Go Ahead and Blink

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It's been a LONG time since I wrote on my blog. Perhaps it's an indication of my current stage of life. I love speaking and writing but where is the time to do it??? I am baffled by these Christian women authors who have written five books (even one book) and still have children living at home. Clearly, I need a class in time management. But there again, where do I find the time to take it?! ha!

So here it is, December 31st, again. Weren't we just here?! Is it my imagination or does each succeeding Christmas season go by faster than the one before? As my children get older (and hence, I get older) time is speeding up. Better not blink!

As Ellie and I were taking down decorations this morning, we saw our advent calendar sitting there, a long standing Archinal tradition. We got through December 15 and the remainder of those little doors stayed shut. A sign of our busy schedules.

Not only did some of our long-standing traditions get lost in the busyness but we had several friends experience tragedy and loss this season. Our hearts have been with them. At times, it seemed the joy of the season was a little harder to come by. So, did we miss Christmas? If we didn't get to all the things we've done before, does it mean we experienced Christmas less?

This mother's heart was feeling a little low at the reality of older children, busier schedules, and hurting friends. Then, once again, God was there to share a word of encouragement. He speaks to me in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." He comforts my heart.

He reminds me that even though time is fleeting, children grow up, and family schedules shift, He is ever constant. He is outside of time and holds all things together. He holds our family together. He holds my grieving friends in a way that I cannot. He holds me together when the inertia of demands and responsibilities tries to pull me apart.


Christmas 2011 has come and gone. Some of our traditions shifted a little but we were all together. We made some new and wonderful memories that we'll cherish forever. We had the privilege of praying for and comforting hurting friends.

Yes, I blink and another year is passed. But, no matter how many times I blink, each time I open my eyes there is my loving family and there is my loving God. So as you are packing up another year, go ahead and blink. Years come and go but joy remains.

Believing is Seeing

When Chris and I were in the lovey dovey dating stage of our relationship I thought he was just the greatest thing. He was cute, funny and such a gentleman. He charmed his way into my heart and after just five months we became engaged. It was bliss. As life would have it, the bliss was short-lived when shortly after our engagement Chris received some bad news which took us through our first trial as a couple.

At first I wasn't sure at all that our young relationship could handle the weight of this heavy news. However, watching Chris handle it with maturity and a dependence on God allowed me to see him in a whole new way. I thought Chris was a great guy before the trial but now, wow, I knew he was an amazing man with whom I could build a strong marriage.

Job had a similar experience in that he went through a terrible trial. He had always honored and obeyed God. Their relationship was good but watch what Job says about God after the storm, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5) LOVE IT!! Job hadn't experienced God fully until the trials came. There were parts of God Job could only experience through suffering. Though his circumstances were unimaginable, Job continued to believe God. His belief ultimately allowed him to see more of God.

When we are in the midst of trials God reveals Himself to us in ways we never knew before. The only way to experience God's comfort is during times of sorrow. The best way to appreciate His peace is in times of tribulation. The darkness of our suffering can accentuate the glory and majesty of God.

Have you merely heard about God or have you seen Him? When is the last time God revealed Himself to you in an intimate way? Suffering is never wasted when we believe God for the outcome. Next time you face a trial, follow Job's example and see what God will do.

Spiritual Foodie

I am, by definition, a foodie. I'm sure you've heard the term. Wikipedia defines a 'foodie' as "amateur cooks who simply love food for consumption, study, preparation, and news. Foodies want to learn everything about food, both the best and the ordinary, and about the science, industry, and personalities surrounding food."

That's me. I'm into food. When I was a starving single adult working at non-profits and making no money, the one thing I would splurge on was good food. Living in the D.C. area, I made frequent visits to Dean and Daluca (The Neiman-Marcus of grocery stores) buying cheese and bread with names I couldn't pronounce. I spent my weekends eating my way through Zagat's Restaurant Guide. If you know about Zagat's there's a good chance you're a foodie too. I have subscriptions to food magazines and subject my family, periodically, to new and weird recipes for dinner.

Yes, you could say that food is important to me. Perhaps that's why I love Isaiah 55:1-2 because it says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."

