Worth Fighting For

What is it that causes us to love? To seek it, to crave it, to give it? Why do we have an innate need to connect with others? We are fiercely loyal to those we love.

Morgan Page created a song called Fight For You, that describes a love that is both baffling and compelling. “I’d fight for you. I never thought I’d feel this way,” are some of the lyrics. I think we all feel this way when we fall in love. Especially after we’ve been in love with that special someone for a while. At first, we may be surprised that we can become so attached to someone, but then it becomes something more. We begin to feel like we cannot be separated from that individual. We will fight for that person. Fight to keep the love alive.

It’s a powerful thing. I think sometimes we take it for granted. We shouldn’t. We all need it. Whether it be a romantic love or a friendship, it is something powerful and gets inside of us. It gives us value and worth.

Love can be a lot of things. It can hurt. It can sting sometimes. It can bring ecstasy and belonging. It is life-changing. For many, it is something ellusive; either because they are afraid of it or the right circumstances haven’t been met. But it is out there for us all. Others seem to find it easily, and perhaps too often. But the real kind of love changes everything.

Seek it. Give it. Cherish it. Protect it. Invest in it. Sacrifice for it. Find someone to give it to. We need it.

 

Osama is dead: How should we feel?

We have seen this face many times over the past nine and a half years. It has haunted us and reminded us of the terrible events that took place on September 11, 2001. Yesterday, the news that Osama bin Laden was killed in a US Special Forces operation brought to close a difficult and frustrating chapter in American history. Since last night, social media networks have lit up with buzz and excitement from all around the world in celebration of the death of Osama bin Laden. The news has been showing constant images of crowds cheering all over the United States with people singing songs and enjoying the newly minted world without Public Enemy # 1. I have found myself wondering how to feel.

On one hand, I am thrilled at the news. My heart wants to celebrate! On the other, as a follower of Christ I feel compelled to check myself. How should I respond? How should I feel? Is it ok for me to celebrate the death of someone? What if that person is an enemy of the state? What if that person was the murderer of thousands? Is there a point where it is alright, as a Christian, to be happy that someone is dead? I believe the  Bible sheds light on this subject.

There are two main passages that I think help to illuminate this subject. Proverbs 24:17-20 says:

“Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble, or else the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from them. Do not fret because of evildoers. Do not envy the wicked; for the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will go out.”

Matthew 5:43-48 reads:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Both of these passages seem to suggest that we should not celebrate in the death of Osama bin Laden. In fact, the first passage appears to outright command against it! Can this be right? Are we to be denied the feeling of satisfaction that a terrible bringer of death has been removed from our world? I think the answer is actually, no. Now, I’m not contradicting scripture here. I completely believe in the truth of the Bible. I am simply saying that I think there is more to these passages than we may think.

As I thought more and more about how I should feel about the news, I could not reconcile the very real emotions I was feeling. How could a God that stands for justice be upset with my celebrating the death of a mass-murderer? I believe the answer lies in my motivations. Don’t they always?

You see, as a follower of Christ, I am compelled to love my enemies and to pray for them. No matter how terrible they may be. Jesus died on the cross for even the most wretched individuals. My heart longs for every human being on this planet to come to God; to know Him; to be forgiven. Osama bin Laden is no exception. So how do I reconcile this feeling of wanting to celebrate and still remain faithful to my beliefs? By celebrating in the justice of the event, and what is means to our nation and the people who have dealth with the pain from September 11th. I can celebrate that justice has been done in our world and still remain faithful to the Bible’s commands. I am not celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, but instead celebrating that the man who wreaked havoc on our world for the last 20 years has been brought to justice for his crimes. Simultaneously, my heart can still be saddened by the fact that his soul is lost forever, and that he will never again have the chance to be reconciled to God.

God is a God of justice. There are plenty of stories in the Bible that show God cares about the wrongdoings of our world and that he judges the individuals, cities, or even nations for their actions and hearts. 2 Thesslonians 1:6 highlights this point:

“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you.”

