Christian Marriage Today

What builds a strong Christian marriage? Are we any different from the mainstream and should we be?

I was reading an article about Christian author; Mike McManus who just co-authored a book with his wife Harriet called Living Together: Myths, Risks, and Answers. The article is called Cohabitation a ‘trial divorce,’ not a trial marriage, written by Ed Thomas.

While I haven’t read Mike McManus’ book about Christian marriage today and am not familiar with the statistics used in the article by Ed Thomas, I find that Mr. Thomas infers sweeping generalizations regarding the numbers supposedly put forth in McManus’ book Living Together. Read the rest of this entry »

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If anyone saw me leaving the church one day with a pizza box, I’m certain they were thinking First Presbyterian offers more than just food for the soul. When I started writing book reviews for our church library, my first assignment for my newletter column Check It Out was contained within a pizza box labeled The Book of Job. It was a multimedia collection from our library of study guides and tapes including: Horizons Bible Study Faith Remains When Understanding Fails; Deep Things Out of Darkness - The Book of Job, Essays and a New English Translation; and a copy of Tried and True: Job for Modern Man.

Although familiar with the Horizons Bible Study having spent two years on the topic of Job for a Women’s Association Bible study, I wanted to check out the collection that has been so thoughtfully put together by our church librarian.

Of particular interest to me was the copy of Tried and True: Job for Modern Man. It is the Book of Job in Today’s English Version of the American Bible Society from 1971. Outside of this being an easily read translation, it is complimented with sketch drawings throughout the text. These drawings evoke the very essence of Job, the grief of man, the desire to call out to God “why”.

The beauty of this piece brought back to mind some favorite works from school, a work of great epic proportion, making this a true piece of literature to be appreciated for its prose and poetry.

The book Deep Things Out of Darkness is a collection of essays and a New English Translation. Although I would rather read forty chapters of Job as opposed to 500 pages of detailed essays on the topic this book has some merit. The first chapter, The Art of Mistranslation, is helpful in iterating the job of a translator versus the job of an interpreter.

And the tapes…are you looking for something while you are on the treadmill or exercise bike?

This multimedia collection can serve a variety of needs to any individual. I would say if you were looking for a small group study or Sunday school piece you might consider looking around your church library to compile a collection here and there by topic. Pull articles from magazines, group together different study guides and tapes, look for commentary, and varying bible versus. Then advertise the addition to your library in your Sunday worship bulletin or your church newsletter.

What special offerings does your church have in its library? Is the library used for study groups often? Do you have a dedicated librarian or church group to oversee the growth of your library?

I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from GOD,
Who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
Psalm 121:1-2 (The Message - Psalms)

As people of faith we should seek to become a disciple and a pilgrim. A book within Psalms known as the Song of Ascents, Psalms 120-134, challenges and encourages us to become modern pilgrims. Eugene H. Peterson covers each psalm that makes up the Song of Ascents in his book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction - Discipleship in an Instant Society.

Sung by Hebrew pilgrims on their way to worship in Jerusalem, these psalms are as important to us today as they were in their own time. We are challenged to say NO to the world and say YES to God. Peterson devotes a chapter to each psalm and we journey through repentance, providence, worship, service, help, security, joy, work, happiness, perseverance, hope, humility, obedience, community and blessing.

Along with offering bushels full of personal growth, I’ve marked up my Bible extensively, it offers a lot in the way of history. Peterson’s interpretation and knowledge of the time of the Hebrews gives us immediate explanation for verses which might initially be misunderstood by a new student of the Bible.

For example the above passage that was used from The Message, also by Peterson (I’m not certain if this is a book in our library), is clear that we should seek God not his creation. I think in many cases we think scripture says one thing when in fact it is referencing something different. No matter what translation of the Bible you read, Peterson can lead you to Jerusalem and advise you to keep away from those mountains and hilltops where talismen try to sell you a quick fix and promise to make your journey safe. And all along I thought Psalm 121:1 was telling me if I look all around me I could find God in the world.

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction does not use Peterson’s translation for the Psalms from The Message since that was written much later. After reading this book however, I can read The Message and have new insight into why he interpreted the Psalms.

Have you read anything by Eugene Peterson, this book perhaps? What are your feelings about the Psalms in general? Do you find reading the Psalms challenging?

Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, I would have to say this is an easy sell. You’ve probably heard about Hannah’s book from many of your Christian friends. I heard about it a few times before I actually had the chance to check it out.

