Links to Think: 01.28.12

January 28, 2012 in Life, links, quotes with 0 Comments

Danger in delivery: Despite technology, U.S. trails entire western world in saving mothers -

“Experts blame the high death rate partly on the heavy reliance the United States places on technological intervention, particularly when it results, as it so often does, in surgical delivery via cesarean section. They say motivators include both convenience and fear of litigation in the event of a less-than-perfect outcome.”

“It starts, he said, with pervasive fetal monitoring in hospitals.

The practice is intended to let doctors monitor the baby’s health continuously throughout the birthing process. But he said, “Studies show that continuous monitoring doesn’t change anything, except to increase the C-section rate.”

That is, it doesn’t change anything in a positive direction. It does change one thing in a negative direction — it costs some mothers their lives. That’s because it leads to more C-sections, and a woman is three times more likely to die from a C-section than a vaginal delivery. C-sections also cause substantially more medical complications not resulting in fatality.”

The Myth of Sola Fide - While I don’t agree with many of the conclusions in this article, I believe the author makes some helpful observations in this portion:

“We have so many years of personal context built up around us from what we’ve learned via Sunday School teachers, pastors, parents, and pop theology books that it has become so ingrained in our subconscious it prevents us from reading or hearing what is actually being said about the faith. This is particularly true as it pertains to the Bible.

We have so many sacred cows in evangelicalism (inerrency, creationism, gender roles, sola fide, etc.) which have been impressed upon us since birth that it becomes all but impossible for most of us to recognize that many of the passages we string together to make our case for these theological positions don’t actually, or to more specific, they don’t literally say what we think or want them to say; especially when we place those passages in context.”

Discipling an Aspie - Wendy Alsup reflects on her experience of discipling (specifically in parenting) a child on the Asperger’s Spectrum.

“DIFFERENT is not the same as BAD. Unusual is not the same as defective or morally wrong. Because I have a very different personality than my son, I value the norm. If I walk into a room of people in a social situation, I try to assess what is already going on and join in or support it if I can. And that can be a good thing—maybe I’m being polite and empathetic. It can also be a bad thing—maybe I’m insecure and trying to please people. Maybe I am proud and want them to think well of me.”

“Once I fortify myself against the “different is bad” mentality that others project onto me and that my own personality tempts me to believe, then I can deal with my son’s strengths and weaknesses at a healthy level. What are the strengths of his personality spiritually speaking? What are the weaknesses?”

The Declutter Calendar – If you could benefit from a daily reminder and specific to declutter, this calendar may be for you. Each day gives a specific area/space to work on decluttering.
 (Note: My sharing of these links, blogs, and authors does not equal my full endorsement of their ideologies or even entirety of the posts shared.) 

Reading 2012: When the Rivers Run Dry

January 28, 2012 in 2012 Reading, reading with 0 Comments

Following the Hunger Games trilogy, When the Rivers Run Dry: Water–The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-first Century has thus far been the runner-up as the book I didn’t want to put down. While I’m not sure if water will be the defining crisis of the twenty-first century, there is no doubt that many parts of the world are already at crisis level.

Not only did I learn about fascinating things like qanats, dew ponds, and cloud seeding, but I learned that the water crisis entails more than just running out of water.

Our Influence on the Crises and The Tragedy of the Commons

In our affluence and relative isolation from much of the world, it’s easy to forget about the necessity of water and the consequences for using it as if it’s an endless resource. Yet, often it is our affluence that is affecting the global water crises on a daily basis.

For instance, proclivity for wardrobe expansion could very well impact farmers in India. In an attempt to feed the Western appetite for more clothes for less money, a cotton-plant clothing factory in India takes dangerous shortcuts by not treating their water-run-off, which is filled with carcinogenic and poisonous chemicals. Because they also have unlimited (at least for the time) funding compared to the surrounding people and industries, they can afford to buy and waste water while nearby villagers die of thirst. And even when their local water harvesters realize the danger of providing water to the dye factory, they feel they can’t stop. “This is what environmentalists call ‘the tragedy of the commons’. Everybody chases short-term wealth even at the cost of destroying their long-term collective future. Nobody can afford to miss out on the boom, because they will all share in the eventual bust (41).” Meanwhile, the water harvesters continue to harvest water, continually decreasing the local water table. The chemicals leach into the soil and back into the ground water, and nearby villagers begin to die of arsenic poisoning, salt poisoning, and birth defects are at an all time high. Eventually, the soil will be so contaminated that even crops won’t grow, and villagers will either starve to death or become environmental refugees. Granted, it may be a stretch to say that will all be the result of buying an extra t-shirt, but the remainder of the story is not hypothetcial and currently taking place in India.

