The Real Spirit of Christmas

The obvious spirit of that first Christmas was one of being blessed, of having received mercy and grace from God. . . .

In our attempt to find the true spirit of Christmas, then, we need to be able to define its counterfeit.  A variety of things can make us feel good during the holidays, but many of them are cultural messages. The true message of Christmas humbles us. It shows us for what we are: poor, blind, deaf, and dumb receivers.

 This season when you are preparing your gift giving and your charitable Christmas projects, focus not on what you are able to give, whether great or small, but on what you have received [from God]. Let the grace and mercy you have received at His hands first fill your heart, and then flow through you to others. In so doing, you are inviting others to join in your grateful celebration. Allow yourself to experience the wonder and joy of gratitude in this holy season. . .  .

We are both receivers and givers at Christmas. Let's just remember which comes first.

~In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas by Dan Schaeffer 

For more on the true spirit of Christmas listen here.

 

 

Frail Hillary

The Associated Press reports:

 "Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who skipped an overseas trip this past week because of a stomach virus, sustained a concussion after fainting, the State Department said Saturday."

Wow. The article is dated December 15, and it reports that all of this happened "last week," and her recovery will prevent her from being able to testify at a hearing about Benghazi this coming Thursday.

Which makes me wonder: If she's so frail at 65 that a bad stomach flu and concussion from last week has her in such a condition that she's unable to pull herself together enough to testify regarding the loss of an American ambassador's life (and the lives of others who were defending the embassy) while she was in charge, how could she possibly face the rigors of the presidency in four years when she'll be 69? Never mind carry on until she's 73, at least.

I used to tell my kids that if they were too sick to go to school, they were too sick to play on the computer . . . watch TV . . . talk on the phone . . . etc. So I'm thinking that if you're too sick to do your duties as secretary of state, you're probably too sick to be president of the United States.

Election 2012

"It makes no sense," was one child's response to the election results this morning. We're a political family, and we followed this election closely, all the way back to the Republican debates. This child, only 18 at the time, cast his first vote ever in the Republican primary. He recognizes the importance of his duty of living as a citizen in America even at this tender age. He understands that the principles by which a president operates have consequences.

What can I say? It makes no sense to me, either. We're all a little subdued at our house today. We've reminded him (and myself a thousand times) that God is in control; God tells us that "by me, kings reign" (Prov. 8:15). We know that his purposes are good and true. Why it is God's will to put an arrogant golf-playing, abortion-loving, celebrity-seeking Islamic sympathizer who supports gay marriage and who believes that debt brings prosperity and the government is the sovereign that should control our lives is a mystery that I must place in the "known only to God" categories and believe him when he tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love him.

And so I've had several thoughts as I've reflected on the election of 2012 and the implications it has for us as Christian citizens in a country that moves "forward" toward a world where gay marriage is becoming more and more acceptable, where the media becomes a part of the liberal candidate's campaign, where the lives of children in the womb and the lives of American diplomats and soldiers fighting terrorists in Arab Spring nations become equally disposable because they are inconvenient for someone who would rather they die.

This morning I received an email from my doctor, who uses holistic methods of treatment and has addressed certain physical issues for me effectively. I have not found this help from other medical doctors. The email announced that my doctor would not be accepting new patients because now Obamacare would not be repealed: "We are sorry that we have to close the practice, but the current and near future medical reimbursement climate does not allow us to make any other choice." They don't know how long they will be able to continue their practice for current patients.The other child (incidentally the one who had the honor of being the last person in our precinct to vote last night as the poll workers were closing up shop) also is a patient. She observed that because some women were being offered the "freedom" of free contraception via Obamacare, her freedom to seek the kind of medical care that helps her with her heath issues could now be limited. And I realized again--certainly not for the first time--that a big government of entitlements offering freedoms to some inevitably strips away the freedoms of others, whether it's the "wealthy" who need to pay their "fair share," religious organizations who are now forced to deny their convictions, or owners of small businesses who can't afford to grow because the financial burdens of growth will be greater than whatever prosperity they might achieve. And in the end, freedom is a myth, because the government owns us all. This is what the majority of Americans chose on election day.

Another harsh realization: This is the kind of country and government that more than half of Americans want. And yet unthinking citizens being drawn to superficial political leaders who obviously crave power and are motivated only by self-interest is not a new phenomenon. David's son Absalom demonstrates that playing to those who believe they are victims brings political victory. Here was a man who was scandalous (he killed his own brother) and arrogant. He was well-known for his good looks and beautiful hair. Because he had no sons, he erected a monument to himself. He won the people's hearts by sitting in the city gates and sympathizing with those who came with disputes for the king, telling them there was no one to hear them and promising justice if only he were in charge. He nearly successfully stole the kingdom from his father and certainly had the popular support of the people. I've never (not even for a moment in 2008) understood the charisma of Obama. But apparently manufacturing wars on women, attempting to achieve "fairness" for those who live in our country illegally, and promoting the rights of those who wish legal status for their immorality is great political strategy. It works.

But probably my last, and most important, realization has been that as Christians living in the kingdom of this world, we can expect rulers who are unjust. If there is a candidate who runs on the policies of defending our nation and creating a climate where the gospel may be freely preached (Belgic Confession art. 36), I'll certainly vote for him or her. But a quick glance at any instructions to Christians-as-citizens in the New Testament demonstrates that they are to be submissive to those who rule over them, and the types ruling over them in those days were Roman emperors, who were not exactly known for their sympathy for Christians. An unjust, faithless ruler does not excuse us from submitting to the government's authority--because the government that we have has been given to us by God. The church often flourishes in affliction, and perhaps we Christians in America will be finding that out firsthand. Our help is in the name of the Lord, maker of the heavens and the earth. "The best is yet to come," President Obama said to his supporters last night in his victory speech. I rarely agree with him, but on this I do. It won't happen in his four more years, though, and not while any of us Christians live on this earth.

As Christians, then, this must be our prayer as we face, for many of us, the disappointing results of another presidential election: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).


 

It's All about the Bridegroom

I've  been thinking a lot about weddings lately--probably because in less than a month, our family will be experiencing one. It's interesting that when you're planning your own--as I was a little more than four years ago--there isn't a lot of time for deep reflection. But when you're not at the center of it--when you're watching from the sidelines--you start asking the questions that you probably should have been asking when it was your turn: What's actually happening here? What should be my priority as I spend thousands of dollars on one day of my life? Should I be spending thousands of dollars on one day of my life? What should we be communicating to the people we invite to celebrate this great occasion with us?

Instead, we get caught up in questions like these: What color palette should I choose? Can I afford the reception venue of my dreams? If I choose the reception venue of my dreams, what can I cut from the budget that will be less important to me? Should I use fresh flowers or artificial? Rent tuxes or purchase suits? Buffet style or a plated meal? If I invite this person, then will I have to invite that one lest he/she be offended? Unity candle or colored sand?

And in this Facebook age, when people are members of a social network of millions and we easily get lost because the next person has better vacations, a more exciting life, and more friends than we have, how far do we have to go to make our wedding stand out? What can we do that will make people sit up, take notice, and tell their coworkers on Monday, "I was at this wedding on Saturday, and do you know what they did? I've never seen that before." Planning a wedding has become a complicated thing.

Probably one of the most famous weddings ever is recorded in John 2. Clearly the people who lived at the time of Jesus (and earlier) made a big deal of weddings--probably more so than we do today. They lasted for days. It may be that they had a better understanding than we do of how important weddings were to God. One of the very first things that happens in the Bible is a wedding. And we know today that the last thing that happens in the Bible is a wedding. God is definitely interested in weddings.

And so in John 2, Jesus is on one of his early outings with his newly recruited disciples. Some think that perhaps the bride or groom was related to Mary, Jesus' mother, because when there's a problem--and it's a huge, embarrassing one--she seems to feel responsible to find a solution. The problem is that somehow the wine runs out. And that was disastrous. Mary, knowing something of her unique son's capabilities, asks him to do something about it, so reluctantly he does. He instructs the servants to fill six twenty- to thirty-gallon jars with water. Then, at Jesus' instruction, the servants draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. The master of the banquet is surprised. Usually the finest wine is served first, and then, after everyone has had too much to drink, they serve whatever is left. No one cares any more about the quality of the wine. But this bridegroom breaks with tradition and saves the best for last.

