  

7) She is in relationships for the long-haul and isn’t afraid of a messy one.  If you’re a hopelessly flawed person, my mom won’t be scared off, she’s in it for the duration.  She gives grace as she’s received it.  

8) She has the right perspective on things.  Things are meant to be used for a purpose.  If they break in the process, no sweat.  It means they were getting used.  She doesn’t protect her things, she protects people.

9) She has never apologized for being first and foremost the manager of her home.  She stayed home when we kids were growing up and she stays home now.  She understands the value in it.  

10) It is her glory to overlook an offense.  This probably happens much more than I know. 

Well, as I read through the list, I know it falls short.  But it is a glimpse of the things I see and hope to be.  And, if you know my mom, you know that, for her, talk is cheap.  So, while she will appreciate this list, she is a woman of action.  So, if I write the list with admiration, but don’t treat her well, it means little.  And she’s right.  That’s another thing I could add to my list. 

Happy Birthday, Mom.

bah humbug! 5 reasons I’m not a santa fan.

I admit it.  I’m not a santa-endorser.  He started as a nice thing and I like his history, but (I think) he’s morphed into an unhelpful distraction that has the potential to pervert the meaning of Christmas.  So, here’s 5 reasons not to “do” santa:

1) Presents from santa do not promote thankfulness (at least thankfulness to the correct person).  How do presents from santa fit into the understanding that, “Every good and perfect gift is from above” James 1:17, or the commandment to “Honor your father and mother,.”  who are, after all, the gift-givers.

2) Telling our kids to “believe in” santa may sound, in their ears, similarly to telling them to “believe in” God or His Son.  The similarity of language makes for some confusing distinctions.

3) Santa promotes getting, not giving, for children.  Children only ever receive from Santa, rather than from a family member, from whom they receive and give back to  in return.  

4) Kids seem to glom onto santa and presents at Christmas time, which makes it really hard to make the deep, perhaps more difficult to see, truths of the season come alive.  Santa gives them sweet treats that don’t satisfy, but dull their senses to the beauty of Christ.  

5) As my pastor says, santa is bad news for a sinner in need of a gracious savior.

 

As usual, here’s a disclaimer.  There are plenty of godly families who “do” santa and I respect them; they have grateful, sweet kids.  And there are those, who in self-righteousness (I’m praying I don’t fall into this category), believe that santa is just satan spelled wrong.  To those, I say, I’m all filled up on crazy here, you’ll have to go elsewhere :)

one more on global warming (for now)

I heard a clip on the radio and looked it up on youtube to see if I could share it with you all.  Sure enough, I found it.  I think it’s interesting because everything I’ve read about the history of weather says that cooling periods are much more dangerous than warming.  This clip seems to concur with that notion.  

I also agree that we (humans) give ourselves too much power in thinking that we could cause or change the earth’s weather patterns.

I believe that God commands the winds and waves.  He brings the rain and seasons of drought.   

I’m wondering if anyone out there thinks it possible to sin against the earth.  I know that all sins are primarily against God, so, in one sense, no.  But, we are able to do wrong to our neighbor, our children, etc.  If someone abuses his children, I don’t think it’s wrong to say he sinned against them.  

So, my question is, can we sin against the earth?  Can we do wrong to the earth?  

My answer is no.  I don’t think we can sin against an object that is not a moral being.  I do think we can be a poor steward of something God has given us and that could be sin.  But, this is quite subjective in regard to the earth.

If God gives me a tree, is it better stewardship to let it grow where planted and give shade to everyone around it or to cut it down and use to make a fire to give warmth to people.  Well, one contributes to carbon emissions, one doesn’t as much (even planted trees give off some carbon emissions).  

This leads to the question, is the earth better off without human influence?  If it is, that would seem strange since God created the earth and called it good, then created people and called them very good.  And I would also argue that this is a very strange question.  To ask if the earth is better off without people???  What a weird and almost worshipful take on the earth that it gets priority over the pinnacle of creation, the people.