It begins…

“This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her Fearing relatives and went with the Shepherd to the High Places where perfect love casteth out fear.” Much-Afraid, living in the Valley of Humiliation has been in the service of the Chief Shepherd.

While her Fearing relatives begin to make plans for her future, in her daily communication with the Chief Shepherd she voices her desire to go to the High Places to escape them. The Chief Shepherd is happy, and offers an invitation. Much-Afraid’s life will change and through her journey, it is her desire as well as the Chief Shepherd’s that she will develop hinds’ feet to live in the High Places.

The best laid plans of mice of men…

Much-Afraid’s journey in Hinds’ Feet on High Places is not always the straight and narrow path that she would wish for, being much afraid and all. Sound familiar?

It is a long journey representing many a life and an allegory that can easily translate into one’s own personal struggles with life, or lack of it if one were to choose living in the Valley of Humiliation and avoid the journey of a lifetime.

I like the compartmentalized reality in Hinds’ Feet on High Places, of the habits and weaknesses we struggle with translated into the company Much-Afraid keeps. There are the different types of Fear that Much-Afraid walked with, a cousin named Pride, her constant companions Sorrow and Suffering and the Chief Shepherd who was always available no matter how far away he seemed to be.

Much-Afraid is transformed on her journey, and along the way is ever mindful to keep a remembrance of all the blessings she encounters as she struggles to reach the High Places.

There is so much to share from this book, but I can’t ruin it for the rest of you who have yet to have the pleasure of reading Hinds’ Feet on High Places. I can only say that this book is full of beauty and promise, a lesson in life and one’s hoped for relationship with our Lord realized.

Any readers of this Christian classic that would like to share their insite? What was your favorite part of Hinds’ Feet on High Places? Have you read it in a study setting that offered good spiritual feedback from others?

Photo: L. Trevarthen, Assorted pebbles and stones

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

James 5: 16

One place to find peace is through confession. About a third of the way through our worship service there is a time for the Silent Prayer of Confession followed by the Assurance of God’s Forgiveness. The most recent book I’ve checked out of my church library has given new meaning to me for that quiet time of oneness with God.

Search For Silence by Elizabeth O’Connor is a book about our potential for growth through the act of confession. She delves deeper into not just what it would mean for our own personnal growth, but the possibility of growth for the Christian communitiy when we have a true understanding of confession and how our attitudes and belief system affects those around us. When we can better learn things about ourselves we are well equiped to have a better understanding of others.

“We do not confess our faults in order that God may be better acquanted with them, but in order that the concreteness of words will increase our own understanding.” (page 29)

She speaks of a journey, a pilgrimage of Christianity. She refers to the Sermon on the Mount as a call to pilgrimage, our examples to live by. Unfortunately it is stated that an error has been made when we set these examples as standards for everyone to live up to. We are reminded that we should not be concerned with the speck in our brothers’ eyes. Let me tell you how peaceful it is to not judge others. Now there is a fruitful act of peace.

The book is broken up into two sections and includes exercises and passages for meditation following each section for spiritual growth and contemplation. Section one has a focus on confession and the second section has a focus on prayer.

This is an enjoyable book and can be approached as a personal study. The meditation passages are wonderful, some names are familiar others more often are new to us. I recommend this book, even if you skip the exercises and just skim the meditation passages, it is still a contemplative book and offers food for thought. Unfortunate if you have to go that route but any bit of peace you can find in the day is peace well found.

Although the time for the Silent Prayer of Confession followed by the Assurance of God’s Forgiveness is brief, it could be the most important part of our worship in that we are communicating with God and he to us. If any are on a search for silence, I believe this book could greatly enrich this time when we have true silence in our week, and we need to speak to God and hear him speak back to us… CHECK IT OUT!

I hope you can find this book or even similar meditations that will bring you closer to God and to His peace.

Where are some of the other places you find peace? Is there a book you can recommend? A daytime ritual you follow or a part of your church service that brings you this peace from the Spirit? Share with us…

While this Christian book may be hard to find I wanted to share the snippet I pulled from it when I wrote this Christian book review for my church newsletter. As we reflect on the fruit of the Spirit and love, loving God, loving ourselves and loving our neighbors I thought this story might hit home. So, with help from our esteemed librarian Evelyn, I borrowed this book which at first look reminded me of Lake Wobegon.

The East Burlap Parables by Richard N. Rinker, a collection of 74 “parables”, is humorous. However if we find ourselves open to the humor hopefully we too will find ourselves open to the issues behind the satire.

