Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

October 23, 2009

Making Beautiful Music
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Do you sense the Creator, world?
See Him above the canopy of stars!
Brothers!  Brothers!
Above the canopy of stars surely a loving Father dwells.

— Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D-Minor, Opus 125, "Choral"

Comparing the body of Christ and our relationship with our Creator to a symphony orchestra and its conductor is nothing new.  I've read these analogies before, as I'm sure you probably have as well.

But this past week, I was smack dab in the middle of all of the symphonic action and really started to think about the comparison as the music swirled around me. 

A member of a civic chorus, I was able to sing in two performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D-Minor.  Back in the day, this symphony marked the first time a major composer had incorporated voices into a symphony (a chorus and four soloists sing in the final movement).  The words were taken from a poem written by Friedrich Schiller called "Ode to Joy."  You might recognize that title, even if you're not familiar with classical music, as Beethoven's accompanying melody was adapted into the beloved church hymn "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee." 

While sitting in dress rehearsals for our performances, I soaked in everything that the conductor was saying either to the chorus or to the orchestra playing in front of us.  Frequently, he would stop us and give direction as to dynamics and tempo and overall interpretation of the work. 

From his vantage point, the conductor was hearing the entire ensemble in a way that none of us could from where we were positioned.  He was able to see—and hear—the big picture.  He knew what would make for the biggest impact when we performed and what would translate best to reach the hearts and please the ears of our audiences. 

We had performed this particular symphony many times before—and once with this same conductor.   But this time, he asked us to change several of the markings in our score.  "Why is he asking us to crescendo here when we didn't do that before?"  Or "why would we break here and not carry over the phrase?  We didn't do that the last time."  "Why is he doing this??"

These were the murmurings I could hear all around me (and I may have uttered one or two myself) from fellow chorus members.  We didn't understand why he was making these changes or how it could possibly be any better than how we had performed the symphony in the past.  But the conductor is the conductor.  You do what he says.  You follow the stick.  And you keep the vowel on the beat.  Those are the rules, because that's what makes for beautiful music and an overall spectacular concert experience.

After our performances, I marveled at how the conductor's changes and his direction made all the difference in the world.  He was right.  And I could feel that our performances outshone what we had done in the past.  The audiences stood more quickly to give us standing ovations, and the applause lasted longer than usual.  This conductor, this skilled musician, this general manager of instrumentalists, vocalists and soloists, knew exactly what he was doing.  He had a plan and a purpose.  He had our best interests at heart.  Why would I ever have doubted him?   

As I pondered further, I couldn't help but think of our heavenly Father, "The Great Conductor in the Sky," if you will.  Is he not directing the music of our lives? Has he not written the melody that each of us must sing?  Does he not know which lives will harmonize best with others?  Is he not the one who gives us a reason to make music in the grand symphony of life that he has orchestrated? 

Brothers and sisters, let us follow the glorious direction of our Creator today.  Our best efforts will only lead to a cacophony, but he is the one who can make beautiful music in and through our lives.

Intersection of Faith & Life:  Is your life a pleasant melody to the audience around you?  Or is it harsh and out of tune, a dissonance that is hurting the ears of anyone with whom you come in contact?  Aim to sing a new song today for God is the one who puts the music of love in our hearts (1 John 4:7-12).

Further Reading:

Romans 12:4-8

Ephesians 5:19-20

[Judy Harder]

October 26, 2009

Living a Consistent Life
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

"He must increase, but I must decrease
John 3: 30, NIV

Teaching high school religious education can be an educational experience - not just for the kids but us teachers, too. High school kids have so many questions, and their questions often reveal their struggles to live out their faith.

The year is still early, but I've noticed that many of the questions our students ask reveal inconsistent thinking. When teaching on the sanctity of life, the class seemed to agree with the beautiful Christian ethic that calls upon each one of us to respect human life from conception until death and protect those vulnerable among us.

Then they proceeded to cook up every scenario they could think of where it would be "okay" to terminate an innocent life. They wanted to push the limits with us, get us to bend on truth. They also wanted assurance that if they felt strongly enough about something, they too could bend the truth.

Of course, my co-teacher and I could not give them that reassurance. As painful as some situations can be, we're called to conform to God's truth, not the other way around.

