Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

Unqualified
Ryan Duncan, TheFish.com Editor

"It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him."- Deuteronomy 13:4

Sometimes I feel like, as a Christian, I'm no good. I have no memory for Bible verses, I don't have any gifts in leadership or preaching, and I've done some pretty stupid, not to mention embarrassing, things while trying to serve Christ in the past. In moments like these, I try to remember Gladys Alyward.

Gladys Alyward was a London born woman who became a missionary to China in the 1930's. Another missionary named Mrs. Lawson had invited Alyward to China, where the two women would run an inn and tell Bible stories to the passing travelers. Lawson and Alyward were the only foreigners in the city, at a time when Europeans were looked on with great distrust by the Chinese, and not long after her arrival, Mrs. Lawson suffered a severe fall and died a few days later.

Only a few weeks after Lawson's death, Alyward was approached by the city's Mandarin. The government had decided to put an end to the ancient practice of foot-binding, and this meant the government needed a foot-inspector, a woman (someone who could invade the women's quarters without scandal) who would patrol the district and enforce the decree. Though Alyward was now running the inn by herself, she chose to accept the position and used it to minister to countless individuals.           

A year after that, Alyward was once again summoned by the Mandarin. A riot had broken out at a local prison, and Alyward was told to calm it. The prison guards had heard of her strange religion and wanted to put it to the test, so Alyward had no choice but to walk into the rampaging prison. To everyone's surprise, when Alyward called for the rioting prisoners to stop, they did. She told them to select a spokesman for the prisoners whom she could speak with, which again, they did without argument. It turned out the prisoners were confined to close quarters all day, with nothing to do and nothing to eat but food sent to them by family members. Though prison reform was unheard of at the time, Alyward managed to gather equipment the men could use to grind grain, earning them money for food.   

As the years passed, the people of the city gave Alyward the name Ai-weh-deh, meaning "Virtuous One". Her inn expanded to become an orphanage where she cared for over 100 children, and when the Japanese threatened to invade in WWII, it was she who led the children over the mountains to safety. Alyward continued to preach the message of Christ all her life until she died in 1970.     

Funny thing about Gladys Alyward: when she first applied to be a missionary, she was turned down. The organization she'd applied for considered her "unqualified" to minister in a foreign country.

God loves unqualified Christians. Look at Peter - a day laborer and a coward. Look at Matthew, who was a tax collector and an outcast. Look at Mary, who the scripture say Jesus cast twelve demons from. Don't underestimate what Christ can do with your life. Give God one willing Christian, and he can change the face of the world.                 

Intersecting Faith and Life

Do you feel like an unqualified Christian? Don't feel down; pray to God and seek a place where you can serve him.

Further Reading   

Romans 12:11

[Judy Harder]

Better than a Gold Medal
by Kelly Givens, Editor at Salem Web Network

"Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." --1 Corinthians 9:23-27.

Although I'm not typically a sports enthusiast, every four years I become one as I tune into the Olympics.  If you've ever watched the Olympics, you've probably found yourself in awe of the skill and determination these athletes have.  Their discipline and commitment to their sport is undeniable and often inspiring. So it's no surprise that Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, uses the analogy of an athlete to help his readers understand the determination and commitment the Christian life takes.

First, Paul notes that the runners in the games go into strict training. Similarly, as Christians we must be "trained" in our faith. We do this through spiritual disciplines, time with other believers in worship and accountability, as well as time alone in prayer and meditation. As the author of Hebrews says, we must 'throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us." The Christian life takes discipline and diligence.

After explaining how we are similar to Olympians, Paul draws a sharp distinction when it comes to our ultimate goal. In the Olympics, the athlete is often competing in one game; he has one shot at running the race and one chance to get the gold. Christians, however, are running a life-long race. Every day we must be determined and focused in order to overcome the obstacles to our faith.

As far as the "prize" we run for:  1 Peter reminds us that our faith is of "greater worth than gold." Our ultimate prize is not a medal to wear around our necks; it's eternal life.  So we should run with all our strength and power, knowing we will persevere through God's grace, all the while looking forward to the day when we receive our prize- one that is way better than a gold medal. 