But this is the opinion of many global-warming activists.  I’ve heard it said more times than I can count, “We need to minimize human effects on the environment.”  How strange.  As though people don’t really belong here. 

I’m definitely skeptical about the research behind global warming.  But much more important than that, I’m concerned about how to view the earth biblically.  I’m very concerned that those promoting global warming are promoting a religion with the Earth at the center of it.  

I want to be careful to show that I do want to be a good steward of the earth.  But I don’t want to give people the idea that I think God is too small to handle whatever is happening with the earth.  Even more so, I think he is causing it! (whatever “it” might be)  And I also want unbelievers to know that God created people.  We are not an enemy of the earth.  We were meant to live here.  

And, when it’s all said and done, people are the most important thing.  They will know we are Christians by our love (not for the earth), but for one another.

biology and behavior

I found this quote by C.S. Lewis when I was reading an article about the biological basis for behavior on Adrian Warnock’s blog.  I find it to be a very compassionate and ultimately loving take on our biology and bodies and choices.  It’s one more reason to be humble.

“Some of us who seem quite nice people may, in fact, have made so little use of a good heredity and a good upbringing that we are really worse than those whom we regard as fiends.

 Can we be quite so certain how we should have behaved if we had been saddled with the psychological outfit, and then with a bad upbringing, and then with the power, say, of Himmler ? That is why Christians are told not to judge. We see only the results which a man’s choices make out of his raw material. But God does not judge him on the raw material at all, but on what he has done with it.

 Most of a man’s psychological make-up is probably due to his body: when his body dies all that will fall off him, and the real central man, the thing that chose, that made the best or the worst out of this material, will stand naked. All sorts of nice things which we thought our own, but which were really due to a good digestion, will fall off some of us: all sorts of nasty things which were due to complexes or bad health will fall off others. We shall then, for the first time, see every one as he really was. There will be some suprises.”

I believe that having this attitude towards others in the church could transform our relationships.  Instead of being comparison-oriented, one-upping, superior-in-our-own-minds, judging people, we could be, simply, loving.  Slow to judge, slow to think of myself more highly than I ought (I’m preaching to myself here).

What a liberating thing to know that some of our problems and our neighbors’ problems are not solely due to our individual choices.  What a sweet incentive to rely on God all the more.  Works will never get me there, because I am not in final control even of who I am. 

Everything good in me is grace.

Whether grace in upbringing, grace in biology, grace in easy pregnancy, grace in a considerate husband, grace in sweet kids.  Everything good is grace.  I can’t make anything good by my self-wrought trying and works. 

critical thinking in love

I am sometimes bothered when lay Christians defer to Christian leaders on controversial matters that they might be afraid to speak up about on their own or simply don’t form an opinion but defer totally to the belief of another.

Another closely related issue is when lay Christians legitimize their viewpoint based on the fact that an esteemed Christian leader agrees with them (or they with the leader).  

I do this all the time.  I bother myself.  

Not to say it’s wrong to do this.  There is such a thing as a trusted Christian leader who has proven themselves faithful to the Bible and we are not wrong to trust them.  However, no matter how trusted the Christian leader, they will never be a replacement for good, old-fashioned-Biblical-critical thinking.  God has given us His God-breathed Word and a brain and a soul.  We should make good use of them.

We can never fully trust any human being to be perfectly faithful to the Word.  Sin is real.  It is ugly and real in my own life and I know that it is also ugly and real in the lives of the Christian men to whom I submit myself.   I think we (I) are on shaky ground when we read a book by someone our Christian community respects and as we read we let our Biblical guard down.  We take their words as Gospel-truth.  

This is especially dangerous when the White Lab Coat Syndrome kicks in.  Perhaps they stray from their area of expertise, but we trust them anyway, because they are our pastors, our teachers, our respected leaders.  Is there any area outside the realm of their expertise?

The reason I titled my post, “critical thinking in love,” is because I’m really good at the critical thinking part, it’s the ‘in love’ part that I have often neglected.  When I come across something that many seem to buy into, that a Christian leader has endorsed, that I believe to be in opposition to the Counsel of God’s Word, my gut reaction is adversarial, not loving.  It is a bad sin and deadly in the body of Christ where the world will know we are Christians by our love.  With God’s help, I am working on this.  

