Why I’m going to Mexico

“This might hurt, it’s not safe, but I know that I’ve gotta make a change.  I don’t care if I break, at least I’ll be feeling something. Cause just OK is not enough, help me fight through the nothingness of this life.

I don’t wanna go through the motions.

I don’t wanna go one more day.

Without Your all consuming passion inside of me.

I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,

What if I had given everything

Instead of going through the motions?

No regrets, not this time, I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind. Let Your love make me whole I think I’m finally feeling something. Cause just OK is not enough, help me fight through the nothingness of this life.

I don’t wanna go through the motions.

I don’t wanna go one more day.

Without Your all consuming passion inside of me.

I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,

What if I had given everything

Instead of going through the motions?”

The Motions – Matthew West

Our decision to go to Torreon, Mexico on our annual missions trip this year has been met with mixed reactions.  Some people are very encouraging and praying for us, while others have been vehemently against this trip.  I’m not here to argue with anyone or cast judgments on anyone else’s decision.  I would simply like to state the reason why I, personally, have decided to go to Mexico, despite the violence, whether it’s real or over-reported.

Yes, I’m aware of the violence, but is it wrong to go into a country, be it Mexico, or any country, Afghanistan, Indonesia, etc. to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the knowledge that you may lose your possessions, personal safety or even your life for doing so?  According to the Bible, to the words of Jesus Christ, NO! Of course, that’s not a wrong thing to do, in fact quite the opposite.

“The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ^ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.“ John 12:25, 26

^“ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ^ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:24,25

I also know that my days are in God’s hand.  When it’s time for me to go home to heaven, nothing can keep me here.  And if He wants me here on earth, nothing man can do to me can change God’s purposes for me.  My hope is God alone. I don’t cling to a false sense of security, that by staying “safely” in the US, I will stay more alive than by going to a “violent” country.  I think Nathan’s accident taught us that.  When God says your time is up, your time is up. And if God chooses to spare your life, nothing, not an 800 lb tree, or a Mexican gun, can take you out of this world.

“Since his days are determined,The ^number of his months is with Thee, And his limits Thou hast ^set so that he cannot pass.” Job 14:5

 “Thine ^eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in ^Thy book they were all written, The ^days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.” Psalm 139:16

We have brothers and sisters in Christ in our sister church in Torreon, Mexico who live with this situation every day and I would like to stand with them in their proclamation of the Gospel, to encourage them in their daily lives, to let them know they are not alone in their struggles.

“Let us hold fast the ^confession of our ^hope without wavering, for ^He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how ^to stimulate one another to love and ^good deeds, not forsaking our own ^assembling together, as is the habit of some, but ^encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see ^the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:23-25

In addition to all of this, there is peace.  I have prayed about this, sought the Lord daily in the weeks and months leading up to this trip, and the sense of peace from the Holy Spirit only gets stronger.  We know, as believers, that when we think as the world thinks, we can be so anxious about circumstances that seem scary and out of control, but when we think with an eternal perspective, with the eyes of faith and the mind of Christ, we have the peace of Christ, a peace that passes all understanding.

^”Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. ^Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27

^“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by ^prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And ^the peace of God, which surpasses all ^comprehension, shall ^guard your hearts and your ^minds in ^Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6, 7

I’m ready. I want to go, I want to share the Gospel of Christ. I’m ready to live, I’m ready to die, I’m ready to serve.  As my friend Ron Sjoblom says, “If you’re ready to die, then you’re ready to live!”  I don’t want to play it safe in my comfortable American life.

“I see a world in need out on the wire
I'll take a leap of faith into the fire
I'm going over the edge now
Yeah I'm ready to reach out

I wanna be Dangerous
Unashamed to proclaim your name
I wanna be Dangerous                                                                        I can't hide or deny what's inside
I wanna be Dangerous

So many times I fail to even try
I compromise my faith by standing by
I'm going over the edge now
Yeah I'm ready to reach out

I wanna be Dangerous
Unashamed to proclaim your name
I wanna be Dangerous
I can't hide or deny what's inside
I wanna be Dangerous

My mind is made up and I'm ready
I'm goin over the edge
I'm steppin out on the wire”

Dangerous - DecembeRadio

Ideas for Late Winter Reading

Got those late winter blah’s like me?  One of the ways I perk up is with a good book!  Recently WaterBrookMultnomah provided me with two great fiction titles to review that I think you might enjoy.

