How Santa Pointed to Jesus

            Christmas season is back upon us and it is by far my favorite yet also busiest time of the year. I don’t know about you but the day after Halloween until January 2 feels like you are stepping into the crazy train season where you have to hold on for dear life, a detailed calendar, and all of the scissors, tape, and gift wrap. There is no shortage of events and entertainment you can participate in to make sure that your Christmas season is packed with all of the joy and excitement that it could possibly bring. As if you aren’t already trying to get teacher gifts, end-of-the-year projects, holiday parties, and all of your Christmas shopping jammed into a few weeks, we also have the added pressure of daily excitement. Advent calendars, elf on the shelf, and Hallmark movie marathons make each day leading up to Christmas full of excitement, gifts, and entertainment.

I remember a conversation I had with my husband when we had our first son. How do we handle Christmas and teach him the true meaning? Are we going to be a Santa family? How many gifts do we give? We had so many wonderful friends who took the discipleship of their children seriously and had great ideas. Some families only gave three presents – a want, a need, and a book – just like how Jesus received three presents. Others decided to forego Santa and keep the focus on Christ’s birth. Some decided to enjoy Santa but have all of the gifts come from the parents. Some families continued the traditions I had as a kid where Santa is real and he brings you gifts only if you make the nice list. As I looked into it more and carefully considered what would be the best option for our family, I realized there were many ways Christian parents go about doing Christmas.

Gabe and I weren’t exactly on the same page so we each shared our preferences and ultimately came to a decision in the middle. There is something magical about Christmas as a kid and we wanted our kids to experience that and have incredible memories just like we did growing up. We also decided that we would try our best to make sure our kids knew what Christmas was all about. We wanted to do Advent devotions and build the same expectation that the Jewish people had in the Old Testament as they waited for the promised Messiah. We would make sure that the Christmas story was the main event on Christmas morning by reading Luke 2 and making sure they knew the best gift they could ever receive was the gift of salvation that Jesus graciously offers us. We had a plan and felt good about it.

Fast forward several years to multiple crazy, loud, rambunctious kids trying to overtake our house. I can’t tell you how many times I have said the thing I said I would never say. “Santa is watching you and you’re going to be on the naughty list!!!” “Stop hitting your sister, you’re going to get a lump of coal for Christmas!” It just kept coming out! It was like this free little extra seasonal discipline tool that I got to use for a month every year. And then, they found out about the dang Elf on the Shelf. “Why does little Tommy down the street have an elf and we don’t?” I tried to convince them that they would probably get on the naughty list if we had an elf but that only worked on one of my kids. Eloise realized she would never make the nice list with an extra set of eyes on her in the house and told me she DID NOT want an elf! However, Eli was persistent and next thing you know, Peppermint came into our lives.

I can’t tell you how many mornings I have woken up in a panic because I forgot to move the elf the night before! In an already chaotic season, it felt like an added layer of stress to add this additional daily chore and instead of the hopeful expectation of our Savior coming on Christmas morning, I grew full of stress and worry that my kids were missing the point. Their holidays were magical, they frantically woke up and searched every morning to find Peppermint and the antics he had gotten himself into. Next to Peppermint, it was impossible to keep the Advent stories as exciting and entertaining. Christmas morning came and the presents I had spent countless hours searching for and wrapping up were torn through in a matter of minutes. And just like that, Christmas was over. I remember sitting on the couch exhausted and wondering if any of it was sinking in. Can you relate?

Maybe you are in the same boat this year. Maybe you too feel worried that your children are too focused on the gifts and the experiences rather than the Savior. Maybe you feel regret over the things you have introduced that you now feel you have to keep up with. If that’s you, I am going to share a spicy opinion that many may not agree with: the events that happen for a few weeks every year are not going to make or break your kid’s theology. Here’s what I mean by that. If you are a family that goes to church a couple of times a year (Christmas/Easter) and feel like you can teach your kid about Christianity by sharing the Christmas and Easter story when they come up annually, that probably won’t affect their view of God that you practice for the rest of the year. On the flip side, if you are a family that has taken in a lot of secular Christmas ideas (Santa, elves etc.), that probably won’t affect their view of God that you practice for the rest of the year.

In my experience, it’s not the events that happen a few times a year that ultimately build the faith and worldview of your kids. It’s the daily habits, conversations, and spiritual practices that will shape their worldview and build their spiritual muscles. Think of this like building real muscles in the gym. Muscles aren’t built by heading into the gym 2 times a year and achieving a big workout. Likewise, muscles aren’t depleted if we take a week off or if we indulge in some extra sweets every now and then. What anyone in the fitness space will tell you is that it’s consistency that yields the best results. It’s the same for our spiritual health. It’s the consistent time reading God’s Word, the consistent prayers, the consistent family devotionals, and the consistent prayer times that form our habits and the habits of our kids. I want to share a quick story with you about how I saw this play out in our house recently.

A few weeks ago, my kids began asking about when the elf would come back. I took a deep breath already thinking of all the energy that the elf entails. My oldest son came to me when his little sister left the room and said, “Mom, I know.” “Know what?!” I replied. He continued, “I know that the elf isn’t real.” “What do you mean?” I kept playing dumb. “Why do you think the elf isn’t real?” The next words that came out of his mouth were shocking. “Well, I remember reading in the Bible that God is the only one who can see us all the time. So that means that Santa can’t always be watching. So that means that Santa isn’t real. And if Santa isn’t real, then the elf can’t be real. And the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny and all that stuff.” My eyes filled with tears. I had been so worried about this one month of the year and all of its activities messing up the true Christmas story and he just spat this out so matter-of-factly. I was so proud of him, and I made sure to tell him what a great job he did of using discernment. I then asked him how he felt about it all. If he was sad knowing the truth. I was worried that once the “magic” of Christmas was gone, it would be a letdown. Instead, he said, “No, I’m not sad. But I do want to help you do the elf this year!”

I can’t tell you how much this conversation has meant to me. In addition to my kids coming to saving faith in Christ and loving Him, I also want them to use wisdom to discern truth. It’s something we talk about a lot in our house. I wanted to share this story with you, not because my kids are perfect. Definitely not because I am doing Christmas “correctly” and if you just follow this protocol, your kids will become Christians and love Jesus. I am absolutely not the poster child for teaching your kids the best theologically sound Christmas principles. I am sharing this with you because I see it from a different perspective. I don’t think these fun things we add for a short few weeks every year are going to derail your child’s theology and relationship with Christ. I also don’t think if you take your kids to church twice a year, they will have a great understanding of God. Here is what I do think. I think much more than the holiday magic, the daily conversations and rhythms matter most.

My son said he was able to put 2 and 2 together about Santa because of what he knew to be true about God in scripture. Which means he had to know something about scripture. It wasn’t reading Luke 2 once a year, it was the (not always) daily devotions we have with him. It was praying together every night before he goes to sleep. It was the Bible podcasts we sometimes listen to in the car. It was the countless conversations and storytelling about who God is and what he’s like. So, if you’re like me and you feel like Christmas has turned into a bottomless pit of secular fun with a little Jesus sprinkled on top and you feel bad about that or discouraged, I want to encourage you that this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. You have all year long to teach your kids about Jesus and the incredible gift He has given us in coming to earth in human form, living a sinless life, taking on our sins, and dying on the cross.

As January 1 is fast approaching, maybe think of a practice you want to start implementing with your kids this year. It could be as simple as reading the verse of the day on the Bible app over breakfast in the morning. It’s the little moments, day after day, week after week over a lifetime of raising kids that will have the biggest impact. And remember, you aren’t alone in this. Your heavenly father wants nothing more than to equip you with everything you need to disciple your kids. Start today by praying and asking him for guidance.

Identity: Discovering the Truth of Who You Are

Who Am I? I look around the world today and see intense pressure to have a culturally relevant answer to this question. Answers to questions like what is your personality type? What are your pronouns? What is your sexual preference? What is your political party? The list could keep going on and on, but these are the questions that seem front and center, bombarding our attention and demanding definitive answers. Not only is the question of “who am I?” one that everyone asks at some point, but today we are forced to display it on our social media bios. There is no time to wade through these questions thoughtfully. Culture is demanding you must have an answer, it can’t be neutral, and you better be ready to answer NOW.

            It is no wonder that our culture and society are so divided. We tend to see each other through the lens of the last thing we posted on our social media feeds and assume that represents who we are. But what if the answers to these questions aren’t really who we are at all? What if we are missing the true definition of what it means to be a unique human created thoughtfully in God’s image?

            I was in my early 20s when I began to ask the inevitable question of “who am I?” and “what is my purpose?” I had walked away from the faith I had grown up with and felt so desperately lost. I was seeking meaning and wanted to know what life was really about. I was turning to anything and everything to fill that void and make sense of the world around me. Yet, I had no idea who I really was and what I believed in. This Bible study was written to 22-year-old Callie, a girl trying everything under the sun to figure out who she truly was.

            This study was written as the capstone paper for my master’s program. After studying so many topics in theology, I spent time praying for what I should write about, and it hit me. SO many others are in the same place that I was in my early 20s trying to make sense of the world. Except today, I believe there is even greater pressure to have an answer. What set me free was discovering the truth of who God is and how He has made me in His image.

            Do you feel lost? Do you feel a longing to know who you truly are? Or do you feel pressure to try and constantly perform to prove yourself? This study is for you. Perhaps you are already a Christian but still struggle to answer the “who am I” question? This study is for you too. Over 8 weeks, this study explores the following topics:

·       The Trinity - What does it mean that you image a Trinitarian God?

·       The Characteristics of God

·       What does it mean to be made in God's image?

·       How does salvation impact your identity?

·       How does this impact your daily life?

·       What is my purpose here on earth?

·       How will your identity be fully restored?

By digging into scripture, we will walk through Genesis to Revelation to see how God originally created man in His image, how that image became distorted by sin, how salvation begins to restore that image, and the future hope we have in Heaven when that image is fully restored. By really understanding who God is and why He created you, I hope that you too will find freedom, peace, and confidence in knowing the truth of who you are.

Click here to purchase.

Made for More

This week my first published work is officially available for purchase! Made for More is a Bible study for single moms or anyone whose life hasn’t gone exactly as planned. I am not a single mother, so I want to share with you how I got involved in Plus One Parents and why I think single mothers play a vital role in our church.

            Michelle was my neighbor in our old neighborhood. It was a new construction community and we all moved in around the same time from other local communities and from all over the country. We were excited to meet our neighbors and form community, especially me since we had just moved from out of state. I remember meeting Michelle because she hosted a Bible study for some women in the neighborhood. At the time, we both had newborns and were in a busy season. I had no idea there were other things going on in her house and that she would be divorced in a year and no longer in our neighborhood. It’s also interesting that after she moved out of the neighborhood, our friendship really kicked off.

            During those years, and primarily through our church, the Lord grew in me an awareness and compassion for vulnerable children. James 1:27 states, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” I believe the widows today are not only women whose husbands have died but also women with no husbands. According to Pew Research, the US has the world’s highest number of children living in single-parent households. The stats say that almost 25% of US kids live in single-parent households! The church today has an incredible opportunity to wrap around these moms so they are not doing this alone.

            I myself come from a lineage of divorce and second marriages from my parents and my grandparents, so this issue hits close to home. Even so, I don’t think I ever really understood what it must feel like for a single mom to carry the weight of raising her children alone, providing for them, and trying to disciple them all while often feeling judged walking through the doors of the church because of a pre-conceived idea of what led her to this state in the first place. I can’t say that I haven’t ever judged someone by assuming that she wouldn’t be in that situation if she had just made a different choice. Wooh- that was hard to type. It’s hard to admit some of the hardness in our own hearts.

            I am so thankful that the Lord has brought single moms into my life to show me how He sees them and the blessing they are to our community. Michelle joined our church community group, which I know was a big step for her because we are a group of married couples. How brave for her to walk into my home knowing she may feel like the odd man out. Our community group has learned so much from her perspective. As she has been vulnerable in sharing her needs, our group has gotten to serve her and her kids to help meet them. I have seen how closely she has had to trust Jesus and rely on Him when it seemed her world was falling apart. When resources have been tight, when health has been in decline, and as she has worked through healing from abuse, she has taught me how close God is to those who rely on Him. She has also been such a blessing in my life by consistently pointing me to the Lord and his Word when I feel overwhelmed.

            When the life we had planned falls apart, we can choose to hit our knees in surrender and watch the Lord show up. Michelle has a deep faith and trust in the Lord in areas I haven’t experienced because of her circumstances. I am so grateful that she has been kind enough to share them with me. Made for More came out of some conversations we had about how God has shown up for His people in scripture in the past and how He is still doing it today. He doesn’t discount us because we have made mistakes or because we have been rejected or discarded by others. Instead, He wants to use those parts of your life and redeem them because that is who He is – a God who sees us and a God who redeems us for His glory. Michelle has done a fabulous job of pulling women out of the Bible and showing how God has met them in the mess of their lives to redeem their stories. I had the privilege of writing about how moms can tangibly teach their children these stories and apply the principles in their lives today.

            Who are the single moms or women who have experienced rejection in your life? God has you in the same “circles” for a reason. It may be awkward initially, but I would encourage you to get to know them even if they seem shut off. See if the Lord has resourced you in an area that could benefit someone else, even if it is just words of encouragement or a listening ear. Are you making dinner tonight? Could you make an extra casserole to bring over to her? As Mother’s Day is approaching, I invite you to pray for how you can serve someone who may not be getting the same celebration as you. Maybe bringing her flowers and a copy of this devotional as a gift would be a sweet way to start.