Of course it's the best wine because Jesus created it. And we could look at that and say, "See, Jesus knows the value of a good party! He wanted everyone to keep on having a good time. He wanted them to have excellent wine! We should have excellent wine at our wedding too. We should spend thousands on a reception hall and the best food, drink, and music. Jesus set the pattern at that wedding in Cana of Galilee."

I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't have wonderful, memorable celebrations when we get married. We like to say that the wedding day is all about the bride, that it's a special day full of romance and joy that we'll never forget, a day when all eyes are on a couple who are just setting out on a great adventure. It's all about them. But if we really understand what is happening in Cana, we'll see that the point is this: weddings are all about Jesus. What Jesus was showing the people who were celebrating at Cana was that he--and only he--provides the fullness of joy that we need. He gives the best wine--he is the best wine--and he gives an abundance far beyond what we could ever ask for or imagine. The focus of any wedding should be him.

Our marriages are a picture of that great marriage that will one day take place--the one at the end of the Bible. They should point to that day, even as we celebrate the gift of marriage that God gives us here on the earth. It's a solemn thing when a man says, "I will love you like Christ loves his church and gave himself for it for the rest of my life," and a woman says, "I will submit to you as the church submits to Christ for the rest of my life on earth." There really isn't much place for silly fashions, silly behaviors, and silly breaks with tradition.

Keeping that in mind helps us keep weddings and wedding celebrations in perspective. When our first goal as a Christian couple is to show a picture of Jesus Christ and his love for his church, suddenly things fall into place. Brides aren't as eager to do something "unique" like pair formal wear with tennis shoes, wear cowboy boots, have a dance party up the aisle, or find the most elaborate reception venue possible. Because even though it's our special day, we want the focus to be on that greatest of Bridegrooms, the one who provides joy and celebration that no amount of money can purchase. And we want people to come to our wedding and say, "Mostly, I saw Jesus there. But the bride was beautiful, and the food at the wedding was delicious."

Calvin's Prayers

I'm currently editing a book of John Calvin's prayers, compiled and edited by Dustin Benge. It should released by the end of October (in time for Reformation Day, we hope). These prayers are buried in Calvin's Old Testament commentaries on the major and minor prophets, and they truly are beautiful. For someone like me, who isn't well studied in this part of the Bible, they are an education as well. The Old Testament commentaries were actually compiled by Calvin's students, who took notes as he lectured. He would conclude each of the lectures with a prayer based on the passage, but tying it to our own New Testament experiences, showing that the church of the Old Testament has much to say to the church of the New.

This one struck me today as quite helpful, as my attention of late has been easily arrested by the "impious refulgent and terrible to ourselves and others." Even they can be used by the Holy Spirit to promote our salvation as we rest calmly under the protection of our faithful Savior. These are also comforting words as we think about our nation's great tragedy of September 11, 2001.


Commands and Commends

Grant, Almighty God,
since we so travel through this world that our attention
is easily arrested and our judgment darkened when
we behold the power of the impious refulgent and
terrible to ourselves and others.

Grant, I say, that we may raise our eyes upward and
consider how much power Thou hast conferred
upon Thine only begotten Son.

Grant also that He may rule and govern us by the might
of His Spirit, protect us by His faithfulness and
guardianship, and compel the whole world
to promote our salvation;
thus may we rest calmly under His protection and fight
with that boldness and patience that He both
commands and commends, until at length we enjoy
the fruit of the victory that Thou hast promised
and that Thou wilt provide for us in Thy heavenly
kingdom. Amen.

On Apologies

"Love means never having to say you're sorry," the weeping Jenny says to her young husband, Oliver, in Love Story.

Oh, Jenny. That's sweet, but I don't think so. In fact, just the opposite. If we love someone, we will say we're sorry. And the longer the relationship lasts, the more times we'll say it. In fact, the length of a relationship, I would think, would depend on the number of times the loving parties are willing to say they are sorry.

Apologies are a rare and wonderful thing. I don't give them nearly as often as I should, but I'm getting better at it as I grow older. One of my child-rearing regrets is that I didn't emphasize it enough in training my children. It's a hard thing for all of us--and for some it seems nearly impossible. Those for whom it seems nearly impossible don't appear to have a lot of close relationships--with family or friends.

An apology is an admission that we've done something wrong, that we've messed up in some way, that we understand that we've done damage to a relationship, that this is step 1 in fixing things. For those of us who understand our sin and misery, it should be something we do on a nearly everyday basis. Because we mess up. All the time.We offend God and the people around us--not necessarily because we want to (sometimes, sadly, we do) but because we are so focused on ourselves and what we want, that, as one of my kids' elementary teachers once put it, we have a huge Y in our hearts (you know--Jesus, Others, and You--joy), so we steal joy from others and ourselves. An apology that never comes leaves an open wound that will never completely heal, but one offered up genuinely, sincerely, and humbly can bring healing, peace, hope, and restoration. And while maybe a relationship isn't what it once was or could be, at least it isn't completely broken.

It's interesting that the Bible has so much to say about forgiveness, but it doesn't seem to have a lot to say about apologizing. Jesus teaches us to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors," showing us that there is a relationship between forgiving and being forgiven. His instructions seem often to be directed toward those who must do the forgiving rather than those who do the offending. In the famous Matthew 18 passage, the instructions come to the offended one, who bears the responsibility of confronting the one who has sinned against him. Jesus tells his disciples to rebuke one who has offended them, and if he repents, forgive him (Luke 17:3).

So it would seem that Jesus is saying that we can forgive only if someone repents. And oh how I would welcome the opportunity to forgive some of the outstanding apologies I've been waiting for but expect never to receive. To forgive should be a piece of cake--much easier than carrying around hurt feelings and trying to maintain strained relationships. And so I wait and pray that should these anticipated apologies ever come, I will follow the pattern of my heavenly Father, who forgives completely and endlessly when we ask him to.

Oddly enough, there are some who do refuse to forgive. They treat this rare creature--the apology--like it is cheap and common. They refuse to accept an apology genuinely offered, or they force the offender to continue apologizing--over and over again, usually for the same offense--forgetting that seventy times seven is the number of times a person should forgive and not the number of times someone should apologize for a single offense. They may have received a flesh wound from the offender, but their refusal to forgive wounds the offender far more seriously and deeply. "Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors," Jesus says, and those who refuse to offer forgiveness when an apology has been extended can have no expectations that God will forgive them. They should think about how often they offend and stand in need of forgiveness themselves and how their Father has never refused their sincere repentance. They should see a sincere apology as the treasure it truly is and not treat it as a trinket from the dollar store that is easily lost or broken.

Apologies become necessary because of pride, selfishness, and ignorance, but they are forged in the heat and light of humility, selflessness, and wisdom. Yet with all the effort and energy it takes to craft an apology, it should never be displayed on a mantel like a trophy for all the world to see. Should we ever receive one, it should quietly, gently be tucked away deep in our hearts to be remembered, but never to be taken out again. But out of our hearts should come the stream that trickles from its source, God's heavenly ocean of forgiveness.

Kristin Kluck: Worshiping at the Altar of Family

Christians understand the value of families. Those of us who are Reformed, in particular, understand that God always has worked through families, and he continues to do so at this point in history. But can our families become an idol? Kristin  Kluck raises some interesting points as she considers this question.

It Could Be Worse

Recently I've been dealing with a trial--a hurtful situation that left me feeling discouraged, sad, and disappointed. On the spectrum of tragedies--well, it wouldn't even make it onto the spectrum of tragedies, and it's a situation that I would have been happy to have remained silent about, for the most part. But the miracle of Facebook left me responding to questions I hoped wouldn't be asked and addressing concerns that I hadn't wanted to share, and when I explain the situation, I quite frequently get the response, "Well, it could be worse." (I'm thankful to say that the situation has been resolved, and, for the most part, all is well.)