The richest of fare for free? Sign me up! God is calling all who are spiritually thirsty and hungry to come enjoy His presence. The word 'thirst' in this passage indicates intense desire, and addresses the sense of want which sinners often have. No need is so acute or demanding of our attention as the basic desire for food and drink. God uses this analogy to tell us He is offering to fulfill our most basic and intense needs - the need for Himself.

Now, there were times in my state of poverty when I could not afford to dine at the posh eateries my taste buds so longed for. Similarly, we can feel spiritually bankrupt and unworthy of the feast God is offering. We feel compelled to earn our invitation. But, God's call is for everyone. He does not say, "Come only if you are good, rich, or otherwise worthy." He invites the D-listers!

While I love the ambiance and gastronomic delights of fine dining, I do not always like the snobbery often linked with such establishments. Though God Himself is the ultimate Iron Chef, He is not distant or aloof. To the contrary, He says, "Come", four times! The God of all creation is inviting you and me to pull up a chair and tie on the feedbag.

What's the best meal you've ever had? Steak dinner? Lobster bisque? You ain't tasted nothin' til you've tasted what God has to offer. He's no McDonalds or Taco Bell, people. He's the five star, four dollar-signs, kind of joint. When He says, "come" we need to run, not walk, to our King.

Next time you're hungry for the 'richest of fare', forget your wallet and don't worry about making a reservation. Just rest in the Lord and feed your soul at the Divine Diner.

The Pep Rally

Tis the season for pep rallies! Don't you just love a good pep rally? I do. As a junior high cheerleader, Mary Cate, is preparing for her first pep rally in a couple of weeks. I can't wait! All the elements of a pep rally are intended to fire up the team for a victory. It's kind of a tribal feel. The loud drums, the roaring crowd, the motivational speeches. It's all designed to prepare the warriors for battle.

That's the thing with pep rallies...you only have them because a big game is coming up. You can't just stay at the pep rally forever. You've got to go play the game. In Deuteronomy 1:6 God tells the Israelites to leave the pep rally and get to the game. "The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: 'You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.'" You see, the people had gathered at the foot of Mount Horeb while God spoke to them. It was a radical experience with fire, smoke, a lightening show and trumpets. They didn't want it to end but God said, "It's over, people. Leave!"

While God planned this experience to inspire the Israelites, He did not mean for them to stay there forever. God rescued them from Egypt so they could go conquer the Promised Land. God will speak to you in powerful ways at times in order to build your trust in Him. He will allow you to have amazing experiences of worship, teaching and fellowship. The purpose of these awesome encounters with God is to prepare you for His calling in your life.

It's great to get fired up but what will you do with that energy? The only way to get a victory is to face your opponent. What is God calling you to do once the cheering dies down? It's tempting to stay at the pep rally. Who wants it to end? But at some point we've got to leave and get to the game. The battle awaits!

What can you do with duct tape?

If memory serves, it seems that around the time I discovered boys I also learned about duct tape. Doesn't it just seem like men and duct tape go together? Some of our dearest friends have a 14-year-old son who just loves duct tape. He uses it on just about everything. Got a tent with a hole in it? Use duct tape. Electrical cord got a short? Duct tape. Looking for a new baseball cap? Make one out of duct tape! (He seriously did this.) As a matter of fact, for his birthday, this young man asked for one thing....new rolls of duct tape.

Did you know you can buy it in a wide assortment of colors and patterns? Yes, duct tape is magical. Maybe duct tape is the 8th wonder of the world. I'm led to believe that if a nuclear bomb hit and the world as we know it ceased to exist, cockroaches and duct tape would still survive!

There are times in my life when I could really use some emotional duct tape. When I feel like I'm unraveling, somebody needs to patch me up with fluorescent pink duct tape (one of the many colors for sale at Ace Hardware).

Back-to-school season is one of those times. Our family enjoys awesome summers. We load up on sunshine and family time. Then, just when we've finally shaken off that last shred of tension from the previous school year - BAM! - it's time to start all over again. The older my kids get the more I dread school starting. It's like I can see the hands on the clock moving at super speed, threatening to make my kids grow up before I am ready.