East Burlap, an imaginary church Rinker wrote about in 1969 (some of the parables are timely), has something for everyone but I should also say that everything in The East Burlap Parables is not for everyone. Rinker who is a Minister, chooses satire not to amuse as much as to send a message about problems he sees in the church. Along with his parables divided into five sections, he closes out each section with commentary on problems in the church and attitudes of its members. This is a Christian book that is perfect for Adult Sunday School.

An excerpt from The East Burlap Parables:

Number Three

As they were bound to do sooner or later, the national office of The Denomination has come out with a system for calculating the final destinations of individual Christians.

Based on computerized analysis, E.D.E.N. (Eventual Destination–Extrapolationally Nuanced) uses punched cards for church members. Every person at our East Burlap Church received a computer card to punch for every other person in the local church there. On each card the individual replies to the question “Do you think he/she will end up in heaven or hell?”

(1) Heaven
(2) Hell
(3) Don’t really know him/her
well enough to say

When all cards are in for a particular church, they are fed to a computer for tabulation.

Contrary to common supposition, the E.D. for a person is not arrived at by totaling replies about him/her from all others in his/her church. The “heaven” and “hell” replies are insignificant in the final results.

Each person, in replying about all other persons in his/her church, actually establishes his/her own E.D. on this basis of how many times he/she has punched number three on his/her cards. If you can find it anywhere.… CHECK IT OUT!

So how many 3’s do you think you have given out? Do you think that living in the Spirit could help you apply more 1’s in your life, maybe change some 2’s to 1’s if God gives you the chance?

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)

“Deep sky is, of all visual impressions, the nearest akin to a feeling.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Notebooks - selected from The Hand of God.

Who has not looked up at the sky in wonder? Amazement at God’s creation of the heavens and earth touches us all. Even scientists who take a great deal of time to study the why’s and how’s of science pause in this wonder and amazement.

The Hand of God, Thoughts and Images Reflecting the Spirit of the Universe is a delightful book of the Hubble Space Telescope’s Deep Field pictures interspersed with thoughts and reflections on this aspect of God’s creation. It is edited by Michael Reagan with an Introductory Essay by Sharon Begley.

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST), built at a cost of about 1.5 billion dollars and launched into space in 1990, is currently the most powerful optical telscope in the world. Initially Hubble was near-sighted due to some optical calculation errors and corrections were made in 1993 to repair the Telescope and send back images that man has longed to see for years.

As an astronomy entusiast I had to check this book out. To see close-ups of stars and planets, images of God’s design, things I could only see as specks of light at limited magnitudes with the naked eye, is a pleasure. The telescopes hobbiests use don’t compare to the big HST in the sky.

This book is for everyone. Children especially will love this book, it is probably as cool as a trip to the zoo. However, it is hard to keep their awe contained. I checked this book out of our church library before a service. My oldest was quite intent on finding Jupiter before the children’s sermon that day. She’s trying to find out the reason Mom wanders around at night looking to the heavens.

This book reminds me of the awesome power of God and the gifts he bestows upon us. At Pentecost as we are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit, who cannot look to the heavens and be inspired by it all?

Whether you have a fancy for the night skies or not, when skies are cloudy and you need a sky fix, this book is a view of another garden of God’s creation.… CHECK IT OUT!

Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus, is an allegory of pictures and words. You might find a lot of books telling an allegorical tale on the bookshelves, but none I’ve found yet that were so simple as Hope for the Flowers. I would recommend this as a family read, especially for those with young children.

This short book tells the story of Stripe, a caterpillar who is in search of something more. He thinks he has found it when he comes upon a column of climbing caterpillars reaching way into the clouds. Certainly they must have a reason for climbing way up into the sky. So, he begins his climb.

He meets a friend along the way, Yellow, who after a while takes a different path from the column climbing caterpillars and finds out that caterpillars become butterflies for the sole purpose of making a world full of flowers.

Although a book with much predictability…we all know that Stripe will become a butterfly, a few of the well thought out pictures are moving. Pictures in darkness and light translating the changes in our lives, the ups and downs we encounter. I can’t help relating Stripe’s climb to my daily drive to work. How many people do I step on to get where I’m trying to go sometimes? To what avail? It was only my desire to end up at a particular location, not God’s.

The most moving picture for me is the one during Stripe’s descent after reaching the top and finding out he could become a butterfly and fly. He is elated and wants to share his message. Each caterpillar he looks at as he carefully travels back down the column is imprinted with a butterfly. My hope is that I could remember that picture in my mind everyday, that somehow we could be better people if we remember that we all have the same potential to grow in Christ.

