Various and Sundry (1/31)

I have read some wonderful things around the blogosphere lately - enjoy!

The faithful in Kenya: Missionary aviator Delorenzoflyer writes movingly about his experience visiting a slum in Nairobi during all of that country’s current unrest in “One Tribe.” (It is the January 28, 2008 entry; I could not find a permalink.) I highly recommend reading it; we who are comfortable in our North American Christianity need to refresh our perspectives constantly.

Bible translation: Read the story of Jacquiline Huggins,the first African-American woman to complete a translation of the New Testament. She has been working with a tribe in the Philippines for twenty years, with Wycliffe Bible Translators. What a wonderful accomplishment and milestone.

Church history: Ann Kroeker posted about one of her favorite pieces of jewelry, The Huguenot Cross. The Huguenots were French Calvinistic Protestants who were heavily persecuted a few hundred years ago. One of the books I’ve reviewed, Written on Silk, is written about the Huguenots. I love reading about them.

Homemaking: In one of the most fresh and insightful posts on this topic I’ve read recently, Carolyn McCulley begins to address the question for Christian women: Is Homemaking the Only Priority?

Missions in Uganda: Another post on Carolyn’s blog shares the story of a missions trip to Uganda taken by the singles in her church recently. It’s an amazing, saddening, yet uplifting story and fresh perspective.

Writing: I was pleasantly surprised to see a post on the Desiring God blog called So You Want to Be a Writer? penned by Noel Piper. I really like her helpful suggestions.

Body shape and beauty: Christa Taylor wrote an entry called Scary Skinny, highlighting the over-emphasis on unhealthy thinness in the fashion industry.

Graphic pro-life images: This is a very debatable topic lately - whether it’s a good idea to use graphic images to protest abortion. I really appreciate John Piper’s perspective in We Need the Raw Facts.

Pray for These Precious Ones

You have probably heard about all of the fighting and unrest going on in Kenya right now. This story puts a personal face on it. Blogger “Prodigal Jon” posted today about an orphanage co-founded by his uncle, on an island in Lake Victoria. There are threats being made against it, and it may be under attack soon. This letter is from the director of the orphanage:

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Thanks to you and to all our fellow-servants who are in USA for lifting us and our bleeding country to the Lord. After receiving perhaps the most direct and serious threats from the mainlands, to the effect that we the only operating school in our region, I decided to call off my trip to Nairobi by the MAF plane which was coming to pick me. I called all staff and told them about the threats of those who were demanding that we close down or be burnt. I then gave each one room to say what in their view we needed to do and only two people were in favor of closure, with everyone else feeling strongly that we cannot release the children to all the dangers awaiting them outside of the orphanage. We will stay with the children.

Deep inside I am reminded once more that this place is the true home many of these precious jewels of the Lord have. I asked myself, ‘Should I send them out there in the wild, or should I continue God’s work even when it is risky?’ I chose the latter and all I ask for is not sympathy but prayer that God would put his arms around these tender lives. This evening our plea to be allowed to continue serving the orphans for the sake of Christ was aired on the radio. Mention was made of us by name that we should be spared the ordeals going on throughout our country by now.

Tonight the men will be working as guards of children, women and property as a response to the night attacks. We have no weapons but wholly rely on the Lord and the guarding angels of light. May the Lord bless and keep you. ________________________________________________________

I’m sharing this so that we can have a chance to pray for these helpless children and those who are defending them, as well as those whose hearts are hard enough to want to attack them. The letter really touched my heart – from the hope “that God would put His arms around these tender lives” to “our plea to be allowed to continue serving the orphans for the sake of Christ.” This is true courage, truly putting belief into action. Pray for our brothers and sisters, the children they protect, and their enemies, in Kenya.

“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation.” (Ps. 68:5)

small blessings from a trustworthy God

Oh, what a beautiful morning. Last night I had a frustrating return of my insomnia. It’s been so much better since I’ve been getting up early for my 8:00 class. But last night it decided to flare up again for no reason. I was awake until after 4:00, and I needed to get up at 6:30. When I finally got up at 7:15, I checked online and today is a snow day - my second one ever in my life. I am so, so thankful. I probably won’t have to babysit later on either.