Lessons of Hydrology

We also tend to apply Westernized hydrology across the board. This often does more damage than good. Damning a river or lake to may provide more water to one area, but what does it do to the people/environment upstream or downstream?  Or does damning water in a high heat area with much more surface-area exposure cause more water loss than if we had left the water in its natural places? We are also drying up aquifers of water that may not be able to be replenished. Subsurface aquifers, of course don’t know political boundaries or state borders. So one country’s use of water may actually be taking a valuable resource from neighboring countries.  These are just a few of the problems in global hydrology that are discussed.

While the majority of the book discusses the water crises, the final matter does spend some time discussing solutions. The author proposes less-invasive water solutions, and solutions which consider the long-term effects of water use and exploitation. In many cases, it would be wiser to learn to work with nature, rather than against it. In the long run, it is also more beneficial to rediscover, relearn, and reteach ancient and more natural methods of harvesting water.

From personal experience, it was interesting to learn more about drip irrigation, it’s history, and it’s current implementation. While on rather productively intense mission trips with Teen Missions International in 1999 and 2000, we took drip irrigation systems to Madagascar and Kenya. During those 8 weeks each summer, we had special training courses on using the systems and teaching other to use them.

Afterthoughts

After reading this book, I’m reminded that our attempts to escape the curse are never really true cures for the cursed ground and painful toils. Our reduction of labor, disease, or hardship in one area still usually sees it manifested in another area. (For instance, chemotherapy that may cure cancer often produces miserable side effects.) In some ways, thinking about that and reading this book could be discouraging. And while we know that perfect shalom will not be brought about until the end of the age, we can still labor to bring about small pictures of that perfect shalom in this broken world.

Often, (particularly, American) Christians tend to overreact against anything with a hint of perceived environmentalism, thus swinging the pendulum to remaining wasteful and leaving a trail of mess in our wake. We generally think that modern methods and industrialization are what is best for all people in all places. But we cannot simply blindly use creation without considering the consequences, particularly thinking of how those consequences could effect others. Christians, especially, should remember our two-fold commands of loving God and loving our neighbors and filter our thinking and actions through those teachings.

Ultimately, we can still realize that God is sovereignly in control of His universe while simultaneously being faithful stewards and tenders of the Earth in the time and space we are given. This book provides much food for thought, particularly for those of us who can read the book and moments later go get a glass of water from the tap, wash our hands in the room next to us, and do a load of laundry at any time of the day. Perhaps it can also quite literally allow us to learn how to better provide and preserve safe, clean water for the thirsty, as well.

There are some parts of this book that may border on overemphasis of the part water has played in the rise and fall of civilizations, and some solutions may also be harmful long-term to both humans and the environment. The book could also be improved by giving more sources, references, and resources on the subject. Overall, it is a fascinating and eye-opening read.

Reading 2012 : The Middle Way and The Voice of the Buddha

January 27, 2012 in 2012 Reading, books, reading with 0 Comments

This week I finished two short, helpful audiobooks on Buddhism (thanks to a friend lending them to us from his library).  This is an area I’ve been wanting to learn more about, and hopefully these two books have given me a good introduction.

The Middle Way is divided into three main parts, covering the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community of followers). These three aspects of Buddhism are often referred to as “the three jewels.” Through these three parts, the origin and basic teachings of Buddhism are explored, making this essentially a “survey of Buddhism” or “brief introduction to Buddhism.”

An explanation of “the middle way” is also given through a helpful analogy. Anyone who is familiar with stringed instruments will easily understand: if the strings of the instrument are too loose, the instrument will not play properly; likewise, if they are too tight, the instrument cannot be properly played, either. So, the musician must find “the middle way.” Using this analogy, the middle way is not merely adjusting the strings so they randomly neither too tight or too loose, but in order to play the instrument well, each string must each be finely tuned. This is what “the middle way” seeks to be. (And though this analogy was used to specifically explain what Buddhism attempts to be, I found it a helpful analogy to explain lots of other aspects of life.)