Intersecting Faith and Life: Are you giving your life as God's child everything you've got, or are you lacking the dedication and discipline it takes to "run the race marked out for us?" The good news is that God can supply all the strength you need. So take some time this week and reflect on areas of your faith that could use some Olympic-sized training, then ask God to come into that part of your life and work on your behalf. God is the giver of good gifts- He will strengthen and equip you for this life-long race of faith!

Further Reading:

Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Timothy 6:12
1 Peter 1:3-7

[Judy Harder]

A Vote For Romney is a Vote for Satan
Stephen Sanders, A/V Editor at Salem Web Network

OK, so I confess. I used this devotional title as bait to get you to click on it. I don't really think Mitt Romney is the devil. Now, Obama...well...that's a different story.

I'm just kidding again. I love our president. He seems like a nice guy.

However, I recently discovered that some Christians are convinced that, because he is a Mormon, a vote for Mitt is a vote against Jesus.

www.votingforsatan.com

So, can I ask you guys a question? Actually, that was a question...let me ask you another one. Why do we do this to ourselves?

You know, as Christians...why do we feel like we need to tear down certain political nominees as the world does? Is it because we are convinced that God doesn't have control over the situation? Are we really so naive that we believe that Jesus and Mitt Romney are enemies?

I mean, I understand that most Christians think Obama doesn't really seem to know what he believes. He says one thing now. He said something totally different in the past it seems. All politicians seem to say whatever they need to, whenever they need to, in order to get the most votes. I get that. We can't trust them any more than we can trust ourselves when we tell little white lies to get what we want...

I haven't studied this thoroughly, but the Bible seems to indicate that God is in control of our government. That He created all things, both seen and unseen, and has a birds eye view of everything that is happening in our world. That no matter how much CNN we watch or how involved we get in the government, God will still know a ridiculously larger amount more about what's going on than we will.

And when we feel the need to take a stand against certain politicians, there are instructions on how that should be handled. Take 1 Timothy 2: 1-3 for example:

"The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live."

We are actually encouraged to pray for these people. Why? So that "we may live peaceful and quiet lives" (that's the opposite of militant and loud lives...in case you were wondering). And when we pray for them, God considers that to be a good thing and our behavior pleases Him.

Now, does that mean we aren't supposed to take stances against certain issues? I don't think that's what's being said here. I mean, the same Apostle Paul that urged the church to pray for the authorities also spent a great deal of time warning churches of authorities who were teaching false doctrines. So there is a lot to be considered here...so much more than I could possibly wrap my head around at 4 o'clock in the morning.

Intersection of Faith and Life

Is there anyone in your life that you are so against that it would make it impossible for you to pray for them right now? Would you even consider praying for them before you take action against them? Let's take a few minutes and think about that one. I can think of a few just off the top of my head.  And even if I have to force myself to speak positive things into their life, I'm going to do that this morning and I'm asking you to do the same for those who have offended you.

Why? Well...

In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus told his disciples,

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best – the sun to warm and the rain to nourish – to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

For Further Reading
Matthew 18:21-35

[Judy Harder]

From Middle of Life to Center of Truth
Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

Psalm 40:11, NIV

I turned 40 a couple months ago. Woo-hoo.

You'll pardon my "enthusiasm," I'm sure. What nobody tells you about turning 40 is that you ask yourself a lot of questions, sort of a checklist of making sure you have certain things right before proceeding to the most meaningful half of the game. It's like you're in the locker room at halftime of life - bandaging injuries, reflecting on the strategies of the first half - both failed and successful - and considering your options as you re-emerge to the field.



One upside of this odd time (one of my most awkward since adolescence; think of me as a teenager plus a modicum of wisdom, confidence, and gainful employment. I even found a couple of zits this week for goodness sakes) is empathy. I wouldn't call what I'm going through a "mid-life crisis"... but I now understand why some people have them. I wouldn't say that agnosticism is any kind of answer to the meaning of life... but I now understand why people gravitate to it, conscientiously or not. I wouldn't say this life is the point or that this world is our home... but I get why people begin to make the most of the time they have left as they see the clock running down.