This book is a wonderful short read. I read this book in a day, sharing the pictures with my eldest daughter and trying to convey the message of Stripe and Yellow to her. God has a divine plan for all of us. We are all here for a higher purpose, not by our own design.

If you are looking for a book to bring home for a nice Sunday read, or to get across to a young mind that Sunday school message that you hope your child may carry with them the rest of their life, then check this book out.

What message do we need to hear for us to recognize that there might be a butterfly in each of us?

With so much to choose from in the library sometimes it is hard to make a decision on what to read. Since not enough attention seems to be given to Christian fiction, I thought it might be time to check out some of our choices in this area.

First thought…C.S. Lewis. He is a classic when it comes to great Christian literature, and I know we wouldn’t have any argument that he can spin a tale for all ages. Younger readers have to check out the Chronicles of Narnia. As adults we are most familiar with his more serious Christian works, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters and others, but I was looking for something a bit more on the wild side….something Science Fiction.

Lewis’ Space Trilogy has been on my reading list for awhile and I finally started with Out of the Silent Planet this winter. We meet Dr. Ransom, a Cambridge philologist on a walking trip (his trip started on Earth). Very early on he is drugged and finds himself on some weird spaceship leaving Earth. Lewis wastes no time in getting us into his story. We are immediately transported into Dr. Ransom’s state of confusion, wonder and fear.

We know Lewis can tell a tale, but can he write Science Fiction? Science Fiction enthusiasts have certain expectations when it comes to a story. It has to be make believe, but very believable, and it has to tell a good story that can cross many genres of fiction…Mystery, Fantasy, and whatever else a writer can add from life experience to paint a picture with words. Weaving a tale of make believe is tricky business, starting with a spaceship heading for another planet is a good start. C.S. Lewis can create new worlds and imaginative characters without a problem. He is a master of allegory, and a master of Fantasy. But Science Fiction?

Okay so Dr. Ransom is delivered to a planet, Malacandra (Mars) and he tries to quickly become accustomed to the lay of the land…don’t forget the air of mystery…the plan of his captors. Then we meet the planet’s inhabitants, the Hrossa, Seroni and Pfifltriggi, and we learn a bit of the language and a bit of their religion. We even learn some things about humans through their eyes, that ‘whatever else a writer can add from life experience’ is added in Lewis’ polished way.

As the pages turn we feel like we’re in some abstract world in an artist’s mind. A mix of Maxfield Parrish colors and Salvador Dali creatures. That is Science Fiction. That is Out of the Silent Planet. The beginning of a great space trilogy followed up with Perelandra and That Hideous Strength.

Have you ventured into C. S. Lewis’ fiction? Do you think fiction has a place in Christianity?  What are your favorite C. S. Lewis books?

I had an idea and thought to myself, is there such a thing as Christian home décor? How do we make a Christian home? Silly question to be sure. I know it seems like a narrow term and thought, let me Google it and share with you ladies what I find. I searched on a few various terms of Christian home décor and Christian decorating and got from a quarter to over half a million hits. I know that in the scheme of things on the internet it probably isn’t a lot, but it is a lot.

And what is it, this Christian home décor? Is it all novelty; is it half a million hits of Thomas Kinkade and angels? Mostly yes. But I went digging for treasure.

If you’re trying to make a Christian home and are interested in not overstating your faith you might want some simple tips from Lady Lydia. Her site, Lady Lydia speaks on Christian Values in Home Decorating. She reminds us that home decorating is fashioned after the Christian home.

Annie’s Home Decorating Ideas Page asks us if we are able to invite Christ into each room of our home. Both ladies seem to concur that making a Christian home is not about the novelty items that profess we are Christian and clutter our homes.

You can find books on so-called Christian decorating, Simply SenseSational Decorating by Terry Willits, but you won’t feel so moved as to believe you’ve decorated in a Christian manner.

Perhaps if we give some thought to the Bible, some thought to the hospitable people who opened their hearts and homes to others. That is the key really. The word would be hospitality.

Hospitality was about caring for people, feeding and nurturing them, consider both Martha and Mary. Consider the Proverbs 31 woman, organized, handling her business, nurturing her family, was this not a Christian home?

Consider decorating your Christian home with love and hospitality.

How do you decorate your Christian home? Do you think the Bible has a model for making a Christian home as well as building a Christian life? Share your favorite decorating idea.