In The Land of Blue Burqas--a Book Review

 Kate McCord, a protected pseudonym, takes us inside Afghanistan and inside Afghan's hearts and culture as she shares stories of her five years living and working there for a non-governmental organization.  She was passionate about befriending and helping the women, taking the time to learn their language, fitting in to their way of life as best she could and becoming acquainted with their Muslim beliefs.

Kate neither writes a memoir or diary of her time there, but captures us with her storytelling of the people she learned to love and share mutual respect with.  Her writing style is very engaging and paints a narrative that is informative and thought-provoking.  I read and took notes, finished the book and now find a haunting desire to reread sections in order to digest and dissect the Christian truth she illustrates and interprets so well.  Kate boldly, yet discreetly and respectfully, shared Biblical concepts and traded religious differences with Afghans with amazing wisdom. I would like to emulate her commitment to and desire to share Jesus with those who don't know him; with the love and tenderness she demonstrates.

The Koran acknowledges Jesus as a prophet and the Torah as worthy writings. The author uses these connections to make comparisons between the teachings of  the prophet Mohamed and the Honorable Prophet Jesus.  The differences are strikingly obvious.  The book shares many examples. The Bible teaches God is love; there are 99 names for Allah but none of them is love.  Allah can't love because that would be expressing a need, and having need is never true of him.  Allah is merciful only to those who obey his teachings and those who rejected the teachings of Mohamed were killed; to obey Jesus is a choice and he teaches Christians to love their enemies.  God's desire is for good; Allah's desire is not defined by goodness but by laws.  Jesus teaches forgiveness for all; forgiveness is revolutionary and a hard concept for Muslims.  "It was easy to recognize our Teachers in one another's  lives.  After all, a student will become like his or her teacher."  p. 62.

The author was not always received warmly and she had to be careful how she approached conversations about beliefs. When pointedly asked why she hadn't become Muslim or embraced Muslim prayers, she simply stated that she was a follower of the Honorable Prophet Jesus and lived according to his teachings.

Kate believes good seeds were scattered in Afghans who heard God's truth and love. She came to understand the teachings of Jesus more completely as she saw through the eyes of a culture more similar to Jesus' day than our Western culture.  Her own faith grew as she sought Bible answers for the questions she encountered.  She gained awe for Jesus who is revolutionary and "amazingly beautiful".

I was challenged to appreciate anew the loving God I serve, Jesus, and His truth that endures and penetrates human hearts wherever it is shared.  You will discover this beauty in the book as well as an idea of what it looks like to relate to practicing Muslims.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Raising Greatful Kids...A Book Review

As I watch my adult kids make parenting choices in the midst of technology mine fields and as I realize what the current culture would like to feed to my grand kids, this book was a very timely and relevant read. 

Entitlement: the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something.(Meriam-Webster online).

Author Kristen Welch, shares her family’s journey away from entitlement to new perspectives of serving others, working hard and making gratitude the goal. It’s a counter-cultural journey against a society that pursues happiness at all costs and allows child-centered homes in the process.  For Kristen, the biggest goal in life is to love God and love others more than ourselves.  She warns us that pursuing this goal isn’t “normal” and opposition is certain.

It starts with parents dealing with their own entitlement, and modeling gratitude. Absolute truth based on the Bible’s principles and making good personal choices are essential ingredients in growing this kind of family. Kristen discovered that training up a child in “the way he should go” (Prov. 3:6 )could mean that it's not how righteously a parent sows good into their children, but how a parent neglects training them in godliness and lets the child go his OWN way. In that case, a child may never turn from his own human natural sinfulness.

Because many parents are in the position of being able to give their kids more than they need, it’s hard not to pamper children.  When a parent feels guilt because of busyness or divorce, or doesn’t want their kids to feel left out or unhappy, they may overindulge.  Parents long for their kids to be their friends. Kristen says, "Kid's aren't meant to be our friends until they are independent of us." p. 53.