By celebrating that justice has been done through this event, I am aligning with God’s perspective of judgement befalling those who do wrong, whether in this world or the next. I am not speculating whether God caused this event to take place or not. What I am saying is that, from what I know of God’s laws and his characteristics, the demise of Osama bin Laden is absolutely justice having been served. And that by affirming this justice, we can rightly celebrate with the rest of the world!

 

‘Of Gods and Men’ weaves spiritual tale

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11098/1137760-120.stm

Movie review

Friday, April 08, 2011

By Barry Paris, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

From left, Lambert Wilson as Christian and Jean-Marie Frin as Paul in “Of Gods and Men.”

“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully

as when they do it for religious conviction.”

– Pascal

The eight monks at the Cistercian monastery live in — if not the Garden — at least a little Oasis of Eden.

---

‘Of Gods and Men’

4 stars = Outstanding
Ratings explained

• Starring: Lambert Wilson, Jean-Marie Frin, Michael Lonsdale.
• Rating: PG-13 for subtitles and one violent scene.

---

They and “Of Gods and Men,” Xavier Beauvois’ wrenchingly beautiful film about them, are situated in an isolated mountain village in North Africa, where their community coexists quietly, contemplatively and peacefully with their Muslim brothers and sisters. Cistercians follow the seventh-century monastic order of St. Benedict and never proselytize or otherwise disturb the people among whom they live.

On the contrary, they serve them whenever and however they can. Old Brother Luc (Michael Lonsdale), for example, is a doctor, who treats the many villagers who come to him for help every day. Best evidence of harmony comes in a long, slow pan of faces at a Muslim prayer service: It ends on the face of Brother Luc — respectfully attending and listening to the imam’s prayers, along with the villagers.

But the tranquil rhythms of monastic life there — praying, farming, beekeeping — are seriously shaken when a crew of Croatian workers outside the village is massacred by al-Qaida-like Islamic radicals. They have issued an ultimatum ordering all foreigners to leave the country — including the monks.

Mr. Beauvois’ film is based on a shockingly true story: the 1996 kidnapping and disappearance of seven French Cistercian-Trappist monks in Tibkirine, Algeria. In that real event, and in this fictionalized rendering, the monks decline military protection and refuse to leave.

But there’s rare dissension in the monastic ranks about the security threat and decision to stay — the most painful decision they’ve ever had to make. Caught between the terrorists and the army, they must walk an increasingly dangerous tightrope between the two sets of men, and another fine line between God and themselves. To leave would be to surrender and walk away from their literal and figurative “mission” — not to mention their deep ties and love of the villagers.

Most agonizing, however, is the challenge to personal faith and commitment to the monks’ most basic Christian beliefs. How can you have an unseemly fear of death if you believe in Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” and in Luke 17: “He who tries to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life will save it.”

In most films, music “accompanies” words and “scores” (as in underscores) the dialogue. In this one, it largely replaces dialogue. The monastery is, after all, a world of silence. The Psalms (literally, “songs”) are universally considered the most lyrically exquisite part of the Bible. Stripped of instruments, “naked” chant lets you tune in and gradually realize you don’t know these texts as well as you think you did. If you, like the monks, let yourself do it, you’ll be as transformed as they are by the strange tonality and the message that elevates and unites them. Singing is an integral part of their lives and the film; the Liturgy of the Hours happens seven times a day and is essential to their union and communion as a spiritual force. This semi-Gregorian chant, with its strangely modern, subtly dissonant melodic and harmonic variations, becomes the lingua franca of their debate and dialectic.

The film’s magnificent, excruciating, transcendent Last Supper scene employs the famous “Lac de Cygnes” (how’s your French?) score, and is perhaps the most powerful use of secular music for character and narrative purposes I’ve ever seen in a film.