Instead, I should examine my own heart and motives and, if necessary, gently and lovingly point out the areas that do not hold up in light of Scripture.  The more I really see people as God’s, instead of seeing people as the sum of their opinions, the easier this will be.  

So, take this as an admonition to think critically about everything and when you find a flaw (and you certainly will find many, probably even in this post!), to approach people, when needed, with love.

Disclaimer: For all of you from BBC, I did not write this with Pastor John in mind, however, it applies as easily to him as any.

global warming-debatable or not?

One of the primary reasons I find myself skeptical about the certainty of global warming is that many who believe it is real are unwilling to hear opposition or participate in a debate about the facts.  I fully accept that, for some, it is a forgone conclusion, but even so, wouldn’t you want to keep talking about it and convincing others of the case for it?

Here is the most common argument I hear for global warming: “There is a consensus among all the top climatologists and scientists that global warming is real and it is man-made.”  This is no different than me convincing someone that abortion is wrong by saying, “The pastors all concur that abortion is a moral evil.”

 Even these statements (about global warming or abortion) are not really true.  Pam makes the point beautifully by pointing us to an article where 650 top scientists (many who were formerly employed by international climate agencies) disagree with the science behind “man-made global warming.”  Likewise, there are plenty of pastors who think abortion is just fine. 

So, after being told that all the scientists agree global warming is real, dangerous and man-made, I am then told that “the debate about global warming is over,” to quote the president-elect.  Why is it over? 

One reason that I’ve heard espoused as to why the debate must end is that, until we agree on it, we won’t do anything to fix it.  This is false.  What is really being said is that once most people agree, then lawmakers will feel at liberty to legislate a way to “fix” it.  

But, as an avid pro-lifer, I’ve been trying to convince people that abortion is wrong and doing plenty to “fix” it at the same time!  These things can happen simultaneously.  I volunteered at a Crisis Pregnancy Center and worked for Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.  And I certainly don’t get angry when someone wants to have a conversation or a debate about abortion.  It is an opportunity to make the case for life.  That’s what you do if you’re passionate about something and aren’t afraid of what facts the other side might have.

The unwillingness (by many) to debate global warming makes me suspicious.  

It makes the intentions of those who advocate it suspect.  Do they advocate it because it’s real or because it promotes a legislative agenda that they favor?  Often those who disagree are called ignorant or stupid.  Duh, all the scientists agree, don’t you get it?

The belittling of those who disagree with global warming is a coward’s tactic.  

It does not behoove my pro-life cause to belittle those who oppose it.  It just shows that I’m unwilling to engage in the merits and meat of my cause.  I write this post in the hopes that, whatever your position on global warming, you will be willing to engage in an honest and open debate.  

Future posts will attempt to understand whether the earth is a moral object, the disparate effects of global warming legislation on the poor and minorities, global warming as a religion, how a Christian should respond, and wherever else the comments lead us.

global warming

***The ‘other’ vote option is dysfunctioning.  Please do not choose ‘other’.

Thanks for participating.  I’m curious to see what you think.  I’d also love to know where you get your information about global warming.  Is it from the newspaper?  Do you look at studies?  From friends?  Other?  What does this topic mean for Christians if it’s true?  What if it’s false?

I”ll probably tip my hand at a later post.

eats, shoots and leaves

When was the last time you laughed out loud when reading a nonfiction book?

How about a nonfiction book about punctuation?  Lynne Truss’s book, Eats, Shoots & Leaves is just that.  A laugh-out-loud book about punctuation.  And, yes, there’s a panda on the cover.  Here’s the joke on which the title is based:

A panda walks into a cafe.  He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

“Why?” asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit.  The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

“I’m a panda,” he says, at the door.  ”Look it up.”

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

“Panda.  Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China.  Eats, shoots and leaves.”