The downside, however, is that I find myself prone to thinking I'm smarter than I am, to thinking so much depends upon me, to buying into answers that are all at once beyond biblical teaching in both complexity and sanity. My like-it's-on-hormones brain has me wondering about...



Dinosaurs, definitions of marriage, death, love, whom I've loved, whether I've loved, addictions, exercise, accountability, honesty, privacy, sexuality, inerrancy, accuracy, cosmology, biology, psychology, mighta-beens, coulda-beens, shoulda-beens, woulda-beens, fairness, facts, food, euthanasia, hip dysplasia, adoptions from Asia, character, selfishness, and yes... even shiny new sportscars.



Good gracious.



Take any one of those categories - plus many more - and I've been bogged down thinking about it. Some of my thoughts challenge my own beliefs, beliefs I've long held as established, settled. Some of my thoughts wake me up to new possibilities, or things I haven't done yet that I may still be called to. But in the end all these ideas remain merely...



My. Thoughts.



Biblically, those just aren't very trustworthy words. So what do I do now?



The same thing I've always done - come back to first principles. Study the old verses from childhood. Memorize scripture. And be really, really honest with friends and acquaintances. That authenticity, though, is a new ingredient, one that is making this halftime speech much more meaningful, bearable, and shared.



But at its root is just the same formula from which I deconstruct everything: something happened in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas over 2,000 years ago that sent plain old uneducated men to the corners of the earth convinced that everything - life, meaning, all time and all space - was on the line, and there was a Truth worth dying for. They did this because they knew a man who was also God, whom death could not hold, and who offered an amazing gift to anyone who would faithfully open it. And there's this book about those men, and the One in whom they believed, and no matter how many questions you seem to have about this book or how it was put together or who wrote it or whether its teachings are fair or right, one thing is for sure - it spoke in advance of the One who came, and in Him it becomes a whole lot clearer.



And the same God who caused all that to happen wanted the rest of the story told in certain ways. He told us some things were good for us, some bad. He told us some things were right in His eyes, some wrong. He told us He created this place we live in a period of days. No matter how confusing any of that may seem (and make no mistake - child-like faith is one of my favorite things, but growing in wisdom is a stretch to that faith, and stretching is almost always a good thing to do with aging muscles), it holds that there was a Truth. And the God that foretold, sent, and raised this Truth is the one telling the story in a way that might make you scratch your head, puzzle out how things piece together, but before you know it, you have been thinking, praying to, and meditating upon Him and how He did it, how it all might paradoxically mesh.



Simplicity out of complexity. Youthfulness out of age. Truth out of confusion. Beauty out of chaos.



So far, I have to tell you, the 40s just rock.



Intersecting Faith and Life: No matter how old you are, make a list of what's behind you and what you think or hope lies ahead. Admit the concepts with which you struggle, and the bedrock that does not move, and find the place they meet for you. And move forward from there.



Further Reading:

John 18:37-38
What is Truth?

[Judy Harder]

Man Up
By Ryan Duncan

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. – 1 Corinthians 16:12

My senior year of college, I applied to be part of a short term mission trip to Russia where my classmates and I interacted with children at the local orphanage. During my time there, I saw and experienced Christ in ways I never expected, and though I hated to leave, I couldn't wait to get back home to tell everyone about it. That trip literally changed my life, so I was furious when I discovered that out of next year's two-hundred applicants, only twenty of them were guys.

One of my growing concerns for the Church today is the decline of leadership among male Christians. Trust me, I'm no exception. I'd much rather hang out with a group of guys then try to manage some complicated project or get involved in something that will cost me time and effort. Still, it's gotten to the point where God is trying to put us in the game but many of us are choosing to stay benched. It's a familiar story, one the Bible tells in the book of Judges.       

"Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.' " Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh," – Judges 4: 4-10

I can sympathize with Barak. Sisera had been cruelly oppressing the Israelites for twenty years, and he commanded 900 iron chariots which where the equivalent to army tanks in the ancient world. Barak had good reason to feel uneasy about this battle. At the same time though, Barak was commanded by God, through a judge no less, to rescue his people and his overall response is, "Meh, I don't know."

God needs men of faith to stand up and act. You don't have to fight 900 iron chariots, but maybe it's time we started looking around for things we could do. Consider starting a small group for younger guys, participate in a mission trip or attend your Church's prayer brunch! You don't have to do everything, just do something. God has given us opportunities to impact the world for good; let's not miss out just so we can sleep in and watch reruns.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Guys, look around and find ways to actively live out your faith. Ladies, encourage reluctant guys to get involved at Church. 

Further Reading 

Micah 6:8




Time for Radical Action
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."
Matthew 5:30

The arm amputation scene in the movie "127 Hours" vividly portrays the tough-as-nails experience of rock climber, Aron Ralston, during a 2003 expedition that almost claimed his life. As I watched the scene not long ago, I was reminded of a spiritual truth that makes most Christians wince, including me.

Aron, an experienced 27-year-old outdoorsman had taken along just enough food and water for the day. He hiked all by himself in a remote canyon area that used to be the hideout for wild-west outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. At one point in the middle of the afternoon of that near perfect day, he was about seventy feet above the canyon floor—climbing in a narrow crevice that was just a few feet wide. Without warning, a boulder above him shifted and came hurtling toward him. Within seconds, Aron's right arm was pinned against the wall. His hand was crushed. What had been one of his greatest assets as an expert climber was now his greatest liability.



For the next five days, he tried various ways to free his arm. Chipping away at the boulder with a pocket knife only made a small dent. Rigging up a pulley system to somehow shift the boulder drained precious time and strength to no avail. Finally, a moment of clarity came. Aron would break his forearm, cut through the muscle with the dirty pocket knife, detach his arm, and use rope for a tourniquet. Following this plan, Aron would lose his arm, but save his life. 



In his book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place (© 2004 Simon & Schuster), Aron explains that "some sort of autopilot" took over him as he went about the gruesome task of amputation. When he finished, Aron lowered himself down the rock wall, leaving a trail of blood. He then trudged slowly in the direction of his truck parked miles away. Fortunately, he happened across two hikers on the way who phoned in a rescue helicopter. Amputating his right arm was a radical act, but it saved his life and, soon, he was reunited with his loved ones.



Christians are called to deal with sin in a similar way. The Bible doesn't offer a laid-back, live-and-let-live approach. Sin is our deadly enemy. We have two choices: kill or be killed. As Puritan writer, John Owen famously put it in his classic book The Mortification of Sin, "Be killing sin, or it will be killing you."



Jesus spoke about the time for radical action in Matthew 5:30: "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." While Jesus was not literally talking about physical amputation, He was saying that sin's deadly effects call for extreme measures. It may cause temporary pain or loss, but we must kill sin in our lives. In fact, our eternal destiny hinges on how we deal with sin. Yes, really. Think about Christ's words again. Why else would Jesus talk about hell in the same breath that He talks dealing with sin? If He didn't mean that our eternal destiny hangs in the balance, then the passage makes no sense. Clearly, the way that one deals with sin (or not) shows what the heart prefers. If Aron Ralston had just given up and stayed there on the canyon wall, he would have most certainly died. But he was willing to kill his hand so that his life could be saved.



This is not to say that in our relationship with God we somehow "save ourselves" by our own righteousness. No. But neither should we think about salvation as a one-time decision. Christ doesn't call us to a mere decision of "inviting Him to be our Savior," He calls us to a life of trusting Him and walking with Him. The way we deal with sin simply shows what we value. Do we prefer the world or Christ? Colossians 3:5 says, "Put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."



The world may tell us to laugh about sin, to lighten up about it, to tolerate it, and just let it be... that it's not idolatry; it's not an issue of worship.



God says the opposite is true.