As tempting as it may be to blame the teens' questions on their ages, don't we all play this game? We embrace the Christian faith with conviction... until it becomes uncomfortable. Then we start asking the same questions these teens asked, but perhaps a bit more artfully.

Surely, God would understand if I go against his Word this time... I mean, this situation is different, isn't it? Then we start rationalizing, like teenagers trying to get our of our parents' well-designed rules.

It's a struggle to live consistently with God's truth, isn't it? I'd say it's a lifelong struggle. Thankfully, God gives us the grace to conform to his will if we're open to it. He increases in us as our former self decreases. Little by little, our inconsistencies become clearer to us and less appealing.

If you're struggling with an inconsistent life, remember that were sin is present grace abounds. (Ro 5: 20)

Intersecting Faith & Life: Examine your life this week. Are there areas that are not consistent with God's Word? Are there areas you've compromised? Seek out God's grace to bring your life in conformity with his will.

Further Reading

Romans 12: 2

[Judy Harder]

October 27, 2009
Seven Habits of Truly Effective Living
by Alex Crain, Editor, Christianity.com

"They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green."
Psalm 92:14

The phrase, "begin with the end in mind" probably strikes a familiar chord with readers of the popular life management book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Even if you aren't familiar with the phrase (or the book for that matter), you most likely get the general idea. In sum, it is best to ask the question "How do I want this to turn out?" before you begin a task or project. I agree. This question helps sharpen focus and lead to more effective action. What is missing from the book, however, is the God-sized perspective that we see in Psalm 92. Frustration is actually the result for the individual who may lead a life of effective action, but whose only source of vision and motivation is the self.


Apart from God, the ends we picture for ourselves come only from minds and hearts that are hopelessly tainted with sin--fallen from perfection, peace and fulfillment. Only by seeking the mind of God can we pursue that which is truly desirable--the end which God envisions.

We often envision our ideal life as one surrounded by beauty, valuable possessions and our favorite people. We want plenty of leisure time and the health to enjoy these things. But without God, such a life is depicted in Scripture as empty and deceptive. If we are to be highly effective at living, we must begin with God's end in mind.


In Psalm 92, the ideal end God depicts for one's life on this earth is that of the righteous person who is "full of sap and very green." In other words, he is filled with spiritual vitality, even at the end of life when the temptation to grumble and express radical selfishness is often the strongest. Instead of complaining, his lips are filled with praise--declaring that there is no unrighteousness in God, his Rock (v. 15).


The roots for such vigor of soul are woven throughout the preceding verses where we see seven habits of truly effective living unfolded for us. They are:

#1    Seeing thankfulness and praise to God as desirable, not as duty (v. 1).



#2    Focusing on God's lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness at night
(v. 2). For the righteous man, each day begins and ends with God, implying that God is central in his thoughts throughout the entire day. Literally, lovingkindness refers to God's covenant loyal love, which features His promise of salvation. The righteous person is not self-righteous, or externally moralistic. Rather, he looks to God's promises and unchanging character as the basis for his right standing before his Creator-Judge. The Lord Jesus Christ is, of course, the fulfillment of these promises. So, the one having faith in Christ is counted righteous and delivered from a petty life of vain pursuits. 



#3    Enjoying resounding music and singing for joy at God's great works (vv. 1, 3-4).



#4    Pondering the deep thoughts of God (v. 5)--not being characterized by a shallow, pragmatic view of God that sees Him merely as a means to get other things.



#5    Praising the transcendence of God--declaring that God is the "Most High" who is above all His creatures. The righteous one realizes that man is in no way equal to God. Thus, he can never legitimately view God with suspicion or call Him into judgment (v. .



#6    Resting securely in the fact that, in the end, God will have the final say on all matters. He will deal justice to the enemies of righteousness (vv. 9-11).



#7    Depending continuously upon God for strength--for "fresh oil" (v. 10), knowing that yesterday's supply never carries over to today.


Perhaps you know an older believer who embodies these seven habits. "Meme," my 89 year old grandmother, is one such saint. At the time of this writing, she lay in a hospital bed with very serious health complications. During a recent phone call, I listened as she expressed delight over truths that the Lord had shown her in her well-worn Bible and what hymns she had joyfully sung that morning. Her prayer at the close of our conversation was full of gratitude and praise to the Lord, evidencing a deep, personal knowledge of and trust in God. While I listened, I thought to myself: This is what Psalm 92 is all about. Here is a person who, by God's grace, has learned to practice the habits of truly effective living.