The section on making smart choices about technology devices and usage is very helpful.  Parents need to stay current on what is trending and set not only usage boundaries but teach kids what is good and what is bad about social media and internet access. Technology access has to involve active parenting so the parent can lead with purpose rather than letting the culture lead with what is popular. 

The last two sections of the book lay out a plan for establishing a God-centered home that is other-focused, balanced in grace and discipline, and filled with gratitude. Kristen has started a non-profit called, Mercy House, which ministers to women around the globe. Her emphasis on service as a means to bring perspective to children and a larger worldview is a reoccurring theme in the book.

In the last chapter, Kristen, warns parents that intentionally training children to be grateful in our self-centered culture will be difficult and kids will feel different than many of their peers. A discussion guide and several appendices are found at the back of the book, including a cell phone contract between parent and child. For any parent who wants to take on the challenge of overcoming entitlement attitudes, let this excellent, current resource start you on your journey!
This book was given from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

2015 Crowned by God's Goodness

Rowan, who was napping during the picture taking                                                                                      Thanksgiving 2015

Picture from left to right: Kristina, Rebecca, Dan, Austin, Ashley, Shawn, Josh, Kira, Kevin, Ian, Ruth, Jodi, Dominic, Emmanuel, Elle, Jill, Aubrey, Noah 

You crown the year with your goodness; your carts overflow with abundance. Ps. 65:11

Greetings!  Remembering 2015 and God's goodness!

Job Cart
Kevin and I are thankful for the jobs that continue to provide income and just enough challenge to make each day unique and filled with opportunities to spread the goodness. Kevin finds his service job at Tri-State frustrating at times, yet familiar and he appreciates friendship with certain co-workers.  My job at Goshen College is perhaps the most enjoyable, presently, as in any of the past 8 years I've been there.  The library has had a change of leadership and new, younger staff have been added that make for a work day that can be fun and a little crazy. (Visit the Harold and Wilma Good Library page on Facebook if you want to see some of our shenanigans)  I also appreciate relationships with the student workers I manage.

Family Cart 
Wonderful family visits marked the year. February found us in VA enjoying time with Amanda and family and a well-timed connection with my sister and husband who were in the area for business.  Rather than a break from winter weather as we traveled south, a winter storm hit the coast and everything shut down for a couple of days. We enjoyed meeting Amanda's youngest, Zane, born January 9th and of course lots of games and activities with Auron (8) and Elika (5).

July set a record for days with adult kids and grandkids. Josh, Kira and Brayden(15) visited here the July 4th week, and besides all the local places they wanted to experience, we all took in a Detroit Tigers game and crossed over the Canadian border to eat dinner in Windsor, Ontario. Josh and Kira enjoy jobs that allow them to work from home, or wherever their travels lead them.

Jodi and her three lively boys, Ian(7), Dominic(5) and Noah(1), were here the middle of July, with Emmanuel joining us near the end of their stay. We made many happy memories together; Fair visits, crafts, park picnics, shopping, games and more!

The day they headed back to Florida, Amanda and her three energetic kids, Auron(8), Elika(5) and Zane(almost 1) joined us for two more weeks of activities and playtime. AJ arrived for a few days before the crew returned home to VA.

Austin and Ashley live in Cleveland, so they and our youngest grand baby, Rowan(6mos), were able to join our gatherings several times. And of course our local family, Dan and Kristina, Aubrey(11), Shawn(8) and Rebecca(5), dropped in, too.

Showalter & Hochstetler Cart
On the road again to VA in October for my brother Paul's son Andrew's wedding.  It was a great time with my siblings and Dad and Lena, who are in good health and enjoying life. From there we traveled three more hours to the coast to take in another visit with Amanda and family.

Kevin's dad struggles with Parkinson and other maladies.  His mom stays healthy and continues to host some of us from time to time for a birthday dinner or snacks.  They still live independently, as Kevin and his sisters provide a lot of assistance for doctor visits, home chores and meals.