This is when God reminds me that He's my emotional duct tape. Look at this - "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17) YES! God is my duct tape! Jesus holds me together when I see my kids growing up too soon. He holds me together when they start wanting to spend more time with friends and less time with mom. He holds me together when my son no longer wants me to walk him to class on the first day of school.

Tonight, Jack asked me to scratch his back as he settled into bed. The lights were off and you could hear the comforting rumble of distant thunder. As I sat on the edge of his bed rubbing his back, he began to share about his day.

This may sound crazy, but I just sat there listening and thought about the duct tape. I thought about how, yes, someday he'll be too old to ask me to rub his back to help him sleep. He'll be too big to want to have me near when he's drifting off. He won't always want to share about his day, perhaps. And as my heart begins to break at the thought of my boy growing up too soon, Jesus is also there.

He's speaking His promises to me. He's reminding me of His faithfulness to my children as they grow up in Him. He holds all my precious memories of the past and helps me focus on all of the memories yet to be made. Will it break my heart when my boy is no longer a boy? I imagine in some ways it will.

But Jesus is already there in that moment holding my heart together...just like duct tape.

Blessings Wrapped in Seaweed

This summer we took our family vacation back to Seaside, Florida. This is my favorite place in the world. The happiest place on earth. Laid back environment. Beautiful houses surrounded by white picket fences. White sand and crystal blue water. My little family all to myself. When we’re in Seaside, all is right with my world.

This year, however, there was a slight imperfection in my perfect world. We got to the beach to find the shoreline draped in seaweed. Okay, no problem. Walk over the seaweed to the crystal blue water, right? Wrong. The seaweed was in the water too. To reach the crystal blue you had to wade through about six feet of seaweed and algae. If you’re willing to go through all the goo, only then can you enjoy clear, cool water you traveled so far to see.

It occurs to me that marriage is a lot like a beach with seaweed. When you’re in the newly engaged state it’s like driving to Seaside. You can’t wait to get to this happiest of all places – marriage. Then, at some point in the marriage whether it’s year one or year twenty, the seaweed hits. It feels yucky. It’s messy, stinky and all you want to do is shower off and be done with it!

However, the truth is, if you can manage to work through it then you get past the stink to the crystal blue. Quitting before you get to that clearest and coolest of water robs you of the full beach experience. The best part of marriage comes from wading through the gunk.

Chris and I have taken turns wading through our share of seaweed. By God’s grace, we’ve stuck with it for 16+ years. We’ve planted our feet firmly on the covenant we made before God. We’ve gotten on our face in prayer asking for strength to work through it when everything was pulling us apart. The days we thought we couldn’t take each other one more second; God reminded us marriage isn’t about individual happiness as much as it’s about bringing glory to Him. When we take our eyes off our own agenda and place them back on God's agenda we find our hearts drawn back to one another.

You’ve heard the phrase, “a whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Marriage is more important than the two people who make it. The hard times serve a divine purpose (making us more like Christ), just as the seaweed is a necessary part of marine life. When I started in marriage I never knew how hard it could be nor did I have a clue how rich it could be.

We don’t drive all the way to Florida to just sit on the beach. We pack up the car, board the dog, and make the eleven hour journey to get in the water. I know there’s more seaweed in our future. That’s life. I pray for God’s grace everyday to wade through it. Here’s to the blessings of seaweed! Get me to deeper waters, Lord!

Labor Pains

My eldest child is quickly closing in on her 13th birthday. Though it's been over a decade since her birth, I still recall with a slight wince the labor pains I endured bringing her into this world. Being the stubborn child she is, she was three days past her due date. This may not sound like much, but to anyone who's gone even an hour past your due date, you know how miserable that is.

When she finally decided to make her appearance my labor began, most conveniently at midnight (sarcasm!). Fourteen difficult hours later she was born. What a relief when labor was over and I got to see her fat red face! In that moment of victory, I naively thought that was the end of my 'labor pains'.

Now in my 13th year of parenting, I have come to the dramatic conclusion that labor pains never stop. Just because you've been discharged from the hospital doesn't mean your labor has ended. To the contrary, it's only the beginning!