The final portion of this book also discusses the variants of Buddhism that have developed in the regions surrounding it’s Indian birthplace, such as Buddhism as expressed and practiced in Japan, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other regions.

Although for many years the teachings of the Buddha were passed on through oral tradition (this is why many of the teachings begin with “thus have I heard”), many were eventually compiled in what is known as the Dhammapada. The Voice of the Buddha: The Dhammapada, the Mangala Sutta and Other Key Buddhist Texts is a narration of a good number of the teachings found in the Dhammapada, plus several other key texts. This was helpful in understanding an overview of Bhuddhist teachings.

(Actually hearing readings from the Dhammapada was helpful in realizing many of the differences in the teaching of the Buddha and the teachings of Jesus.)

I recommend these as helpful resources to provide a basic introduction to Buddhism. (Though, for those with exposure to a good world history course, much of the first book was likely discussed there.)

On Which Parenting Hangs

January 25, 2012 in Faith, Home, parenting, photography, reflections with 9 Comments

“When something is amiss, it is only natural to become preoccupied with “what to do.” For today’s parents, this has become an obsession. We are looking for the right technique, the right strategy, the right thing to say, the right way to act. Experts and publishers are not only indulging this obsession, but fueling it outright. We have even invented a word — parenting — that until recent times, was not even in the dictionary. Parenting has become an activity. This was not how it was in previous generations.”

-Dr. Gordon Neufeld

It seems that Christian parenting isn’t much different. But our labels are better–we have “Christian” obsessions. Tack on Bible verses here and there, and maybe a label to prove that this book is at long last the book that describes “How to Change Diapers God’s Way.” Or perhaps it’s slightly more spiritualized, presuming to speak for God, “How to Retain the Heart of Your Teen in Three Easy Steps.” Ultimately, these types of teachings serve to bind consciences into thinking that such formulas (or zeal) will save our children’s souls, rather than serving to encourage parents to trust God in this journey of faith.

Overall, we focus so much on getting the formulas right, the activity of parenting correct, or learning the perfect techniques that we fail to realize the essential foundation: love.

Parenting Hangs on Love

In both the Old and New Testaments, God made it clear that the two greatest commands are 1) to love God and 2) to love our neighbors as ourselves. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us that “all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Although specifically speaking of a different loving-our-neighbors-relationship, Robert Lupton remarks:

“So fundamental to the life of faith are these twin teachings of loving God and loving neighbor that they are given top priority in God’s original handwritten instructions for daily living. Christ later underscored their central importance by declaring that the entire law is contained in these two inseparable commands. A Christian training institute (or church, for that matter) that steps over these basics on the way to “deeper” theological pursuits can hardly be considered biblically faithful.”

Likewise, a parenting philosophy that makes its foundation on claims such as “establishing authority from day one is the most important thing you can do as a Christian parent” or “keeping your child totally separate from the world is the only way to Biblically parent” (just to name a few popular options) with no mention of these commands, is a philosophy that we should examine carefully to see if it is truly and fully biblically faithful.

What Wondrous Love Is This?

The love that parenting (and all relationships) hangs on isn’t just some sort of “feel-good-I’m-happy-love,” but neither is it “tough love parenting.” Instead, it is the type of love that Jesus portrayed through His parable of the Good Samaritan, the kind of love that we see described in 1 Corinthians 13, the love that ultimately led Jesus to lay down His life for us.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a matrix through which we can test our love for our children. Perhaps we’ve become desensitized to think this type of love doesn’t apply to our children. “Tough love? Oh, yeah! That’s how you gotta get through the trenches parenthood!

So the question begs to be asked. Am I being patient to my children? Am I being kind to them? Am I not envying or boasting? Am I responding to them in a way that is arrogant or rude? Or how about…am I insisting on my own way? Am I irritable or resentful? Am I rejoicing in the wrongdoing or in the truth? Am I loving them by bearing all things, believing all things, enduring all things? At this, perhaps the cymbals begin to tinkle, or maybe the gongs are clanging quite loudly.