Intersecting Faith & Life:
Usually, sin doesn't appear to us as an ugly, painful boulder that crushes us against a rock wall. What are the pleasures of sin that tend to pin you down? What is it that keeps you from treasuring God above all things? Ask God for grace and strength to amputate sin—today and every day.

Further Reading
Romans 8:10-18
What Is Christianity?

[Judy Harder]

Want Vs. Need
by Laura MacCorkle

So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him." 1 Samuel 1:20, NIV

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? Or did you get what you needed?

What we want and what we need don't often go hand in hand. There are things that I have wanted for a long time now that apparently the Lord has not seen to be necessities in my life just yet. I know he knows what is best for me, but it is still hard to wait. And it is difficult not to look longingly at what others have received and wonder why I cannot be the recipient of such things as well.

This kind of struggle is not new to any of us. And Hannah, who we read about in the first chapter of 1 Samuel, is a great example of how to live when what you want is not yet something God says you need.

For years Hannah had wanted to become a mother. To bear a child. To give her husband, Elkanah, a son—just like his other wife, Peninnah. Being barren was considered a disgrace for a woman in those times, so Hannah most likely felt ashamed and alone and perhaps like a societal outcast. Instead of turning away, though, Hannah took her sorrow and her request for what she wanted to the Lord.

We don't know for sure how long she waited (perhaps years)—and we don't know the exact purposes of God's timing in her life—but we can still learn a great deal from Hannah's example.

She was persistent and continually sought the Lord.She did not give up and stop asking the Lord for what she wanted. Like clockwork, Hannah kept bringing her request to God, year after year (v. 7). No doubt her want continued to drive her to the Father and most likely deepened her relationship with him.
She was blessed with a lifeline.I am quick to forget that the beauty in the midst of Hannah's pain is that Elkanah loved her very dearly. I am sure this buoyed Hannah when she may have wondered if God would ever answer her prayer for a child. God was gracious in giving her a loving husband (v. 5, .
She did not give in to ridicule or naysayers.Even when Peninnah (who was fruitful and had children) taunted her because she was barren, Hannah did not add insult to injury (v. 7). She did not retaliate when ridiculed for her condition or her faith. 
She shared her "want" and was encouraged by others.When the high priest Eli observed Hannah praying in the temple and inquired as to her condition, she shared with him what she was asking of the Lord. Eli encouraged her and asked God to answer her request (vv. 12-17).
She gave back to God what he had given to her.When God blessed Hannah with a child, she did not cling tightly to him. She kept her promise, let her son go and dedicated him to the Lord (v. 11, vv.21-28). That is model faith!
Like Hannah, are you waiting on the Lord to give you something you want in your life today? A new job? Reconciliation in your marriage? Blessing in your finances? A cure from illness? To find your soul mate? Victory over an addiction? A baby?

Each of us has something we want in our lives. But is up to God to decide if this is something we really need. May we continue to come to him with joy and thankfulness, as we acknowledge that he knows what is best for our lives.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Do you know that God has already given you what you need for this very day? Ask him to help you accept his plans and timing for your life—even when you don't understand.

Further Reading:

James 1:17, NIV

Matthew 7:11, NIV

[Judy Harder]

Will They Know Us By Our Love?
Debbie Wright, Assistant Editor of Family Content at Crosswalk.com

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

Love
not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does
not
the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

These two passages are arguably the most famous Bible verses about love. Love is a concept promoted
by Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims. It is a thing acknowledged by atheists and agnostics.
Something every man, woman, and child strives to obtain every day. Love is something we all know
about and all desire. But so often it seems to be the most difficult thing for us to practice.

As Christians, we have no excuse for not knowing what love is. 1st Corinthians chapter 13 tells us in no
uncertain terms. And Christ tells us in John 13 that the world will know that we belong to Jesus if we
practice this love. But how often do we truly think of those two scriptures as one command? How often
do we piece together the "how?" and the "what?" of love in our own lives?

The ramifications of doing so present a clearly defined, but difficult life. If we combine 1 st Corinthians 13
and John 13, what would our lives look like? How would people come to recognize Christians?