As a matter of fact, giving birth is a piece of cake compared to the day in and day out labor of raising a child. Am I right? Is this how God feels about us? I mean, he birthed us in the Garden that we might enjoy fellowship with Him. We lasted about a day and He's been laboring to redeem us ever since! (And He didn't even get an epidural!)

When the burden of raising godly children seems overwhelming, I need to know God is laboring right along with me. 1 Corinthians 1:20 reminds me of His faithfulness, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." Now what does this have to do with raising kids? It means the Man's got a plan and He keeps all of His promises.

We don't need to become discouraged or impatient if we're not seeing the fruit of our labor right away. When we are holding tightly to Jesus, we can rest assured that every promise God made in scripture is true for us. I don't know about you, but this motivates me to stick close to the Word of God. I want those promises and I want them for my children. I want my kids to see Christ alive in me. I want them to see God's promises coming to fruition in our family.

Oh friend, God is the ultimate mid-wife! Are you laboring to raise children in the image of Christ? God is laboring with you. He is faithful and will see it come to pass. Keep close to Him and remember to take lots of deep breaths along the way.

The Highly Valuable but Extremely Underappreciated Mommy Play Date!

Before I became a mother, I knew little about children. Some might argue that after having three of my own, I still don’t know much about children! Nevertheless, 'pre-kiddos' I was footloose and fancy free. As a Development Director, I loved my job. I spent days on the phone with donors, lunching with friends, and joking around with co-workers. It's not that I didn't adore children, it's just that they never really entered my mind...until I had one...or two...or three.

Suddenly, my entire universe was altered! Like an astronaut landing on Mars, everything was strange and curiously exciting. Embarking on my new career, I embraced parenting as my new mission in life. I devoured books about babies and pondered articles on pre-schoolers. I was a mommy-machine!

Little did I realize, while I was busy getting kids on a schedule, covering electrical outlets and teaching my baby sign-language, I was draining myself of that ever-important daily intake of adult social interaction. That's right, my sudden fabulosity of "mommy-ness" was robbing me of my "me-ness".

A subtle depression began to set in. The endless days without showering and constant smell of spit-up were beginning to take their toll. What was wrong with me? I loved my kids. Mothering was to me, the highest calling in life. So what was the problem?

Finally, I realized I was suffering from baby-overdose, a common disease among young mothers. The cure? A healthy infusion of girl time was just what the doctor ordered. I sent up the bat signal and rallied the girlfriends for a night out. Come to find out, many of them were experiencing the same symptoms. We decided to meet regularly - sans kids - to laugh, compare stories and give ourselves time to remember who we were without diaper bags. It was awesome.

Those early years of parenting are stressful, crazy and fun. I can't imagine going through it without my friends. They were my support group during the terrible twos; my sanity when I was outnumbered by babies; and perhaps, most importantly, my self-assurance on those really hard days when I felt I’d failed.

Moms, don't underestimate the power of the Mommy Play Date. God’s Word says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their investment. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

We aren't meant to travel this road alone. There's a mom out there who needs you as much as you need her. When you feel down and need some encouragement, send up a flare and schedule some time just for you. It will make you a better you as well as a better mom!

Enduring the Drought: When Your Heart Gets Parched

We live in Texas, where we've been experiencing the worst drought in history. The little bayou behind our house is drying up so the kids can no longer fish. (I could swear I saw a little fish walking back there one day with a hobo stick on his shoulder.) Our neighborhood has begun water conservation measures and I don't even want to talk about our water bill.

Funny thing about droughts, it takes a while before you realize you're in one. We enjoyed beautiful crystal blue skies in the spring. Days spent outside riding bikes, playing ball and frolicking in the meadow (okay, maybe no frolicking but you get my meaning). Spring football and baseball games that could have been rained out, went on as scheduled. Life was good.

Still, the days of sunshine eventually take a toll. After a few months of no rain, even that beautiful meadow begins to brown and wither. The land is parched.