Parenting in Love Views Big and Little People Correctly

When we look at people, ourselves and others, we know at least three things are true: 1) People come into the world a with sin nature, 2) people are created in the image of God and 3) God loves people.

It’s easy to skew these views as we look at little people in particular. We assume the worst (opposite of “believing all things”) and assume all actions and responses are flowing forth from as sinful ones. This is a view that demonizes children and often causes adults/parents to give well-intended responses with reactions that are not exemplifying love, especially not a love that “bears all things” or “believes all things.”

Here’s an example: A crying baby because he is alone in a room?=definitely trying to manipulate and that’s sinful behavior. An adult crying because her husband just left on a trip?=Well, of course she’s simply exhibiting true sorrow and sadness of heart and that’s the sign of true love for her spouse. Both may be expressing the same emotions about similar situations, but when the emphasis is misplaced, it’s easy to view the little person’s actions through a lens that can only see actions as sinful. Another: A child has difficulty falling asleep at night?=showing signs of rebellion. The parent has difficulty falling asleep at night?=an adult has had a hard day and has difficulty falling asleep at night. And the list could go on…

Perhaps as we seek to disciple our children, we should ask, “If I were mentoring a new believer or discipling another Christian and they sinned (let’s just say an adult for the sake of this illustration), would the way I respond to my children be an acceptable (or, even ethical?) way to respond to an adult believer? Would my response, if given to an adult, be considered impatient, arrogant, rude, or irritable?

Galatians 6:1-2 is not limited to how we should disciple adult believers, but also the little believers, even if their faith and bodies seem small to us. Little people are more vulnerable and physically needy than big people. This doesn’t mean their needs are wrong or need to be eliminated. Usually we fail to take into account that their bodies and emotions are not yet developed in the ways that ours are. They need to be restored gently and to have their burdens carried, too; but perhaps with even greater gentleness and with more sensitivity to their burdens.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins. While I was yet being unloving toward my children, God was demonstrating His love for me, laying down His life for me. While my children are “yet sinning,” what is my reaction?

Jesus’ death on the cross was more than a one-time love-demonstration. It was the constant heart-stance of His time on earth as He interacted with sinners. It was the whole heart of God in sending Jesus to die in our place—love that was see glimpses of from Genesis onward. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

I do not merely view this passage in a way that makes me think because God did this for me, I must show God to my children by doing this to my children. (God doesn’t call parents to be God to their children.) Rather, these reflections of God’s love for me  are seen in light of the parable of the unmerciful servant. I am one who has been richly forgiven: when others seek mercy and forgiveness from me, I remember that my far greater debt has been removed.

The distance between God and me is infinite. He is Creator, I am but clay. He is sinless, I am sinful. He is righteousness, I am unrighteousness apart from Christ. By contrast, the space between my children and myself is about 24 years of life experience and life skills. With the exception of Abraham and Sarah and perhaps a few other parents, at most we’ve got about 40 years on our kids–not much. I am weak and clay, and so are they. I am sinful, they are sinful. They are unrighteous apart from Christ, and so am I.

With a host of parenting books stating that parents must act as “God” to their children, it’s helpful to remember that we’re more like our children than we are like our God. Realizing that I too stumble and make mistakes even while trying my hardest makes it easier to have compassion on my children as they do the same. It also reminds me that I am quite capable of misunderstanding, misinterpreting, and even misdirecting my children’s actions.

When I see them in their sin, I remember how God has dealt graciously with me and my sin. When I see them in their neediness, I remember the compassion and care God pours out on me.

Ann Voskamp states it this way for difficult days of parental relationship-building with children: “Just for today, I will ask for His grace, the moment when I am most repelled by a child’s behavior, that is my sign to draw the very closest to that child.”

Seeing my own weakness and shortcomings, it’s a lot easier to realize I can’t be a better parent or create godly children by striving harder, harder, harder on my own…anymore than a drowning man can be rescued by being told to swim harder. What my child needs is a rescuer, and that is exactly what I need, too. (Note:  I can’t be that rescuer!) (Of course, this perspective doesn’t remove my position as parent, nor does it remove the unique roles God has given to parents and children.)