Yes, thank you, I know that. It could be a thousand times worse. Give me a pen and paper, time me for two minutes, and I can probably make a list of at least twenty-five ways it could be worse.You see, back in the nineties, I was the poster child for worse. My twenty-year-old sister died as a result of injuries she received in a car accident in 1990. Then in 1994, my thirty-three-year-old husband was diagnosed with acute myelogonous leukemia. And--worse--he died after extensive treatment in 1996 and left me a widow in my early thirties with two toddlers to raise alone. In the last half of the nineties, my two remaining grandparents died, along with an assortment of other relatives. Early in the great new millenium, I found myself employed by a Christian organization (not Discovery House Publishers, which was a tremendous blessing) that mistreated me, and with the cumulative effect of everything I had been through, I sank into a deep, clinical depression and was placed on medication.

I know about worse.

Yet when I think about all those tragic events, in every one I can imagine that things could have been worse. My sister and my former husband knew the Lord and are in heaven with him now. It could have been far worse if they had not been people who loved the Lord. I was not left penniless, with a terminal illness, all alone. My children and I were physically healthy through all of this (with the exception of my depression). I had been well educated and was able eventually to find work that I loved and a reasonably good salary to live on. As bad as all that was, it could have been worse.

Think about the worst thing that has ever happened to you. Now think about how it could have been worse--no matter how bad it was. You can think of something, I'm sure.

I once broke a small bone in my wrist. It hurt really bad. If someone had said to me while I was still in pain, "You know, it could be worse. You could have an inoperable brain tumor," she would have been absolutely right. But it wouldn't have taken away the pain of my small, minor fracture--or the reality that it needed treatment of some sort to heal and strengthen.

So I'm not quite sure what to do with the counsel that it could have been worse. I'm not sure that's the best thing we can say to a brother or sister who is hurting--whether we understand their pain or think they're overreacting or just know that something we personally have experienced was so much worse--and maybe it was. Pain is pain, and telling someone who is in pain that he or she could actually be experiencing even greater pain may be true, but it's not necessarily helpful. When we tell someone that things could be worse, it's as if we're saying that the pain they're feeling now is irrelevant because he or she could be experiencing greater, more intense, longer-lasting pain. But it doesn't take their very real and present pain away.

We can tell a person in pain that we're praying for her, that we love her and hope that she'll soon be able to sort things out. We can tell her we're sorry for her pain. We can offer to listen, and, as the Holy Spirit gives opportunity, give gentle, compassionate advice where it is needed and wanted. We can speak of the ways God has helped us in painful situations--how he has not left us alone and has given us all that we need in his Word to cope with the painful providences of our lives. But whatever the source of pain is, it is there, and there need to be healing and strengthening. And with that will eventually come the realization that God owes us nothing, and then we experience gratitude because the situation could always--and forever--be so much worse.

Battered Sheep

A good friend of mine recently pointed out a website that ministers to "battered sheep," people who have been badly hurt by abusive churches. For a number of reasons I can't recommend the website; it makes the mistake of blaming the wrong things (organized religion, formal church membership, taking membership vows) for the problems people have in churches--and the implications of these kinds of arguments are often that the problem is inherent to the church itself, and the solution is to leave it behind.

But the reality is that there are battered sheep out there, and it is way too easy to find them. And their solution to this problem, to the shame of the church and its leadership, is often to leave the place where they should be safe, protected, and loved because they've been beaten up and shattered. And they run away from the battering, often to places that are no more safe than the one they've left behind.

Why are sheep getting battered in churches? The simple answer is sin, of course. In order for there to be those who are battered, there must be batterers, and often those who hold authority in the church (as in marriages and families) do the wounding. They lose sight of their biblical role as servants and protectors and become aggressors. They use church discipline as a tool of vengeance or a means of promoting their own agenda. Perhaps it's because in some cases they haven't been trained well about what, exactly, an under-shepherd is supposed to do and be; maybe they aren't mature enough Christians to become as self-sacrificial as they need to be in caring for the sheep--but the end result, whatever lies at the root of it, is wounded sheep who run from the church to whatever appears to be the closest safe haven, who may never recover entirely from the injuries they have received.

While it's easy to sit in the pew and blame the leadership when a church member becomes a battered sheep,  the rest of us sheep ought to be asking ourselves how we might have contributed to the battering. On the most basic level, have we prayed for those who have been called to be leaders in the church? If our church has a nominating and voting method of choosing elders, have we been active in drawing the leadership's attention to men who meet the qualifications laid out in Scripture? Have we made our votes carefully and prayerfully?

Once in awhile a story will circulate of some tragic situation in which spousal or parental abuse results in death for the victim. Neighbors, family members, friends--those close to the situation may have remained silent even though they were aware of the abusive situation. And they must live with the guilt of knowing that they could have done something, but didn't. While we are called to submit to those God has placed over us in the church, we must never become "ostrich" sheep who stick our heads in the sand while others around us are being battered. We must lovingly, respectfully confront those who would batter the sheep, so that we don't share in the responsibility for their injuries.

We need to gently point the battered sheep--and the batterers--to the Good Shepherd who will never abuse his sheep. We need to turn to him ourselves, asking him to protect his church from those who would batter and tear his sheep. He is the one who will lead us in such a way that we will never want.

It Matters Whom You Marry--from Rebecca

My friend Rebecca has an excellent post titled "It Matters Whom You Marry." It's interesting that while so much of the Christian world is writing about young people marrying at older ages--and whether that is a good idea--so many of the young people that I come into contact with make the mistake of nearly idolizing marriage and make it the central goal and focus of pretty much everything. And the problem with this is that they become shortsighted and are willing to compromise faithfulness to Christ in order to achieve this highest goal. Rebecca offers great wisdom on what young women should be thinking about as they consider the man they would like to marry. Pass this gem on to the young woman in your life.

If I had a Twitter feed. . .

This is what it would say today:

Just giddy thinking about the future Ryan/Biden VP debate! Can't happen soon enough!

Better Than Seven Sons

I've just finished reading the book of Judges in my devotions. Reading Judges is a little like a car wreck on the highway. It's horrifying, but you have to look. In Judges a man makes an oath to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house if the Lord will give him success in battle; the Lord gives success in battle, the first thing out of the house is Jephthah's only daughter, and it's likely he kept his oath. In Judges, a man steals money from his mother, returns the money,  the silly mother makes an idol to celebrate the returned money, the son sets up a shrine in his house and hires a personal priest. In Judges, a priest throws his concubine out to a raving mob of crazed men who rape her all night long until she lies dead on the doorstep. The man then cuts his dead concubine up into twelve pieces and sends the parts all over Israel. In those days, there was no king in Israel, especially not God, and people did what was right in their own eyes.

You get to the end of Judges and feel that there is absolutely no hope. You realize that we, after all, are like the people in Judges. We do what is right in our own eyes, and we need to be saved. And that's why there is the book of Ruth. Ruth is the bright, shining spot--the way out of the book of Judges.

The story is set during the time of the Judges. Israel is experiencing a famine, so a family from Bethlehem (ironically, "the house of bread")--Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons--moves to Moab. While it would seem to make sense to move away  from famine to prosperity, it's important to understand that Elimelech was moving his family away from the Promised Land and the people of God to live among Israel's enemies. The father of the Moabites was the progeny of an incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughter, back in Genesis, and Israel and Moab were not on friendly terms. Moabites were not to enter the assembly of the Lord, yet Elimelech and Naomi were entering Moab to live among the people there. In time, Elimelech dies, and his two sons marry Moabite women. Eventually the two sons die too, and Naomi is now a childless 
widow--and that's about as bad a condition as a woman could find herself in in those days. 


Naomi hears that there is bread again in the House of Bread, so she decides to return to her home. She encourages her sons' young widows to go back to their mothers and their gods, but the heroine, Ruth, insists on staying with her mother-in-law and makes a great confession of her faith in Naomi's God, the God of Israel. She returns with her to Bethlehem. In Bethlehem Naomi tells her friends to call her Mara, which means bitter, because God has dealt bitterly with her.