The first is Linda Lee Chaikin’s Yesterday’s Promise. This is Book Two in her East of the Sun Series. I got so into the book I actually got them all and read them! I’ve always enjoyed Linda’s wonderful, historical research and her interesting characters.  I was, however, able to jump into the second book without having read the first and understand what was going on.  In Yesterday’s Promise we meet Evy Varley, a young woman in Grimston Way, England who has no idea of the events she’s about to be caught up in. And we meet Rogan Chantry, a rugged, young aristocrat who has gone to South Africa to look for his murdered Uncle Henry’s hidden gold mine.  On the way he encounters his ruthless Uncle Julien who is the head of the De Beer’s diamond mine and a host of other characters who are just as greedy for diamonds and gold.  In the middle of all this are natives who are also just as greedy for the diamonds and savagely determined to keep their homeland, even if it means killing all the British who are trying to invade.  Back home in England, Evy is fighting her own battle, for her life and for Rogan’s heart.  Of course, like any good romance novel, there’s a happy ending, but also suspense that sets the reader up for the next book.  But, I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you!  I think you would enjoy Yesterday’s Promise and all of the East of the Sun books.

The second book I read was Al Lacy’s book,  Faithful Heart. Again, this was the second in a series, the Angel of Mercy series.  Al does an excellent job of setting up the story, so that you don’t feel left out at all.  The book opens with a background chapter that summarizes everything that has happened to the characters in previous stories, so you are completely caught up by the time you start the book.  Kind of like when you turn on the TV and the show starts out, “Previously on LOST . . .”  This book is about cowboy John Stranger and his lady love, Breanna Baylor, who are on a wagon train travelling west.  Breanna is on her way to San Francisco to see her sister, Dottie.  The book is also about Dottie and her husband, Jerrod, who is suffering from shell shock after the Civil War.  His shell shock turns him into a violent man more and more frequently.  Dottie loves the Lord and wants to save her marriage, but it looks as though it’s not going to be possible, as Jerrod’s increasing violence threatens not only Dottie’s life, but the lives of her two young children.  This book was a very quick read, but didn’t hold my attention as much.  I would recommend Al Lacy’s books for those of you who love old Westerns, where the good guys always win, and the bad guys always get caught or shot. 

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

For more information on any of these books see www.waterbrookmulnomah.com

Laura and Daniel’s Excellent Cookie Adventure

While Mom’s away, the kids will play!

Mmmmm, chocolate chip, our favorite.

But, what does Daniel think?

Cookies in the oven, then. . . a taste test!

Ahhhh, heavenly! Guess I don’t mind this kind of silliness! ☺

Hear No Evil

Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner is a laugh out loud memoir of one man’s musical journey.  Born into a fundamental Baptist family, Matthew tells of his secret Sandy Patti concert attendance and his growing fascination with the “sinful” beats in Amy Grant music.

At times, cynical, but always full of joy, Matthew shares his story of how he grew in freedom and grace.  Eventually he finds his place, and his song, in Jesus. 

Hear No Evil is a fun, funny, and poignant read that anyone would enjoy, but especially if you were a child of the ‘80s growing up in a Christian home.

If you are interested in reading this book, I will be providing an extra copy to our church library. Be sure to check it out!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

For more information on Hear No Evil see http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/

You’re Not My Friend

When I was growing up, I had a younger sister.  She was my best friend.  We played dolls together, giggled in our rooms, and shared clothes and secrets.  I dreamed about the day I would someday be a grown-up and get married and have my own little girl to play with.

When I was still pretty much a kid myself, just 22 years old, Laura Jane was born.  I really didn’t know what the heck I was doing when I took that tiny infant home from the hospital, but I had such high hopes for my daughter.  I dreamed of the day we would share things just like my sister and I had.  Although I was young, I was smart enough, however, to know that sharing wasn’t going to happen when Laura was young.