Why I Changed My Mind on Abortion

This topic is everywhere. With the overturning of Roe V. Wade, we have been inundated with countless news and opinions advocating for or against abortion. If you google it, you will find countless websites and blog posts with every opinion under the sun, so why add to the noise? I had a growing conviction to write about this, not because I am the most educated or because I have something new and unique to say but to speak to those who may be in my shoes. To those who love people and think they have a compassionate view but maybe haven’t totally thought it through. I want to share with you how my thoughts on abortion have changed over the years and potentially give you something to think about.

            First, can I just admit this was hard to write? It’s hard to state that I now believe I had the wrong way of thinking. It’s hard to say that I have changed my mind or even to state my previous opinion. Maybe this is you. Perhaps you and your friends or family have had countless conversations on this topic, and you all agree. It would be tough to tell them that you have a different opinion now or that your convictions are changing. I just want to say, it’s ok to change your mind. It is even ok to admit that you were wrong before. There is something freeing about saying you were wrong versus doubling down because you feel trapped. So if for some reason you are in that boat, welcome. The water is warm here, and I bet when you start admitting your change of opinion, it will create a more welcoming environment for others to do the same.     

            So, where did this begin? I have to say, before 2013, when I became a Christian, I hadn’t given much thought to abortion. By God’s grace, I never had an unwanted pregnancy or had a friend confide in me that she did. Since it wasn’t something that really affected me, I didn’t think much about it. However, I shared before that after I became a Christian, I unknowingly got introduced to some progressive theology that began to poke holes at the ideas I had considered Christian growing up. One of those was abortion. I was listening to a Jen Hatmaker podcast where she interviewed a guest about abortion. She made the argument that restricting abortions only ever hurts lower-income women and minorities. I don’t remember everything that was said, but I do remember the phrase that she considered herself anti-abortion but pro-choice. At this point, many years ago, I had never heard this stance. I had never heard of Christians arguing for laws that would ease the cost of abortion for low-income women. To me, their argument was compelling. It seemed compassionate, and I began to wonder if there was more nuance to this topic than being so black and white.

            As I was considering this, I remembered a conversation with my old small group leader. She explained that she was pro-life even in the case of rape, using the reasoning that God doesn’t make mistakes. That even out of a violent, evil act, something good can come from it, and two wrongs don’t make a right. I felt unsettled. I had also never heard someone be so unabashedly pro-life. I have never been able to sit long with ambiguity. I needed answers, and I needed to know what was true.

            Since these encounters, I have learned that it can be exhausting to ride the waves. To constantly listen to new ideas and be persuaded by compelling arguments. It’s like treading water at sea and being tossed and turned by every new wave or idea. There must be something that anchors you. That keeps you tethered in place no matter the size of the waves. In addition, you can’t simply choose to decide in the moment. There are undoubtedly compelling, heart-wrenching stories of women who have aborted their babies. I have heard them. Yet, truth can’t be subjective. It can’t be right for one woman in one circumstance because of desperation and wrong for another because she simply didn’t want to have a baby. You can’t decide ethics in the moment or based on circumstances. God’s word must anchor our choices, thoughts, and emotions to reality.

            I want to share how God corrected my thinking and why it has brought me peace, conviction and spurred me to action. I want to share because perhaps you too find yourself tossed about. Perhaps you feel the conflict of knowing that it is wrong to end a life yet not wanting to seem uncompassionate. Maybe you have believed that having an opinion based on Biblical beliefs is somehow shoving your religion down someone else’s throat. Below, I have listed 4 things that corrected my thinking on abortion. I hope they will cause you to also stop and consider any wrong thinking you have adopted along the way.

1-    God is the creator of life, and humans are uniquely created in his image.

If you are a Christian, this is the fundamental first step and belief in faith. This understanding goes all the way back to the very first verse in the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Later in this chapter, God says, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). These verses state that every single embryo, no matter its stage of life, was intentionally created in God’s image and has a purpose. No matter the context in which they were conceived or the circumstances under which they were born, God intended to create new life. Even If you don’t believe in God, science clearly states that at conception, new life begins. This new life is not a clump of cells, tissue, or random object but a developing human being with rights.

2-    Your choice doesn’t trump someone else’s right to life.

On election day, I passed a catchy pink sign that read in a fun font, “girls just want to have fun-damental rights.” I couldn’t stop thinking about its implications. The fact that this sign made me start singing the song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and how this sign meant that we just want to have fun. We don’t want any byproducts or strings attached. We just want to have a good time and have the option to abort any “problems” that may come along after. Do I think God gives us the freedom to make choices? Yes. That is one of the blessings of being made in His image. We can think and choose for ourselves. Yet, where is the line? Perhaps my special needs child has really been a lot of work lately. She will likely need assistance from me to live for the rest of her life. Maybe my life would be easier if I was to kill her. Obviously, every person reading that sentence should have a gut reaction. Her right to life is more important and trumps my right to do whatever I want. Why is that so clear for a child already born, but a baby inside the womb is easily discarded just because of its size, location, or dependence?

3-    Bodily autonomy doesn’t trump someone else’s right to life.

My body my choice. This argument is everywhere. Yet, did you ever stop to think that it’s not just your body? There is another life inside of you. Your bodily autonomy isn’t more important than the baby’s just because you’re bigger and fully developed. A baby outside of the womb is also dependent on someone else to take care of him.

4-    Poisoning and dismembering another human is always wrong.

Perhaps one of the most eye-opening things I have learned while I have studied this topic is what actually goes on during an abortion. The pro-choice narrative is often that this is a simple procedure to remove unwanted cells. In fact, the Planned Parenthood website states that in a 2nd trimester abortion, you’ll simply get a shot in your belly and then they will use medical tools to remove any “pregnancy tissue.” Notice how even the language used persuades you to think this is simply tissue, not a living baby in your womb. Watching videos of abortions and what actually happens to remove the baby is heartbreaking. It is cruel and causes pain to the baby, who is often seen trying to wiggle away from the protruding object. That baby already desires to live but sadly is helpless against the abortionist. Live Action has great videos and resources if you would like to explore this further

            Just last night, I read an article about how there will be more adoptable babies, potentially causing overpopulation and a system crisis in states with total abortion bans. I was drawn to the comment section, which was filled with people stating how tragic it was that more babies would be potentially in the foster care system or born into hard situations. I agree that it is absolutely tragic when babies are placed into government possession and not born into loving families. Yet, I have also seen how God has redeemed those circumstances. I disagree that the more humane option would be to murder them before they are even born and have a chance to impact this world.

            I also want to also say that there is NOTHING beyond God’s forgiveness and redemption. If you have chosen abortion, God is gracious to forgive regardless of the circumstances. He does not want you to stay in a place of shame. He wants to take you into his arms, offer forgiveness, and redeem your story. This blog is in no way to heap on any more condemnation because, sadly, I think the church hasn’t always done the best job of being a hospital for sinners. My hope is that if you find yourself advocating for the right to choose or get into a situation where you are considering abortion, some of the popular arguments will not deceive you. I hope to share where I have been deceived or confused and offer Biblical clarity that God intentionally designed each life with a purpose. There are no mistakes, and because his image and glory are at stake, there is no neutral ground. I hope you will join me not just in advocating for the preborn but by partnering with pregnancy centers and other resources in your area to help women in crisis. Now more than ever, we must rally around the women choosing life who need resources and community. If you are in the Middle TN area, check out Pregnancy Centers of Middle TN and Hope Clinic for Women to find ways you can volunteer. Thank you for reading, and I would love to hear below if anything challenged you or what changed your mind about abortion.

Discipleship Summer

Summer is right around the corner! While I am ready for a slow down in schedules, I am also nervous about all of the downtime with the kids and battling boredom. As I was thinking about this summer, I had some ideas for what I wanted to teach my kids. We are not the best at getting the kids to do chores and I really want to work on that and get them to help out. However, I know I only get so many hours, so many summers with my kids. This time is precious and I want to be intentional with it.

I really want my kids to learn about God this summer. I want them to know something more or understand Him better by the time they go back to school. But how do I do this? Maybe you are in the same boat where you want to be intentional with the time but also aren’t sure where to start. I knew that if I didn’t have a plan, the summer would slip away and I wouldn’t get much accomplished. I decided to write a mini-curriculum for my kids this summer and wanted to share it with you just in case it would help.

Let me be clear - I am NOT a homeschool mom, kid’s teacher, or avid crafter. This lesson plan is far from perfect. If you use it, take it and make it your own! Maybe you will want to alter the craft or the activity because you have an awesome idea. This is meant to be inspiration or a guideline if you’d like a little help. There may be things I tweak along the way. If you have an awesome idea or alteration, please comment below! I would love to hear it. I love my kids dearly but I am not the kid’s teacher type, so keep that in mind.

I decided to focus this summer on characteristics of God that I think are important. Part of this framework is adapted from my Bible study that is hopefully being published later this year. I firmly believe that to know who you are, you must understand the God who created you. If we are made in His image, we need to understand His characteristics and how we share them or how we lack in them.

This is an 8-week framework. Each week focuses on a characteristic with a key verse to memorize. There is also a craft and an activity for each week. You can do them all in the same day or spread it out. My plan is to introduce the new characteristic and discuss it with the kids each Monday morning. Every morning we will say the memory verse for that week and try to discuss how we see that attribute throughout the day. For example, “Eli thank you for telling me the truth. Remember how God is truthful? When you tell the truth, you are showing that you are growing and following God!” I am going to attempt the craft one day, and then we will have a guided outing every week with the activity. I will likely not do it perfectly, but I am praying that having these topics on my kid’s minds will plant seeds. I truly believe that each time we point our kids to God, his Spirit is moving to help them understand.

I pray this blesses you and helps you think about ways you can intentionally teach your kids about God this summer. Please let me know if you use the framework and how it goes!

Summer 2022 Characteristics of God

1. Truthful: God is the one true God. He is the standard of truth.

   Verse: John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

   Discussion: What does it mean to tell the truth? What is the opposite of truth? How can you tell the difference between the truth and a lie? Have you ever told a lie? Can you believe that God has never told a lie? We can trust that the Bible, His word is true.

   Craft: Making a map

   Activity: Treasure hunt using our map!

   Key Takeaway: Just like our maps led us to the treasure, we can trust God’s Word to lead us to the treasures of life. God’s Word is true and shows us the best way to live and how we should go about our life.

2. Love: God clearly defines what love is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Love is patient, kind, not jealous, not proud, honors others, not easily-angered, it is forgiving. Love does not rejoice in evil but is truthful, protective, trustful, and hopeful.

   Verse: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

   Discussion: God invented love and he is love. What do you think God loves? Do you think God wants us to love others? How can we love others?

   Craft: Make bird seed heart ornaments for tree

   Activity: Find a way to love a neighbor- bring cookies, pick up trash etc.

   Key takeaway: God is love and He loves us so much that He sent his son, Jesus, to die so we could live forever. Because God loves us, we should love others.

3. Beauty: God created everything on earth and all of its beauty. When we see beautiful things, we should be thankful for God who created it.

   Verse: Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

   Discussion: What is the most beautiful thing or place you have ever seen? Did you know that God made that? He made sunsets, waterfalls, flowers, and colorful birds all to show that He is worthy of our praise. He also made you and you are beautiful!

   Craft: Painting -go outside and paint flowers or things in nature

   Activity: Go on a hike or nature walk. Look for beautiful things and talk about how God made them.

   Key Takeaway: God’s creation is good! He made beautiful things including you. You are God’s most magnificent creation. Thank God for all he has made.

4. Omniscient: God is all knowing, meaning He knows everything.

   Verse: Psalm 139:4 “Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”

   Discussion: Start a conversation and then ask if they know what I am going to say next. No? Well God does – he knows everything you have ever said or thought and what you will do next! Did you know that there is no one who knows more than God? He knows how many hairs are on your head and what you will do tomorrow. He knows the past, all things you’ve done that are bad, and he loves you anyways. He knows the future and has given us his word with promises that we can trust.

   Craft: Hide and seek - God knows exactly where we are

   Activity: Adventure Science Museum field trip. God knows everything and He created the whole universe to work perfectly. Or simply look at the stars and try to count them one night. God knows every one!

   Key Takeaway: God knows everything. Nothing surprises Him. When we don’t know what to do, we can pray and ask God for wisdom.

5. Omnipresent: God is everywhere.

   Verse: Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

   Discussion: Where does God live? Are you ever alone? Did you know you can’t escape God? Read through the story of Jonah. Why is it important to make good choices even when you’re alone? Because God sees everything and we want to honor Him.

   Craft: I found this Youtube video that has a great object lesson to teach kid’s omnipresence with objects you have at home. 

   Activity: Read the Jonah Bible story on a picnic. Talk about how God doesn’t live at church but He is even here with us on this picnic. He is with us wherever we go.

   Key Takeaway: No matter where we go, we can’t escape God, He is always with us!

6. Omnipotent: God is all powerful and can do anything He desires!

   Verse: Matthew 19:26 “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

   Discussion: The Lord said to Moses, “Go ahead of the people of Israel. And take some of the elders of Israel with you. Carry with you the walking stick that you used to strike the Nile River. Now go! I will stand in front of you on a rock at Mount Sinai. Hit that rock with the stick, and water will come out of it. Then the people can drink.” — Exodus 17:5-6

   Did you know that God can do anything? He created the world simply by the power of his voice. He also gave the people water by striking  a rock when they were thirsty in the desert. Do you think you can make water come out of a rock? Let’s try. End with, there is nothing that God can’t do so the next time you need help, pray and ask almighty God to help you.