Health Cart
In March I was scheduled for a heart procedure to correct an occasional arrhythmia.  No arrhythmia could be found so the surgery was not completed.  I have been doing well since and believe God is healing me. We both are thankful for good health, other than the normal complaints that aging brings. (Anyone else avoiding trifocals and hanging on to 5 or more pairs of eyeglass readers? Or not able to move sprightly off the sofa after watching a movie? )

Thanksgiving Cart
All our gang shared Thanksgiving together here except the Bumgardners, and Bray and Cody, Kira's sons.

We missed you!

What a time of feasting, fun and a busy household!  We are so thankful in times like these for our big house that was able to host all of the out-of-towners.  Josh's girls, Jill(14) and Elle(12), were along for this visit.  Papa and I took them to see Mary Poppins as an early Christmas gift.  In fact, almost all our Christmas gifts were handed out early this year which saved postage and made for a less harried December.

Bray

Cody

Church Cart
Harvest Community adjusts to a new pastor.  Our former pastor stepped down after 35 years and Jeremy Gwaltney is now filling the position.  He and his wife with their 4 young children hail from North Carolina. The transition is going well and we continue to be grateful for our friends and community at Harvest. I still serve as church librarian and Kevin heads a hospitality team.  We carry a passion for step-families and peacemaking and offer help as needed.

Friend Cart
You all fit in here!  And yes, our friend cart overflows with abundance. We love and appreciate you and your presence in our lives.  As we face uncertain days in our nation and the world, let us be diligent in praying for  and encouraging one another.

You're a good good father
It's who you are, It's who you are
Its who you are
And I'm love by you
It's who I am, It's who I am
It's who I am x 2
Listen Here
Good, Good Father

No matter what we face or how difficult our life on earth, this is always true:  God is Good! May the Prince of Peace comfort you with His presence and daily define His call to follow Him.

Kevin and Ruth 

Thanks for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a week long celebration this year as some of our precious family arrived the Sunday before the holiday.  For hubby and me the celebration began with preparation, weeks before the out-of-staters arrived--the cleaning, the baking, the special requests for each one's favorite foods, the toys and activities to fit each age group, the Christmas gifts wrapped and ready to go back with them, and our hearts ready to enjoy each unique personality and presence.

The five early travelers from Florida managed to sneak in beautifully between snowy roads and enough snow left for the kids to take the sled out.  Their presence and help before the big day event was like opening the one gift allowed on Christmas Eve, satisfying, but heightening the anticipation of the more-to-come excitement.

Thanksgiving Eve brought in two more carloads of sweet faces to kiss, bags to deposit in the bedrooms not yet taken, baby gear and toys, and teen's back pockets bulging with electronics. Malteses, Cozette and Neo, also bounded in to add to our joyous mix.

Day one and two were all about the food.  Engineers in the kitchen chugged through recipes while I conducted the transport of ingredients to each creation station, helping to keep things on track for the scrumptious spread of food the holiday requires. Last minute prep for a Thanksgiving feast is quite the feat and only the chef in charge feels the pressure.  In the midst of those moments I also tried to gather the gaggle of relatives together for a family photo shoot. How great to have a son-in-law who is a photographer! The weather cooperated fantastically to take the shots outside.  New-fangled technology allowed Emmanuel to set up his camera on a chosen spot and sync it with his phone app so he could leisurely walk into his place in the picture while we all hoped to smile at the same moment he made the camera wink at us.

As we next took our places around the long table set up in the spacious garage, we offered a psalm and thanksgiving to the God who has given us such rich bounty to enjoy and share. The serving dishes quickly emptied.  Everyone helped with clean up before the trytophan set in; it wasn't long before adults were draped over easy chairs in lazy conversations.

Our togetherness continued throughout the weekend--Black Friday shopping, football games for some and plenty of card games.  Then grand kid time of course, with stories, Racko games and holding babies.

The Florida entourage left Saturday morning.  Papa and I took the teen grands to see Mary Poppins; an early Christmas gift to them. By mid-morning Sunday the last carload had driven away and hubby and I breathed in the quiet.  As I gathered up towels, and sheets off of beds, I made a pile of things left behind-one lone black sock, one boy hoodie and one husband ring.