As I sit out on my back porch this morning, safely covered, I hear thunder. It's faint at first but I think it's growing stronger. I am cautiously optimistic. Sure enough, here are a few drops of....could it be? Yes, I think it is - RAIN! Oh the sound of it alone is replenishing to my soul.

Psalm 42:1-2, expresses how I feel, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"

Do you ever feel like you're in a spiritual drought? I have. It's usually during the dark times that we find ourselves crying out to God in desperate need for direction. But what about the sunny days? Do I seek Him just as earnestly? Sadly, not always. Eventually, it catches up with me. Even the good days are somehow hollow without a real sense of His presence with me.

The truth is, God is always here for us. He's the stream of living water just waiting for me to come and drink.

Am I too busy running through that sunny meadow to realize I'm getting dehydrated? How long can my last encounter with God carry me? I don't want to find out. I want to come every morning and drink up! I want to hear from God every day. Oh Lord, help me to realize that I need you all the time, not just when times are tough. Replenish my soul each morning with your thirst-quenching presence. Thank you for the rain!

When the Lion Roars

One of my favorite movies is Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. In one dramatic scene, Streep's character, Karen, is in the African plains and finds herself face to face with a hungry lion. The lion is stronger and more fierce but Karen has determination and a whip. When she exerts her authority (and some attitude) with that whip, the lion goes running back into the darkness. You go girl!

Like Karen, I see myself as a fairly courageous and independant woman. It's taken some effort to get here, but I can usually stand up straight when facing most of life's challenges. That is, unless there's a hungry lion coming at me....

Last weekend I had the awesome opportunity to speak at a women's retreat. The theme was Team God. As speaker and 'head cheerleader' for the weekend, I shared with them how to get to know their 'Coach'. God showed up in a powerful way and our hearts were encouraged in His Presence.

However, on Sunday morning, just before the last session in which I was to speak, I began having vision problems. It was as if ripples of water were around the outer circles of my eyes making it difficult to see. As God would have it, there were two nurses on the retreat who came to my room to check on me. Long story short, before I knew it, one of the nurses was driving me to the emergency room (something about needing to rule out a stroke, brain tumor or a torn retina!). This thing was getting more dramatic by the minute.

The whole time this vision thing was going on I wavered between courage and fear; between peace and hysteria. It occurred to me that this medical emergency could also be a spiritual battle. It felt like the enemy was attempting to threaten and frighten me, just like the roaring lion from the movie. Would I let him replace my peace with fear? Would I stand and fight or lay down in defeat?

Are you familiar with 1 Peter 5:8? It says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I was well aware of the roaring, devouring lion part of that verse, but what about the first part? In the middle of my pain and uncertainty, I sensed God saying to me, "Lisa, be self-controlled with your thoughts. You don't have to be afraid. You don't have to be devoured by fear. You can choose to trust me in this moment. Maybe you can't see very well, but I can."

So that's when, just like Karen in Out of Africa, I took out my whip. In this case, the roaring lion was satan and the whip was the Word of God. Luke 10:19 states, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you." I stood before that threatening lion and cracked my whip! I stood on the Word and said, "Not today, satan. I live under the cross of Jesus Christ. I will not be afraid."

With the crack of the whip, that lion went running back into the darkness. I received peace. God gave me courage in the midst of a scary situation.

Praise God, my vision scare was short lived. My vision returned to normal and it turns out I was experiencing my first (and hopefully last) migraine.

I find that sometimes in life God swoops in and saves us from the enemy before we're even aware of the threat. But sometimes, He wants us to participate in the victory so He lets us face the beast and He hands us a whip. When we choose to believe God and stand on His Word, it's like cracking a whip at that hungry lion. As soon as the lion learns he's not getting us for dinner, he runs back into the darkness.

Are you facing a roaring lion? Could it be that satan is threatened by your ministry or your relationship with God? Is your boldness or courage at stake? As a Christian you have authority in Christ to tame that lion. Now get out there and practice cracking that whip!

At the Foot of the Bed

April 29, 2011 was the 16th anniversary of my marriage to Chris. There was a lot of hoopla going on around my anniversary over some other couple across the pond that was to share our wedding date. It kind of made our anniversary that much more fun this year as people were talking about fairy tales and happily ever afters.