If you haven't read the story, read it. The two savvy women recognize that hard work and a good husband are the ways out of poverty. In God's providence, Ruth meets the much older Boaz, who agrees to be her kinsman-redeemer and marry her. It's a beautiful story, and when you understand that Boaz is a type of Christ, our own kinsman -redeemer, and we, his people, are Ruth, it's even better. But what struck me when I read the familiar story again was this verse from the very end of the book. Ruth and Boaz are married, Naomi now has happiness and security, and the women of the town rejoice. This is what they say in Ruth 4:14-15:

“Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

This is an astounding statement! How can Ruth be better than seven sons? Remember that at the beginning of the story, Naomi lost two sons--all that the Lord had given her. It almost seems cruel to taunt her by saying that this daughter-in-law is better than seven sons. In the Bible, seven is the number of completion, of being satisfied, of having enough. God rested on the seventh day after creating the earth. And now the women say that Ruth is better than having enough sons to a woman who no longer has her sons.

It is interesting that the women point out that Ruth loves Naomi, but she is better than seven sons because through her, the one Son will come who will lead his people out of the despair of the time of the judges. Ruth gives birth to Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David the king. And from David eventually would come Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God. And this is how Ruth's Son is a  restorer of life and a nourisher of old age. This is how Ruth herself, who forsook the gods of her people to become a child of the true God is, indeed, better than seven sons. Through her would come the greatest blessing the world will ever know.








   

On Noses

I don't remember when this happened, so I can't tell you how old they were. But it was funny, so back then I wrote it down on a scrap of paper. And I just found it, and it made me laugh again.

Katie: Keep your nose out of my business!

Jonathan: My nose isn't that big.

22 Mistakes Pastors [and Consistories] Make in Church Discipline

Since Scripture calls men to the roles of leadership in the church as pastors and elders, I will never experience what I would imagine would be one of their most difficult tasks: executing biblical, effective church discipline. Clearly church discipline is critical to the life of the church: the Belgic Confession, article 29, lists it as one of three marks of the true church. And yet so few seem to understand how it is supposed to work, even among those called to administer it.

This blog post by Andy Naselli, who shares principles from Jonathan Leeman's Church Discipline, provides great food for thought in this often misunderstood and misapplied area of church life.

Pastor and People

From a sermon titled "The Church's Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God," by Jonathan Edwards:

A faithful minister, that is in a Christian manner united to a Christian people as their pastor, has his heart united to them in the most ardent and tender affection. And they, on the other hand, have their hearts united to him, esteeming him very highly in love for his work’s sake, and receiving him with honor and reverence, and willingly subjecting themselves to him and committing themselves to his care, as being under Christ their head and guide. Such a pastor and people are like a young man and virgin united in marriage, with respect to the purity of their regard one to another. The young man gives himself to his bride in purity, as undebauched by meretricious embraces. And she also presents herself to him a chaste virgin. So, in such a union of a minister and people as we are speaking of, the parties united are pure and holy in their affection and regard one to another. The minister’s heart is united to the people, not for filthy lucre or any worldly advantage, but with a pure benevolence to them and desire of their spiritual welfare and prosperity and complacence in them as the children of God and followers of Christ Jesus. And, on the other hand, the people love and honor him with a holy affection and esteem. Not merely as having their admiration raised and their carnal affection moved by having their curiosity and other fleshly principles gratified by a florid eloquence and the excellency of speech and man’s wisdom, but receiving him as the messenger of the Lord of Hosts, coming to them on a divine and infinitely important errand, and with those holy qualifications that resemble the virtues of the Lamb of God.

I hope your pastor matches the description here. I am thankful to say that ours does.

7/11

Photo by LVL Photography

Four years ago today. Smartest thing I ever did.

Resolve Conflict ASAP

As my family emerges from a time of intense conflict (not a family conflict among us--a conflict outside of us), I have been impressed by how critical it is that we address issues among us quickly and not allow them to fester. I truly believe that the conflict we just endured would never have become what it became if injured parties early on had dealt with one another in the manner described in this blog post by pastor and counselor Paul Tautges. His counsel here is biblical and wise, and there would be much less conflict among us if we were to act accordingly.

The Emotional Left

I don't typically find myself visiting Parents.com. I'm past finding out what the most popular baby names are and am not in the need for toddler finger food recipes these days, but I discovered a fascinating feature the website is offering this election year. They're calling it "Moms Decide 2012," and here's their description of how it works:

"Over the next few months, the editors of Parents.com will report on hot-button election issues that American families face today, from healthcare to education. In the spirit of offering diverse perspectives on the election, we’ve chosen three moms from across the political spectrum to be guest bloggers on Parents News Now. Each one of them will offer a unique take on the topics that they–and you!–are most passionate about."

Last week, three bloggers--a conservative, a liberal, and a moderate--gave their responses to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Health Care Act. They offer up no surprises. Sharon Lerner, the liberal blogger, rejoices in the SCOTUS decision. She thinks that offering universal health care is a "no brainer," and she can't fathom how or why anyone could possibly be opposed in principle to it. She believes that "Republican health care haters" are basing their ideas on a misunderstanding of freedom; they expect to have freedom of purchasing power and freedom from the responsibility of caring for other citizens. So, apparently, if you want the freedom to spend your money as you choose, and you expect to be free from paying the medical bills of a stranger whose other bills you are not expected to pay, you are a health care hater. As we would expect, Ms. Lerner has no thought for paying for this monstrosity.

The moderate blogger (who really in the end is also a liberal), Amy Julia Becker, argues from compassion and pragmatism. She is happy that the law has been upheld. She acknowledges that she has enjoyed the privileges of health care because she grew up in an affluent family (someone at some point worked hard to create the affluency) and because she and her husband have always worked hard. She cites a study from Oregon (no liberal bias there) that shows that when everybody has access to health care, it has a positive impact on society. She takes issue with some of the finer points of the law that do not consider personal responsibility (does any of it?) and looks forward to the day when everyone will enjoy the same privileges  of health care that she has always enjoyed.



The conservative writer, Suzanne Venker, raises the issue of fairness (is every American truly entitled to health care?) and wonders what the ramifications will be for the quality of health care that people will receive. Nothing particularly new here, but what she does point out that is interesting is this:

"The Left is motivated largely by emotion. If something sounds good or just, it should be embraced–regardless of its feasibility. Conservatives (and independents, for that matter) know better. Leftists can also be elitist. If someone doesn’t agree with their position, he must be educated so he can see things more clearly. Obama is famous for that attitude. When The People reject his policies, he insists he just hasn’t explained himself well. The condescension is so palpable I almost feel sorry for him. Almost."

It gets even more interesting when you consider the number and nature of responses from the commenters, who, in this admittedly very small context, prove Ms. Venker's point.

There were eight responses to the liberal's post. Two conservative commenters (one is a business owner) disagree politely with the blogger and ask how the Affordable Health Care Act will be paid for. Their tone is respectful, they don't call Lerner names, they don't call the president names. When a liberal supporter of the post politely reminds the business owner that this will all be paid for with taxes on the wealthy and budget cuts and also explains that unless she has fifty employees or more she will not be required to offer them health care benefits, the business owner comes back, again, respectfully, with hard numbers and statistics from the Congressional Budget Office. She responds civilly, intelligently, and obviously with a clearer grasp of the issues than the liberal commenter.

There are six responses to the moderate post. Because the moderate's arguments are a bit muddled, a couple of the commenters' responses are as well. Again, there are those who question how all of this will be paid for, one who says she is optimistic and one who says he is not. But the tone here is civil, respectful, and reasonable. There is no name calling, no calling into question the blogger's intelligence (although one commenter rightly questions some of the author's assumptions).

And then we come to the conservative blogger, who accuses the left of being emotional and elitist. It makes me wonder if she didn't provide the comments herself to prove her point, because prove her point they do. There are twenty-three comments to her post--a much higher response rate than the other two bloggers got. While the first commenter chimes in with her support of Venker's arguments regarding fairness, others accuse her of being ignorant and selfish. A couple of these angry commenters say that they are shocked that Parents would publish such offensive stuff and claim that they will cancel their subscriptions. Never mind that  the magazine also provided posts from two liberal perspectives. Those who seem most offended by Venker's viewpoint argue from personal, anecdotal experience, i.e., emotion. They take an elitist position and consider Venker ignorant and selfish because . . . well, because they disagree with her.