If ever you (and I) regretted not taking that upper-level French course, it’ll be here. The subtitles are excellent, but English-speaking audiences are disadvantaged for relying on them. But it’s not a crippling disadvantage, thanks to the superb acting. Lambert Wilson as Brother Christian, the abbot, is a deeply loving, protective shepherd to his flock. And “Thou shalt not steal” applies unless thou art Michael Lonsdale, in which case you have special dispensation to steal all scenes in which you appear. For that matter, all the monks are riveting, each face and personality uniquely empathetic in response to the crisis.

This slow, contemplative tragedy — a best foreign film Oscar nominee — will powerfully affect Christians & non-Christians alike, but especially Catholics. (It could and should be screened at parochial schools, relevant and terribly timely as it is to the slaughter of UN workers in Afghanistan last week.) FYI, its sole scene of bloody violence occurs toward the beginning and does not involve the monks.

But it is emotionally rough. Of the Big Three — faith, hope and love — faith is the tricky one that can get so easily twisted from a virtue into a vice. What’s the real difference between radical Islam and Quran-burning Christians in the inflammatory ability of both to incite madness? Bible and Quran thumpers-and-burners are all alike. But there’s not one political or politicizing word in “Gods and Men.” The monks — and the movie — are about spirituality, not religion.

 

Closer

I was listening to the radio the other day and came across the song, Closer by Shawn McDonald. Not only did the music catch me, but the lyrics really hit my heart. I thought I would share this in hopes that it has the same effect on others. I’ve put a poll at the end of this post. Please check it out. I would love to hear what you think!

Closer by Shawn McDonald

Looking for a color in a shade of gray
Looking for love in a drop of rain
Trying to find change in the old mundane
Everything I do just feels the same
Spending my life out in the desert
Been gone so long feels like forever

I just want to be even closer to you
I just want to be even closer
I am yours
You can have all of me anything, everything
I just want to be even closer

A day without you is a thousand years
A day without you is a million tears
Tell me why do I run when I am in fear
Why do I run when you are so near
Spending my life out in the weather
Been gone so long and I need some shelter

I just want to be even closer to you
I just want to be even closer
I am yours
You can have all of me anything, everything
I just want to be even closer

Where ever you go
Where ever you are
I just want be there with you

I just want to be even closer to you
I just want to be even closer
I am yours
You can have all of me anything everything
I just want to be even closer

Looking for a color in a shade of gray
Looking for love in a drop of rain

 

Before they call, I will answer.

Forwards. I usually don’t read them. To be honest, when one shows up in my email inbox, a sense of disdain crops up. I feel like I get them all the time. The stories are usually cheesy and predictable, and most of them are probably not true. But they serve a purpose, and for some they are what’s needed in a frustrating spot in their lives. Today, not knowing it, I must have been one of those individuals.

Below, is the forward I received today. My father sent it to me, and I have to tell you that it truly blessed my heart and encouraged me. I encourage you to read it, and I pray that through it God will encourage you as well!

The email starts now:

THIS WILL TRULY LIFT YOU UP SPIRITUALLY.
Enjoy and Believe

Isaiah 65:24

This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa. 

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates)..
‘And it is our last hot water bottle!’ she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in  Central Africa
it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles.
They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

‘All right,’ I said, ‘put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.’

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. ‘Please, God’ she prayed, ‘Send us a hot water bottle today It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.’

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, ‘And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?’

As often with children’s prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say ‘Amen?’ I just did not believe that God could do this.

Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren’t there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in  Africa   for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. >From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas – that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the…..could it really be?

I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.

I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, ‘If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!’

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!

Looking up at me, she asked, ‘Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?’

‘Of course,’ I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God’s prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.

And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child – five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it ‘that afternoon.’

‘Before they call, I will answer.’ (Isaiah 65:24)
When you receive this, say the prayer. That’s all I ask. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want – but do send it on.

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let’s continue praying for one another.  This awesome prayer takes less than a minute.

Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength. Where there is fear, reveal Your love and release to them Your courage.. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them.  I ask You to do these things in Jesus’ name. Amen

 

Allergies…

I read this today from one of the blogs I read, Stuff Christians Like. I have been suffering from allergies terribly the last few days, and each spring and fall prior. I wanted to share it with you. It’s funny, but also has a bit of truth in place.

Wondering Why God Created Allergies http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2011/03/4673/

Ahh, spring is upon us. Bluebirds are singing jaunty tunes. Pastel flowers are poking their heads out after long winter naps. Woodland creatures are dancing about.

And I am sneezing.

And sniffling.

And constantly looking like I’m crying from watching a particularly heart-wrenching Lifetime Channel Movie.

I have allergies and am discovering that in Nashville spring blooms like a big bowl of pollen covered frosted mini wheats.

I’m taking Claritin D. I’ve scheduled an appointment with an allergist. I’m drinking throat coat before I speak on stage because my voice kind of sounds like a smoky lounge singer right now. But why?

Why did God create allergies? Have you ever stopped to think about that? Why do they exist? Here are five possible explanations I came up with:

Reasons God Created Allergies

1. Keep me humble.

One Sunday at church, I was snorting so much that the lady next to me just handed me a tissue. She didn’t ask if I needed one, I didn’t ask her for one, she just thrust it in my hand, which is church aisle language for “Shut up, please shut up already with that nose of yours.” Maybe God created allergies to keep me humble. It’s my thorn in the flesh or thorn in the sinus if you will. Seems a little extreme that he would create a planet impacting form of pollen just to keep me humble, but me even thinking that probably proves why he needed to do it.

2. Support pharmacies and pharmacists

My sister in law Marci is studying to be a pharmacist. I have friends who are drug reps. I’m sure someone I know worked on one of the bajillion allergy commercials you see this time of year. There are tens of thousands of people with families and kids and lives supported by people who have allergies. Maybe that’s why God invented them.

3. Teach me patience.

Have you tried to buy allergy medicine lately? In order to prevent illegal purchases, you now have to fill out a form, show your driver’s license, buy one small box at a time, submit to a retinal scan and write a 300 word essay on why you feel you deserve the Claritin D. Maybe this is all just a lesson in patience.

4. Bees need pollen.

In the current issue of National Geographic there’s a story about pollen and bees. I didn’t read it because just looking at the photos made me sneeze and there was an article on kung fu that I found very distracting/awesome. I like honey. Maybe that’s the tradeoff. God created allergies because honey is so fantastic. I think I can get down with that.

5. In all things God works for the good

Is this a Romans 8:28 situation? “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Should I recite that verse every time I feel my itchy red eyes tearing up?

It has to be one of those reasons. Or maybe allergies are part of the fall? Was the Garden of Eden hypoallergenic and then when Adam and Eve got kicked out they were expelled to a pollen filled land of woe? Am I overthinking this? Probably.

Why do you think God created allergies?

Do you have any allergies?

 

The Existence of God

Have you ever looked at a scene from nature and been completely overwhelmed by its beauty?

I remember once, several years ago, I was on a flight heading somewhere. I had a window seat and was alone. I remember looking out the window at one point, once we had climbed above the clouds, and saw the most majestic and awe-inspiring scene I had ever experienced. It’s difficult to describe the view, but it was like the sun was setting on a horizon of clouds. The colors washed over the fluffy pillows of white like a reflection on a crystal clear lake. It was breathtaking. In that moment, I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t help but feel like I was connected to something greater than myself. Something that created such an amazing display. It was as if my soul was leaping out of my body to greet it’s creator. Similar to a puppy, so ecstatic to see his master walk through the front door. In that space and time, I was never closer to the truth that God exists.

There have been other times that I have come across beautiful landscapes or pictures from Heaven, but none quite like that day. But each one has served to remind me of that single encounter and what it meant to me. I can never forget that God exists or that He paints beautiful pictures to show me that He loves me. I tell my kids that same thing all the time. Sometimes, while we are driving in the car we will see something beautiful and I will point to it and show them. I’ll ask, “Isn’t that such a beautiful picture God painted for us?” They respond back like typical children, nodding their head in agreement, but not fully understanding the meaning of it. It’s ok, though, because my children will grow up with wonder and amazement at the beautiful creation that God has designed to prove His existence to the world.

