MY BLOG POSTS

You know how, when you’re with good friends, you’ll do a “breath check”? A quick puff out to make sure that garlic from lunch or coffee from Starbucks isn’t stinking it up every time you talk? Those are important. Helpful. People who breathe your air are grateful for the time you took to ask that question.

But, as important as breath checks are, there are other checks that are even more important. A “fruit check” is one of them.

The Bible often uses the metaphor of “fruit” to describe a vibrant Christian life. Christians who are growing in Christ are bearing fruit, and that fruit is noticeable to others.

What, exactly, should we be demonstrating? The Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)

This list isn’t there to stress us out or to show us how pitifully inadequate we are. Only Jesus fleshed each of these of these out perfectly every day. But these are our goals. These. Not straight A’s or perfect highlights or a Size 4. Not lots of money or a new car or a promotion.

So, every once in a while, we need to ask a friend how we’re doing in this area. Because just like we can be unaware of bad breath, we can also be unaware of bad actions. We can think we’re really following Jesus, but in reality, we have no fruit. It is so easy to eat the “garlic” of selfish ambition and drink the “coffee” of self-love instead of pursuing “righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2:22)

So, every once in a while, ask for a “fruit check” – examine yourself and ask others to help you, as well. Because nothing, girls, nothing is as important as serving Jesus and growing in Him. A pursuit of anything else will leave us empty.

What is Good Friday?

It is the day Christians remember Christ’s work on the cross.

On Good Friday, Jesus was led to his execution. He was sentenced to a death so horrendous that it was reserved only for non-citizens of the Roman Empire. Not even the worst Roman citizen would have to endure this. And Jesus was sentenced for one reason:

Because he claimed to be God.

He wasn’t killed for being a good person, for being a wise teacher, for hanging out with tax collectors and prostitutes. He was killed because the Jewish leaders of his day found his claims of deity to be blasphemous. They did not believe he was the promised Messiah. And they understood – rightly – that that is exactly who he was saying he was.

But Jesus was the Messiah. He was God in the flesh, come to earth. He lived a sinless life, qualifying him to be the only one who could pay the penalty for our sins.

Sins separate us from God. But God loves us, and he doesn’t want us separated from him. And so he sent his son to die the death that we deserve so we can have eternal life with him.

This Friday is remembered as Good, not just because Jesus paid the penalty we deserve, but because three days later, He rose from the dead – proving once and for all He is God and has power over sin and death. He is the victor. And through Him, we, too, are victorious. In the words of a beautiful old hymn,

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know who hold the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives

I woke up last Sunday to the news that my mom (age 62) has cancer. Those of you who have gotten news like that know that it is a major perspective-changer.

I know words this Sunday that I’d never heard of last Sunday – words like ‘peritoneal’ and ‘carcinomatosis’. I know about Stages and cancer centers and the fact that not all chemo is the same and wigs cost a ridiculous amount of money and some doctors are just not nice people.

I also know that I have an amazing family – on all sides. I have wonderful friends – ones that I see often and ones I hardly see at all. I know that people who have walked this road before reach out and offer help and hope.

I know that, when you get news like this, life-changing news, what is suddenly most important is relationships. The horizontal relationships are vital, without a doubt. People around you hold you up and buy you coffee and hug your neck. But, even more important is the Vertical relationship.

We are immortal beings.  And our eternal life is far more important than our temporal one. One of Mom’s friends recognized that last week. A professed atheist, he came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as a result of Mom’s diagnosis!

Because this is still new, we don’t know timelines or percentages. We don’t know where the cancer originated or how far it has spread. We don’t know the exact kind of chemo she’ll need or for exactly how long she’ll need it. We do know, however, that God is in control. He is a God of miracles, a God who loves His children fiercely. He is with Mom and with all of us who love Mom.

This is not a chapter of our story that I would have written, but I know the Author, and I know His purposes are far greater than mine. We will look to Him.

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Ps. 94:19

I just directed “Fiddler on the Roof” at my school. I’ll be honest – I was nervous about directing this beloved show. It was a massive undertaking by all involved. The biggest musical I have ever directed. But it turned out to be amazing! Other than that one cast member who chose not to show up to the performances, it was perfect! (Soap Box moment: folks, don’t ever do that to a director…or an employer…or anyone who is counting on you. You could end up blacklisted, fired, or worse – subtweeted on my blog!).

Tevye, the main character, watches as his family and his village change before his eyes. His oldest daughter chooses her own husband! Without a matchmaker (*gasp*). Tevye wrestles with this, but decides a matchmaker is just a tradition, not a Truth, so he gives his permission. His second daughter doesn’t even ask his permission to marry. She just wants his blessing. Again, he wrestles with whether or not he can do this. But love for his daughter overrules love for tradition, and he gives both his blessing and his permission. His third daughter, however, chooses to marry outside the faith. As Tevye thinks through this, he realizes this isn’t simply a tradition Chava has broken.  It is the sacred Law of God. In the most quoted line from the play, he says, “If I bend that far…I will break.” And he walks away from his daughter forever. In the end, his entire village must leave their homes because of their faith. The Russian government no longer wants Jews in their country.

Folks from all ends of the political and religious spectrum connect with the themes in this show. As a Christian, I feel for Tevye. I understand that some of what I hold dear are just “traditions” — getting dressed up for church, having worship music before the sermon, being clean cut and tattoo-free – ideas that the church has held to for years, but aren’t actually related to righteousness. But much of what I
believe is based on the unchanging Truth of God’s word – the high value of life and marriage, for example – Truth that is becoming less and less acceptable in my “village”. Like Tevye, I can only bend so far. I should only bend so far. Because honoring God’s revealed Truth is far more important than being accepted by the world around me.

As I watched this show, I was reminded of who I am. Whose I am. I was reminded that there are times when I need to let go of traditions that I have held to, and other times when I need to stand for Truth. Even if it hurts. Because God’s laws are for our good, because He loves us.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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 12:1-2