More Thoughtful [Worship]

Brian says my last post was rambly. This is true. I felt it emphasized my need for organization, as provided by such resources as the book I mentioned. But I can be thoughtful too. Maybe. Especially when it involves posting lengthy quotes by other authors who have spent way more time than I have thinking about things.

Here is one on the nature of worship that we read in Cries of the Heart, by Ravi Zacharias (p. 186):

So much corruption of worship is seen in our time that if one were to write out a biblical or systematic theology on the basis of what we observe in worship, God would be seen as one great mindless bundle of contradictions whose sole reason for existence is to to bring some sort of physical bounce into our lives.  Unless worship regains integrity, both in our personal lives and then in a community of believers, the cries of the heart will never find their rest, and God’s outstretched hand will not meet ours.

I would disagree with, or perhaps more finely tone, one point here, that at times such integrity must be practiced/modeled in the congregation before individuals within the community will regain it.  As church leaders, it’s our responsibility to teach deep, true worship.  (Intimidated yet, song leader?)

I want my worship to have deep roots, so that when the winds of the storms of this world blow hard against my life, I will remain as “a tree planted by streams of water, which bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1)

Christmas v. Xmas

As a student at a Christian school, I was taught that people used the term “xmas” because they were trying to take Christ out of Christmas.  It was years later that I learned that the Greek letter chi (X) was used as an abbreviation for Christ, as the word Christ begins with X.  Hence, the term “Xmas”. (As an aside, as I teach my kids at home, I often lament my own narrow educational experience.)

If you care about “keeping Christ in Christmas”, when you see Xmas, don’t get all up-in-arms and grouchy with people.  First of all, getting that way is just plain wrong anyway.  Secondly, you show your ignorance of Christian history.

So anyway, that’s my rant for the day.

If I Would Just Get a Job…

There are so many things wrong with this article.  I don’t even know where to start.  The article, by Madeline Chambers from Reuters, is titled, “Working women hold key to world prosperity.”  She quotes Alison Maitland as saying, “There is a huge gap between women’s talents and skills and the use of that potential.”

I am taking this to mean that at least some of her “talents and skills” (a “huge” amount?) is being wasted when the woman stays out of the workforce to raise her kids.

Next sentence: “It requires a concerted effort by governments and the private sector in collaboration.”

If governments, private companies, and individuals all try hard, skillful and talented women can be convinced and enabled to leave the child-raising (which takes much less important talent and much fewer skills) to other people.  The article does not go on to say who these people are.

Chambers cites France and Nordic countries as examples of countries that have successfully drawn women away from child-rearing and into the workforce.  These women are still having babies, but they are leaving them in “good and affordable” childcare.  The families have tax incentives to have two income earners.

These countries also have some of the lowest marriage rates and higher than average divorce rates, according to the OECD.

The world economy will just have to do without my skills and talents.  I don’t intend to waste my life.

It Is Not Death to Die

Any Christian touched by sadness, grief, depression, fatigue, unbelief, illness, or any other type of suffering should listen to the CD by Sovereign Grace Music, Come Weary Saints.  With my walk with depression, the ideas in these songs have sustained me.  Having these songs together like this…wow.  And I love the way they have been arranged on the CD.  It’s very emotionally satisfying, if that makes sense.  As I listened to it for the first time, I felt myself moving through that familiar series of feelings, starting out being tired and worn out, too tired to think.  By the end, I could see the overlay of God’s plan over the outline of my life.

Here are the lyrics to one of the songs.  This was altered by Bob Kauflin and based on an 1832 hymn.

It is not Death to die, to leave this weary road,
and join the saints who dwell on high,
who’ve found their home with God.
It is not death to close the eyes long dimmed by tears,
and wake in joy before your throne,
delivered from our fears.

O Jesus, conquering the grave,
your precious blood has power to save.
Those who trust in you will in your mercy find
that it is not death to die.

It is not death to fling aside this earthly dust,
and rise with strong and noble wing
to live among the just.
It is not death to hear the key unlock the door
that sets us free from mortal years
to praise forever more.

O Jesus, conquering the grave,
your precious blood has power to save.
Those who trust in you will in your mercy find
that it is not death to die.

Burdens

I john 3:19-23

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

But how often does my heart condemn me? More than I like to admit.