   Activity: Go and collect rocks for the craft. If you live by a waterfall, you could go on a hike and show God’s magnitude in all He created.

   Craft: Paint the rocks you collected. Next, try to hit the rocks with a stick and see if water comes out just like in our Bible reading. Then explain only God can do impossible things!

   Key Takeaway: God is all powerful. He is stronger than any superhero and He loves you. When you are facing an impossible situation, pray that He will help you!

7. Immutable: God’s word, purposes, and promises never change.

   Verse: Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

   Discussion: Do you think you change? Do you ever change your mind or grow? Show some baby pictures and how much they have changed. What about promises? Have you ever broken a promise? Tell me about it. Did you want to break that promise? How did it make you feel? Well, while we grow, change, change our mind and even break promises, God never does! Let’s look at how God has kept his promises. Read Isaiah 53 – who does this sound like? Did you know this was written thousands of years before Jesus was born? We can trust that God keeps his promises and doesn’t change because he did so all throughout the Bible!

   Activity: Go to Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary - talk about the life cycles of plants and animals. You can talk about how created things change but God never does.

   Craft: Another great Youtube video! Leaf color experiment

   Main Takeaway: Everything God created changes, grows old, decays, or dies. However we can trust God and His word because He never changes!

8. Holy: God is perfect and set apart. While we do things that are sinful, God has never sinned.

   Verse: Leviticus 11:44 “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.”

   Discussion: What do you think it means to be holy? Why does it matter that God is holy? Depending on the answer, we can explain that God has to be perfect without sin so that He can save us from our sin. What is sin? Sin is when we disobey God. Can you think of a choice that you made recently that was bad? It’s really hard to make good choices all the time, right? Can you believe that God has never made a bad choice?! He is perfect! That’s why only He can save us, because He is the only one who is holy. God also calls us to be holy and to make good choices. How can we try to honor God and be holy today?

   Activity: Home Depot craft class (they are usually free once a month). They typically provide something kids can put together. You can discuss that God also makes us whole just like this craft.

   Craft: This Youtube video has a great explanation for kids about holiness. The Home Depot craft is a great physical working of this video but if you wanted something extra, you could put a Lego set together.

   Main Takeaway: God is perfect, completely whole. We need Him to rescue us and make us whole and holy.

Why Does God Care What I Do?

Recently, I have had the joy of meeting with a few friends who also work in high school ministry and have a passion for writing. Finishing school has been a huge sigh of relief, but I also find myself missing the deadlines, readings, and the way it ignited a passion to write about different things I was learning. These friends and I have been giving each other writing prompts so we can explore writing, give feedback, and hold each other accountable to actually sitting down and writing. For the last couple of years, I have been volunteering with my church’s youth group and love hearing the questions they have about God and faith. One of the questions we often hear is “why does God care what I do?”

Have you wondered that too? I wondered this often growing up. I mean, God forgives our sins so can’t we just do what we want to do? After all, I prayed “the prayer” so I’m in, right? That’s another topic I want to explore in a future post (what does it truly mean to believe?) but these are the thoughts I wrestled with as a teen and even as a young adult. The following is my attempt to answer that question in a short, devotional type format for teens.

Why does God care what I do? Why does God care if I drink underage or if I sleep with my boyfriend? Why does He care what I listen to or watch?? These are valid questions that most of us who encounter God must ask. However, when we pull back, I think the root of this question asks - why does God care what I do with my life? I think this question boils down to purpose. To answer that question, we need to ask what kind of God the God of the Bible is and why he created you.

Who is the God of the Bible?

            There are countless ways to answer this question, and people have written long books with much more detailed answers than what I have space for here. But let’s focus on why the God of the Bible is different from other God of say Hinduism or Islam. The Bible tells us that in the beginning, God created all the earth and it was good (Genesis 1). God then created humans, specifically Adam and Eve. Yet, this creation was unique because, unlike everything else on earth, man was made in God’s image and completed creation which God said was “very good.” Genesis then tells us how Adam and Eve rebelled against God by eating the forbidden fruit, and sin entered the world (Genesis 3). That sin broke man’s perfect relationship with God. Sin resulted in not just a physical death but also a spiritual death that is passed from the line of Adam to the rest of creation.

            So how is the God of the Bible different from other gods? Many religions tell of ways to “get right” with god. There may be sacrifices or good deeds or living a morally pure life in the hopes that you can be good enough to satisfy god. However, Christianity is different. Because 2,000 years ago, God sent his own son to earth as a man, and after living a sinless life, he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to pay the price for your sin. Not only did he die a gruesome death, but he rose from the grave 3 days later so that you too can be brought from spiritual death to spiritual life!

Romans 6:5-7 says it like this, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

So, that’s who God is, but why were you created? God created you, and He did so for a purpose – so, what is that purpose?

Read Matthew 5:16, 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, and 1 Peter 4:11 (ESV)

What do the scriptures say is the purpose of your life?

How may God be asking you to re-align your life with his purposes? 

My three-year-old learned a sweet song at Bible Study Fellowship, and I often hear her singing it. It goes like this, “What is the purpose of my life? My purpose is to know God, love him, enjoy him, and glorify Him.” So why does God care about what you do? Because he loves you, He gave his life for you so that you could spend eternity with Him. He did not create you just to bounce around doing whatever feels good in the moment. No, He created you, specifically you, for a purpose. He has good things in store for you, and his love for you is why he cares about what you do. He loves you so much that he gave you scripture so that you have a guide for how to live a flourishing life.

Pray and ask God to help you take a step towards flourishing today.

Fighting Fear With Fear

Fear. What does it look like, feel like? There’s the fear that creeps in when we’re watching a scary movie. Or perhaps you are facing the fear of something much more serious like losing your job or not making rent. My heart has been aching thinking of the fear our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are currently facing with Russia’s invasion. No doubt there are serious, real challenges that bring fear into our life. There are also less serious things that we fear, like the fear of what someone may think if we tell them what we actually believe. Recently, I have been thinking of the latter, about how to battle the fear of being bold in our faith as our culture is rapidly changing. This post explores what the Bible says about fear and story about how I benefited from someone else’s courage. Let’s see what scripture says first.

            Scripture commands us to fear the Lord. Just this morning, I came across this verse in Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death” (14:27, NIV). A fountain of life? How can fear be a fountain of life? In scripture, we see two different types of fear. One is to be avoided or submitted to God, and the other is to be desired and draws us nearer to God. Let’s take a look at these two types:

Fear to be avoided:

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

In both of these verses, we see that God does not desire us to fear the things of this world. We are to trust God with the challenges that arise and the obstacles that surround us. In Isaiah, God reminds Israel that they are His chosen people, and they should not fear their enemies because He is their source of strength. Likewise, in 1 Timothy, God is reminding his children that His desire is not for us to live with a “spirit of fear,” but of a sound mind knowing that He is with us.  This type of fear is very different from the type of fear the Bible tells us to possess.

Fear to desire:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7, ESV).

“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50, ESV)

  This verse in Luke comes from Mary’s song of praise after she becomes pregnant with Jesus. Mary was an unmarried virgin teenager who miraculously became pregnant and had every right to be fearful of her circumstances which could have led to her death as punishment. Yet, her fear was righteous and granted her peace in her situation. She feared God. This type of fear may be better understood as reverence or awe of God. Coming before the Lord in humility and understanding your position before him. 

            I have been reading a book by Elliot Clark titled Evangelicals as Exiles. The author lived as a church planter and missionary in Central Asia and wrote this book as an encouragement and challenge to Christians today living in his homeland of the United States. In his own words, the book addresses, “how we live on mission when we’re strangers and sojourners in our own land. It’s about how we present the gospel and represent Christ when we lose our positions of cultural power an influence, when the world has pushed us to the margins, when those around us oppose the message we’re called to proclaim” (21). 

In chapter 2, he addresses the fear that Christians often face when sharing the gospel. We don’t share because we are afraid of being “weird,” rejected, or embarrassed. Yet, Clark challenges readers that the anecdote to this type of fear is fear. Everyone faces the fear of rejection. You may also face the fear of losing your job because you stood up for what you believed in. You may fear losing friends or Instagram followers because what you believe is no longer socially acceptable. Yet, as Christians, our fear should look different from the world’s fear. As Clark puts it, “In a world teeming with reasons to be terrified, the only rightful recipient of our fear, according to Peter, is God. So as we consider our heart-disposition in speaking with neighbors and friends about Christ, we must keep this distinction in our minds: We fear God, not people” (63).

  As the recipient of someone who was bold in their faith, I want to share with you a story. 10 years ago, before I was a Christian, I was visiting my boyfriend in Chicago (spoiler, we are now married!). I had just graduated from college, moved to Denver, and desperately needed a job. I had just had a successful interview and felt confident I had scored the position. I was out shopping and walking down the river walk of Chicago when my phone rang. I didn’t get the job. Again. My heart sank, and I was full of despair and fear of my financial situation. The tears streamed down my face. 

I was surrounded by people, yet I felt alone, scared, and overwhelmed. I couldn’t control my emotions and remember just weeping uncontrollably. A woman approached me to ask if I was ok. Let me just say that in a big city, this rarely ever happens. Most people avoid eye contact and continue on their way. She asked me to sit down, and through tears, I tried to tell her why I was crying. She asked if she could pray for me, and I said yes. She prayed over me on a bench in the middle of downtown as people passed by. That day, I didn’t turn to God. It would take another 18 months of him working on my heart. Yet after I did give my life to Him, I remembered this day. I remembered that He had always been there. He had been putting people in my path to draw me to Him. 

            I imagine this woman felt a prompting by the Holy Spirit to approach me. Maybe she thought, “God, this is going to be so awkward. What if she yells at me or pushes me away? What if she is offended or thinks I am crazy?” Yet, she obeyed. I am so grateful for her “yes” because this prayer reminded me that I wasn’t alone and that God saw me. Just like in Luke 15, when one of the sheep goes astray, the shepherd, Jesus, goes out to look for it, throws it over his shoulder, and brings it back home. I was that lost sheep. I have no doubt that even if that lady had said “no” to God, He would have still brought me home. God doesn’t need us, but He graciously allows us to participate in his redemptive plan and bring him glory on earth.

            So my question to you today is what or who are you fearing? Is your fear in the right place? Is it pointing you towards an almighty, powerful Savior who will stop at nothing to bring home his lost sheep? Or do you find yourself afraid to be bold in your faith for fear of man? Are you listening to the promptings that God is giving you? Are you asking for opportunities to partner with Him in the redemption of the world? That woman could have been really into her podcast or running late to a meeting and avoided dealing with this hot mess young woman crying on the street. I am so thankful that she stopped. If you are struggling to move forward with what God is calling you to because of fear, fear God more. I want to encourage you that having your fear in the right place will give you the courage you need to follow those promptings. And when you follow those promptings, no matter the outcome, you will have peace knowing that what God has called you to, He will carry you through. 

Will Loving Myself Heal the Planet?

Recently, while driving down the road, I was struck by the bold claim on the marquee of a church. It read, “Loving myself will help heal the planet.” What comes to mind when you read these words? Do alarm bells ring? Do you find yourself agreeing? It does seem to coincide with much of the messaging thrown our way today. If only we love ourselves more, we can love others more, and then the world will be a better place. Sounds so simple, so encouraging. While this sign contains some truth, I want to share why simply loving yourself falls flat. But not just that, as we approach the Christmas season, I want to share with you something simpler that actually does heal the planet.

            Back to the sign… so, where is the truth here? Something in this sign contains truth; otherwise, sayings like this wouldn’t be so popular. No matter what you believe the solution is, we can all agree there is a problem. Our world is broken. After the last 20 months of Covid craziness, I can’t imagine that we could disagree here. In this world, there is pain, suffering, confusion, and division. Yet, there is something inside us as humans that says, “It’s not supposed to be this way.” We yearn for love, joy, peace, and unity. There has been a drastic increase in the diagnosis of mental health disorders, and many of us feel plagued by fear and anxiety of the future. The reason these feelings bother us is because we yearn for more. No matter your beliefs, humans yearn for peace and joy. The Bible tells us that God “has put eternity into man’s heart” in Ecclesiastes 3:11. In our souls, we know that there is more than meets the eye. We have a longing for eternity, for no more death or sorrow. 

            If we agree that the world is broken and humans desire more, how then can we fix it? Is love enough? This is where the marquee not only falls short but sells a shallow gospel. What does it even mean to love myself? Culture tells us that we will feel like our best selves by doing enough self-discovery, meditation, and self-care. Live our best lives. Then after loving myself enough, I can then extend that to others from the overflow. After all, you can’t love someone else until you love yourself, right? Am I saying that all self-help is bad? Of course not. I believe that God wants us to be healthy and take care of ourselves, but that is how our hearts are already postured. We come into the world caring about our needs first. We have hunger pains, and we feed ourselves. We are exhausted, and we fall asleep. God has already equipped us with bodies that show us what we need to take care of ourselves. 

            Rather, in the self-love belief system, loving yourself becomes an idol. Self becomes the central focus. And when is it enough? I may have a day of “wellness” and have all of the energy to love my kids well, but I start the next day with an empty slate. The idol of self is a starving monster that I become a slave to feeding. It’s never enough. I may learn through self-help books how to curb my anger, meditate for 30 minutes every morning, and create boundaries but doesn’t that all sound exhausting? This is why so many of us start with these amazing goals on January 1st and abandon ship after just a few weeks. Loving yourself is an exhausting, endless cycle that will never truly give you the rest and peace your body craves. If you can’t even do this for yourself, how in the world will it ever be able to heal the planet? 