Romans 1:20-23; 25 talks about how mankind once knew the truth about God and His creation, but chose to forget Him. We have lost sight of what is all around us, and have become numb to the rumblings of our souls crying for the truth.

That day on the airplane, my soul broke free and came alive from the slumber of my God-less existence. Now, whenever I see the leaves turn in the fall, the sun setting over the ocean, snow falling, or the even the wind blowing gently on a spring day I am reminded that God exists and He loves me. And He wants to know me.

He wants to know you too.

Would you wake up and see?

 

Love of Heaven

Do you know anyone who shows unfailing love? Most people will think of someone special in their life like a mother or father, a best friend, or Mother Theresa. But really, is that accurate?

Think of the word: unfailing. The very definition points to actions that have never missed the mark. As much as a caring mother or father, friend, pet, or even a Mother Theresa strive to love unconditionally, at some point they have all failed. We have all failed. Sometimes we act in our own interests instead of others, even when we love someone so deeply that we would never intentionally want to hurt them. Nevertheless, none of us can say we have loved unfailingly.

In the Psalms of the Bible, the writer David makes reference to God multiple times as exhibiting unfailing love. He connects God’s actions to intervene on Earth with the nature of His unfailing love for us. In the sixth Psalm the writer cries out in weakness:

“Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love.”

When we are at our weakest and most dire point, God’s unfailing love for us causes Him to act! He will not ignore us. He will not fail to act. His love will never fail.

Now, this is not to say that He will always act in accordance to what we think should happen. His love may be unfailing, but his actions may not match our preferences. If we cry out to Heaven and ask for help, we are saying that we trust that God is big enough to know the right way to handle the situation. We have to think beyond what is right in front of us.

Our lives and fortunes can turn in an instant. We are frail and temporal. I was struck by this fact today. Anything we have and experience can be taken from us. Things change quickly. Fear begins to sets in. We never know what today or tomorrow may bring. But through it all, there is a God in Heaven who will rescue you because of his unfailing love…

…if you will only ask.

 

When they finally kill God…

I was praying today during my lunch break and was reading Psalm 2 in the Bible. In the passage it talks about how the rulers of Earth are plotting to destroy God, but that God sits in heaven and laughs at them because they futile against His will. I began to think and something popped into my head:

When they finally kill God, what will they do with their guilt?

Obviously, I don’t believe that they can actually kill God, but metaphorically speaking when the day comes that they have convinced enough people through schools and on television, and everywhere else that God is an antiquated and irrelevant concept, what will they do then? For a split moment there will be the falsehood of victory and indulgence. The world will rejoice in it’s own Godhood. But then the guilt returns.

When they finally kill God, what will they be left with? What will they do then? When they realize there is more to their existence than themselves?

When they finally kill God, what will they do with their guilt?

 

The Beginning

I would like to welcome you to the first of hopefully many entries to the blogosphere. This blog is still under construction, and to be honest, even this post is helping me see if I like my current theme.

I have always considered myself to be a philosophical person. I like to think. I analyze (I over-analyze). I like to discuss. But mostly, I like to observe what is going on in the world and offer my thoughts, or better yet, reflections. I have often thought about writing a book one day, but as I began to try and figure out what topic I would write about, it became clear to me that I had more to say about a myriad of topics than I did a single one. Thus, the idea for this blog was born.

My goal is to draw attention to the goings-on in the world, whether near or far, and simply add to the conversation that others are almost certainly already engaged in. I might not offer anything profound, but I believe there are many people who want to have honest discussions about the world we live in, the events that occur daily, and the impact they have on our lives and our future. I want to try to “read between the lines of life.” I invite you to join me. I look forward to your comments!

-Lefty