Back to the Greatest Commands

It is truly paradigm-shifting to live life through the lens of Matthew 22: 37-40. In pointing to this, Jesus both simplifies things and calls us to go deeper. He moves us from just seeking to obey the letter of the law, to searching to live the spirit of the law. Surprisingly, it is the latter that is both harder and freer—the latter that compels us to see we cannot do this in our own strength, but to rest in the Spirit to write His law within our hearts. Thus, we are compelled to seek God’s grace to relate to our children in a way that is flowing forth from loving God and loving our neighbors, here our tiny little neighbors who also happen to be our children.

Sisterly Discussions

January 24, 2012 in family, kid quotes, photography with 1 Comment

I am loving watching our girls interact at this age. I also love listening in on their conversations. This is one they had recently:

E: Dis book is scary. (The book was called something like, “How Animals Eat Their Prey”)
HK: Are the penguins scary?
Eden:Yeah, dah ping-pings are scary.

HK: Do you want me to read it since it’s scary for you?

E: Yeah, I want you tuh read it. It scary for me.
HK: That’s okay, I’ll read it for you.
E: It’s a little bit scary to me.
HK: Oh. It’s not scary to me.
E: I don’t like it. It’s scary to me.
HK: But I like it.
E: I’ll get another book. Dis one’s too scary for me.
HK: Oh.
.
E: (Eden, coming back a few moments later) Dis is a nice one. It a nice book, Hannie!
HK: I’ll read it for you.
Eden: No, I read it to you. It about zebras.
HK: Eden, do you not like that picture?  That boy likes the water.
E: Yeah, dat boy likes the water. He splashing it in his eyes. (lots of laughing)
.
(Reading/looking at the book together)
E: Oh, a pider (spider)! I don’t like piders!
HK: Oh.
E: That’s scary to me.
.
HK: Is this scary to you? (pointing to something else in the book)
E: Yeah, this is scary to me. (laughing, though)
HK: Do you wanna read this?
E: No.
HK: Okay, then I’ll run around you. (Both laughing hilariously. HK gets up and starts running around E)
.
E: That’s my ribbon, and it not yours.
HK: Well, I’ve been playing with it. It helps me fly better.

Photography 2012: Week 3

January 23, 2012 in 2012 Photos, photography, Uncategorized with 2 Comments

This photo is of two-year-old Eden enjoying her favorite book (well, technically it’s a catalog), The American Girl Doll Catalog. While up at my mom’s house for New Year’s, we discovered her fascination with this magazine. When we got home I was delighted to open the mailbox a week later and pull out this catalog. She was even more excited. I was extra tired one afternoon and had her sit on the bed with me while I rested. (Meanwhile, her big sister wasn’t feeling so well, and went to curl up on her Daddy’s lap while he worked, which turned into a nap for her.)

Later that day my husband asked me with a grin on his face, “Did Eden like her catalog? I went online and signed us up for the mailing list as soon as we got home.” I love seeing my husband love his little girls in little ways like this. (And, should I mention that last night he made cookies with them? :) ) Not my finest in photography, but a moment I’m still happy I captured.

 

Photo Challenge Submission

Links to Think: 01.21.12

January 21, 2012 in links, Resources with 0 Comments

Neo-fundamentalism (excellent but somewhat lengthy essay) – Roger Olson gave that as the title to the post in which he shared a lengthy essay written by Michael Clawson.

“This is not simply a return to the original Protestant fundamentalism of the early-twentieth century, though it is analogous to it. Instead, I argue that some conservative evangelicals are reacting to the contemporary influences of postmodernity in much the same way that the original fundamentalists did towards the influences of modernity a century ago – namely through hostility towards the broader culture, retrenchment around certain theological doctrines, and conflict with, or separatism from others within a more broadly defined evangelicalism. Because of these similarities, I want to suggest that fundamentalism as a scholarly category (as opposed to its more derogatory uses in the popular media) is a useful framework within which to understand this contemporary phenomenon.”