I think several years ago, I would have driven right past this sign and agreed. Maybe alarm bells wouldn’t have sounded off in my head, but that has changed after the last few years of digging into God’s word. Once you know the truth, experience true joy, and rest, you can’t go back to the shallow fix. So today, in the Advent season, I want to share with you how our planet will find healing. I want to share the free gift that allows you to experience a type of soul rest you won’t find in a self-help book or yoga session. 

Two thousand years ago, God came into this world as a baby, born of a virgin (Luke 1:27). His birth, already miraculous, is just a small part of the good news. Jesus grew up, lived a perfect, sinless life, and performed miracle after miracle, righting the world’s wrongs (2 Corinthians 5:21). Healing sin’s curse on the earth. And one day, he willingly went to the cross, giving his life as the perfect sacrifice that would atone for all sin forevermore (Romans 5:8). He died, was buried, and after three days, He rose from the grave, declaring victory over sin and death(Romans 6:9)! The best news? He offers salvation and new life for all who believe in Him (John 3:16). Eight years ago, I believed. After years of struggling and desperation, trying to live life on my own terms, I surrendered my life to Christ. That doesn’t mean that life has been easy since that day, but it does mean that I don’t have to do life alone. It means that God is with me, every day. It means that his Spirit lives inside of me, offering supernatural peace and joy despite life’s circumstances(Romans 8:11, Galatians 5:22). It means that death isn’t the end. I have peace knowing that despite what is happening in this world, one day, I will spend eternity with Christ where there is no more death or suffering. It means that I can truly love myself, not by making myself the central focus but by understanding that I am made in God’s image and he has a purpose for my life, to glorify Him!

Christ is coming back one day. He will bring with Him perfect justice, eliminate the enemy, and restore his kingdom here on earth(John 14:1-3). Christ will heal the planet. He is the only one who has that power and authority. He is the only one who will have the final victory, and to Him, every knee will bow! Praise God that it’s not up to me or you to heal the planet! As we approach this Christmas season, I invite you to investigate the claims that I am making. Are you exhausted and weary? Are you overwhelmed by the news of this world? Pray and ask God to reveal himself to you. Investigate the story of Jesus with one of the resources below and ask if it’s true. Praying Christ reveals himself to you, and you experience true rest, joy, and peace this Christmas season.

For further reading:

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary R. Habermas and Michael Licona

Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace

Reformation Day

What’s the big deal with Reformation Day? If you had asked me this two years ago, I would have said, “there’s a Reformation Day?” One of my first assignments as a Master’s student was to give a biography of Martin Luther. I knew very little about him, and after watching a few documentaries, I knew enough to give you the highlights of his life. One thing is for sure, if you want to study church history, you have to study Martin Luther and his impact on the Church… he’s that important.

            I recently had the privilege of going to Rome to study as part of my Master’s requirements. I wish I could write down all of the things that I learned on that trip, but one that has stuck with me was the day we took the Reformation Walk. So, in this post, I want to share what I learned on that walk, some pictures, and why I believe as Christians, we should celebrate October 31st, Reformation Day. 

            Leonardo De Chirico is an author, professor, and pastor of a small evangelical church in the heart of Rome. My group sat in on two of his fascinating lectures about Roman Catholicism, church history, Vatican 2, and the Reformation. He took us to three different sites on our Reformation Walk, which started with the Sancta Sanctorum. The Sancta Sanctorum is where the stairs from Pontius Pilate’s praetorium were relocated by Constantine’s mother. These stairs are believed to be where Jesus climbed to receive his crucifixion sentence from Pilate. Many Catholics come to these stairs and climb up on their knees while praying as part of their pilgrimage to receive an indulgence. 

Sancta Sanctorum

           Martin Luther was a devout Catholic monk who lived in the early 1500s. If you study his life, you will hear about the agony and discontent he felt as he yearned to please God and earn his salvation. There are stories of him laying in the snow, restricting his diet, and sleeping without blankets to sacrifice to Christ and unite in his suffering. In 1510, he was chosen to represent the German Augustinian monks and make the pilgrimage to Rome and the Vatican, the epicenter of the Catholic faith. Upon arrival, he came to these sacred stairs. He saw men and women climbing the Sancta Sanctorum on their knees and paying the priest at the top of the stairs to receive an indulgence. 

            If you are unfamiliar, an indulgence is a piece of paper given by the Catholic church that grants full or partial remission from the punishment of sin. These indulgences claimed to guarantee that you can curb time in purgatory by donating to the Catholic church. Indulgences were also sold to family members of those who had died so that they could pass from purgatory to Heaven. Martin Luther saw the vast wealth of the Vatican and the corrupt practice of selling indulgences, and something didn’t sit right. To make the story short, he went back home, studied scripture, and became convinced that salvation could not be bought. So, he drafted the 95 Theses, and on October 31, 1517, he nailed them to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany.

            This date is attributed to the start of the Protestant Reformation, which ultimately led to Protestants breaking away from the Catholic church over theological disagreements like justification. Luther was a faithful Catholic and wanted to start a conversation or debate about many of the corrupt practices of the Catholic church, but he would later be excommunicated and labeled a heretic.

            The Sancta Sanctorum or Holy Stairs prompt Catholics to relive the passion of Christ. They are taught that they must do some good works in order to please God instead of simply receiving his grace as sufficient enough. This idea distorts the truth of scripture by causing Catholics to believe that God forgives sins and responds to us when we do things to please him. Why was the Reformation such a big deal? Because scripture tells us that Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died for our sins. When we believe in Christ and make him the Lord of our lives, we are forgiven. Salvation was and always will be a free gift from God that we can never buy or earn.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

            These scriptures clearly tell us that it is our belief in the finished work of Christ that guarantees our salvation. So, why was this not clear prior to the Reformation? Sadly, all of the Bibles were in Latin (the language of scholars), were extremely scarce and expensive. To hear the word of God, you had to hear it through your priest at a local church. Martin Luther bravely translated the Bible from Latin to German. Others who tried to translate the Bible into a common language were burned at the stake as heretics. Leonardo shared that until 1870, Rome was run by popes, and possession of a Bible was a crime. He passed around this Bible, which had been smuggled into Italy.

Italian Bible that was smuggled into the country in 1870

            Leonardo shared that one of the biggest hurdles he has had to overcome as an evangelical in Rome is that the Catholic church has labeled evangelicals a cult. One of their biggest tasks is opening their doors to the community to show them that they are not weird or scary but simply love Jesus and the truth of his word. Protestants could not really live in Rome until about 50-60 years ago because of the One State One Religion ordinance. Even several years ago, his church had a hard time getting a mortgage because the bank wanted approval that they were ok’d by the Catholic Church! 

            On the last stop of the Reformation Walk, we ended up in a park that showcased a Martin Luther sign. I honestly looked at this and thought, “what is the big deal?” Leonardo explained why it was. This sign, which was difficult to get approved, means something to the protestants living in Rome. It means that they, too, belong. That they have a place here in Rome. We sat in that park and sang the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” More so than ever before, I felt immense gratitude. Gratitude for men and women who throughout history fought for the truth of the gospel. Who, despite hardships, ex-communication, and even death, understood that what Christ did for us on the cross accomplished everything we need. That believed that we were meant to have a personal relationship with Christ and study the truth of his word. 

            There is still much I do not know about the Reformation and Church history, but I become more and more grateful every time I learn something new. I become encouraged that God’s truth stands. The name of this blog and my Instagram account is Testing for Truth which is based on Acts 17:11. In this passage, the Bereans did not simply accept everything that the apostle Paul told them, but they took it and compared it against scripture to see if what he said was true. You don’t need to be a scholar, pastor, or well-educated to test for truth. I want to encourage you to keep testing for truth, and by the way, you can do that because the Bible was printed in your language, thanks to the Reformers! Happy Reformation Day, friends!

Rest in Peace

  One of the main questions that hinders people from believing in God is how can a good God allow bad things to happen? How can believers still trust in God despite all of the sufferings on earth? It’s a question that often surfaces in the midst of a tragedy and one that almost everyone grapples with. Jesus said in John 16:33 that suffering is inevitable in this world, but that we can have hope because of what he has done. So, how can we have this hope? What does that even look like? I want to share with you today something I experienced last week that I can’t quit thinking about.

   This past week, one of my childhood friend’s twin boys both passed away within 24 hours of each other. They were 12 months old and had lived with an incredibly rare disease which they bravely fought.  I had never attended a child’s funeral, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. It is an unimaginable loss, and there are truly no words to describe what they are going through. Whatever I did expect, I was blown away by what I saw. My friend and her husband graciously received guests with hugs and smiles. We sang “See a Victory” and “It Is Well” as we celebrated the miracle lives of those boys. Her husband spoke and shared about the supernatural peace that they both felt that day. He said it was indescribable and could only come from the Lord. He shared the joy and happiness that their boys exhibited despite their illness and all of the wires, pokes, and prods that came along with it.

I sat there in awe. In awe that while they were grieving and sad, that they could express such peace and hope. That was what the entire service was filled with, not devastation but hope! Where do you get that kind of hope that can even appear at your babies’ funeral? From the Lord. From knowing that this was not the end. He shared that he knew the second both boys passed away, they went straight from their arms into the arms of Jesus. They knew that those boys were no longer sick but were made well and completely restored. That they were full of joy and living life to the fullest. I will never forget what was said at the service, that they didn’t lose their boys. They knew exactly where their boys were, in Heaven with Jesus, and given a choice; they wouldn’t want to come back.

The entire service not only celebrated the life of these boys but also the hope that we have in Christ. The hope that they will all be reunited one day. The truth that this was not the end, and death didn’t get the final say. They used this opportunity to carry on their sons’ legacies of the faithfulness and goodness of God. 

A phrase that is often repeated when offering someone condolences is “Rest in Peace.” As I heard this phrase repeated, I began wondering where it originated, and I want to share that research with you today. According to dictionary.com, Rest in Peace is a translation of the Latin phrase, requiescat in pace. This phrase began as a prayer for the souls of those who had passed and began showing up on Christian gravestones in the 8th century. The roots of this phrase come from Isaiah 57:2, which reads, “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” These gravestone markers became more popular and widespread up to the 18th century. The two words that stick out are what Christians have banked their life on, peace and rest. But what do these words really mean to believers?

In scripture, believers in Christ are promised rest as seen in Hebrews 4:9-11, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” God commands that his people practice Sabbath, a day of rest which is a foreshadowing of the true rest that will come in eternity. That rest isn’t simply a nap or a good night’s sleep. That rest is what is promised when believers enter into eternity with the Lord, as is foreshadowed in Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” The rest described in Revelation is beyond comprehension. A new life where there is no stress, no worries, no pain, no regrets, no striving, or straining. It’s a rest knowing that your Lord and Savior is among you and has met every single one of your needs, and you get to spend the rest of your days worshipping and glorifying him with your spiritual family.

So, what about peace? Man, after the last several years, I don’t know if there is a time I have yearned more for peace. Yet peace isn’t simply getting along or superficial unity. True Biblical peace, or shalom as it’s translated in Hebrew, means peace between all people, nations, and with God (gotquestions.org). Peace is more than a feeling; it is a state of being because the Lord has enacted perfect righteousness and justice on earth. When Jesus comes back, he will right every wrong, and every person will have to give an account of their life to him. His righteousness and justice are perfect and will be enacted on all the earth. He will bring true peace because he is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Thinking back to the funeral, I can’t quite shake what happened in that room. I didn’t have the opportunity to meet these boys, but I can say that their lives changed me. As I have been thinking this week about all that is going on in the world, I can become overwhelmed, anxious, and fearful. I can become so distracted with the here and now that I take my eyes off the true spiritual reality around me. My friend and her husband didn’t lose track of it. Their faith kept them grounded despite the circumstances. They have chosen hope and to spread that hope with those around them. The miracle of these boys’ lives will continue as their souls truly rest in eternal peace. 

The question I leave you to ponder is, do you have this type of peace? Are you living life with a heavenly perspective, knowing that all the chaos, sadness, and suffering around you will one day end? Do you have hope that one day Jesus will come back and right all of the wrongs on earth? If so, I invite you to pause and praise God for that. If not, perhaps pray that God would show you that he is real and that there is hope. Also, join me in praying for the my friend and her family, that God would continue to cover them with the peace and hope that only comes from Him. We praise the Lord that these boys are living full, joyous lives as they rest in peace with their Savior.

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Coming Soon: Identity Study

            It’s been a minute since I have posted and I want to share with you why. I have been developing a Bible study as a final project for my master’s, but I am also praying it will be a helpful resource to address an issue that I see today. Let me explain… The most feedback I have gotten from any of my posts has been in response to the enneagram. To be honest, it was the post I was most nervous about because I know how beloved the enneagram is in the Christian community. So it only makes sense that it would be the one with the most traffic, God has a sense of humor. But that got me thinking about what I see as a repetitive theme that people today seem the most confused about and hungry to solve: identity. The question of “who am I” seems to be the underlying question motivating many behaviors and movements today. I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say we have an identity crisis in our culture today. Why are self-help books flying off the shelf? Why did the enneagram become so popular so fast? Why are we all drawn to personality quizzes and tests? Why are people more than ever before confused and questioning their gender?

            At 24, I went to my first ever Church women’s retreat after becoming a Christian earlier that year. During a breakout session, we were asked to write on a piece of paper who we are. I sat there confused, slightly embarrassed, and insecure. I didn’t have a great answer for this, and it seemed like everyone around me was writing a novel. Years before I had been asking this question and after college graduation, I was determined to find the answer. I moved to Colorado with grand visions of doing yoga on top of a mountain and discovering who I truly was.  Sadly, this is not a joke. It just seemed to me like everyone else had it figured out. Who they were and what they wanted to be when they grew up. What groups they belonged to and what they believed. Meanwhile I was questioning everything.