I'm happy to report that most of the commenters wrote in support of Venker, and one commenter (who might have been me) offered up this: "This is the problem with liberals: no compromise, and no exchange of ideas. 'If you disagree with me, I'll shut you down.'"

The word liberal suggests generosity and broad-mindedness, and it's interesting that the people who would claim this quality for themselves often have the least generosity and broad-mindedness for anyone with whom they happen to disagree. "Moms Decide 2012" is a case in point.

Calvin's Prayer

I'm very blessed to be editing a book of Calvin's prayers, taken from his commentaries. Before each lecture on a particular passage, he would offer up a prayer that in some way related to that passage. This beautiful prayer was the last one that I worked on before going home yesterday:



"Grant, Almighty God, that as Thy church at this day is oppressed with many evils, we may learn to raise up not only our eyes and our hands to Thee, but also our hearts, and that we may so fix our attention on Thee as to look for salvation from Thee alone; and that though despair may overwhelm us on earth, yet the hope of Thy goodness may ever shine on us from heaven, and that, relying on the Mediator whom Thou hast given us, we may not hesitate to cry continually to Thee, until we really find by experience that our prayers have not been in vain, when Thou, pitying Thy church, hast extended Thy hand and given us cause to rejoice, and hast turned our mourning into joy, through Christ our Lord. Amen."

I've been feeling like my prayers for the church have been in vain lately, and Brother Calvin has encouraged my heart with this reminder.Thankfully my feelings do not determine what God hears or how he responds.

By the way, this book will be available, Lord willing, for Reformation Day from Reformation Heritage Books.Watch for it!

The New Amish Fiction?

How many heaven-and-back books will Christians continue to send to the bestseller lists? Based on the seemingly endless fascination with the Left Behind series, Amish fiction books, and Karen Kingsbury-one-plot-repeated-endlessly-Christian-romance titles that continue to be popular, we haven't even begun to see how many nearly dead people will go to heaven, come back, and tell us all about it.

And isn't that just how God's providence works? He brings people to heaven when they nearly die and then sends them back so they can sign contracts with a Christian publisher and make millions from the books, spin-off products, and films. Ugh.

Anyway, if you've ever wondered about this new, strange genre of Christian literature, read Tim Challies's excellent blog post to see why these books don't bolster faith; rather, they undermine it.

If you want to read a truly excellent book on what the Bible has to say about heaven, I recommend starting here. Author and pastor Dan Schaeffer has never nearly died, gone to heaven, and come back to tell us about his experience. He has thoroughly studied what the Bible has to say about the subject, though, and writes warmly and instructively about what God's Word tells us about the better country we will one day inhabit.

Happy Father's Day, Dad

Four generations: Dad, Katie, Annette, Grandpa Walborn

If you ever wondered where my lack of height came from . . . .

Even though he didn't give me at least 66 inches, he gave me many more important things: an example of hard work, excellence, the importance of living Christianly, music genes, and a love for pizza and homemade ice cream.

This is the man who would drive home about 13 miles after working hard all day, pick me up, and drive back about 40 miles (13 of which were the same miles he had just driven) to take me to piano lessons at Bowling Green State University's Creative Arts program for high school students. This is one of my favorite gifts. I still use it today. In fact, I should practice because I'm playing piano in church tomorrow. And he taught me that we never offer up music in worship that hasn't been thorougly practiced.

Happy Father's Day, Dad! You are a blessing!

Lessons Learned from a Conflict

1. Never let a conflict go without attempting to resolve it as soon as possible. Even if you feel like you've been dealt the greater offense, your obligation is to go to your brother or sister and seek peace. As my pastor put it once, "The two parties involved in a conflict should be in such a hurry to make things right that they pass one another on the way to each other's house."

2. If the conflict does not involve you, stay out of it. Don't join a "side." The less you know about it, the better. However, if you do know of wrongdoing you should stand for what is right.

3. Don't assume the worst of a Christian brother or sister, but don't ever forget that anyone can fall into sin. It's easy to put people on a pedestal and follow them blindly--especially our leaders. But we know from Scripture that even the most steadfast, committed Christians fall into sin. Think of Peter, who on one occasion confessed that Jesus is the Christ and on another denied Him three times. Think of David, who respected the authority of Saul, even when he was trying to kill him. But David committed adultery and to cover it up, murdered one of his mighty men. If you know of a conflict between two parties, assume the best of each, and, if possible, talk to both parties (without gossiping) to see why they are taking the position they are taking. Never decide that one party is right and one wrong after hearing only one side of a situation, especially when both sides have a reputation of integrity and godliness.

4. A disagreement with someone does not release you from your obligation to behave lovingly and respectfully toward that person. Even if you believe you have been wronged, you have an obligation to uphold that offender's good name and treat him or her Christianly.

5. If you are a party in a conflict, don't go on a campaign to win people to your side. Do what you must do to address the matter with the other party.

6. In a church conflict, sin causes division. Those who have the courage and integrity to address the sin are not the dividers.Those who sin and refuse to repent when they are confronted are dividing the church.

7. If a Christian brother or sister approaches you because you have sinned in some way, and he or she is calling you to repentance, listen, and if there is any merit to what that person is saying, repent. This person's coming to you is God's grace extended to you. To despise His messenger and the message is to despise His grace. His greatest judgment, perhaps, is when He allows people to remain in their sin without warning them to turn from it.

8. Even if a party has sinned grievously and seems to be getting away with it, remember that God is judge, and He knows what that party has done. He will take care of it--perhaps not in this life, but in eternity. Do not become bitter, but take comfort. The Lord loves the righteous, and He knows all things.

9. It is never loving to ignore another's sin, to assist that person in covering it up, or to pretend that person's sin is insignificant. Those who have the courage to expose sin with integrity are the ones who are showing love to that person. "[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6).

10. Do not give in to the strong urge to take vengeance. Do not seek to ruin the person who has offended you by telling others what you think that person's offense is. If you seek to damage another's reputation among other Christians, often the result is that your reputation is ruined and you damage yourself. I personally witnessed an example of this recently where two members of an organization had a disagreement. One of the members wrote a letter to the rest of the members of the organization, exposing what he believed was the other member's "sin." It backfired on the letter writer; the rest of the organization's members no longer had any respect for the letter writer and gladly released him from his membership in the organization. They continue to hold the attacked member in high regard because they respect him for keeping his disagreement with the other member out of the organization. In fact, they admired him for the way he treated the person with whom he had a disagreement with respect and professionalism.

11. Don't discuss the conflict issues with your spouse close to bedtime. No one is helped by a lack of sleep.

12. Pray for the people with whom you have differences. It will help you to maintain a Christian attitude toward them.

13. Always remember that if your conflict is with other Christians, they belong to Christ. Treat them as He would.

14. Surround yourself with godly Christians who are not a part of the conflict. They will encourage you and help you maintain a proper focus.

15. Remember that you are a pilgrim. This conflict is for now, but not forever. It will end. We have been promised trials and tribulations in this life, but the Holy Spirit is with us and will comfort us.

Love One Another

From a sermon titled “Christians a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a Peculiar People,” by Jonathan Edwards:


"Christians ought to bear with one another. They are the children of the same universal church of God; they are all the children of Abraham; they are the seed of Jesus Christ; they are the offspring of God. They are all of one family and should therefore love one another as family. It is very unbecoming those who are God’s offspring to entertain a spirit of hatred and ill will toward one another. It is very unbecoming to be backward in helping and assisting one another and supplying each other’s wants—much more, to contrive and seek one another’s hurt, to be revengeful one toward another. Let Christians take heed so to walk that they may not dishonor their pedigree. You are of a very honorable race, more honorable by far than if you were the offspring of kings and had royal blood in your veins. You are a heavenly offspring, the seed of Jesus Christ, the children of God. They that are of noble race value themselves highly upon the honor of their families, to dwell on their titles, their coats of arms, and their ensigns of honor and to recount the exploits of their illustrious forefathers. How much more careful should you be of the honor of your descent: that you in nothing behave yourself unworthy of the great God, the eternal and omnipotent King of heaven and earth, whose offspring you are!"