It's funny because after 16 years, the early days of courtship and marriage get pushed to the rear of your memory. Those fun stories of our first dates and pre-kid adventures had collected cobwebs in the very back of my mind. Then just a couple of days after our anniversary I sat on a panel for our junior high youth ministry. We were asked questions by the kids. One of the questions was "How do you know when he's 'The One'"? Of course the first thing that popped into my mind in responding to a junior higher was "You're in junior high! He's NOT the one!" ha ha. I didn't really say that.

But I was asked point blank - how did I know Chris was 'The One'? Wow. I hadn't thought about that question in years! Of course, I know Chris is the man for me but I hadn't thought about "that moment" when you know, you know? Then it came to me. An amazing memory I hadn't thought of in years.

The story. The story of the moment I knew that Chris was 'The One'. Want to hear it?

Chris had brought me home from our date on a Saturday night. The two girls with whom I shared a house were out of town. We said goodnight at the door. Chris had to get up very early the next day to go preach an hour away at a church that was considering him for their youth pastor position.

Just after he left I was walking through the house and noticed the back sliding glass door was open. I became very frightened. Based on memories from a traumatic event from high school, I became paralyzed with fear. I called one of my girlfriends on the phone but she was an hour away. These were the days before cell phones so I couldn't call Chris until he got back to his house. My girlfriend tried to calm me but I was nearly hysterical. Eventually, she got me to hang up the phone and try Chris at his house. By the grace of God, he was there and he immediately drove back over.

As soon as I let him in I fell into his arms in a mess of tears. He calmly let me cry and I told him about my terrible experience that had left these scars of fear. Thanks to his patience, unconditional care (and a thorough search of the house for bad guys), I pulled myself together and told him to go home and get some sleep.

Here's where the story gets good. He refused to leave. He called his accountability partner and told him he was staying at my house that night. It was a three bedroom house so there was plenty of room for us to sleep apart. I showed him a room down the hall from mine where he could get some good sleep. He refused to sleep down the hall. He said he would sleep at the foot of my bed all night. I said that was silly but between you and me, I knew it was the only way I would get any rest.

Here was a guy who had to get up in a few short hours to drive 60 miles to preach two services that would determine if he got his first full-time job. Here was a guy who saw a comfortable bed down one end of the hall and a frightened mess of a girl and a hard floor at the other end and chose the mess and the hard floor.

That was it. That was the moment. Who does such things? A guy who believes Ephesians 5:25 does such things..."Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her". He sacrificed so I could feel safe. He's been sacrificing for me ever since!

So that was roughly 16 years ago. No one celebrated our marriage by making porcelain plates or tea towels with our pictures on it. The networks didn't cover our 'love story'. No one made guesses at what my dress would look like.

Our story may not make the history books but that doesn't matter to me. I know our story. I know Chris is 'The One' because he loves me unconditionally. He loves me when I'm a mess. He stays when anyone else would run. He's 'The One' because he slept at the foot of my bed.

Hungry god

My sister called me last night with the most hilarious story. From time to time my sis will indulge in a pedicure at her favorite little nail salon. Apparently at this salon there is a religious statue that sits near the pedicure chairs. Each time Laurie has gone in she notices there is a plate of food in front of this statue. Sometimes its fruit. Sometimes is rice. Not sure what his diet plan is but there's always something there.

Yesterday when she went in, she noticed a cup of coffee in front of this god. Apparently, he needs caffeine later in the day to help him stay awake. The only thing was, this coffee was in a styrofoam cup and it had a dead bug in it! Now, I don't know about you, but if I'm serving my god a cup of coffee, I'm not going to give it to him in a cheap cup. I would at least use china. And I certainly would not give my god coffee with a dead bug in it!

Does this strike anyone else as odd??? I mean, what kind of god do you worship that relies on you for food and drink? I rely on my God for food and drink, not the other way around. Please hear my heart on this. I am speaking in a tone of compassion and disbelief (with a little sarcasm mixed in). How sad it is when people substitute the real deal with a cheap imitation.