            I didn’t realize it at the time, but my questions really stemmed from confusion about who God was and who he made me to be. I see that same question circling around our nation today. Is God actually good? Can he be trusted? Did he really create all of earth? Is he involved in my life or is he distant? When he looks at me, is he disappointed? Or is he even real? Sadly, I think most people are walking around unaware of God at all. Instead, they are on this path of self-discovery spurred on by the latest self-help book and Instagram influencer. How can I take my career to the next level or be my best self? After all, when you discover your true self, all of life is assured to be better, right?

            I too have been on this journey of finding answers to these questions. A couple of years ago, God began to put an idea in my heart of going back to school. Through studying theology, I feel God has revealed the knowledge of who he is in a deeper way than I have known before. We have been tasked with writing a Capstone, a paper or project that would determine whether or not we had earned our master’s degree. As I stewed over what I wanted to write about, God gave me the vision of a study, something that would utilize many of the concepts I have studied all while focusing on something that I found to be a pressing issue today: identity. 

            My capstone project is an 8-week Bible study centered on identity: finding the truth of who you are in a world filled with false labels. Through looking at God’s word, we will study the truth of who God is and how we were made in his image. We will see how sin entered the world and how that image has been distorted. How salvation through Jesus affects God’s image on our lives and how to live in the world today as we await eternity. We will also look at our future hope and how God will finally restore our image in Heaven. I hope that through this study, God will reveal to you who he is, who you are, and what that means for your life today. This study was written to me as a young adult. It is also a reminder to me now, a tribute to who God is and the wonderful hope we have in him. I am hoping to bring regular blog posts back in the near future as we test for truth together.

Are Christianity and Universalism Compatible?

This is the question I began thinking about as I read the last page of Huston Smith’s book Why Religion Matters. This book was part of my coursework for a Comparative Theology class and while it was a complicated read, I really had enjoyed the book. Yet the last few pages threw me for an unexpected loop. Smith is a brilliant scholar born to missionary parents who raised him in China. Due to his upbringing, he was exposed to many of the world’s religions and spent time with spiritual teachers of Buddhist and Hindu faiths. He is well educated and was a professor at the elite schools of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California at Berkeley. Smith is well read and extremely knowledgeable which is shown throughout the book. The big goal of his book is seen in its title, to make the case that religion does in fact matter. Smith opens the book with a tunnel metaphor which establishes the framework for the remainder of the book. He makes the case that modernity creates in individuals a tunnel vision that hinders their ability to see the “big picture” of life. He establishes that the tunnel’s floor is scientism (the belief that the scientific method and material items are the most reliable ways to understand truth), the walls are higher education and the law, and the roof is the media. He gives the image that these are almost like a window shade which is pulled down so that you can only see two inches outside the window. You can see partially, but not the full picture. In other words, our generation has lost curiosity about the big questions in life like, “What happens when you die?” or “Why am I here on earth?” “Is there someone or something greater than me?” 

            All along he builds a convincing case and helps the reader zoom out to see the bigger picture and why modern life is restricting it. I was in agreement with most everything he said… until the last couple of pages. Essentially, he comes to the conclusion that in the end, he will continue on in consciousness and while his view of the afterlife is hard to follow, it seems he is saying he will be conscious of “the beatific vision” until he is like a bird that will go free. If you are confused by what that means, you are not alone. The last few pages of his book state his unease with the idea of a final judgement and his preference for universalism or salvation for all. I was pretty shocked reading this from someone who has really studied the Christian faith and its doctrines. As we are in the midst of Holy Week, let’s look at the question: will all be saved?

            Often I hear that Christianity is intolerant. I think this statement lacks understanding. Christianity is open to everyone. The invitation to have a relationship with Jesus Christ is available to all. Often one of the first Bible verses taught to small children is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Christianity is inclusive that it is available to all people yet it is exclusive in that there is only one way. Jesus makes an exclusive statement while he is here on earth, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

            Jesus was very clear with his purpose and mission on earth: he brought forth the way to salvation, the ONLY way to salvation. We are at the beginning of Holy Week, the week where we remember and celebrate what Jesus accomplished by his death and resurrection. There is something that separates Christianity from every other religion on earth. That is the work and life of Jesus Christ. We do not have to work towards doing enough good deeds in order to please God because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. If you are confused about what Christianity is, let’s boil it down to what the essentials are. These are the things that the Christian faith hinges on:

1.     God created the world and everything in it (Genesis 1:1)

2.     Humans rebelled against God and sin entered the world (Genesis 3)

3.     God sent his Son Jesus who lived a sinless life to die on the cross, taking the sins of the world and atoning for them as the perfect sacrifice (Romans 3:23-26).

4.     Jesus was buried and after 3 days was resurrected, reigns in Heaven, and is coming back to establish a New Earth and declare final judgment (John 20, Acts 1:1-2, Rev. 22:12-13)

5.     All who believe in Jesus and confess him as Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9-10)

This is the event which defines Christianity. The cross is where our faith hinges. Belief in Jesus is the only way to forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This is why Holy Week is so important and why universalism is incompatible with Christianity. The Bible speaks over and over again of a final judgment to come. There will be a separation of those who made Jesus the lord of their lives and for those who did not (Revelation 20:11-15).

            I recognize and sympathize with those who struggle with this. It grieves me to think of my friends and family members and even strangers who do not believe. I see Huston Smith’s heart and good intentions with his beliefs. I know many who just can’t believe that a good God would send people to eternal punishment. But scripture tells us that God is love. His judgment is love. I think sometimes we are so shocked by the fact that a holy God would punish sin because we really aren’t that offended by sin. We live in a sin infested world and after a while, we just aren’t really shocked by it anymore. We can’t understand how good, holy, and loving God truly is because we don’t really see how sinful and desperate we are for a savior.  

            Or maybe for you, you see your sin and rebellion towards God and think, “there is no way I could be good enough for that.” I am here to tell you, there is NOTHING that can separate you from Christ’s love. He didn’t die for those who just occasionally lie or cheat. He died for ALL, for the murderer, the adulterer, the abuser. Those who sinned so bad you can’t even say it out loud. He isn’t asking you to clean yourself up and then follow him, he came down to earth, to meet you where you are, and to make you clean. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Christ’s death and resurrection paid the price for every sin you’ve ever committed and every sin you will ever commit. 

            I would rename the book, Why Christianity Matters, and argue that in the end, it matters that scientism is attacking the Christian faith because it leads people astray. It matters that people are swayed by the media into believing Christians are bigots because it causes people to not want to be Christians. And being a Christian matters because it is the only way that your soul can be saved in the end. Christianity is the only belief system that offers true hope and true answers to life’s biggest questions. The big picture of life is that this is not the end. This may be all our eyes can see now but there is a spiritual reality that supersedes our physical reality. I beg you to not numb out with Netflix or the endless social media scroll but to really think about what in the world you are doing here and where you are going. To ponder the big questions of life if you’ve never thought about them before. And perhaps consider what Jesus truly meant when he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” 

For a more detailed apologetic about universalism, check out this article by N.T. Wright

Meditation: Biblical or Pagan?

I am currently taking a course called Comparative Theology where we are studying and contrasting the 12 major world religions. I was excited about this course because I have not spent a lot of time looking into other religions and thought I would get a chance to learn about other belief systems. While I have definitely learned a lot, I was shocked to learn how much other belief systems have trickled into my own world and Western culture. A couple of these practices originated in India with the Hindu and Buddhist faith but have trickled into our everyday life here across the world. So what practices are these? Yoga and meditation. This blog is going to center on the practice of meditation – what Biblical meditation is, what Eastern meditation is, deciphering the difference, and my personal journey with meditation.

Meditation is a HUGE buzzword right now – there are apps devoted to it, websites teaching you how to do it, and it’s all over pop culture. In all honesty, I never knew this word had spiritual roots because it seems so secularized and mainstream. I knew that the Bible had verses about meditating but that seemed different than what was being advertised yet I had always thought of meditation being something neutral or from the psychology field. I had no idea that this “neutral” practice actually had roots in Hinduism that were thousands of years old. I think this can be confusing to Christians because meditation is in the Bible. And if it’s in the Bible, it must be safe right? I would argue that the practice of meditation that is popularized in the West (originating from Eastern religions) is very different from the meditation that scripture is talking about. I think it’s important to differentiate these 2 types.

So, what is Biblical meditation?

            The word meditate in the Bible is translated into many different terms in its original language (several Hebrew and a couple Greek). The first time it is mentioned is in Genesis where Isaac went out into a field to meditate (Genesis 24:63). Meditate in this verse is translated to the Hebrew word suah which according to the Blue Letter Bible means “to meditate, muse, commune, speak, or complain.” Given this definition, it seems that Isaac was speaking with God. Later in Joshua 1:8 we see the more common Hebrew word for meditate which is haga, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate (haga) on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” Here the Lord is commanding Joshua who is taking over the role of Moses to meditate on the Book of the Law, likely Genesis through Deuteronomy. This Hebrew word, haga, according to the Blue Letter Bible means to imagine, meditate, mutter or roar. Over the summer our pastor was preaching through the Psalms and this same word haga came up. I have never forgotten what it means because he gave such a powerful illustration. He showed a picture of a lion laying down and feasting on some animal carcass and then he played the sound of a lion roar. This wasn’t a fierce roar but more like a purr, a sound of an animal who is completely satisfied. That sound, that roaring of satisfaction is what it means to haga God’s word. To be completely satisfied with it.

            Another Hebrew translation of the word meditate found in the Old Testament is the word siah which means, “talk, meditate, speak, complain, pray”. In the New Testament, the Greek word meletao is often used to describe a meditative practice like in 1 Timothy 4:15, “Be diligent (meletao) in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress”. Paul here is emphasizing the need to be diligent in preaching and teaching the word of God. 

            While the Bible speaks of meditating many times throughout scripture (especially in the Psalms), the object of Biblical meditation does not change. We are to meditate on God and his word. Scripture commands Christians to meditate on God’s word, on his law, his precepts, his decrees, and his promises. The idea behind Biblical meditation is to read, study, know, and align our hearts with God and his word. It is to take time away from the distractions of the world and focus your hearts on the eternal. I believe that God calls us to meditate so that our minds can be transformed, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

What is Eastern Meditation?

Now that we have a good grasp on what Biblical meditation is, let’s contrast it with Eastern meditation. Buddhism is derived from Hinduism and both religions use meditation as part of the core practices of their faiths. Jason Boyett states in his 12 Major World Religions book, “Meditation helps Buddhists clear their minds, minimize suffering, and understand the true nature of the universe.” There are many forms of Buddhist meditation but two that are highlighted are anapanasati or “mindfulness of breathing” and metta bhavana or “loving kindness”. I had never heard of these words, but I am very familiar with mindfulness meditation. According to the Buddhist tradition, this mindfulness meditation helps you connect with the present moment by focusing on breathing. Maybe this doesn’t sound harmful – I mean we want to be present right? Let me explain what the true purpose of this practice is: detachment. The whole purpose of this practice and the Buddhist teachings is to detach from suffering in this current world. Hinduism and Buddhism believe in reincarnation and that life is cyclical. You are essentially stuck in the pattern of reincarnation and while these religions have different methods of escaping this pattern, for the Buddhist, you are attempting to use meditation and yoga as a means to disconnect from the world, detach from suffering, greed, and even your personality so that you can achieve nirvana or liberation from reincarnation. 

My Journey with Mindfulness

Several years ago, Gabe was introduced to mindfulness in his recovery program (sobriety journey here). Mindfulness was introduced to him as a way to be present and help relieve stress. He heard about a class that was being offered at a local church in Chicago called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. This course was marketed as backed by science and a way to relieve stress and anxiety and even to aid in alcohol recovery. We both took the course which lasted over a span of several months. In this course, we practiced body scans, mindfulness listening exercises, and even a silent retreat. I had no idea at the time that the founder of MBSR was a Zen Buddhist and that many of these practices were Buddhist in origin. The focus was on being in the present moment, to not unpack thoughts or feelings that came up but to simply let them pass by like clouds. I know it sounds a little woo-wooish but at the time I was totally on board with anything that Gabe thought would help him stay sober. Also, I want to state again that this was offered through a church! I totally had my guard down because of that. This course and the practice of mindfulness have gained a lot of popularity in the academic spaces (developed at UMASS) and culture today. 

While we haven’t kept up with these mindfulness techniques, this practice of anapanasati jumped off the page to me in my religions textbook. We were unknowingly practicing anapanasati, mindfulness meditation meant to detach from yourself and from the world in order to reach nirvana. I want to expound on the other practice mentioned too, metta bhavana or “loving kindness”. Boyett describes this as follows, “Its purpose is to cultivate a feeling of love or benevolence for the world. Practitioners begin by stimulating metta for themselves, then for friends, strangers, enemies, and the larger world.” I want to highlight this because I have sat through so many yoga practices where this is taught and sounds something like, “send love out to the world”. Now, the next time you hear it, maybe it will stand out to you too and you will be able to recognize its Buddhist origins. 

Why does this matter? 

This was a very brief overview contrasting Biblical meditation from Eastern religious meditation. I know that I have left a lot out but this is a blog, not a book. My goal in writing is was to help bring awareness and discernment between these different practices. In summary, Biblical meditation focuses your mind on God and his word. He is always the focus in Biblical meditation. Eastern meditation seeks to clear your mind of thought. If you have ever tried to meditate and not think of anything at all, this is also Eastern meditation. It is detachment from the world so that you can be “enlightened” and achieve nirvana.