Memories will linger; it was a celebration to hold dear.


 

Father, thank you for creating family.  What the enemy has worked hard to destroy through internal dysfunction and discord, or brokenness, or by trying to replace sacred components with unholy substitutes, you continue to heal, restore, renew and reward the families who seek after you. Our times together confirm your work in us and assures that your faithfulness to family continues to all generations.

But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,    and his righteousness with their children’s children—  Psalms 103:17

How Should Christians Vote- a book review

                                          

This little book of three chapters packs a powerful message. The author’s voice is direct and effectively communicates his convictions that Christians’greater concern in voting is about how and not who.” Unless God and his revealed word is the overarching influencer and rationale over how our electoral decisions are made as believers, than we cannot expect God to be the overarching influencer in our nation.” p. 8.  

All governing systems are under God’s rule because he set them in place; individual, family, church and civil. I like how Tony hits hard on civil government being in a supportive role of family and church instead of trying to replace them. “Civil government should provide a safety net specifically and intentionally designed to produce self-sufficiency and not long-term dependency.” p. 18. Civil government promotes freedom by setting clear boundaries and carrying out the consequences when the boundaries are broken. It protects and promotes freedom by resisting evil and maintaining a just society.

Voting according to the principles of God and His kingdom is essential, especially when a nation has failed in it’s governing. It becomes critical for Christians to study and know God’s word and to study and know the candidates and how their values line up with God’s kingdom values. It’s not about being Republican or Democrat, but voting for the candidate that most closely represents God’s values. 

Tony does a great job of acknowledging that Christians are not all at the same level of maturity and will not all prioritize voting issues similarly. But we can all be united in purpose by moving towards the goal of functioning according to God’s kingdom agenda. Our consciences differ as we are all in different places in the sanctification process; the process of allowing the Scriptures to educate us in how to follow God’s ways. 

There is excellent teaching in the book about refraining from judging each other according to Romans 14: 2-4, 10, 12.  I would highly recommend the book just for harvesting the wisdom Tony shares about Christian unity and diversity in this section.

God has called his people to make their decisions by his word and not the words of men. Tony believes God values life, justice, and protecting personal freedom and responsibility. God is for whatever enhances heterosexual marriage and the family structure. He would uphold the belief that the church should be free from government intrusion and respected for its role in being the conscience of society. Christians are to promote God’s kingdom values and stand in the gap without giving full allegiance to any one party.  Tony draws from his experience in sports to illustrate our role as likened to a referee, not taking sides in a game, but calling the players to “truth”  according to the rule book.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review-Happiness by Randy Alcorn

Randy Alcorn has written a very thorough and comprehensive study on happiness.  He believes lasting happiness comes by believing in the God who created us, accepting God’s gift of redemption through Jesus Christ and by embracing a Biblical worldview. To substantiate his study, Randy goes back centuries and millennia rather than months or decades to quote Christian theologians and gather information from those who lived before us, many living in very difficult times and places. This lends relevance to Randy’s goal of bringing balance to Christians by correcting --  through Scripture and Christian history-- deep-seated misconceptions about happiness.

This is not a book for light reading.  It isn’t difficult to understand, but the amount of material to plow through and the repetition of subject matter made it quite a feat to finish. The book is laid out in four sections: our compelling quest for happiness, the happiness of God, the Bible’s actual words for happiness and understanding and experiencing happiness in God.

We each have a God given desire for happiness. Seeking happiness is natural and good. Right living furthers happiness, which many secular conclusions support. Jesus is the happiness that satisfies the longing.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism, written in 1646 answers the question, “What is the chief end or man?” with, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”  Other seventeenth-century writers like Puritan writer Baxter and William Law speak of the joy and happiness found in Christian living. 