I had watched other moms try to be their children’s “friend” instead of their mom, and I realized that didn’t work so well.  Although I didn’t feel very grown-up, I realized I had to BE the grown-up, because I was the only mom Laura was ever going to have. 

Little Miss Laura, quickly displayed characteristics I never imagined in my fantasies that my sweet, dream daughter would have. She was strong-willed, sometimes disobedient and obstinate.  There were times she would defy me over the dumbest things and as her mom, I would have to stand firm, choosing to not care that I was making her mad.  I would remind myself, “I’m not Laura’s friend, I’m Laura’s MOM!”

There was one time when Laura was about 3 when she did NOT want to go to bed.  We put her to bed anyway and came downstairs.  After a few minutes, Nathan and I heard a horrible ruckus from Laura’s room. We ran upstairs to find Laura flailing and screaming on her bed. We actually thought she was having a seizure! We grabbled her and said, “Laura Jane!”  She instantly stopped and looked us straight in the eye.  “What in the world are you doing?” we asked her. “I’m being BAD!” she announced. 

When I started to home school Laura in 1st and 2nd grade we were like oil and water, and I despaired of Laura and I ever finding common ground. There were days we would both end up in our separate bedrooms crying.  But, I continued to remind myself that I was not trying to be her friend, but her mom, to raise her to love Jesus and to be an honorable, loving, respectful young lady.

Laura is now a lovely young lady, just a few weeks shy of her 14th birthday and something remarkable is taking place.  Laura and I are friends! We share clothes, secrets and private jokes that the boys have no idea what we are giggling about.  We love the same music and rock out at Christian music concerts together.  We find ourselves saying the same thing at the same time.  I’m still her mom, and I still have to play the mom role at times, but I’m finding myself in the role of her friend more often because I built into her life as her mom early on in her life.

It’s great in a house full of guys to have another female ally.  I know Laura will be my friend for life. I’m grateful for the precious daughter the Lord gave me 14 years ago.  I’m Laura’s mom,but I’m also her friend, now. What a joy!

Love and War

“It can be done.

And it is worth it.”

So begins the new book on marriage, Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge.  Love and War lets us all in on the not-so-well-kept-secret that marriage is unbelievably hard, but gives the reader hope, that through the power of Jesus Christ, a joyful, fulfilling marriage is possible.

As the wife of a pastor who as been in the ministry nearly 15 years, I’ve seen my share of broken and hurting marriages, and read many books about marriage, and I have to admit that Love and War is probably the best book on marriage I have ever read.  Many books about marriage offer tips and techniques that don’t really get to the heart of the issues in a hurting marriage.  But, the Eldredges cut to the chase.  There’s no mincing words here, but there is Truth, with a capital “T”, and where there is Truth, there is hope.

John and Stasi remind the reader that our marriages have an Enemy. Our marriages are part of a spiritual battle, because God created marriage to be a picture of Christ and His church here on earth.  They also debunk the popular myth that we can change our spouse.  True hope is found when we let God change us.  And they share the greatest gift we can give to one another is our own personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for a “fun” marriage book with 3-steps to happiness and compatibility quizzes, this is not the book for you.  John and Stasi Eldredge call our marriages to something much higher and nobler in Love and War.  The work will be difficult, but as they say several times in this book, “It is worth it.”

One personal caveat: John Eldredge is known for his stand on spiritual warfare and this comes out quite strongly in the middle of the book, and the prayers at the end of the book.  While I believe there is an Enemy who “prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,” I don’t see demons behind every bush and every troublesome thing that happens the same way the Eldredges do. There was one passage that particularly troubled me where he advised readers to beware when going home to visit dysfunctional families, because their “warfare could jump” onto you. Nowhere in Scripture have I EVER seen evidence of jumping warfare.  So, read the book, but read it with this in mind.

All in all, Love and War is a powerful, desperately needed dose of Truth regarding our marriages in these troubled times.  If Christian marriages really can become a picture of Christ and His church here on earth, just imagine the impact we could have in this world!

“It can be done!

And it IS worth it!”

For more information about Love and War by John and Stasi Eldredge visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.