I can’t fall back asleep, which is really unusual for me in the morning, but I don’t mind. I’m just enjoying this blessing right now. Thank You, Jesus.

Modesty for Worldwide Witness

We talk about modesty a lot in the church, don’t we? And yet we as Christian women are often reluctant to commit to it. There seem to be so few clothing options. Or it seems to be confining and subservient. Or it’s too much trouble to think about specific standards for ourselves. The list of excuses/cop-outs could go on and on. And the list of reasons for modesty could go on and on, too. But I want to give you one that we don’t often think about: we should be modest to serve the witness and testimony of the church around the world.

I read Daughters of Hope: Stories of Witness and Courage in the Face of Persecution for one of my classes last semester. The author visited persecuted Christian women around the world and interviewed them, learning their stories and their thoughts on the Christian life. When the team visited women from the Arab world, they were given a fresh insight from these incredible women. The author writes, “Many Arab Christian women reinforced the link between their witness and the behavior of Christians in the West. ‘It does terrible damage to Christians who are risking their lives when nonbelievers can point to the decadence of American Christians. Please remind the women and girls to dress modestly, to be kind to others and to show generosity.’”

Wow. Just wow. What a motivation for modesty. Many in the Arab world associate Christianity with Western culture. And when American Christians live decadent, immoral lives, we are harming the witness of Arab Christians on the other side of the world. I find it interesting that the first thing the Arab woman who made that statement mentioned was the need for women and girls to be modest.

Modesty means that we dress in a way that does not draw inappropriate attention to our bodies, that is honorable and not distracting or manipulative. It means that we seek to set godly standards for ourselves in this area, instead of being careless about it. I would love to see – and I am beginning to see - a subculture of American Christian women who have made the commitment to honor Christ and Christians around the world by being modest.

take my dreams

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it’s burning bright for You
It’s everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to

Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord, with You
There’s nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father’s hand

My hands, my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me                                  (lyrics)

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I don’t know what’s ahead. But I’m tired of being held back by my own fears. What does it mean? Again, I just don’t know. The possibilities are endless… I can’t wait to see what’s next!

It’s been a bit of a crazy few weeks here at school. Just one thing after another. Do you ever have those times of heightened self-awareness, when you feel like you’re learning new things about yourself, and just your own becoming, moment by moment? It’s the whole growing up thing, I think.

I’m going to read Taking Flight by Elisabeth Elliot soon. I got it for my high school graduation, started to read it, then realized it was more apropos for college graduation. So I’ve been waiting to read it for almost four years. I can’t believe that time is almost over. I truly can’t.

On that note, it’s time for bed.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Cor. 5:14-15)

“Marriage is so disrupting to one’s social circle.”

My roommate Sarah and I just finished watching Emma. Oh, it is such a good movie! It’s one of my favorite Jane Austen movies, second only to Pride and Prejudice. It has some of the best quotes ever – e.g., the title of this post, said by Emma’s father Mr. Woodhouse. So funny. Or:

Emma: “You dismiss her beauty and good nature, yet I would be very much mistaken if your s*x in general does not think those claims the highest a woman could possess.”
Mr. Knightley: “Men of sense, whatever you may say, do not want silly wives!”

Mr. Knightley: “Vanity working on a weak mind produces every kind of mischief.”

Emma: “How fascinating that any discordancy between us must always arise from my being wrong.”
Mr. Knightley: “Not fascinating, but true.”

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The most wonderful thing happened yesterday (sorry, I’m still thinking in an Austen cadence and accent). I went to Barnes and Noble to study, which is usually a bad idea. After I finished, I decided to peruse the used books section – another bad idea. After finding and selecting three different books, along with one new book, only to put them all back, I happened upon a section full of beautiful hardback classics, for only $8 each! I almost bought a collection of Emily Dickinson poems, but I’ll save those for later. Then I saw a copy of Emma, and I just had to get it. I’m so excited that it was so inexpensive!