Intersecting Faith & Life:

How will I end my latter days of life on this earth? What kind of person will people say I was? Am I beginning today with God's end in mind? How regularly are the seven habits of truly effective living practiced in my daily life?

Further Reading:

Philippians 2:12-18
Numbers 14

[Judy Harder]

October 28, 2009
Life among the Boxes
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor


"We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."
Hebrews 6:11-12

Mary Poppin's whistling trick didn't magically influence the mounds of boxes and their content to fly just where they belonged. No, just a few days after moving into our new house, the boxes are still staring at me defiantly. In my head, I know that we've made progress; looking around, however, the mess seems to have multiplied.

Here's what I mean. Saturday, I worked hard to get a handle on the house. I actually made some visible progress. That progress convinced me that I deserved a complete break on Sunday, and I took one knowing that I had paid my dues. On Monday morning, however, I woke up to a terrible sight - all those unpacked items, so carefully put in temporary spots on Saturday, were now strewn across the house. Yes, entropy had commenced in a 24-hour period. My unpacking progress undone, I sat down after work and tried to figure why I had to take two steps back before continuing. 

Essentially, living in the clutter had encouraged me to set down items wherever I pleased on Sunday. I had convinced myself one more item out of place wouldn't matter. Besides that, I had decided that all those pesky chores, like washing the dishes, could wait until after the big ones were finished. I got lazy after one day of work.

My situation only brings out what's already in my nature. My hands - and my heart - lack the diligence to make real progress. I like to make about one valiant effort a week at cleaning up, when I can't stand the mess any longer. Then I tolerate it while it grows again. Sounds familiar?

My heart requires the same kind of attention as my poor house. I must admit that I often walk away from a sermon determined to get rid of sin, and I furiously root through my attitudes and actions for a day or two. I make some progress. Then I get tired of digging and reorganizing my priorities. I default back to my old nature, thinking I can pick up the fight again when I'm well-rested.

You know what happens after that. After I quit actively guarding against sin, it creeps back in and spreads its mess all over again. Progress isn't just stopped; it's undone. Scripture's promises are for those who do not "become weary in doing good," (Galatians 6:9) not for those who take a break from pursuing a clean heart and God's righteousness. If I truly believe that my heart is Christ's home, I want to diligently prepare it so He is always welcomed.

Intersection of Faith & Life: Diligence outstrips the mightiest of clean sweeps. Commit to "doing good" and fighting sin daily, not just when you can't stand the visible mess any longer. We have to know what God's standards of cleanliness are before we can follow them, so take time to preach the Gospel to yourself every day. 

Further Reading:

Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Hebrews 6:11-12
1 Timothy 5:15-16

[Judy Harder]

October 29, 2009

Are You in the Belly of a Big Fish?
by Fred "Fritz" Alberti, Crosswalk.com Director of Social Media

But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 1:17


Being a homeschool family we sometimes have some rather interesting experiments that we get to enjoy as a family. George is one such experiment. George is a goldfish whose bowl-mate sadly perished. My son's task was to teach the goldfish to come to the top of the bowl when he tapped on the glass. After several weeks of tapping and feeding and tapping and feeding the fish finally learned to come to the top of the bowl.

Big deal right? Right, that is until the fish started to do more. Anytime someone would walk by the bowl he would get all excited and start moving his mouth like he was yelling at whoever it was that was walking by the bowl. This became rather normal and we would just ignore him or comment that he was yelling at us in Spanish.

Then one day my kids were listening to an FFH song titled "Big Fish." It was then that George decided to really show off what he could do. When the song played George would begin to swim around like he was dancing in the water and would seemingly move his mouth to the words. (Move over Ashlee Simpson).

I particularly like the first verse of the song which goes like this:

Are you in the big fish
Are you sitting in the belly of a world gone mad
Have you turned your back in His wish
On His will for your life, have you made Him sad
Do you want to get out of the big fish
Listen to God and follow His plan
And you won't be part of the main dish
He'll spit you out on to dry land

I've sometimes felt like I was in the belly of a big fish. I had decided to do something my way instead of first seeking the Lord's guidance and leading.