  I don’t write this to shame anyone if you have been practicing Eastern forms of meditation, as I mentioned, I too fell into this unknowingly. One of my biggest takeaways from studying Theology is seeing where I have let other theologies come into my life unknowingly and influence me. As a Christian, I want to honor God with my actions. I want to meditate on God’s word so that I can be transformed by the renewing of my mind, not conformed to this world. I write this so that you will not be deceived like me, so that you will have your eyes wide open and will be able to discern the difference from what is Biblical and what is of this world. Before I was a Christian, I used to want to have an open mind about everything. Now, I want to have God’s mind and a Biblical perspective about everything. I leave you with this quote from G.K. Chesterton:

 “Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”

Make sure you the things you are putting into your mind are worthy of swallowing. 

The War on Words

Last summer I took a course on philosophical theology and it was just as complicated as it sounds. As someone completely unfamiliar with philosophy, most of the course was spent looking up definitions and trying to memorize the language in the books I was reading. My biggest take away from the course may be something different than what you expect, but it was an idea that the professor drilled into our minds over and over. Define your terms. When you are having a conversation with someone and they throw out a word, even if you think you know what they’re talking about, ask them to define it. More often than not, you may be having a conversation using the same language but meaning two different things. 

            Recently I posted an article about Progressive Christianity and one of the main tactics and subtle deceptions in Progressive Christianity is redefining words. Have you ever had a conversation with someone, maybe even a church friend, but feel like you’re talking past each other? It may be that while you are using the same words, you are actually talking about two different things. Here are some examples of words today that have been redefined to alter their meaning: love, truth, holy, tolerance, justice, unity, violence, and oppression. I am sure there are many other examples but these are some of the ones that seem to be circulating around most frequently. 

What do I mean by redefining words?

As Christians, how do we know what love is? Scripture tells us that God is love. God, the everlasting God IS love. That means that he is the one who defines what love is. So, what does he have to say about love? One of the most famous scriptures on this topic is one that is often read at weddings. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

            This is God’s definition of love and it is beautiful, multi-faceted and it brings true Biblical love for those who follow it. Yet even in the church, this word seems to have changed meanings. In progressive Christianity, love is now seen as fully accepting and embracing someone including the sin in their lives. It isn’t just asking for acceptance but fully affirming sin. This argument is especially used with the LGBTQ community. Traditional Christians who uphold a Biblical belief in marriage are now called bigots, intolerant, and unloving because of their beliefs. The progressive definition of love excludes a very important part of the 1 Corinthians verse, “it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” Now, it is no longer enough to love your neighbor while not agreeing with their sin, this is deemed unloving and even labeled harmful. Progressive Christianity wants you to accept, embrace, and even say that gay marriage is holy. 

             One word that has vastly changed definitions, even outside of church is the word tolerance. According to Oxford Languages, tolerance is defined as “the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.” This definition of tolerance is a positive thing. It means that you can believe something different than me and we can still go about our own business, interact, and be kind to each other. This definition is upheld in scripture when the early church held different views on food sacrificed to idols and other secondary issues. Despite differences in tradition, the church is called to unity.

  However, tolerance today looks more like, “being open to everything that aligns with my worldview.” Social media today seems outraged when someone posts an opinion that goes against the cultural narrative. We are living in the height of cancel culture. I am not talking about calling out someone who has done something outrageous but calling for people to be canceled, lives, and businesses ruined because they hold an opinion that is outside the popular opinion of culture. Many people who are calling others “intolerant” for holding conservative beliefs don’t see the hypocrisy. By calling someone intolerant because they believe differently than you, you are being intolerant. As Christians, we don’t have to agree with everyone else’s opinion, there is only ONE TRUTH (God’s truth!). However, we can live peaceably with those who believe differently than we do. Not submitting to falsehood but also not calling for them to be silenced or cancelled for believing differently.

How do we respond when someone changes the definition of a word?

            One thing that can help us discern if something is true, is to ask the person what they are talking about. It doesn’t have to be overbearing, “DEFINE that word!” It can be something simple and easy, “I heard you say social justice is important to you. What do you mean by that?” Ask people to define their terms. Often just the mere pushback may cause someone to pause and say they really hadn’t thought of what the word means. There are so many buzzwords flying around that often people latch on to new ideas without questioning what they really mean. 

            If they do give you a definition, ask where they got that from. Now, more than ever is the time to know what your Bible says. Know what Biblical justice, love, tolerance, and unity mean so that when you hear a secular version of these, you can discern that. One of the most dangerous things I think for Christians right now is that we can easily be swept into someone else’s agenda without even realizing it contradicts scripture because we don’t actually know what scripture says. This is especially true in “Christian” spaces where it’s easy to let your guard down. 

            I remember years ago listening to a Jen Hatmaker podcast where she was talking about holiness. Without my knowledge, she had changed the definition of holiness to something watered down. She said holiness can be a conversation with a friend or redecorating your house. At the time, this didn’t jump out to me as “off” because I don’t think I really knew what the Bible said about holiness. I knew God was holy but now this Christian podcast was telling me I could be holy in redoing my room or having coffee with a friend. Do you see the danger here? Those things can be good and bring us happiness, but they are not holy. My study Bible defines holiness as, “worthy of worship or veneration; sacred; divine; consecrated or set apart for sacred use; living according to a highly moral spiritual system.” God is holy, he is set apart. When we water down what holiness is, we are tempted to believe we are holier and more worthy than we really are. It causes us to have a higher view of ourselves and a lower view of who God is.

            I don’t think the war on words is ending anytime soon. I think it will become more prevalent and continue to confuse people and lead Christians astray. So what do we do about it? The first step is identifying words that are being redefined so that your brain is on alert when you hear them in conversations or on social media. Next, ask friends to define their words. Lastly, dig into what scripture says about these words. If you don’t know, your Bible’s dictionary and concordance is a great place to start. It’s ok to push back against these words with Biblical truth in a loving way. I think these small conversations are where we can begin to point people back to truth and cause them to stop and think. The good news is that God has given us his words to live by. In a culture that is always changing, his word stays the same and is a solid foundation to build your life upon.

5 Reasons Why I Left the Enneagram

The enneagram has exploded in popularity over the last several years. There are podcasts wholly devoted to it, books written about it, classes and certifications you can take – essentially culture, especially Christian culture is enneaobsessed. In addition to mainstream media, the enneagram has vastly infiltrated the church. I first heard of the enneagram on a Christian podcast in 2017 and was mesmerized. It was so interesting to me and as soon as I heard Ian Cron describe the 9 enneatypes, I immediately identified with one of them. There were things about my personality in what he was saying that I had never been able to pinpoint or articulate. One of the first thoughts that came to my mind when I read about my type was “wow, I am not alone” and I had new, useful language to better understand myself. Gabe and I had just come out of a rough spot in our marriage and were still rebuilding, and the enneagram seemed like a helpful tool to aid in that process. Obviously as newlyweds, there is conflict surrounding your preferences and the way you see the world and ours were only highlighted due to addiction and recovery (see post on our story here). I felt this immense release knowing this is why I am this way. This is how I see the world and Gabe simply sees it differently and now we can understand each other better.

From there, I too became enneaobsessed. I immediately read Ian Cron’s book, The Road Back To You, listened to podcasts, and enjoyed talking about it and telling everyone I knew about it. Not only was it fun and interesting, but it was marketed as a Christian tool to help me understand and improve myself. Fast forward a couple of years and I began to hear several things on this podcast that seemed off and unBiblical. I was growing in my faith and Bible knowledge and had taken more of an interest in that, so I stopped seeking out new information on the enneagram. Then earlier this year I heard information about the enneagram that validated that “off feeling” and made me leave the enneagram altogether. This is what I want to share today because it is completely contrary to what Christian enneagram teachers are saying but is ultimately true.

1.     The enneagram’s origins are in the occult. The enneagram is NOT an ancient Christian tool that has been around for ages but was invented in the 1970s by Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo from automatic writing. What is automatic writing? Automatic writing is a form of spirit contact where you allow a spirit to write through you. When I am saying spirit contact, I am NOT talking about the Holy Spirit. This is essentially contacting a demon and allowing the demon to take over your hand and write through you. Does it sound crazy? Yes! Is it scary? Yes! Is it Biblical? No. The Bible clearly states that any form of divination or spirit contact is an abomination (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). This for me was enough to walk away. There is absolutely NOTHING that comes out of the occult that can be given a “Christian spin” and turned into something good. The Bible isn’t wishy-washy on this. This is essentially like walking into a Bible Study and the leader saying that today we are going to use a Ouija board so we can better understand ourselves and therefore honor God. Just to sum it up, if it came out of divination, mediums, or occult practices, it can never be Christian and you should run far from it. You can see Naranjo talking about his formation of the enneagram through automatic writing here at the 3:45 mark.

This realization was hard for me to believe because every Enneagram teacher out there is saying the enneagram has been around forever. The idea or philosophy behind the shape of the enneagram may have been around for a while, but the 9 personality types came from automatic writing. I think this must be how some of the Christian teachers say it has long-standing roots because the symbol may have been around longer but the actual enneagram as we know it today was formed and shaped in the 1970s by these two men. This information is also verified on the Enneagram Institute website.

2.     Richard Rohr popularized and Christianized the enneagram. Rohr became an enneagram expert, Christianized it, and taught it to other Christians. At the time I had no idea who Rohr was other than a Franciscan friar and someone in the Catholic church. I heard several people refer to him as a “Spiritual father” and I took that at face value thinking he must be very wise. Without going into too much detail, I have discovered that Rohr’s theology contradicts much of what scripture says and is not in line with the historical Christian tradition at all. He does not believe that scripture is the inerrant word of God, that Jesus died as payment for our sins, and he is a perennialist (the belief that all religions share the same core truths and lead to the same God). He also separates Christ from Jesus and has his own theory about this called the Cosmic Christ. In his view, we are not all born sinners. Instead, we need to put off our “false selves” and discover the divine within ourselves. Rohr promotes the enneagram as a great tool to do that. He has gained a huge following, especially among millennials but his teachings are heretical and should be avoided.

3.     The enneagram puts you in a box. At first, I found freedom in knowing my number and if you go in-depth with the enneagram there is always something new to discover such as your wing and subtype. While the enneagram gives you goals to work towards such as your types in health and stress, I have found that in practice it restricts people. I can’t tell you how many conversations I have been a part of where someone has said a variation of the following, “I wish I was more like an 8 and could just speak boldly but because I am a 9, I just want to keep the peace.” I too believed this! Now that I knew my number, I was also sad that I wasn’t another number which I saw as much more desirable. Teachers will tell you that your enneagram number will not change over time so while you can become healthier, you will always be that number. I became conflicted by this and kept trying to convince myself that I had my number wrong. I even paid an enneagram counselor to help me determine my true number because I just needed to know (hence the enneaobsession). But here is the truth: nowhere in scripture does the Bible say you are defined by a “personality type”. As Christians, our identities are not found in our personalities but in who God says we are. So, while you may believe that you can’t speak boldly because you are a certain number, God can give you the power through his Holy Spirit to speak boldly on his behalf. Look at the disciples. Peter doubted Jesus and quite frankly seemed terrified of governmental powers yet when he became a believer, he boldly stood up in court and declared with full confidence who Jesus was despite the cost. Don’t let your supposed number define who you are or limit your calling. Trust that the Lord gives you your identity and can empower you for whatever calling or situation he has put in front of you.

4.     The enneagram excuses sin. “Well I’m sorry I was a jerk, I just see things this way because I am a 1 and need everything to be perfect.” I can’t tell you how many times I have heard Christians excuse bad behavior or sin because of their enneagram number. Believe me, I did it too. This is especially easy to do in marriage. Here is the thing, the Bible tells us that we have control over ourselves and we can choose to not sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” The Bible does not say, it’s ok to say that or do that because you are an 8 and that’s just the way you see the world. Quite the opposite, you are given authority over your own body and have the ability to sin or not sin.

5.     The enneagram emphasizes self versus Christ. How many hours did I spend reading about my number and working towards trying to improve myself? Don’t hear me wrong, self-awareness is a good thing but not when it becomes the center of your attention. As a Christian, your goal is not to become the healthiest 3 you can be. You don’t need to continue to read enneagram books and do workshops so you can become the best version of yourself. The Bible is the ultimate source for knowing your identity. You can only truly know yourself through the Creator, not through a created thing. I have heard many enneagram teachers say that Christ is the culmination of all the numbers but where is that in the Bible? It is nowhere because the enneagram cannot teach you to be more like Christ because it is not from Christ or the Bible. God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit are the primary tools that we need to be using to recognize our sin, repent, and therefore become more like Christ. No manmade tool is going to help you be your best self. It can’t. Only the one who created you can transform your heart and mind as Romans 12:2 states, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

I have struggled and gone back and forth on whether or not to speak out against the enneagram. It feels like it has risen to such a level of popularity and become so widely accepted as “Christian” that quite frankly, speaking against it is a little scary. I struggled too because I believed it and defended it. I’ve talked a lot about it and I thought, “how could I have been so fooled?” I know many may think that it is eerily accurate and been helpful, so it has to be good. I too thought this. And here is the thing, Satan is deceptive! He doesn’t take something that would be completely false and try to convince you it’s true. There are things about my personality that the enneagram pegged correctly – I would expect there to be. If not, it wouldn’t resonate with so many people and become such a popular distraction. Yet the truth is that it originated in the occult and is a deceptive tool aimed at taking your eyes off Christ and on to yourself. 