Randy contrasts the message about joy and happiness that he uncovered in writings like these pre- twentieth –century Christians, with more modern spiritual leaders. The author quotes Oswald Chambers. “Joy should not be confused with happiness.  In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him…Joy is not happiness; there is no mention in the Bible of happiness for a Christian, but there is plenty said about joy.” This is the misconception Randy rigorously sets out to correct throughout the book.

In making a case for God’s happiness revealed in Scripture, the author finds the Greek word interpreted in most translations of the Bible as “blessed”, to mean “happy”. This is how the original translators in the 1300-1600s would have understood the word, but gradually, the meaning of the word, when attached to God, evolved into portraying dignity or honor rather than happiness. We are happy when we ascribe happiness to God and Jesus; this conclusion is drawn from many verses sited in the second section of the book as well as quotes from long ago scholars and modern theologians who are recognizing the effect of erroneously devaluing God’s happiness.

Biblical words for happiness are defined, scrutinized, and cited in the ten chapters of the third section. The writing here is textbook worthy, exhaustive and exhausting to read. I dutifully plowed through the findings and concluded that it is good to know the Scriptures are full of happiness, and if I ever need to reference the fact, this will be a good resource. 

The book concludes with ways to cultivate happiness personally. Happiness is our choice and it is produced when we make wise choices such as keeping from sin, learning self-control, and devoting ourselves to the happiness of others.  Happy people celebrate, meditate on God’s Word, keep Christ central and live in gratitude. Eternal happiness is promised to God’s people. There are two appendixes after the last chapter that give further study of Biblical words that define happiness and almost 30 pages of reference notes.

I appreciate the enormous amount of research that went into writing this book and believe Randy accomplishes his purpose of proving that God is full of happiness and intends for his people to know the same happiness in their daily lives. There were times while reading the book that I felt a sense of gladness and release to celebrate more fully my relationship to the God who created us to enjoy him and our life together.

 

I received this book from Tyndale publishers in exchange for my honest review.

The Measure of Love

It came up again today, in the pastor's sermon.  A theme of Jesus that we can't overlook.  The way he lets us know how to measure our love for him.  The sermon was about vision for our church, and the pastor started  with the Great Commission from Matt. 28:18-20.

Jesus came to them and said:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth!  Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,  and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

It's that phrase--"teach them to do everything I have told you".  

Jesus also said, "If you love me, keep my commands" and "whoever has my commands and keeps them, is the one who loves me".

Many will say they love Jesus. They desire to emulate his compassion and do the good works that he did.  They want to extend generous grace and God's love to mankind. Remembering Christ's mission to love the least of these, they passionately seek justice for those who have been wronged and try never to offend those who are different from themselves.  I have much to learn from those who pour themselves into helping the alien and advocating for hurting and disadvantaged groups of people.  May my actions reflect Christ's care for the people he created and loves deeply.

Yet, my heart knows there is a difference in the Jesus presented as only loving and kind with the reality of Jesus Christ in Scripture who is the perfect blend of grace and truth.  If we love Jesus, then he says the proof is in the way we obey his commands and do everything he has told us.  We all know this doesn't mean perfection, but when have you last measured your love for him, by how much you want (it starts with desire) to do all that he said? And how do you know you are doing it unless you know what he said? We have a record of his teaching, and we have a record of the history of the God who began his story with mankind before Jesus came to live among us. Jesus is the exact representation of his Father God, so to get a fuller picture of Jesus we can read all of Scripture to know what he and God both want us to know about how to live as his people.

I come from a wonderful legacy of faith.  Did my parents do it all right? No. Were there years I struggled with the legalism that the faith message came packaged in? Yes. So what kept me committed to continue to pursue my faith and to the urgency to keep passing it on to the next generation?  Why didn't I throw the baby of loving God and following Christ, out with the bath water of legalism and stingy grace?  I believe it was because of seeing vulnerable, honest-to-goodness (honest need turned to goodness because of God's mercy and faithfulness to those I was watching and learning from) folks who turned to God in their failures, humbly accepted their losses and circumstances, all while believing in a powerful God who could work everything out for good.  They proved him trustworthy as they counted on him to help and strengthen them always. And their mouths weren't afraid to talk about it.