“The driving force behind neo-fundamentalism, as with historic fundamentalism, is a “remnant mentality.” Neo-fundamentalists believe they alone are remaining true to the fullness of the gospel and orthodox faith while the rest of the evangelical church is in grave, near-apocalyptic danger of theological drift, moral laxity, and compromise with a postmodern culture – a culture which they see as being characterized by a skepticism towards Enlightenment conceptions of “absolute truth,” a pluralistic blending of diverse beliefs, values, and cultures, and a suspicion of hierarchies and traditional sources of authority. Because of this hostility toward postmodern ways of thinking, neo-fundamentalists have little tolerance for diversity of opinions among evangelicals on any issues they perceive as essential doctrines – which are most of them – as opposed to the broader evangelical movement which historically has allowed for a much wider range of disagreement on disputable matters. Neo-fundamentalists thus respond to the challenges of a postmodern culture by narrowing the boundaries of what they consider genuinely evangelical and orthodox Christianity, and rejecting those who maintain a more open stance.”

Wisdom v. the Law on Women’s Issues - On her Practical Theology for Women blog, Wendy Alsup packs a lot of wisdom into this post, not just on women’s issues and not just for women.

“Apart from the gospel, the law kills. Presenting instructions to women apart from a thorough fleshing out of the gospel sets women up for failure, and I have sat under much teaching and read many books that do that very thing.”

“Furthermore, among the books I read and teachers I heard, I wasn’t just presented with the law, I was also often presented with the teacher’s personal application of the law…I have had a conviction since I was a teenager that Scripture was sufficient—sufficient in what it says is wrong and sufficient in what it says is right—and have tried to let that conviction constrain me in anything I might project onto others.”

“Wisdom is not law. And wisdom is only wise when applied correctly in the right situations. You can’t read Proverbs the same as the Ten Commandments, yet in our fight against moral relativism, conservative Christians fear situational wisdom. The result is silly, one-dimensional conclusions.”

When the State Took Away My Life: North Carolina Grapples with Sterilization Practice  –  An article on Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics blog about sterilization eugenics in North Carolina. Since I posted a link to the subject in last week’s links, I wanted to link to this article, too.

“Surely, the desire to prevent suffering is good. But eugenics attempts to eliminate human suffering by eliminating humans who suffer. Yet, the severest human “disabilities” usually aren’t the genetic kind, but are disabilities of character, mindset, and simple sin nature—the sort of things medicine will never be able to sterilize us from.”

Nick Kristof is right: it begins early, in the home  – Scot McKnight shares part of Nick Kristof’s (author of Half the Sky) New York Times article, “A Poverty Solution That Starts with a Hug.” Sure, it’s over-simplistic and certainly not the be-all, end-all solution, but Kristof nonetheless has a point that shouldn’t be ignored.

“You can modify behavior later, but you can’t rewire disrupted brain circuits,” notes Jack P. Shonkoff, a Harvard pediatrician who has been a leader in this field. “We’re beginning to get a pretty compelling biological model of why kids who have experienced adversity have trouble learning.”

 (Note: My sharing of these links, blogs, and authors does not equal my full endorsement of their ideologies or even entirety of the posts shared.)

Reading 2012: Evil and the Justice of God

January 20, 2012 in 2012 Reading, books, Christian Growth, quotes, reading with 0 Comments

Also on my first 10 to read list for 2012 was N.T. Wright’s Evil and the Justice of God. Although it is just five chapters long and a relatively short book (176 pages), it is one which I needed to work through slowly.

The book is divided into five chapters:

Chap­ter 1 — Evil Is Still a Four-Letter Word: The New Prob­lem of Evil

Wright addresses what many call “the new problem of evil.” With the innovation, technology, and advancements of Western civilization, it has become easy to think that the problem of evil is behind us (or, at least not on our turf). Yet with the recent terrorist attacks, the large-scale and frequent natural disasters, and the violence seen in America and modern Europe, we’re being frequently reminded that “evil” is still present.

He explains it  this way (23):

["I]t seems remarkable that the belief in progress still survives and triumps. The nineteenth century thought it had gotten rid of original sin; of course, it had to find replacements, and Marx and Freud offered some, producing explanatory systems and offering solutions to match: new doctrines of redemption which mirror and parody the Christian one. And somehow, despite the horrific battles of Mons and the Somme during World War I, despite Auschwitz and Buchenwald, despite Dostoyevsky and Barth, people still continue to this day suppose that the world is basically a good place and that its problems are more or less soluble by technology, education, “development” in the sense of “Westernization,” and the application, to more and more regions, of Western democracy–and, according to taste, either Wester social-democratic ideals or Western capitalism, or indeed a mixture of both.”