I suppose it’s just been an Emma day.

sunshine, come and help me sing.

when i woke up this morning, i looked out the window. it’s pretty much the first thing i do every morning. the sun was finally out and had just fully crested the horizon, frostily brilliant, enough to make me squint.

as a kid, i didn’t really like sunshine. i preferred the coziness of rainy mornings or snowy afternoons. but as i got older, i fell in love with autumn, with walking on leafy paths in the park, seeing the changing colors and smelling the crisp air. and when i moved to this cold, snowy northern state, i grew to long for spring and welcome it with good tidings and great joy. green grass, flip flops, and being able to breathe without cringing were all things i had taken for granted.

and i started to love sunshine so much more.

this morning was beautifully sunny, and it’s now mid-afternoon. gray clouds have gradually taken over the sky, and there’s not much of that glorious blue remaining. but i feel more cheerful from the glimpses we had earlier.

i don’t know what the point of this is. i guess i’m just thinking about that switchfoot song, “the shadow proves the sunshine.” (it’s what this post title is from.) i’m not one to post lyrics, that’s for sure. but here are a few anyway. i relate to them so, so much… more the sunshine than the shadows right now. it’s like He has let my shadows prove the sunshine.

sunshine, won’t you be my mother? sunshine, come and help me sing. my heart is darker than these oceans. my heart is frozen underneath. we are crooked souls trying to stay up straight, dry eyes in the pouring rain where the shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine. two scared little runaways hold fast to the break of daylight where the shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine. oh Lord why did you forsake me? oh Lord don’t be far away. storm clouds gathering beside me, please Lord, don’t look the other way. shine on me, let my shadows prove the sunshine.

Older and Younger

In another response to my “Topics: You Decide” post on January 16th, Joe wrote, “I am friends with a lot of people your age. Sometimes we don’t relate but I keep my trap closed. But I would like to know how to relay wisdom without sound[ing] old or jaded.”

I’m not going to assume anything about the specifics of this particular situation/s. But this did get me thinking about an attitude that I see quite a bit among the culture of my peers (not necessarily people I know personally). And that is an unwillingness to listen to or receive advice from those who are older than we are. Our culture as a whole is developing a very disrespectful attitude towards authority figures. Even in the most “innocent” television programming for kids, we see that parents and teachers are consistently mocked and made to seem like idiots. Kids and young adults are shown to be smart, savvy, and in control of their lives.

I think it’s great when young people have their own opinions and know what they believe and are confident in who they are outside of what their parents and other adults are telling them. But it’s important for us not to carry this attitude too far into an unwillingness to hear from those who have walked life’s road a little longer, particularly our parents (for those of us who are blessed with godly parents) or other mature adults God has placed in our lives. That’s not to say we’re going to agree with everything they say, and that’s fine. But we need to do them the honor of listening to them, and at least being willing to consider their advice and ideas.

So what kind of attitude should you have if you are in the position of being the older adult? I can relate to that a little, I guess. I’m 21, but I do interact with teenagers who are 15 and 16 years old – my sisters’ friends, mostly. And sometimes you just feel irrelevant or sidelined, regardless of the fact that you do have valuable things you could share with them. I think for me, part of it is just not minding that feeling of irrelevance. We’re just at different life stages; they’ll mature and move on, just as I did.

And also, don’t dismiss the power of being a silent example. I could name dozens of people who have never sat me down and given me advice about life, but who modeled godly living and principles for me, while rarely saying a word. When I first got to college, I felt so lost sometimes because I was surrounded by peers, who mostly had lower lifestyle standards than I did. There were very few people for me to bring to mind and think, “Yes, that’s what I want to be like.” Eventually, those kinds of people came into my life, and even when they don’t tell me what they’re thinking, their silent examples are powerful.

Any other thoughts are welcomed, as always.

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Whenever I see a little black child and a little white child playing together, holding hands, or laughing, I think of these words from King’s infamous, impassioned ”I Have a Dream” speech:

“I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping the words of ‘interposition’ and ‘nullification’ – one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” (source)

John Piper has a blog entry called “Don’t Waste Martin Luther King Weekend,” which contains his favorite words ever from Dr. King, and some good thoughts on the meaning of the day for us as Christians in 2008.

Happy MLK Day.