Four of my friends are really hurting right now because of serious disappointment.  Two sets of parents, a few days and a few thousand miles apart, were expecting to begin parenting their newborns right about now.  They were expecting to be holding them, doing all the things that parents do for their newest babies and introducing them to their older siblings.

But it’s not happened.  One baby lies in the NICU and the other with a birthmother who has had second thoughts.  Someone else is taking care of these babies.

Where is God? we ask.  Why aren’t they in the arms of these parents who love God and love each other and love their children with a ferocious passion?  Is it fair that they’ve had their hopes taken away?  They have kept God’s commandments in loving Him and each other.  Why haven’t they received what they have asked for?  And why should the babies have their lives affected like this?  Haven’t we seen enough suffering?  I can ask this question personally and globally.

Where is God?

…more to come…

In Response to Reactions to Miss Spears’ Childbirth

Teen pregnancy isn’t the problem. It’s irresponsible, unwed, immoral sex, which often leads to pregnancy, that is the problem. Teen or otherwise.

Discuss:

Al Mohler: Teen Pregnancy, Hollywood Style

Responsibility Project: Gone Baby Gone

Vermont’s Baby Safe Haven Law

(US) National Center for Health Statistics: Pregnancy Rates Drop

Deep Birthday Ponderings

Me at a holiday dinner at my grandparents' house

Five years ago today was the day that Levi was “supposed to be” born. I was pretty sad about it at the time.

It was also the day I turned 30, which I wasn’t sad about.

Five years ago today, I was pregnant with Acadia but didn’t know it yet.

Hidden blessings.

Sometimes things are like that, where you don’t particularly feel the goodness of God, or wonder if He is in control of things or not. You have to believe and trust despite what you feel at the moment, even when “the moment” is more like everyday reality.

If we have been justified by Christ, we can take comfort in knowing that these experiences are truly temporary, yet God is using them to make eternal changes toward Him in our hearts.

Even when we never see tangible blessings here in our pre-eternity lives.

Why Do You Like Photography So Much?

I pretty much agree with what this guy has to say on the subject. The link there is to the first of a series of posts on the topic of why he’s a photographer. Bill Walsh is director of international outreach at Desiring God Ministries, and the view through his lens is inspiring (and I don’t use that word much).

The above photos were taken by Bill Walsh.

I like to look at good photos.  I don’t have a succinct answer for “what makes a good photo”, except to say it’s one that makes me want to get out my camera and shoot, all the while praising God for His amazing creation.  Here are some blogs I read that frequently have such photos as that:

• barebaby
• Blue Candy Photography
• The Pioneer Woman
• Lena Hyde Photography
• The Sweet Life – Sugar Photography
• Trust and Believe – Lisa’s blog

Actions and Reactions

Spitzer says he believes that people should take responsibility for their conduct. What his actions show, however, is that people should take responsibility for their conduct if and when they get caught. Show me someone who takes responsibility for such actions before anyone finds out about them.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

This made me cry. It’s a video highlighting a network of volunteers who offer to help families who have learned that their newborns will likely not survive birth. They’re photographers (including one of my favorite children’s photographers, Sugar Photography) who give their time and skills to give enduring tangibility to the memories these families are making with their beautiful children. The pictures provide evidence that these children existed and had lives that meant something. God, in His sovereign grace, makes no mistakes and is always good.

This also made me cry. The Born Alive Infants Protection Act. When President Bush signed it in August 2002, he said,

Today I sign the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This important legislation ensures that every infant born alive — including an infant who survives an abortion procedure — is considered a person under federal law. This reform was passed with the overwhelming support of both political parties, and it is about to become the law of the land.

With this in effect, doctors are required to give medical care to a child who is “accidentally” born alive after a late-term abortion attempt. Why on earth does this even have to be discussed? In fact, although it was passed “with overwhelming support of both political parties,” Barack Obama did not support it. Logical, actually, if you set your philosophy on the flawed premise that we are all there is. So maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.

For another look at this issue, go here. This has Mr. Obama’s own words about why he did not support this legislation.

The value of life, no matter how short or how long, is a subject that is close to my heart. It’s one of the few things that can set me off (the others being depression and education). Can you tell?