Well, they would know us by our patience. They would know that we are Christians by our
contentment, modesty, and humility. They would recognize us, for we would not be rude. We would
seek the best for others, be difficult to make angry, and refuse to keep count of how many times we've
been hurt. They would know us because evil makes us sad, and truth makes us happy. They would
know us because we protect the defenseless and we do not live in suspicion of others.

They would know us by our hope. They would know us by our perseverance.

That is what love looks like. Those should be the marks of Christ's disciples.

Oftentimes when the world hears "Christian" – they do not think of this love. They think Patriotic. They
think of rules. They think of stingy, bad-tippers, who blindly vote Republican and will judge you if you
drink beer or use four-letter words. And that might not be fair. That might not be you. But it's still your
responsibility to change what the world thinks of Christians. It's still your responsibility to demonstrate
that radical love Paul described to the Corinthians.

Because then, one by one, people might start to know Jesus a little better. Because then, one by one, we
could really reach the world with this radical, biblical, Christ-like love.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Find one relationship or duty in your life that lacks love. And change it.

Further reading

1 John 1:5-10

Romans 13:8-14
†

[Judy Harder]

Words, Words, Words!

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
John 3:3

American English uses hundreds of idioms, both helpful and just plain ridiculous. It's entirely possible slink through a whole day without expressing a single original phrase, if we try hard enough. It's not rocket science, I mean. You can blow your top, or go overboard, or feel like you're an emotional rollercoaster, or wind up between a rock and a hard place, or hit the wall. Maybe it's a cloud nine day, and you're walking on air. And no, I'm not pulling your leg. There's a method to my madness.

You can probably think of a dozen more idioms that I omitted. Nowadays, we use overuse all those phrases and stick them into our conversation as a substitute for original thought. But once upon a time, all those things we call clichés resonated with meaning. Consider just a few:

That's a load of hogwash – This wholesome little phrase comes straight from the farm, where "hogwash" designates a concrete mess of garbage and refuse that's only fit for the pigs. The good-for-nothing stuff certainly isn't a compliment; in fact, it's downright nasty.

Catch-22 – We use it now for any situation with a lose-lose outcome, but the original phrase actually comes from a 1961 novel by the same name. The plot highlights the result of bureaucratic regulations that take their validity from each other but can't stand alone. The bewildering, circular logic keeps characters from any good outcomes, thanks to the nonsense to which they're subject.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." – Shakespeare would probably roll over in his grave if he could hear us butcher this one so royally. The phrase actually comes from the lips of Queen Gertrude, who rather hastily marries her husband's brother after her husband dies. Gertrude was actually sneering at the faithful promises – the protestations – of the queen in a play, who promised eternal love and faith to only one man. And so, her inconstant character announces itself to Hamlet and the audience. 

Your John Hancock – As president of the Continental Congress, Hancock's name appeared before all others on the first copy of the Declaration of Independence. By that action, Hancock marked himself among the primary traitors if the War for Independence failed. He risked his life, his fortune, and indeed, his sacred honor. Is that what you think of every time you sign a credit receipt?

We all use language, and it's a hop, skip, and a jump from a meaningful metaphor for a dull catchphrase. After that, real meaning gets lost in the hubbub of "words, words, words," as Hamlet would say.

I mention these cultural amusements for a simple purpose.

Do you remember how totally radically it is to be "born again"?

Christians – myself included – so easily wear down the language of grace into simple catchphrases. When Jesus told

Nicodemus that he "must be born again," he was conveying a radical idea, and Nicodemus knew that much. "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" (John 3:4) Jesus goes on to explain the obvious changes that come from being born again of the Spirit, so that a person changes completely. "Born again" meant so much more than a hidden identity. As my pastor pointed out Sunday, you might as well ask, "Is that baby new?" as ask, "Are you born again?" The answer should be obvious to all. Is it?