Purity Principles

In response to my January 16th post, Topics: You Decide, Anjuan wrote, “I would like for you to write about the realities of maintaining purity… My wife and I just had a daughter, and I am keen to help her understand these principles as she grows. The world assumes that it’s impossible… but I know that it can be done. Any advice you can give and experiences you can share about dating and maintaining healthy relationships with the opposite s*x would be greatly appreciated.” (edited slightly for content)

Let me begin by saying that I do not have much experience in this area, but I am happy to share what I do know. We live in a world where standards for purity have all but flown out the window. A scant 150 years ago, a man or woman’s purity was viewed as one of their most valuable possessions – something to be protected at all costs. Now, it seems like something to be rid of at all costs. But regardless of culture’s standards – or lack thereof – and our own sinful natures’ inclinations, God has a higher calling for us, His people.

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: s*xual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” (Colossians 3:5-8)

There are many other passages I could point to that delineate the same principle: as believers, we are called by our holy God to a life of purity. This does not mean that we will always find this life easy. On the contrary, we know instinctively that it will be very difficult. Yet we are equipped with the divine power of God’s Spirit in us, to enable us to live lives that are pleasing to Him, in this area as well as every other.

What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that we are maximizing our potential for obedience in this aspect of our lives? I have either found these steps helpful personally, or have seen them in others’ lives, or have derived them from using common sense.

1. Hold marriage sacred. This means your current marriage, your future marriage, or the marriages of others. Our culture finds a certain forbidden thrill in flouting the sacred boundaries of marriage. But God has told us in Scripture that we must “Let marriage be held in honor among all” (Hebrews 13:4). This means the more that we as individuals or as the church accept unbiblical divorce, promiscuity, cohabitation, and homos*xuality, the less we are honoring marriage. And we need to watch these things in our own lives first and foremost, and let the boundaries of present or future marriages guide our behavior, especially around the opposite s*x.
2. Watch the children’s eyes. Principles of purity or impurity are instilled from a very young age. It is my personal belief what children see when they are at a young age becomes normative to them. That is why the evil of the world’s patterns needs to be relayed gradually, so that what is good and right and true can be seen first. Evil will look less and less evil the more normal it becomes. Children’s minds are so sensitive that numbing them to evil at young ages can have devastating consequences.
3. Watch your own eyes. So, so, so, so, so much immorality could be prevented if we would watch what we are watching and listening to, even seemingly innocent forms of media. To ascertain how media is affecting your heart, ask yourself questions – “What do I laugh at? What would have shocked me two or three years ago, but doesn’t now? What shows/music/movies have I been watching when I am struggling with my thought life? When am I most likely to stumble, and how does what I have been putting into my mind affect that?” There is a reason for that children’s song “Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see… oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear…”
4. Guard your conduct. Sometimes, especially as single college students, we like to pretend that no gender boundaries exist in casual settings – that we can have the same discussions and share the same information we would in a single-gender setting. But this is simply not true. We have a responsibility to watch over our words and actions carefully, especially around those of the other gender. We need to be careful not to be overly flirty, not to lead others on, not to show too much of our souls to people who have not earned our trust, not to become spiritually dependent on someone of the opposite gender who could be a romantic interest. I could go on about the particulars of this, and maybe I will in another post.
5. Set high standards. Better too high than too low. If you have been blessed with godly parents, do nothing you wouldn’t want them to see or hear. If not, do nothing you wouldn’t want a godly couple you know to see or hear. Enough said.
6. Be accountable. We talk about accountability so much in Christian settings that sometimes it gets wearisome to hear about. But that is because it is so, so, so very important. Depending on who you are and what your temptations are, you may need a formal accountability structure, or you may not, as long as you have something there. It’s human nature to be more consistent if we have someone watching us to make sure we’re doing the right thing. You’ll be so thankful for it in the long run. Get some accountability.

Those are just a few thoughts on boundaries and guidelines to give thought to as we strive after lives of purity. I’m not exactly an expert in this area, never having been married, obviously. But these are things God has taught me, that I hope will remain consistent in my life. Anything you have to share on the subject would be much welcomed as well.