Upon Finishing The Hunger Games

It took me awhile, especially to get through the third book, but I've now joined the masses who have read The Hunger Games. I'm not going to review the books--too many other people have, and I have nothing to add--but I do have some reflections on this reading experience.

1. The premise of The Hunger Games is that the powerful Capitol oppresses the districts. It isn't a profound insight, but it occurred to me that for oppressors, there are no authorities or standards. Oppressors remain oppressors because there is no one else they answer to. There are no standards, and there is no rule of law. The goal of an oppressor is to remain in the position of oppressor, so whatever it takes to do that, the oppressor does. For the oppressor, to submit to an authority greater than itself is to give up being an oppressor. This is as true for an individual who seeks to dominate another as it is for a government, like in the novels.


 2. As a parent, I probably would not allow a child under high school age to read Hunger Games without parental guidance because there is just too much for immature readers to be distracted by and to misunderstand. The violence of the Hunger Games, the romance between Katniss/Peeta/Gale, Haymitch's drunkeness, the death and destruction of war--I've shuddered a couple of times when I've observed younger-than-teens reading these books without adult supervision. A niece-in-law who is a high school English teacher used the books in her classroom. As a former English teacher, I think that is a great forum for these books because there is much to discuss and learn, and probably most readers (even high schoolers) will miss some of the important themes and critiques without the guidance of a more experienced reader.

3. A society whose highest priority is entertainment will finally entertain itself to death. Author Suzanne Collins captures this well with her Hunger Games, which seem to tell the story of what happens when Survivor meets Lord of the Flies. 

4. In Katniss, Collins has created an interesting character whose self-awareness grows over the course of the three novels. Finally, toward the end of the third novel, Katniss sees herself for who she is--as she locks the door of her house, she observes, "The evil thing is inside, not out." And here's a great discussion point for Christian readers. Katniss realizes this about herself, as all of us who are ultimately saved must. When we realize this about ourselves, we recognize that the answer to this problem is not within us but outside of us as we look to Christ for our salvation. So here's the discussion question: What does Katniss do when she realizes that her problem is her evil, disgusting self? Where does she turn for help?

5. I'm not sure I want to see the movie. It seems ironic to me that a book that critiques a society's lust for violence and entertainment would be portrayed in a medium that will be entertaining its audience with violence.

6. A coworker/friend of mine who convinced me to read these books considers the possibility that Peeta is a sort of Christ character. He points out that in each book, in some way, Peeta dies and resurrects, and he sees other parallels. Peeta is also the character who sees Katniss for who she really is--and loves her anyway. Just interesting.

7. People who say that no one should read these books because of the horror of the Hunger Games are missing the point. That a society would be entertained by watching people kill one another for sport is horrific--but it is clear that the author is in no way suggesting this is a positive thing. Just the opposite: she's warning us about where an entertainment-addicted mindset can lead a culture.

8. Christians who bash this novel because it does not live up to Christian standards, because the characters do not behave Christianly, or because the author doesn't always uphold Christian values are treating the book unfairly and superficially. While we need to think Christianly about what we read, and we must be discerning and not allow non-Christian thinking to shape our ideas, we can't expect an author who isn't writing from a Christian perspective to always communicate truth, to always give us characters who make moral choices, and to provide us with a literary world where Christian values triumph.

A Mother's Day Story

Once there was a young, beautiful mom named Margaret, who lived in West Virginia, and she had a daughter, her oldest child, named Helen.

Helen was joined by a brother (on the pony with her here), and then a sister, and then another brother, and then another sister. As the big sister, Helen got some good practice taking care of her younger brothers and sisters, which gave her some preparation for eventually being a mom.

First, though, she married Ted.

Helen and Ted had a darling (if I do say so myself) and smart daughter named Annette (in the picture to the right), who could apparently read when she was about two. Then they had a boy named Tim, who clearly loved having his big sister read to him. This was good practice for the daughter, who would one day read to her own children. Seriously, Helen supported Annette in her love for books, and she taught Annette how to read before she went to kindergarten. This was one of the best things anyone ever taught Annette to do. Thanks!

After awhile, they had Kristi. And then Helen, the mom, had three children. She made sure that they went to the doctor, dentist, and got glasses when they needed them.

Annette, Tim, and Kristi grew up, and their mom loved and helped them all the way. This is Helen at Annette's high school graduation with her mom, Margaret. Three generations of women, all of whom at some point, became moms.

And if Helen was excellent at being a mom (she was and is), she was and is just as excellent at being a grandma, when Annette became a mom. This is Katie, the baby, the first grandchild. Eventually there were Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Garrett, all of whom love their grandma very much.

And this is that baby Katie, with her grandma, Helen, and her grandpa, Ted, at her high school graduation a couple of years ago. And while Helen doesn't hold Katie on her lap anymore, Katie does know where to go when she can count on being loved and metaphorically held on a lap.

And I think we'll just say, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom!" You are loved! (This story is starting to make me feel old, and there always will be more to add to it, so I think we'll stop here.)

Not So Hard

I was talking to a mom of two little ones, and we were watching the younger one exercising his newly discovered walking skills and the older one was trying to tell me something, using her newly discovered skill of saying words. The mom observed that my Jonathan would be graduating from high school in a few weeks and asked how far Katie had to go before she was finished. I told her that after Katie finished her internship in Kalamazoo in September, she would have one more semester, and then she would be finished with college. She had a sad look on her face, and she commented, "That must be hard, having them grow up."

Hard. I understand what she's saying. Having cute little ones who are learning something new literally every day, who love you and want to be with you more than anyone, whose greatest thrill is crawling into your lap with a favorite book is an amazing thing. And I loved experiencing all of that with my children. But hard for me was having my daughter come home from kindergarten with the "homework" assignment of counting all the coins in daddy's pocket--and this young widow didn't quite know how to get that one done. Hard for me was reading all of the reports about fatherless teenage girls who often engage in premarital sex and get pregnant as they seek the male attention they aren't getting from a father. Hard was having to be the adult in the passenger seat trying to teach a teenage girl how to drive--a job I will always maintain is a father's.

And hard was knowing that no one was helping my boy learn to play sports. Hard was wondering if it was the right thing to let him go to the men's room by himself when he was too big to go to the ladies' room with me, but still so young. Hard was realizing that he wasn't having the opportunity to do "guy" things: go camping, do auto repair, hammer, and use a screw driver. Hard was wondering how this boy would ever learn how to be a man growing up in a home with two of the girliest mom-and-sister girls there ever have been. Hard was worrying about how I would get him through the teenage boy hormonal things (of which I knew nothing) and teach him how to shave and tie a tie. Hard was wondering how I would punish him once he was bigger than I was. When Dorothy of the movie Jerry McGuire complained to her sister Laurel, "Do you know what most other women my age are doing right now? They are partying in clubs, trying to act stupid, trying to get a man, trying to keep a man.... Not me. I'm trying to raise a man," I was whispering, "that's me" to the TV--after the kids were in bed and I was spending another evening alone watching a movie I had watched at least five or six times before.

I think, for the most part, hard is not the word. Perhaps it's relief some, and thankfulness even more. Thankful that God knew my limits and brought a father into Jonathan's life who has taught him to shave, tie a tie, and mow the lawn (okay, he's working on that one). Relieved and thankful that in a couple of weeks he'll be graduating from high school and plans to go to college in the fall. Thankful and relieved that he attributes his understanding of the gospel to that father. Thankful and relieved that the daughter has been spared the pitfalls that many teenage fatherless daughters fall into and is developing her gifts and finding her place in this world. Thankful and relieved that despite our driving challenges, she has her license, and thankful and relieved that when she's had a couple of accidents and some car issues, she's had a father to help her through.