You, whoever you are, God has a plan for your life. Maybe you feel like you are wasting your time at a dead-end job. Or perhaps you have no job but would desperately like one. Maybe you think you have the dream job but the Lord has been speaking to you in a still small voice to give it up for something else. Like Jonah, you may not particularly like the mission God has for you but He has the intention of making you ideally suited to carry that plan out.

Will you follow His plan or will your turn your back?

Maybe you've already chosen to turn your back and feel that there is no way out now. If that is the case I've got good news for you. The Bible has this to say about Jonah, "From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God." (Jonah 2:1) God is the God of second, third, and fourth chances.

Commit your way to the Lord today.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Buy a goldfish if you don't have one already. As you feed it remember that the Lord has a purpose and a plan for your life. Ask Him to reveal it to you daily. 

Further Reading

Jonah Runs From God
Jonah and Me
Hebrews 13:20 - 21

[Judy Harder]

October 30, 2009

A Peculiar People
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD ... Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."

Genesis 6:8-9

Even the strongest among us feels this pressure at times:  the pressure to fit in.

In our flesh, we don't really want to stand out for the wrong reasons.  Who wants to face ridicule or intense scrutiny for being different?  For having a life that doesn't look like everyone else's.  For making choices that run countercultural to those of others--even our family and friends.

It's dangerous to stand out sometimes and even social suicide on many occasions.  Junior high, anyone?  Or high school?  How about just this month at the office?  Or even in your small group? 

For me, standing out happens most when I'm focused on being obedient to what God is calling me to do.  That could be simply living my life as an "older" single woman (quelle horreur!), being discerning in my entertainment choices or choosing not to engage in gossip or become judgmental should a conversation take that turn.  There are a myriad of ways to be considered "peculiar" in this day and age of blurry morality and anything-goes Christianity.  You don't have to try very hard.

I'm sure Noah must have had the same sort of conflicting thoughts and feelings when God asked him to build an ark when he was nearing 500 years old.  Talk about standing out!  Can you imagine?  To me, that would be akin to God asking me to sell all of my possessions (gulp, even my fancy shoes) and move half a world away from my family to work in some remote village with no high-speed connection to the outside world.  Strange and totally bizarre. 

So must have Noah felt when he was given specific instructions on how to construct something that was one and a half times as long as a football field and higher than a three-story building.  I'm sure there had to have been some questioning in his mind ("Really, Lord?  Are you sure I'm supposed to do this?").  An ark is not just some type of furniture you build on the weekends or a small woodworking project you've got going on in the back of your garage.  No, it was pretty big, pretty bold and pretty obvious.  And it was an assignment that took him 120 years to complete.  That's a century and some change of sticking out and being peculiar.

What must his friends and neighbors have been thinking?  Times probably weren't that much different than they are today.  "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time," says Genesis 6:5.  Hmmm.  Sounds familiar.

So I'm sure Noah got a whole host of comments:  "What are you thinking, old man?"  "Why don't you work on a more realistic woodworking project?"  "How can you do this to your family?" "Have you lost your mind?"

But Noah was undeterred.  He was productive.  And he was peculiar to those around him.  God told him do to something big and out of the ordinary, and he obeyed.  "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God" (Gen. 6:9). 

Can the same be said of you?  God handpicked a man of faith to do something different.  How is he calling you to stand out, to live out your beliefs and to fulfill his perfect purposes today?

Intersection of Faith & Life:  Here's a question:  how "peculiar" are you willing to be?  God may not be asking you to build an ark per se, but is there an area of your life where he is asking you to step out of your comfort zone and do something out-of-the-ordinary in order to better serve him?  Ponder this, as you consider your life and your priorities in light of obeying your God. 

Further Reading:

Matthew 5:16

1 Peter 2:11-12

[Judy Harder]

November 2, 2009

Seasons of Hope
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor


There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8


It's the time of year when nature inspires a sense of awe in us. As leaves die, they give forth one final burst of color brighter than the paint on an artist's palette. The sky takes on an unusually crisp blueness and the sun's low, golden rays cast whimsical shadows. We feel energized as autumn breezes stir up the color around us and chase away the dense summer air.