Recently I heard someone say that when the Holy Spirit wants you to learn the truth, he will continue to show it to you. If this is the first time you are hearing something negative about the enneagram and you feel defensive or think I am being ridiculous, I sympathize. I urge you to not just take my word but see for yourself if is truly a Biblical tool or something harmful. I am including below a list of resources for further listening and reading on the subject. As always, praying that God continues to guide us into truth and discernment.

Cultish podcast on the Enneagram:

https://cultish.simplecast.com/episodes/part-1-decoding-the-enneagram

https://cultish.simplecast.com/episodes/part-2-decoding-the-enneagram

Alisa Childers podcast: Is the Enneagram a Trojan Horse in the Church?

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/81-is-enneagram-trojan-horse-in-church-marcia-montenegro/id1260262855?i=1000493564951

Christian Answers for the New Age website:

http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Enneagram2.aspx

Origins of the Enneagram from The Enneagram Institute:

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/the-traditional-enneagram

Info on Richard Rohr:

Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret by: Don & Joy Veinot and Marcia Montenegro

https://www.alisachilders.com/blog/heres-why-christians-should-avoid-the-teachings-of-richard-rohr

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/universal-christ-richard-rohr/

Is All Hope Lost? An Advent Reflection

“I just can’t wait for this year to be over” or “I’m decorating early because I need something happy this year”. Have you also said something along these lines? I have been caught in conversations saying good riddance to 2020. I am looking forward to a new year in hopes that 2021 will bring back some sense of normalcy in the world. While this year has brought hardships and uncertainties, it has also brought a lot of good things to my life which I am very grateful for. We just spent last month being thankful and yet as the year is drawing to a close, I know many of us are hoping for something better next year. Perhaps no more Covid, no more masks and social distancing. Schools back in session and seeing grandparents. Jobs to come back. These are real issues. Real things that need to change and I am not trying to downplay their significance. Loved ones have died, jobs have been lost and families are struggling to keep food on the table. If there has ever been a time to reflect on where we are putting our hope, this has been the year. I have been tempted many times to think “2021 will be different.” “Once the vaccine comes out, everything will be normal. We just need to wait for the vaccine.” Perhaps that is true. Maybe the vaccine will make a huge difference in 2021, I absolutely pray it does. But what if 2021 is harder than 2020 was? What if the vaccine takes longer or something else that is tragic is waiting just around the corner? What will happen to your hope and your confidence? Will they be shaken or destroyed?

            I have been thinking a lot about this as the Advent season has begun. To tell you the truth, I had never practiced or even heard of Advent until we joined a non-denominational church in Chicago, but I have grown to love the rhythm that it sets for my heart each year. If you are unfamiliar, Advent follows the church’s liturgical calendar marking a season of waiting and expectation for Jesus’ birth at Christmas. The Israelites waited expectantly for the promised Messiah for years. They read the prophecies and yearned for the Messiah to come and establish his kingdom on earth. Today, in the traditional Advent practice you may read scriptures each day that walk through the story of earth’s creation, fall, and the promised Messiah to come. But now we also live in expectation of a second Advent. We wait patiently and expectantly for what is promised yet again when Christ will return and establish his eternal kingdom on earth. We eagerly wait with joyful expectation for God’s final judgment and for a time where believers will spend eternity in his presence, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4). Imagine a time when you are literally in the very presence of your Creator who loves you and there is no more pain or sadness. No more sin or death or destruction. This is the good news. The good news that death isn’t the end. That the earth as it is now is not our home. That Jesus, the Messiah was born of a virgin and lived a perfect life, yet he bore all of our sin and shame and took our punishment for us so that we could have everlasting life in Heaven with him. 

            I have been reflecting on the promises of God and something stood out to me differently this time. It is the promise that God is with us. He is omnipresent meaning his presence is everywhere. We cannot escape or hide from God. Why is this good news? Look at the overall narrative of the Bible. In Genesis we see that the Spirit is hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2), then God created Adam and Eve and walked in the garden with them (Genesis 3:8). Yet because they chose to rebel against God, sin entered the world and caused distance between humans and God. Yet the Lord continued to appear and intervene in the history of mankind all throughout the Old Testament and even made his dwelling place in the temple. God still wanted to be nearer to his people. The Christmas story is about the Son of God coming down to earth and taking on flesh to live among his people. He came to rescue us and restore the world. And yet God still wanted to be closer. We see in Acts that when you believe, the Spirit of God comes and dwells inside of you. Do you see what good news this is? In every other religion, god is distant, and the people are constantly striving and straining to get close to him. Yet Yahweh, the true God does not stand at a distance, but comes down to earth, lays down his life for his children, and then sends his Spirit to come and dwell in their hearts forever changing them. We are sealed by his Spirit meaning that NOTHING – no power can take away your salvation. There is no more striving and straining. As believers, we are promised an inheritance and if God has promised it, it is as good as done. This is the hope that we have. The truest hope that there is. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring. What will happen during the next presidency or what will happen with Covid. But we are promised that we will not go through it alone. 

            So, if you are feeling alone, sad, or hopeless this season, remember that we have a living hope. I saw a quote yesterday from Sam Allberry that captured this so well, “Come all ye faithless, joyless and defeated! Christmas is for the weary, for the messed-up, and for the broken. If your life isn’t Instagrammable, Christmas is for you.” Yes and amen. If you feel worn down and defeated, there is good news for you. The God of the universe stepped down from Heaven to be close to you. He offered his life as payment for your sin, paying the ultimate price to bring you salvation and everlasting life with him. When the enemy tries to tell you that you are alone or that God has forgotten you, it simply is not true. The Christmas story and Advent reminds us of that good news. We patiently wait together and say again, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”.

Playing With Fire: Progressive Christianity

I am convinced that one of the biggest infiltrators of the Christian faith in our time is the ideology of Progressive Christianity. Maybe you are not familiar with the term but if you have been around Christian subculture for any amount of time, you have likely heard of some of its key players. So what is Progressive Christianity? Like the name states, it is said to be a Christian ideology that is in fact progressing into greater truth by centering on the teachings of Jesus and his love. While that may not sound off, Progressive Christianity redefines the meaning of love and compromises many core doctrines of the faith. In this blog, I want to explain why progressive Christianity is not simply another denomination in the historical Christian faith but quoting apologist and author Alisa Childers, it is in fact “another gospel.”

            At the time of this post, I have been a Christian for about 7 years. As I began digging into Bible studies, authors, and podcasts by Christians, I was introduced to Jen Hatmaker. In a mom’s Bible study I was in, we even went through one of her devotional books. If you are not familiar with Hatmaker, she is an extremely gifted writer. She has a great way of making you feel like you are one of her girlfriends and shares hilarious tribulations of motherhood in a way that will make you laugh out loud. I was thrilled to find a voice that was easy to read, funny, and “safe”. I began to listen to her podcast, read her books, follow her on the socials, and even attend one of her speaking engagements. To say I was a fan is an understatement. What I really liked about her podcast is that I was introduced to others in the Christian space who I was unfamiliar with and soon I had found an entire network of new voices and personalities whom I was “following”. 

            In 2016 Jen Hatmaker made headlines when she came out in an affirming stance for LGBTQ and left the traditional view of the Christian sexual ethic for something more progressive. This was shocking to say the least. Lifeway pulled her material and in a way, she was blacklisted from the evangelical Christian community. While she addressed the fallout, I heard her say again and again that she and her husband Brandon, who was a pastor, spent much time searching the scriptures and researching to come to this conclusion. She said it wasn’t something she came to lightly but felt this was the true Biblical position. I kept waiting for her to explain how and why she came to this conclusion. What I was missing in the scriptures. I continued listening to her podcast and was loving all of the guests and the different perspectives they were bringing. Little did I know I was being indoctrinated into a web of Progressive Christianity. 

            One of the most wonderful gifts that we have as Christians is being filled with the Spirit whom Jesus said would guide us into all truth (John 16:13). I began seeking the truth. I wanted to know what was real and what was false. I wanted to know what God said, not someone’s opinion. That same year, the Lord brought 3 different people into my life who shared that they struggled with same-sex attraction. I was also introduced to Rosario Butterfield and Jackie Hill Perry’s testimonies which include coming out of a gay lifestyle. These were the stories I was not hearing on Hatmaker’s podcast. These were stories of redemption and surrender to the Lord. These were stories not of people who were being “oppressed” by God’s law but were living in freedom and joy. As I talked about this with my friends who struggled or whose spouses struggled with same-sex attraction, I came to understand in a new way that our sin struggle does not define us. We are not defined by being gay or straight. Our identity comes from the Lord. I believe one of the biggest schemes of the enemy is to make himself seem like the more loving, tolerant, and inclusive option and to make Christians who hold a Biblical perspective seem like the true enemy. If you struggle with understanding this, I highly recommend checking out testimonies of those who have come out of a gay lifestyle. 

            However, the focus of this blog is not just about Progressive Christianity being affirming. While I do believe this is a dividing line, I didn’t realize until diving deeper into Progressive Theology that it distorts the truth in many other ways. Progressive Christianity questions and twists the inerrancy of scripture, the atonement, and negates the need for repentance. I am using her new book, Another Gospel, as the framework for this post. In her book, Childers shares how she was a part of a group at church who began to investigate what they believed. She did not realize at the time that this was the pastor’s way of taking the church congregation from an evangelical church to a now self-proclaimed Progressive Christian church. Unfortunately, this class led to a dark time in Childers’ life where the unanswered questions and distortions of truth caused her to deconstruct her own faith and begin her quest for truth.  There are many ideas I would like to address but two of the most essential to understanding the distortion of truth of Progressive Christianity are their views on the atonement and of the authority of the Bible. I will briefly summarize these points but for further reading, check out Childers’ new book Another Gospel. 

            What is the atonement? Historic Christians would say that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, and was willingly crucified on a cross as the perfect, final sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world. Three days later he rose from the dead forever conquering sin and the grave. Now whoever believes in him shall too experience eternal life in Heaven. This is the basis of the Christian faith. What it all hinges on. If Christ did not die in our place and come back to life, then there is no Christianity and essentially no hope (1 Corinthians 15:14). However, Progressive Christianity questions whether or not this event actually happened. One Progressive Children’s Pastor Anna Skates wrote a blog post here where she states, “the point of the Easter story isn’t whether or not Jesus LITERALLY rose from the dead. We’re missing the point if we’re fighting over the historical accuracy of a bodily resurrection.” I would argue that if Jesus did not literally resurrect from the dead then there is no Easter and nothing to celebrate.

            Progressive Christianity also claims that the cross shouldn’t be celebrated but is actually child abuse if God the Father ordered that his son be sacrificed on our behalf. William Paul Young, Progressive Christian and author of The Shack and Lies We Believe about God puts it like this, “Who originated the Cross? If God did, then we worship a cosmic abuser, who in Divine Wisdom created a means to torture human beings in the most painful and abhorrent manor…” The cross is what defines Christianity. That a loving God would come down to earth and offer himself as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins is the good news. The distortion of truth to make the cross reprehensible and shameful is manipulation and misses the entire crescendo of the Biblical narrative.

            The other idea I want to bring to light from Progressive Theology is the lowered view of scripture. Historic Christianity views the Bible as God’s words. 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” In a world where truth is subjective, God’s word is the absolute truth and is inerrant. However, Progressive Theology believes that God’s word was not inspired by the Spirit but inspired by the authors, just like how J.K. Rowling was inspired to write Harry Potter. The Biblical authors were just trying to write down how they interpreted God at the time and now that we have progressed as a society and have greater understanding, we have a better view of who God is and which parts of his word are actually true. Progressive Christian author and scholar Pete Enns explains it like this, “The Bible is an ancient book and we shouldn’t be surprised to see it act like one. So seeing God portrayed as a violent, tribal warrior is not how God is but how he was understood to be by the ancient Israelites communing with God in their time and place.” In this view, we can’t trust everything that the Bible says and it is up to the individual to determine which parts are true and authoritative for our lives.

            There are many more things to unpack with Progressive Theology but I hope this has shed some light on how this ideology compromises some of the core truths of Christianity. If you too have found yourself following or listening to those in the Progressive space, begin to look closely at their worldview and Biblical beliefs. Often we don’t deep dive into someone’s theology or the theology of their spiritual fathers so to speak. Several years ago when I was listening to popular Progressives, I had no clue that this seemingly “loving” movement was compromising some of the core tenets of the faith in a way that distorted the gospel. My hope is that you would be able to see behind the smokescreen to the dangerous views this theology is propagating and that the Spirit would guide you into truth. 

Follow your heart?

“Follow your heart.” “Listen to your gut.” “It shouldn’t be this hard.” Do any of these well-meaning messages sound familiar? We see “follow your heart” cross-stitched on pillows and on graphic tee shirts. Over and over we are given the message that we should just inherently know what to do. That we can trust ourselves. That if it feels good, it is probably good for us and if it doesn’t feel good or right, we should re-consider. I say that these are well-meaning because I generally think they are. We want our friends and family to avoid pain and hardships. To live happy, fulfilled lives with purpose. But what if this message goes against what God has called us to?