The Lord addresses the issue of idols throughout the book of Isaiah. One of my all-time favorite passages is Is. 44:13-20 (slightly cropped for the sake of space).

"The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory. (The wood) is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

But he also fashions a god and worships it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire, over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm. I see the fire." From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."

They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?" He cannot save himself or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

Do you hear God's tone in this passage? I can almost hear Him slapping His holy forehead and saying, "I can't believe these people!" It's easy for me to spot the idol in the wooden god. I point and say, "Ha! How ridiculous!" Yet, what am I serving other than God? Am I truly "idol free"? How many times do I look to other things to save me instead of the Living God?

As a Westerner, I crack up at the thought of serving food to a statue that was made on an assembly line. As a Christian, I cry at the thought that these people are so oblivious to the Savior that loves them and that truly has the power to save. As a finite created being, I marvel at the God who is completely independent of me. I'm amazed at the God who keeps my heart beating and the earth spinning.

No, I don't serve coffee (bugs or no bugs) to my God to help him stay awake. But I do long to serve Him with my life. I long to represent Him in such a way that people of all tribes and tongues would see His transforming power in me...and believe IN HIM!

The Balcony

We recently took a family trip to San Diego for spring break. What a great city! There was so much to see and do. There was no way we were going to get around to it all. I don't know how it works in your family but in the Archie house, when we take a family vaca, mom plays cruise director.

This means I...
* Research desired destination
* Purchase tour books and study, study, study
* Develop daily vacation schedule
* Pack three kids and myself (which means laundry)
* Print directions, make hotel concierge my new best friend, and so on

Whew! Are we there yet?! For the most part, family vacations are more like business trips for me (as Claire from Modern Family would say) but I'm kind of a freak and I like it.

When we arrived in San Diego at 9am (very early flight!), we went to the hotel to drop off our bags before heading out to Coronado Beach. Upon arrival at the Sheraton, the manager said he was so sorry our rooms weren't ready but he had a VIP suite available that he'd like to put us in. WHAT?! We thought this guy was off his geezer, but who are we to argue?

The bell boy takes us to the top floor where we have two adjoining rooms. We walk into the room that sits on the corner of the hotel to find a set of double glass doors leading to a balcony. The bell boy opens the doors and waves us over to see our enormous patio. This thing was HUGE. It had to be at least 50 x 60 feet. Did I mention it overlooked the marina?

When we first saw this massive party area we were stunned. How could all of this be ours alone? Didn't we have to share it? It was too big of a space for just our family. What gives?

The funny thing was, we ended up hardly using our beautiful balcony at all. We were busy keeping our schedule. There was so much to see and do. We didn't take the time to sit on the balcony and take it all in.

There's a little book, in the very back of the Old Testament, called Haggai. In chapter 1, verses 5-6 it says, "Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes."

God is saying His people are chasing hard after things that don't satisfy. What a waste! Only God can fill our deepest desires and needs. Does this sound like anyone you know? God has made every spiritual blessing available. His free gifts of grace are like the VIP suite with the massive balcony. It's all right here but are we seeing it or are we too busy keeping our schedules, building our houses, shopping for clothes, and worrying about work and money?

Psalm 46:10 is the salve for our weary souls, "Cease striving and know that I am God." Will you stop today and rest in God's promises for provision instead of chasing temporal things? Will you consider the eternal things God has to offer?

Next time somebody sticks me in the VIP suite and I have the chance to sit on a beautiful balcony, you can bet I'll be tossing the schedule, kickin' back and enjoying the view.

Indian Giver

When I was in the third grade, a girl in my class gave me a special ring that belonged to her. She said I could have this treasure as a token of our friendship. I was overwhelmed with joy! The ring was beautiful. It had an adjustable gold band with a pink rhinestone. Although the ring was from the local dime store, it might just as well have come from Tiffany's for the value it held to me.

The next day, I wore the ring to school with my favorite outfit (which matched perfectly with my ring). After receiving many compliments, I was shocked, when my friend said she wanted it back. I told her there were no backsies. The conversation soon escalated into an all out war with classmates taking sides on the playground and, if I remember right, a teacher getting involved after some blows were thrown. (I'm pleading the Fifth)

It's no good when someone gives you something special and then asks for it back. It's not fair. It's not right. It's a breach of etiquette!