For me, Autumn has always been a "second Spring." A playful time, promising us that life, although soon to be hidden in the dead of winter, will only be invisible for a short while. When the days are gray, cold, and hard, I remember that only a few short weeks ago, the world was light and lively and in only a few weeks more, color will return.

As the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us, God designed life to run in cycles or seasons. Yet how often do we approach this life with expectations of perpetual summer, only to struggle with anxiety and disappointment when winter inevitably interrupts? I know I am guilty of this.

I spent time with my twin sister over this beautiful Fall weekend, and in the course of conversation, she revealed to me how approaching life as a series of seasons gives her perspective as a young wife and mom. "I've seen couples apply much pressure to their family life, expecting every week to live to the standard of the last, just as happy or productive, just as evenly paced. I think it takes a lot of burden off when you accept that this week will not necessarily look like last week, and that some seasons of life will be better than others."

Knowing there is a natural rhythm, a "time to weep and a time to laugh," gives us permission to let go of perfectionist expectations of our lives. It lightens our burdens by giving us hope for the future in the midst of trial and prepares us for times of struggle - until the day comes when there will be no more winter and no more tears.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Are you currently experiencing a scorching summer or a frigid winter? How can you embrace this time as a fruitful season even if it's not your ideal? Are you reveling in a season of joy right now? Give thanks to God for His outpouring of blessings, knowing all goodness comes from His extravagant love.

Further Reading

Psalm 30:4-5,
Revelation 21:1-4
Embrace Your Season

[Judy Harder]

November 3, 2009

All Saints Day
by Alex Crain, Editor for Christianity.com


"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Hebrews 12:1, NAS


The self-absorbed thinking conveyed in the line, "Well, me and Jesus got our own thing goin'," may have worked for Tom T. Hall's now passe American country song, but it is hardly the defining characteristic of true believers. Being willing to stand alone against error is one thing, but individualism in general is nowhere commended in Scripture. Such thinking flies smack in the face of God's emphasis on building local communities of believers who are universally united in Christ around the true gospel.

Blind spots, flaws and all, it is fortunate for us that God calls saints those who embrace the humble path of justification by grace through faith in Christ alone (Eph. 1:1, 15). Incredibly, He not only calls us saints and imputes the righteousness of Christ to us (2 Cor. 5:21), but He uses us in every generation to build His kingdom. 

All Saints Day is officially commemorated on November 1st each year, serving as an annual reminder that every follower of Christ is a part of something very, very big and... ancient.

According to one source, the tradtional day dates back to "about A.D. 610, when the Pantheon, turned into a Christian Church, was dedicated to to all saints. Its great idea is the Unity of Christians of all ages, countries, and races in Christ, and the perfection of that unity in heaven" (1662 Book of Common Prayer).

All Saints Day also reminds us to be thankful to God for His grace. It is only by His grace that anyone is able to get the gospel right. We pray to God, the giver of grace.  We do not pray to the saints (Matt. 6:6), through the saints (1 Tim. 2:5) or for saints who have gone to glory (seeing that they're already in heaven and don't need our prayers). Rather, we remember the saints and to allow the memory of their faith spur us on to deeper worship and greater service to the Lord. Hebrews 11 gives us examples of the great cloud of witnesses who are called so, not because they are watching us, but because they testify of God's grace to them. The testimony of past saints resounds to us: "God is faithful." "The Lord is good, trust always in Him." "God's grace was sufficient for me and it will be for you too."

As the classic hymn "For All the Saints" was played during our local church's worship service this weekend, I reflected over the landscape of the past 2000 years of Christian history and pictured millions now enjoying their rest in the presence of the Lord as well as the thousands of believers here on earth—the final two stanzas conveying the unified thought of all of us saints, both in heaven and on earth:

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Intersecting Faith & Life: Are there believers from your past who are now in heaven? How does their testimony encourage you? What Christian biographies have you read that you might recommend to others? Re-read Hebrews 11. What were the ancients in this chapter commeded for?