So I understand where you're coming from, mom of two adorable little ones. It's hard to fathom a day when those little ones will no longer need you like they do now, when they own their own cars and would rather not spend Friday evening with you. But for a once-single mom whose kids have made it through to a place she feared they might never get to, it's actually feeling a lot less hard.

An Apology

Some readers of this blog may be aware that I have recently posted regarding conflicts in the church and classis of which I am a member. So as not to cause further damage and offense, I will not go into any more detail here regarding them. If you have read them, you know what I am writing about today. If you have not, I am thankful that you have not seen them.

The posts that I wrote grew from anger and frustration that I felt toward a situation and group of people. They did not demonstrate proper respect for the authority that God has placed over me, and they did not seek "to guard and advance my neighbor's good name" (Heidelberg Catechism Q and A 112). They were not words fitly written like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

To those who were wronged by my words, I heartily apologize. I also apologize to all my readers. I am amazed whenever I learn that someone actually reads my blog (and I'm not ever entirely sure why anyone does), and I should have been more careful to serve all of you, and especially God, more lovingly with my words. Repentance is a sad (and yet good way--perhaps to be addressed in another post) reality of "being Christian in creed and deed," as is forgiveness.

On this Easter weekend, as I am reminded of my sin, I give thanks for a righteousness that comes apart from the law that I could never keep, that by Jesus Christ's "resurrection he has overcome death, so that he might  make us share in the righteousness he won for us by his death" (Heidelberg Catechism  Q and A 45).

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:25).

Pray for Michael

Back in fall 2008, my cousin Michael, a resident of West Virginia who is in his mid-forties, was charged with sexually violating the two-year-old daughter of his nephew. (I know, you're shuddering right now--but read the rest of the story.) He was read his rights and arrested and during interrogation confessed to committing the crime. The only problem with all of this is that Michael is severely mentally disabled; professionals have placed him mentally at the level of a seven-year-old. Michael's mother, his legal guardian, was not present when he was questioned by the police or when he made his "confession." And when the toddler was examined at the hospital, there was no evidence that she had been violated in any way. (I'm trying not to be too graphic.)

From that time to today, Michael's situation has made One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest look like a Disney family film. Michael was judged incompetent to stand trial and was ordered to a mental hospital for an undetermined length of time. It has seemed, in our family's opinion, that the psychiatrist who oversees the hospital has gone to great lengths to keep Michael there, even though by now he has more than served the time that others who had been judged competent would have served for a similar offense. Michael is not violent, and he has no record of previous offenses. Remember--Michael has the mental ability of a seven-year-old. The psychiatrist has used tests written for those of average intelligence to test Michael and label him a pedophile. There have been periodic hearings to determine if Michael should be released to his mother or to an adult home, but every time one of those hearings nears, the hospital staff suddenly begins reporting all kinds of bad behaviors on Michael's part--clear evidence that is a dangerous criminal who should be locked away. They also accuse family members of being uncooperative.

In the time Michael has been committed to the hospital, there have been two violent incidents. In one, another severely disabled patient (I believe he is both deaf and mentally disabled) was raped and hospitalized. He was then released from the mental hospital--into a group home, perhaps. In an interview, his mother commented that it was a terrible thing that her son was raped, but at least it got him out of the hospital. At Christmas time, another young patient was killed when guards were restraining him. This is his story. The incident occurred on December 28, 2011, and I have heard that the coroner still hasn't released a cause of death. This hospital is a scary place, and Michael's family fears for his life. There is no distinction made between those who are mentally ill and those who are mentally disabled. It would seem that the state of West Virginia remains in the dark ages in the way it handles these cases.

Gradually Michael and his mother have had their rights taken from them. When Michael was first hospitalized, she and other family members went to visit several times a week. At the last hearing, the judge in the case determined that my aunt was the only family member who could visit Michael for only a half hour a week. Typically some sort of evidence is concocted to demonstrate that the family is uncooperative or that Michael's behavior requires his being locked up.And the reality is that my aunt and all the family members have bent over backwards to be cooperative because they are well aware that they are dealing with a corrupt system.

Why would this judge and psychiatrist work so hard to keep Michael in the hospital? We can't be sure, but here are some realities. The hospital now receives Michael's disability income. On top of that, the hospital receives $1200 a day for its "services." And this is how taxpayers' dollars are being used to keep "dangerous criminals" who have the mental capability of a seven-year-old off the streets.

The whole ugly situation has taken an especially ugly turn. My aunt went to visit Michael after the most recent ruling that only she may visit for a half hour a week. She is in poor health, so her ex-husband, Michael's father, accompanied her. When they went in, hospital staff invited Michael's father to come in and visit as well. My aunt reminded them that Michael was allowed no visitors except for her. After checking with staff at a couple of levels, they told Michael's father that he was permitted to visit; they had no orders to the contary.

So now my aunt, Michael's father, and my cousin (Michael's sister, who has maintained a very active Facebook account of the situation) have been summoned to appear in court tomorrow morning on contempt charges because Michael's father visited him in violation of court orders.Apparently my cousin no longer has the right to free speech on her Facebook account.

This poor family has turned to anyone they can think of for help--the media, West Virginia lawmakers, charitable organizations. While there have been a few valiant efforts, no one yet has been able to overcome the efforts of the judge and psychiatrist who have made it their mission to keep Michael hospitalized and keep his family away from him. Michael's family simply has seen and know too much and are a threat to the system.

Is there anyone out there reading this who can help? If you're reading this and you know of someone in the media, in law, in some organization for the mentally disabled--please send them the link to this post. And pray--for Michael, his parents, his siblings who are fighting so valiantly and courageously for his rights. Pray that the charges against my aunt and her family members will be dropped tomorrow morning.

It's hard to believe that this can happen in America. Please pray for Michael and his family.

Friday afternoon: Like everything having to do with this case, today's events are confusing and bizarre. When my family members showed up for the hearing today, they were told that they were mistakenly charged with contempt. Instead, today's hearing would be a status meeting for Michael, which is strange because he just had a status hearing about a month ago, when my aunt was told that her visits were restricted to a half hour a week. I don't recall how frequently status meetings have been held, but perhaps, at most, once a quarter? At any rate, the ruling stands that only my aunt may visit Michael for a half hour a week. Immediate family members (like my cousin) cannot post information (I have no explanation for this since it seems a breach of First Amendment rights, but there are certainly plenty of nonimmediate family members who are willing to take on the task). But we feared the worst, that perhaps the courts would take custody of Michael away from my aunt or even throw my accused family members in jail. So we heave a sigh of relief, thank God for this protection, and pray that there will be soon be freedom for Michael.

On Lent

I wanted to write a post about Lent, but my friend, pastor and author Jeremy Walker, has said it all so much better than I ever could here.

Called to Love

She's completely unlovable, this one I've been called to love. She's been jobless for a long time, and she feels no compelling need to look for work. She turned her back on God and the church years ago, and now she worships at the church of Rachel Maddow and government entitlement. She pretty well stands opposed to everything I hold dear--faith in Christ, personal responsibility, a disciplined life, respect for others--and she holds nothing back in saying so. She calls only when she needs or wants something; our relationship exists because she has become completely dependent on the handful of people in her life (me included) who don't want to see her without food, electricity, gas, and a home. Gratitude is a foreign concept to her; she sees herself as a victim, and those of us who have the good fortune (that we've worked hard and lived responsibly is irrelevant to her) to have jobs, families, comfortable homes, and decent clothes owe it to her to make sure she has the bare minimum.

She's the most miserable, unhappy, bitter person I have ever known. And I have been called to love her. And while I get frustrated thinking of all the things she should do--look for work, act like she cares about the people in her life, just plain say "thank you" when someone does something for her, try to live more responsibly with the little she has--I've realized that this isn't really about her. It's about me--me being called to love her.

I've loved others who have been dependent on me. Like any mom, I did everything for my babies. But my babies were cute sometimes; sometimes they smiled, laughed, reached their hands for me, snuggled into my lap, kissed and hugged me when they were older. There were rewards for taking care of them. There was the husband with leukemia who loved me back when I took care of him. He fought to stay alive as long as he could because I loved him, and he loved our children. It was hard work to serve him, but it wasn't without rewards.