Intersecting Faith & Life: The slip from authentic faith to rote "Christianese" is sometimes nothing more than a wandering mind, and sometimes as much as complete forgery. As you pray and read the Bible this week, take time to meditate on what simple phrases like "mercy," "born again," "repent," genuinely mean. Find names or attributes of God that you don't usually use and meditate on them. As Jesus said to his disciples (ironically, right before he gave them the Lord's Prayer, which far too many of us utter by rote), "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matthew 6:7) The fight against complacent muttering finds success when it's joined by a genuinely appreciative heart, so let's skip the babbling and get down to praising God for the radical way He has saved us!

Further Reading:

Luke 18:9-14
Zephaniah 3:14-18
Top 10 Irritating Phrases

[Judy Harder]

Yard Sale Christianity
By Stephen Sanders
A/V Editor for Salem Web Network

As many of you know, summer is prime time yard sale time and you can't drive anywhere in the south on a Saturday without passing at least a few. This past Saturday, we stopped at one not far from our house.

In the past when I've been with my wife to these things, I seldom find anything that I get REALLY excited about. I usually just look for old books because that's the only thing I can find for a buck that I might actually use. But this past Saturday, as I dug through a box of old CDs, I found something that I couldn't pass up.

When I look back at my childhood and think about music, two names come to mind: Michael Jackson and the Beastie Boys. The very 1st album that my mom ever bought me was "Thriller." The first album that I ever bought with my own money was "Licensed to Ill" at a Kmart in Mason, Ohio with my cousin Mark. I can still vividly remember driving home that weekend with my parents in our '78 Chrysler New Yorker bumping "Fight For Your Right To Party." We had the cassette adapter for the 8-track player that was in there. I guess this was probably about 1986-87. This tape stayed in my silver boom box until it broke a couple years later.

During my middle school years, I developed a second wind of musical enlightenment. This was when hip-hop was at its peak in the early 90's. I'd picked up this interest from my good friend Chad, who bought me an NWA tape in 1992. This was, of course, followed by Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" in 1993...then "Enter the 36 Chambers" by Wu-Tang Clan later that year...

The Beastie Boys released "Check Your Head" in 1993 also. They were still just as relevant then as they had been in the 80's even though the style had changed a bit. They'd evolved from a party rap trio to a 3-piece jam band in what seemed like no time...but it had been 7 years. I loved this CD.

My love for hip-hop slowly but surely vanished as grunge slowly gained my affection and carried me through my high school years. The Nu Metal genre developed as I entered my college years; a movement that was pretty much over almost as soon as it started. I picked up a bass guitar my freshman year at SECC and my love for hip-hop officially died. But my love for the Beastie's never did...

In 2002, on a couch at a friend's house, I discovered "Paul's Boutique" by the Beastie Boys. This album was released in 1989; many consider this to be their finest work. This album soon became my "favorite album to listen to while I played video games with Eddie." And even still, the Beastie's were just as relevant in 2002 as they were in 1986... and 1989... and 1993...

Now, flash-forward to 2011... I look into a box of CDs at a yard sale and find "Check Your Head" and "Paul's Boutique" in perfect condition... for $5. SOLD! As I walked away, all I could think about were the good times I'd had with my cousin Mark, Chad, Eddie; some of the best times of my life. I couldn't wait to listen to them when I got home.

I got home, went upstairs, turned on my computer to do my homework and hit play...and immediately realized how much Christ has changed me as an individual. It's not so much the music itself, because it is still just as creative and impressive as it ever was. It's the message behind the music that causes a separation. It's just not the same anymore.

Jesus and Paul talked a lot about this sort of thing in the Bible. You know, the difference between who we were before accepting Christ into our hearts versus the new man who has surrendered his life to Jesus. I don't think I've ever seen this played out in my life in such a real way until this episode. There is simply nothing I can gain from this music at this point in my life without turning my back on Christ.

Now let me make a bit of a clarification before I go any further. I'm not talking about legalism here.  I'm not saying that, "Christians cannot listen to secular music because it is sinful." If that had been the case, I never would have bought these CDs to begin with. Now, the Stephen from 5 years ago with his sheltered, legalistic, judgmental Christian mindset would have been outraged at the idea of a believer being excited about a secular CD or movie or anything else that wasn't "Christian." I'd been taught that everything was a black or white issue. If it wasn't "Christian" then it was sin.