“So punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death,” writes the British Truss.  This, from a woman who was hoping to start a militant wing to the Apostrophe Protection Society (yes, such a society exists).

For any of you who were bothered when the movie Two Weeks Notice was released (not because of any objectionable content) this book is for you.  And if, right now, you’re wondering what the objection to it might be, then this also might be a good book for you (as it is quite educational regarding use of the possessive apostrophe).

Its appeal is surprisingly universal for a subject such as punctuation.  I attribute this to Ms. Truss’s unmatched wit and, what she calls, her “inner stickler.”  Of which I think we all take part to some degree and secretly relish.

I dedicate this post to my friend Amy, who takes the time to properly spell and punctuate her text messages.  Amy, you’re my hero.

theology from a 4 year old

Tuesday night before bed I heard Eliza singing a song that I didn’t recognize.  The lyrics were, “I change and grow, I’m a part of nature too.”  Nothing too earth-shattering.  I asked her where she learned it and she said from Sid the Science Kid (a pbs show).  Here’s our conversation.

Me, “So, do you change and grow, Eliza?”

Eliza, “Yep.”

Me, “Does God change and grow?”

Eliza, “Nope.”

Me (pleased), “That’s right-God never changes and doesn’t grow, because He’s perfect already.”

Eliza, “Well…actually, I thought of a way He does change.”

Me, “Really?  How’s that?”

Eliza, “He changed when He became a man and came to Earth.”

Me, “Ummm, well, I guess that’s right.  He did change to become a man.”

You can count on a 4 year old to bring a fresh perspective!  This little conversation got me thinking about God’s unchanging character.  Of all the attributes of God, unchangeable has got to be the most comforting to me.  And the Scripture says, “Be imitators of God..” however, this is one area that, when trying to imitate God, we end up changing.  

Being like God, even in the smallest way, requires constant changing and growing from us (change wrought by God, thankfully).  This is why I will never, in this life, be unchangeable.  Only God can say, “I AM who I AM.”  

To the contrary, I am who I ought not be.  I ought to be perfectly sanctified, a holy child of God.  

There is one way I do reflect God in being unchangeable, however.  My status as his child doesn’t change.  I am His daughter.  That will never change, not because of who I am on my own, but because he has called me by name, I am His.  His unchangeable character gives me an unchangeable status.

The Word of God is true and right to tell us to be imitators of God, even His unchangeable character.  We are to be the kind of people who have a character so holy, loving, just, compassionate, and truthful that we need not change.  Of course, we will not arrive…just like we won’t fully arrive at any of God’s attributes.  But it’s right for us, with God’s help and strength, to try.

Feel free to relay any cute conversations you’ve had recently with your budding theologians!  Other comments also welcome.

come commiserate with me

I find that when I have had a hard day with the kids, or had trouble getting the closets organized, or can’t seem to find the matches to the socks, or [insert trite trial or heavy hardship here], the most encouraging thing for me to hear is a little commiserating from a friend.  

I feel a mild inclination that this might be a substantial character flaw.  

But here’s my reasoning anyway.  When I have shared said trial, it is encouraging to know that I’m not the only one and that someone I respect has struggled, even failed, in the same area.  However, sometimes after sharing, the response comes, “Oh yeah, I used to have that problem with my unmatched socks, but now I just…”

I find the solution offered usually to be a good one, and even helpful, but if there isn’t sufficient commiseration beforehand, I end up feeling like a loser.  This person obviously came up with the solution on their own, why didn’t I?  

Or sometimes I know what the solution is, but I’m looking for someone to validate that actually implementing it is a hard thing.  For me, this is encouraging.  Knowing that someone else had difficulty with the same thing I am having difficulty with gives me hope.  It makes me think, “Well, we can get through this together,” or, “She had a really hard time with this and is on the other side of it, I guess it’s not the end of the world.”

In the interest of full disclosure, I am certain that I have done this to other people (that is, forgone commiseration in order to give hasty advice).  And to all of you, I say, I’m sorry.  Come, let’s commiserate together, with the full knowledge that our hope is in Christ, not unmatched socks.