6/4/12
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!"
6/2/12
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.
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.
5/12/12
A Mother's Day Story
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 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.)
5/2/12
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.
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.
4/7/12
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).
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).
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