But in recent years, with a change of logic and a new church environment, I've realized that my old mindset was a very self-serving mindset to have. In reality, not everything in the real world is a black or white issue. Not all "Christian music" is godly and not all "secular music" is sinful. When I used to believe this way, I would make my walk with God a lot easier, while making it more difficult for everyone else I came in contact with.

What I'm talking about is true relationship with Christ where He deals with me personally while I only focus on how God views me, not those around me.

Believe me when I say that I really wanted to enjoy these CDs when I got home. But there was something inside of me that no longer desired or could allow me to digest them. I fully believe that this is what Christ does to our lives. He draws us close to Him by his Spirit and these desires just naturally fall off. They happen in His timing, not our timing and not in the timing that other believers feel they should happen in our lives.

It's experiences like these that let me know that I am certainly not who I used to be. Fleshly desires that I used to have simply do not exist anymore. I don't have to beat down my flesh and force myself to exhibit Christian behavior anymore. Christ's desires just naturally become mine. True freedom in Christ started when I stopped trying to achieve the unachievable: being a perfect Christian.

Intersecting Faith and Life

We all have our individual walks with God that we have to experience. So many of us try so hard to make things automatically sinful for the sake of comfort. We attempt to force our religion on others around us, instead of simply sharing the Gospel. But that's not what we, as Christians, are called to do. We are simply called to love God and love others. Love doesn't cause me to push myself on anyone. It subtracts from me and adds to the world around me.

For Further Study

1 Corinthians 10:13-33

[Judy Harder]

Plans Interrupted
by Laura MacCorkle

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV

Have you ever had your plans interrupted?

This can either make you cranky or make you grateful. In my case, it's usually both. Cranky at first. And then eventually grateful after days, weeks, months or even years later when I finally see that God's plans were so much better than mine.

Just last weekend, my plans were interrupted. I had been planning a day-cation for a while and was going to take my mom to visit my hometown's "friendly" rival city that's just a short drive away. We'd never before explored its downtown area and had heard great things about it. And so we thought it would be a fun place to visit on a Saturday.

But the plans had to be scrapped as a result of a minor family emergency. In this case, I was grateful that I could alter my course and help out. And I know it was the right thing to do to set aside these prior plans.

Other times in my life, I haven't been so quick to be grateful when God has interrupted my plans. At the time, my plans seemed right and logical. But they were plans that, had they gone through, would have just been awful. In hindsight, I see how the Lord has saved me from myself time and time again and how he truly knows what is best for my life.

Before he was one of the greatest apostles in the Bible, Paul also had his plans interrupted. Now his plans would arguably have had more disastrous consequences than some of mine, but he believed he was doing the right thing and was set on seeing them through. That is, until God interrupted.

In Acts 9, Paul was still known as Saul. He was an enemy of believers (known as "the Way") and was focused on persecuting anyone who called himself a Christian. He had heard that many had fled to Damascus, so he secured letters of arrest from the high priest and headed off in pursuit of them.

But on the road, God intervened and interrupted Saul's plans. The conversion was radical and news-making. Saul was blind for three days, and then his sight was restored through Anaias, who God told that Saul was his "chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel (Acts 9:15)."

When the scales fell from Saul's eyes, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Later, he became known as the apostle Paul and was perhaps the greatest of all Christian missionaries. He also wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament!

Can you imagine what type of effect his conversion must have had on the believers he had been seeking to persecute? Or how about the Gentiles to whom he ministered for years afterward? And then who knows how many countless readers of God's Word have been blessed by Paul's testimony and his inspired writings?

These are God's amazing plans at work, my friend. And thankfully, he interrupts ours.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

How did you respond the last time God interrupted your plans? Have you thanked him for saving you from your plans? We will never know this side of heaven all that God has done and is doing in our lives. Let's thank him for his perfect plans for us today.

Further Reading:

Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
Proverbs 19:21, NIV