There are no rewards in this service. It's thankless. And so I remind myself that my back was turned to God. I have been ungrateful and believed that he owed me--that I deserved better than I had. I have called on him only when I needed something--called on him to give me something, but not to tell him that I loved him, that I desired the glory of his name above all else, that I was thankful for everything I have because it all came from him. "Raise your hand if you're a wretch," our pastor said yesterday in Sunday school. What could I do? What could any of us do? We raised our hands. And while I wish all of my wretchedness was buried deep in the past, it still rears its ugly head from time to time.

And yet despite my wretchedness, my ingratitude, my bitterness--despite the fact that there was absolutely nothing in it for God, he loved me and gave his Son for me. And so now I must love. It's a test, and I'm not doing very well most days, but I'll keep at it. And I'll pray that as we love and serve her, she'll come to see that she's an ungrateful wretch--because more than food, money, companionship--she needs to know the One who has called me to love her.

Monday Morning Flavel

I'm reviewing the Flavel manuscript that I wrote about here, and I think it would be just selfish of me not to share this lovely paragraph with you:

"In the same day your heart opens by faith to Christ, all the treasures of Christ are unlocked and opened to you. In the same hour God turns the key of regeneration to open your soul, the key of free grace is also turned to open unto you the unsearchable riches of Christ. Then the righteousness of Christ becomes yours to justify you, the wisdom of Christ to guide you, the holiness of Christ to sanctify you; in a word, He is that day made of God unto you, “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). All is yours, for you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s (1 Cor. 3:23)."

~John Flavel, from England's Duty under the Present Gospel Liberty: Eleven Sermons on Revelation  3:20

Good news for a Monday morning!

Kevin DeYoung Hopes Real Books Never Die

Kevin DeYoung on why he prefers real books to electronic readers:

Old books are like old friends. They love to be revisited. They stick around to give advice. They remind you of days gone by. Books, like friends, hang around.

And they prefer not to be invisible.

I can’t tell you how many often I sit at my desk, push back my seat, and allow my eyes to drift around the room full of bookshelves. I’m not procrastinating, not exactly. I’m scanning the room to see my friends. Their covers jog my memories. They remind me of what I learned once. More than that, they remind me of my life–where I was when I first read Lloyd-Jones on the couch, how I knelt by the bed with tears when I read Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, how my life was so different 15 years ago when I read my dad’s copy of the Institutes as a college student. If all my books disappeared on to a microchip I might have less to lug around and I might be able to search my notes more easily, but I’d lose memory; I’d lose history; I’d lose a little bit of myself.

You can read the rest here.

I do love my Kindle Touch, but I'm definitely with you, Kevin.

John Flavel on Dealing with Abuse from Others

One of my favorite things to edit at Reformation Heritage Books is the Profiles in Reformed Spirituality series. The series is directed toward the lay reader (as opposed to academic readers), and each title introduces readers to the life and writings of a prominent person in the Reformed/Puritan tradition. An editor/compiler writes a brief biography at the beginning of the book, and the second part of the book is brief excerpts from that person's significant writings, with somewhat updated language that is easy to read and understand.

I enjoy editing these titles because I like the challenge of working with the book's editor to update the language to more contemporary language and punctuation (it's interesting to see how much more readable these old writings become when seventeenth-century punctuation is replaced with twenty-first century punctuation). And because these are introductory books, they also feature photography and art that illustrates the person and his times--a lot of fun to research and compile. 

The book pictured here is the second one that I edited on John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress. My first Profiles book was on Samuel Rutherford, and the challenges included trying to "translate" Scottish from the 1600s into language that is understandable to readers today. I actually ended up corresponding with the director of a Scottish language dictionary on that one.

Right now I'm working on a Profiles book about John Flavel, an English Presbyterian minister and writer who lived from 1627-1691. Those who were Nonconformists during that era suffered greatly for their faith, and Flavel experienced much persecution, preaching the gospel and tending to his congregants at great personal risk. In the excerpt below, he writes from experience about how to cope with those who would abuse us. I particularly like his insight that if a person takes revenge against someone who has hurt him, he destroys one enemy. But those who forgive conquer three: their own lusts, the devil, and their enemy's 

heart--as he puts it, "a much more glorious conquest." The Flavel Profiles book, edited and compiled by Adam Embry and titled An Honest, Well-Experienced Heart, will release later this spring.

Abuse from Others*

The seventh season calling for more than common diligence to keep the heart is when we receive injuries and abuses from men; such is the depravity and corruption of man in his collapsed state. . . . Now when we are thus abused and wronged, it is hard to keep the heart from revengeful motions to make it meek and quiet, to commit the cause to Him who judges righteously, to exercise no other affection but pity toward those who abuse us. Surely the spirit that is in us lusts to revenge, but it must not be so. You have choice helps in the gospel to keep down your hearts from such sinful motions against your enemies and to sweeten your embittered spirits. The seventh case therefore shall be this: how a Christian may keep his heart from revengeful motions under the greatest injuries and abuses from men.

The gospel allows us a liberty to vindicate our innocence and assert our rights, but not to vent our corruptions and invade God’s right. When therefore you find your heart begin to be inflamed by revengeful motions, presently apply the following remedies, and the first is this.

Urge upon your heart the severe prohibitions of revenge by the law of God. Remember that this is forbidden fruit, however pleasing and luscious it is to our vitiated appetites. “O,” but God says, “the effects thereof shall be bitter.” How plainly has God interdicted this flesh-pleasing sin (Prov. 20:22; 24:29; 25:21; Rom. 12:17–19)?

Well, then, awe your hearts with the authority of God in these Scriptures, and when carnal reason says, “My enemy deserves to be hated,” let conscience reply, “But does God deserve to be disobeyed?” 

Set before your eyes the most eminent patterns of meekness and forgiveness, that your souls may fall in love with it. . . . Never did any suffer more and greater abuses from men than Christ did, and never did any carry it more peaceably and forgivingly (Isa. 53:7). This pattern the apostle sets before you for your imitation (1 Peter 2:21–23). To be of a meek, forgiving spirit is Christ-like, God-like (Matt. 5:45). How eminently also did this Spirit of Christ rest upon His apostles. Never were there such men upon earth for true excellency of spirit. None were ever abused more or suffered their abuses better (1 Cor. 4:12–13). . . .

Keep down your heart by this consideration, that by revenge you can only satisfy a lust, but by forgiveness you shall conquer a lust. Suppose by revenge you should destroy one enemy, I will show you how by forgiving you shall conquer three: your own lusts, the devil’s temptation, and your enemy’s heart—and is not this a more glorious conquest? 

Seriously propound this question to your own heart. Have I gotten any good from the wrong and injuries received, or have I not? What, can you not find a heart to forgive one that has been instrumental of so much good to you? That’s strange! When though they meant it for evil, yet if God have turned it to good (Gen. 50:20), you have no more reason to rage against the instrument. . . .

It is of excellent use to keep the heart from revenge, to look up and eye the First Cause by which all our troubles are ordered. . . . But though it does not fall under His approving, yet it does under His permitting will, and there is a great argument for quiet submission in that. He has not only the permitting but also the ordering of all those troubles. If we were to see more of a holy God, we would show less of a corrupt nature in such trials.

Consider how you daily wrong God, and you will not be so easily inflamed with revenge against others who have wronged you. . . . It is impossible we can be cruel to others, except we forget how kind Christ has been to us. Those that have found mercy should show mercy. If kindness cannot work, I think fear should (Matt. 6:15).

Lastly, let the consideration of the day of the Lord, which draws nigh, withhold your hearts from anticipating it by acts of revenge (James 5:7–9). This text affords three arguments against revenge: the Lord’s near approach; the example of the husbandman’s[1] patience; the danger we draw upon ourselves by anticipating God’s judgment. “Vengeance is Mine,” says the Lord. He will distribute justice more equally and impartially than you can. They that believe they have a God to right them will not so much wrong themselves as to avenge their own wrongs.

---

* From A Saint Indeed, 5:468–73.

[1] husbandman: farmer