I heard my parents pray out loud. They could quote scripture and taught me the importance of memorizing 
God's word and how it's tucked-away presence in my heart could keep me from sinning. I have a sweet black and white photograph of my brother and me in our pajamas, sitting in Daddy's lap, listening to him read the big children's Bible story book to us. The Bible was front and center in our house.  Like the height growth chart Dad created on the lintel of the basement door, we measured our spiritual progress with our backs firmly pressed against the Words that we lived and breathed.

Later I criticized the parts of my past that seemed like religiosity to me. What did I and my siblings really gain from a devotional reading at the supper table every night, where Mom often nodded off to sleep while Dad read? There had to be a better way!  

I don't remember all that my husband and I did to install a similar practice into our home; it wasn't consistent and we tried different methods, but our aim was to emphasize the habit of setting aside time to get personal with God and his Word. Now, looking back, the lasting inheritance that I "caught" from what my parents taught, was their love for a real, indwelling God and their deep desire to know and please him. 

Randy Alcorn's blog post last week addresses some of what I'm trying to process.  He had pastored a church in the 70s for 13 years.  When asked what he would do differently now as a pastor  he said he would set up classes and small groups to systematically study the Bible, on a continuing basis.  His reason:

"The reason I said this is because over nearly four decades in my church (a church that has always taught and emphasized God’s Word), I’ve seen a noticeable, even startling, reduction in the average person’s grasp of biblical truth. It’s possible for someone to hear Bible-based sermons while at the same time they’re adopting a worldview that is less and less biblical. This happens because most church people spend very little time studying God’s truth during the week. Compare the time spent reading Scripture and great books that teach biblical truth versus the amount of time spent watching television and reading social media that exemplify not only a non-Christian worldview but often an anti-Christian worldview. What chance does one 30 to 40 minute sermon a week have, no matter how biblical, when it must fight off and correct 30 to 40 hours of worldview that’s contrary to Scripture and the Gospel of God’s grace?"

It's tempting for me to feel safe somehow from this kind of apostasy, because I have such a firm foundation. I know the Bible.  I can recognize non-Christian world view.  Those voices won't effect me.  Yet, I feel the allurement of what this present day world has to offer.  I like my electronic gadgets.  I like watching good material on Netflix.  I like pleasing my senses whether shopping, reading or eating.  As I drove down the food row strip in our town recently, my mouth watered while reading the signs and window ads that jostled for my attention; the new ice-cream flavor, yummy milkshake pictures, juicy hamburgers, and layered desserts prominently featuring chocolate! We are a people with rich choices of every kind.  How do we stay centered on the call to not become distracted with this world and to stay self-disciplined?

This morning the devotional from First 5, an app from Proverbs 31 women's ministry, asked if we are making the Terrible Trade.  Taken from the Jacob and Esau story in Genesis where Esau trades a mess of beans for his birthright because of an immediate need to satisfy his hunger, the question asked which we will choose. "A short-term fix or a long-term legacy?" It's a significant question to consider.  If I choose to do this, will I lose out on some gain a better choice would have given me?  Like for instance, "finding whitespace for video games and Facebook but not face-to-face conversations with real people".  It's not that the lesser things chosen are sinful and wrong, and they have their place.  I just want to be wise about how I make those choices and to consider what future I want to build.

I had a sweet birthday card from a long time friend this past summer. The note inside shared some of her current news and then this line:
"I'm feeling grateful for blessings of health, friendships and being in a frame of mind where I am eager to study God's Word.  In a sad, suffering world, God's word is sweet."  




That's it exactly! I'm not always in a frame of mind to study God's word, even with knowing it's the best and sweetest; so it's his grace and gift when I am.  And the sweetness in the partaking overshadows the sadness and suffering we encounter every day, whether in our personal situation or that of others close or far away.

Keep me in that frame of mind, Father. May I become addicted to the sweetness. May it's truth and grace guide every action and thought. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!