Further Reading & Listening

Sample two completely different, yet quality, recordings of "For All the Saints" at the following locations: Majesty Brass version ... Indelible Grace version

"For All the Saints"
(words: William How; music: Ralph Vaughan Williams)

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Apostles' glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o'er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

[Judy Harder]

November 4, 2009

Defying Gravity
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor


"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand."
1 Chronicles 29:14

While I was in elementary school, family friends made the decision to leave the States for Kiev, Ukraine. This family of seven, including children my age, had to downgrade from a four bedroom suburban home to an 800 square foot flat. That meant getting rid of a house full of clothes, toys, yard tools, furniture, dishes - a whole host of personal preferences and "needs." Each family member had the luxury of one big trunk as they moved halfway around the world.

For this family, however, the joy of sharing the Gospel in a former USSR satellite nation outweighed all their possessions. My dad asked his friend how he was handling the sudden "loss." His answer was telling.

"Actually," the new missionary responded, "this is the most freeing thing I've ever done."

This family found a special freedom far before I began to sniff it out. For me, this reorientation is coming slowly, helped along recently by a little book called The Treasure Principle. In it, Randy Alcorn uses a science metaphor to explain why our friends felt unshackled rather than empty. He writes:

It's a matter of basic physics. The greater the mass, the greater the hold that mass exerts. The more things we own—the greater their total mass the more they grip us, setting us in orbit around them. Finally, like a black hole, they suck us in.

Consider our materialism that way - the more stuff, the more mass. The more mass, the greater its gravitational pull. And the harder it is to escape.

Compare this to David's exhilaration in 1 Chronicles. He is humbled not by how much God has blessed him with - but by how much God has allowed him to give away. The king of Israel, a center of the ancient world, found his joy not in the palaces and the women at his disposal, but in the act of returning to God was rightfully God's. How many of us can say the same?

We live in a physical, material world. But we have the chance to defy its hold on us with every cent, toy, and "need" that comes our way. Are you ready?

Intersecting Faith & Life: As we enter the holiday season, I want to relearn the joy of giving in a more tangible way than ever before. As Alcorn puts it, "We give because He first gave to us" the most valuable gift of all. What ministries, families, or other kingdom cause is on your heart this holiday season?

Further Reading

2 Corinthians 8:2

2 Corinthians 9:15

[Judy Harder]

November 5, 2009

When Life Gets Hairy
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

In him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17

"It's just hair; it'll grow back. She'll still look cute."

My encouragement was falling on deaf ears. It was all my wife could do to hold it together. We had just picked up our 4-year-old goldilocked girl at a friends' house, and my wife was met at the door by a teary-eyed mother whose daughter had just practiced for pre-K cosmetology school.

Me? I was just glad everyone still had their eyes and ears, and that Lauren had not been the one doing any cutting (though letting someone do that to you is an issue in its own right). My son - he didn't understand what the big hairy deal was at all. His sister was still his sister, and we were still going out to dinner for his excellent report card... weren't we?

Everyone had their own point of view and their own set of facts. Nobody else's views or words were doing much swaying. All that was going to fix this was a detour to the one who can fix all wrongs, by which I mean, of course, Desiree, the woman who was familiar with my daughter's hair from having trimmed it on several occasions.

She worked a miracle I didn't believe was possible. The women rejoiced. "Why is Mommy hugging the woman?" asked my son. "Come, son," I said. "Come with me. Let me explain to you what hair means to a woman."

My daughter does look cute again. A special spritzing scrunching product helps you not be able to see the jagged cuts. A pleasant side effect is that her blue eyes look bigger and really pop now. Already, my wife feels silly for having reacted like she did (though I do have to point out she was gracious and forgiving to the mom of the little girl who did the dastardly deed). We have heard from untold numbers of folks who have experienced something similar. We have even begun to look back on this - as I suggested right after it happened - as a funny story.

But at the time? Nothing was going to be right, nobody was going to convince anybody else of anything, no words were going to be meaningful until everyone and everything came together in The Great Fixer.

It's no different with real-life events, real points of view, real pains, real cuts, real well-meaning people. Until we slow down and see the miracle, it's all just noise and chaos.

He makes all things new.

He makes all things hold together.

He makes you look back and shake your head at yourself and maybe even laugh.

He is the judge, doctor, professor, artist, miracle worker. And his office is always open. After he does his thing, you can count on hugging and rejoicing and chances for bonding. Multitudes will be able to relate.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Don't panic. Don't argue. Just go see him. Bring your friends and family, too. See what he can and will do.

Further Reading

All Things
Why I Believe in God
The Trend of 'Believing without Belonging'