Continue Reading…

Three Years Ago Today

January 20, 2012 in family, Life, reflections with 0 Comments

Today (Friday) marks three years since my dad left his earthly home. I’m so thankful that he was able to meet at least one of my children and that he was able to build a good relationship with Daniel. I’m thankful he still had enough strength to walk me down the aisle for our wedding. There are a lot of times out-of-the blue that I’m reminded of him and miss him: seeing someone drive by in a truck with a mustache like his and a ball cap on his head, going to a yard sale and seeing someone selling a bunch of hunting gear–wishing I could buy some for him, getting excited that the dollar store carries his old favorite horehound candies, but realizing I can’t buy them since I don’t think anyone else I know likes them…

This picture was taken less than a month before he passed away. I knew he was sick then, and knew by his skin color that his liver was failing. We just didn’t know it would happen so fast. It seems like a blur now, but I’m thankful for those years in between my start of college and his final years when our relationship was good and I knew he’d always be ready to listen and ready to talk. In his final year, I was a stay-at-home mom and he was sick enough that he was at home during the daytime while my mom worked. Sometimes he’d call me in the afternoon or mornings–I wish we’d had more years like that, but am thankful for the year of phone calls we had.

 

Presuming to Speak for God

January 19, 2012 in Faith, Life, quotes, reflections with 4 Comments

“We of the churches often gather our robes away from contamination, and thank God that we are not as other men. We don’t despise God’s name; in fact, we call upon it constantly to justify ourselves. How few parents, annoyed past bearing by a young child, can resist the facile, “God will punish you!” How few strait-laced churchwomen, outraged by the shamelessness (and popularity) of the town’s bad girl, can keep from secret satisfaction at the thought of the divine judgment awaiting her! If we object to meat-eating, we declare that God is vegetarian; if we abhor war, we proclaim a pacifist Deity. He who turned water into wine to gladden a wedding is now accused by many of favouring that abominable fluid grape juice.

There can hardly be a more evil way of taking God’s name in vain than this way of presuming to speak in it. For here is spiritual pride, the ultimate sin, in action-the sin of believing in one’s own righteousness. The true prophet says humbly, “To me, a sinful man, God spoke.” But the scribes and Pharisees declare, “When we speak, God agrees.” They feel no need of a special revelation, for they are always, in their own view, infallible. It is this self-righteousness of the pious that most breeds atheism, by inspiring all decent ordinary men with loathing of the enormous lie.”

~Joy Davidman (wife of C. S. Lewis) in Smoke on the Mountain
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Just as the Israelites fashioned God in their own image and did that which was right in their own eyes, it’s easy for us to do so today. Only, of course, our way is much, much more spiritual (which makes it all the more easy to be deceived and to deceive others). We like to project upon God attributes we find in ourselves or wish to find in Him. We like for Him to be in our political party—or even better, the biggest endorser of it. Once your book, idea, or actions are endorsed by God, who can top that? Becoming a Millionaire God’s Way, Planning Your Funeral God’s Way, Growing Kid’s God’s Way, Making Lemonade God’s Way, or ”Fill-in-the-blank God’s Way,” are sure to gain a following of some kind.
 
I’ve read books and seen movements from years back that explain how to manipulate people to come forward at invitations, explain God endorses slavery and segregation, predicted when Christ would return, or found a solution to ending drunkenness. Looking back on these ideas, some seem almost laughable. Yet often, the presumptions to speak for God were merely an expression of the culture or ideologies of the time. Sometimes our culture can get so intertwined with our theology that we can no longer see the difference. Even worse, we pull out what is merely culture and call it theology.

 
God says both far less and far more than we wish Him to say. He is both more specific and less specific than we think Him to be. There are often truly wonderful and wholesome ideas that would do well to be shared and explained. Perhaps they even seem the best and most God-honoring way. Yet even in those admirable cases, we often undermine both the idea and people’s perception of God when we presume to speak for God.
 
But, I need not say more to expand on what Joy Davidman has said so well already.
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