I think we can all say that this year has been a whirlwind. I can remember clinking glasses in celebration of what was surely going to be the best year and decade yet on New Years Eve. We spent time reflecting on all we had gone through in the last 10 years, how much change and goodness had come and how excited we were for what God was going to do in the next 10 years. One of the most exciting things of the New Year was starting grad school. This decision was really surprising because at 22 I COULD NOT WAIT to graduate college. I was over being in school and ready to join the workforce and never take a test or write a paper again. I had friends who went back to grad school and even started working on doctorates and I looked on with awe but also relief that I was not under that type of stress or commitment. After the birth of our first child, I felt the Lord telling me to be a stay at home mom. I knew this had to be from the Lord since it went against everything I had planned for myself. I never wanted to be a stay at home mom either but alas, here I was and I was finding joy and purpose in that season.

  Yet, last year as I sat in a Bible study at church, the teacher announced a new graduate program at the Christian college where she taught. A fleeting thought went through my mind, “It would be so great to go back to school for something I was actually interested in one day.” At the time, my second born was less than a year old and I knew this wasn’t practical. Yet God kept pressing this thought in my mind. I mentioned it to Gabe and surprisingly he was on board. He encouraged me to contact the school and look into it. God knew I would need confirmation for such a big investment and the school was offering a scholarship for those who volunteered a certain number of hours throughout the week and I qualified. This scholarship was only for the semester starting in 2 months and so in January of this year I began my Masters of Arts in Theological Studies. I was excited and terrified. I had been a stay at home mom for 4 years at this point and out of college for 8! I knew it was going to take a lot of discipline to balance my volunteer work, school, and family life. I knew there were going to be many “no’s” to extra things and it would be 2 years of buckling down.

Even throughout the unexpectedness of Covid and the whole family being at home, I was still managing to get it all done. Yet this fall, I began to feel overwhelmed and frankly exhausted. I began to feel like I was doing too much, was over committed, and like I was pouring out a lot and not receiving enough. Anyone experience that this year? I started to examine my commitments to see if anything could be cut. The thing is, I had prayed about everything I had said yes to and felt like I was doing what God called me to, so why didn’t it feel good or even doable?

At the same time, Bible Study Fellowship was going through the study of Genesis and we hit the Noah story. This story has a lot of details. In fact, God was VERY specific with Noah in exactly how to make the ark. I love that we can see God is a God of details. I was struck with something new this time. A detail I had never considered before. God gave Noah instructions to build the ark, this gigantic boat that would save their family from the flood and God’s judgement on earth. However, this was no small feat. According to the Biblical timeline, it most likely took Noah anywhere between 55-75 years to build the ark. Not only that but Noah was also over 500 years old when God gave him this mission. The timeline struck me because I thought of what that actually must have been like. Day after day Noah and his family constructed this gigantic ship in the desert where there had never before been rain. Don’t you think maybe after all of those years he thought, “God did you really say to build this? I have been building this ark now for 40 years and I am OVER IT. Can’t we just move on to the next thing?” Obviously, I am projecting here because scripture records no doubts or hesitations coming from Noah. Instead, he was obedient, and did exactly what God commanded until it was completed. 

This stuck out to me because I am so ready for the next thing. Usually when God calls me to something, I will give a yes, even if I hesitate at first but often I get bored. Here I am with school and my other commitments thinking, “Ugh, how much longer?” I am so ready to move onto the next thing, to ask God to reveal the next place we are going or to see the fruit from my obedience. If I listen to my heart, I am quick to change the course, to become bored and restless or overwhelmed and do whatever I see as most easily satisfying that itch. The Bible tells us that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The Bible tells us that our hearts lead us astray. Man’s inclination because of our sin nature is towards wickedness and self-satisfaction. Often our hearts lead us astray and off the path that God has for us. 

I was reminded in the story of Noah of perseverance. When God gives us a calling or mission, we should persevere to complete it. For me, my feeling of being overwhelmed stemmed from taking responsibility for too many things in my own strength. From striving and straining to get everything done on my own accord. What I needed was rest, and I am not talking about a nap. I needed the rest that comes from spending time with the Lord. I needed time to journal, to pray, and to bring my troubles and lay them down in front of the Lord. I needed to surrender so that I could persevere. I want to encourage you friend that if you feel tired and weary, don’t follow your heart. Don’t reach for the quick fix that ultimately turns your eyes away from the Lord. Instead, surrender to the Lord, get some quiet time in his presence. Pray, journal, and worship. Spend time in his word and ask him to strengthen you for what he has called you to. Most often, it is not that we need some huge change in our lives but actually a heart change and God is the only one who can comfort our weary souls and strengthen us for what lies ahead. 

Jewelry and Worldviews

How did a simple necklace provoke me to start considering worldviews yesterday? Well, let me explain. Yesterday morning I was getting ready and searched my jewelry collection for a necklace to wear. Hanging to the right was a necklace I have been wearing a lot recently. My husband purchased it from an adorable store in downtown Franklin along with a sweet, handwritten card for a Christmas gift. The necklace has a silver coin and inscribed on it is the word “worthy”. He also gave me a silver ring with the simple inscription, “enough”. My husband is very thoughtful and gives great gifts and this jewelry set affirmed how he felt about me. He knows that those are the words I often need to hear. Because the truth is, I often feel inadequate. These are the lies the enemy whispers in my ear and if I am not careful to combat his attacks with truth, I can begin to believe him. He often says things like, “you’re not pretty enough”, “you’re not smart enough”, “you’re not well spoken enough”, “you just don’t have what it takes.” When I confided in Gabe the way that I was feeling and how I was struggling with these thoughts, he looked at me so sincerely and reminded me of the truth that I needed to hear. That while he believes I am enough, a wonderful wife, mother, etc., ultimately the Lord is the one who strengthens and sustains me. He alone is worthy and enough and I needed to rely on him instead of myself. These are the sweet reminders he wrote in the card and they brought me much joy as I unwrapped them Christmas morning.

            However, when I went to put on these visible affirmations, I paused. For some reason, wearing a necklace that said “worthy” felt a little strange. And the ring that said “enough”, what exactly was this portraying to others? Because I know that Gabe and I share the same worldview but to someone else who doesn’t this message could look very much like the messages that flood all of our social media accounts on a daily basis. We are told constantly to be #bossbabes (I am sure there is a counter message for you guys). That we can do anything we set our minds to and the only thing that is stopping you from fulfilling your dream is you. It is hard to not get swept up in this. It is a feel good, inspiring message that may cause you to jump out of bed, put on your jogging shoes and do that work out you’ve been putting off or put your name in for that promotion. I don’t mean to flat out condemn these messages, sometimes we all need an inspiring word to do the next right thing, but here is where the message falls flat. Often times these messages are all about living your best life now. That you only get one life and you need to live it to the fullest. Accomplish all of your hopes and dreams. You are enough and you have enough to do anything you set your mind to. These messages are positive and effective. Many of the people who are spewing it have millions of followers. But here is the one thing they are missing. This life isn’t your one life. Jesus tells us in John 5:24, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

            When we spend our time focusing on accomplishing all of our hopes and dreams in this one life, constantly striving and straining to get ahead, we miss the eternal perspective. Again, Jesus in Matthew 6:19 states to not store up for ourselves treasures on earth which will not last. But to instead store up treasures in heaven that will be everlasting. We are not to live with the orphan perspective that this is our one shot here on earth. Hear me, I am not saying that you shouldn’t work hard, we want to honor God by doing a great job in the workplace. But instead of working tirelessly on earth to achieve all of your dreams, perhaps we need to shift perspective and seek what the Lord is calling us to do in this life that will trickle into the next kingdom. 

            I think one of the ways we can let this seep into our thoughts is to become more aware of the messages that we are taking in. If most of the people you are following are telling you live your best life now, start to recognize that. One of the most helpful strategies in discernment that I have learned and hope to pass along to my children is to recognize someone’s worldview. What do I mean by that? Each of us has a way in which we interpret the world. We have an idea on how creation was formed, what happened to account for all of the evil in the world, and how we believe it should be fixed. A historical Christian worldview would say that God created the world and everything in it. Sin is the root cause of all evil in the world and Jesus Christ’s sinless life, death, and resurrection is the only solution to the problem of evil. We believe that in the end, God will have final judgement on the world and believers will experience eternal life in his presence. 

            One of the best ways to begin discerning the content you are taking in is to ask the question, “what is this person, movie, tv show etc’s worldview.” In much of the self-help genre that is so popular in our day and age, the problem is actually you and you need to do the work, dust off your bootstraps and fulfill all of your dreams. You are the only one standing in your way. I would encourage you to start thinking deeper about these messages. Start trying to pick out what the underlying message the person or movie is trying to get across. This is easy to do in Disney movies as well. Take for instance the movie Moana. The main problem in that movie is that Maui, a demi-god, stole the heart of Te Fiti and that is why her island is experiencing rotten coconuts and no fish. She sets out on an adventure to return the heart to restore creation. This is starkly different than the Christian worldview and is easy to recognize. 

            So, am I telling you to never watch, listen to, or “follow” anyone who doesn’t have a Christian worldview? No. I am telling you to begin to look for it. The more you practice it, the easier it will be to spot. Talk about it with your kids so that they too know what to look for when they are watching tv. We can’t live in a bubble, but as my dear friend Kat’s pastor says, “if you don’t know what you’re listening for, you won’t know what you’re listening to.” As you begin to identify their view, you can more easily call out the lie and correct it with truth. The sweet jewelry that I have that says “enough” and “worthy” do not show the whole truth. I alone am not worthy or enough and what a relief that is! Trying to be enough is too much pressure for any of us to bear. While I constantly fall short, I know that I have a Savior who is absolutely worthy and enough and through him I am made whole and complete. That is the only worldview that will bring you true hope and joy.

Evidence for Faith

            This past week, I viewed a film on YouTube that a cohort shared titled “The Star of Bethlehem”. There are moments in our lives as Christians where we make a discovery or find new information that leaves us in complete awe of the magnitude and glory of God. This film was one of those moments as I watched the end with tears streaming down my face. The premise of the movie showed Frederick ‘Rick’ Lawson on his pursuit of discovering what the star of Bethlehem during Jesus’ birth actually looked like and if there was scientific evidence to show its existence. Thankfully, through scientific advances there is software that can recreate the night sky of any time in history because apparently the movement of the stars and planets are not random. I have almost no astronomical knowledge, but I learned that the stars and planets move in very predictable and precise patterns, which allows for us to look back in history and see exactly where they were in the night sky! I won’t give away all of the details, but I highly encourage you to go check out the 1-hour film and see exactly what was happening in the sky on the night that Jesus was conceived, born, and at his crucifixion.

            What left me in tears is the fact that our powerful creator had to set these things in motion to happen at these exact times at day 4 of creation when time began, and he put the planets in motion. Back in January, I began classes to get my Masters of Arts in Theological Studies at Williamson College. Let me begin by saying that I had almost no theological knowledge and my first few classes I was busy writing down lists of large, foreign words that my cohorts were using which I had no clue what they meant. I felt very out of my element and wondered what in the world a stay-at-home mom with a background in banking and real estate was doing here. While I had done several Bible studies since becoming a Christian, I had never picked up a theology book and felt I had a lot of catching up to do. Thankfully a saying I’ve heard around church was proven true, that if God calls you to something, He will equip you for it. My first class was called Biblical Theology and while I learned many things in this class, one of my biggest takeaways was really understanding the overall metanarrative of the Bible. (Confession: I had no clue what metanarrative meant and now I can use it in a sentence!) Basically, what that means is that the overarching story of the Bible is pointing towards Jesus Christ, the Messiah. We see foreshadowing and even appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament and each of these stories are pointing us to the good news of what is coming. The film reminded me of this. Not only scripture, but in fact creation itself is pointing us towards our savior. God set the stars in motion at the beginning of time, before he had even created humans and had predetermined that even the stars and planets would declare Jesus’ arrival and his glory! Knowing this takes my breathe away- he is truly sovereign over all. 

            I love that there is scientific evidence to back the events of the Bible. In church growing up, I was not taught this. When I was younger, I was skeptical of the Bible, not really knowing if it was true or if it could be trusted. It seemed to me you were asked to believe this old book without any actual evidence or proof that it was real. One of the coolest discoveries I have made in school is that there is actual historical data to support the Bible’s claims. In one of my Systematic Theology classes we read Gary R. Habermas’ book, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. As the title may give away, this book focuses on the historical evidence that prove Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected. Habermas uses a minimal facts approach and really digs into all of the claims the Bible makes, that Jesus was crucified by Roman soldiers, he was buried, there was an empty tomb, and the resurrected (and healed) Jesus was seen by the disciples, Paul, and more than 500 witnesses. The book goes into all of the theories to disprove these events such as hallucinations, hiding the body, Jesus really didn’t die etc. and runs through the evidence to prove why these theories are not valid. One of my favorite points attacks the theory that if it was a group conspiracy to lie and say that Jesus’ tomb was empty, they would have never said that women were the ones to discover it. At the time of the first century, women were at the bottom of the totem pole and were not considered credible witnesses and weren’t allowed to give testimony. If you were going to make up a believable story, you would never have let women discover the empty tomb. As a woman, I am a big fan that the Lord is seen throughout scripture restoring honor and dignity to women.

            Reading this data gave me an unshakable confidence in my faith. My faith is not based solely on a personal experience I have had with the Lord but now it is strengthened by historical and scientific data. Maybe you are in a place of not knowing if the Bible or Christianity is real. Maybe you’re walking through a season of doubt or actually didn’t feel you had permission to ask questions and search. I want to tell you to search the evidence yourself. There are some wonderful resources out there from people who have spent years combing through the data and compiling sources. Don’t stay in the place of doubt and questioning but begin to look for yourself. Because I believe that if Christianity is true, it won’t fall apart if we look behind the curtain. Our faith is reasonable and looking at the evidence will only strengthen, not harm your faith.