This week, I was wrestling with a problem. I was stressed, worried and consumed. Because I am such a mature Christian (wink, wink), I decided the wise thing to do was to give the problem to Jesus. He can handle anything. He tells us to lay our burdens at His feet. He wants us to trust Him. He's certainly proven Himself plenty of times. This should be no problem.

So, I tossed it on over to God. I decided He was Chief in Charge of everything and whatever He decided to do about this problem was okay by me. Yep, that's what I did all right. I just handed that worry right over to my wonderful heavenly Father. It was great. I was free from worry! I was walking in the light. Satan had no hold on me. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" (Prov. 3:5) is my motto.

This lasted all of about a day, give or take. Then I turned into that awful Indian Giver. I took it back! I snatched my worry right back from God. Without saying a word, I took that burden and started worrying all over again. My faith flew right out the window. What happened???

Do you ever struggle with being an Indian Giver? Am I the only one? Why do I insist on holding to my problems like Linus holding onto his blanket? What does God think of this?

Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." God takes our faith very seriously. So should we. I realized that my fear to relenquish control gets stronger the farther I get from His Word. Instead of dwelling on the problem, I need to use that energy to dwell on His promises.

Next time you're tempted to be an Indian Giver, think on these:
"Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ." Phil. 4:6-7

"My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ." Phil 4:19

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut. 31:6

God can be trusted. Let's give Him our worries, our stress, out fears, our cares...and remember, no backsies.

Unrelenting Love

Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is so much fun. That is, if you have someone to celebrate with. Am I right? All the cards, candy, balloons and flowers on display at stores will either get you excited in anticipation of the big day or serve as a painful reminder of your loneliness (Can you hear the restaurant hostess - "Lisa, party of one!"). I've been on both sides of that holiday and I can tell you which one is more fun!

The truth is, none of us need feel lonely or without love on Valentine's Day. We have a love available to us that reaches far beyond the grandest bouquet of roses. We are pursued with great passion by a Love that knows no bounds. The book of Hosea portrays the greatest love story of all time.

Hosea was a man of God. God told him to marry a harlot named Gomer. Hosea obeyed God and took Gomer to be his wife. Hosea loved Gomer (despite her unfortunate name). He showered her with kindness and dignity. Gomer had never known such tenderness. Happy ending, right? Not yet. Sadly, old sinful habits die hard. She left her amazing husband and went back to her adulterous ways. Men used her and abused her until she was utterly broken then sold into slavery. All hope was lost, until...

God told Hosea to go and buy her back! What?! This makes no sense. Hosea was too good for her to begin with. Hosea gave her everything and Gomer just threw it in his face. She was getting what she deserved. Why would Hosea want her back after the way she treated him much less pay for her to be free? What kind of love would do this? Incredible!

Listen, this is our love story. Yours and mine. God is Hosea and we are Gomer. We, who are unworthy and filthy with sin, are greatly pursued by a righteous Love. We, who have turned our backs on Christ time and time again, are sought after and bought with a price.

"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods.'" Hosea 3:1. This is the most beautiful love story. This beats any card, flower arrangement or...dare I say it...jewelry!

Yes, this is the love of a lifetime. We are not alone. Despite the intense pain we inflict on God by turning our affections elsewhere, God still loves us. This is not human love. This divine love. He will follow you to the depths of your sin to reclaim you. So, this Valentine's Day, whether you are "party of two" or "party of one", just know that you are prized!

I've got to get off this computer now. I'm going to spend time with my Heavenly Valentine!

The Un-Snow Day

Living in Houston means there are two things you can always count on, unreasonably long summers and constant humidity. For some of us who have lived in Houston long enough, we have developed thin skin which means, while we get sick of the heat lasting through October, we also dread temperatures below about 60 degrees. That is, unless there is snow involved.

This week there was much hype about the possibility of snow. As the weathermen upped the chance of snow each day, my children's hopes and dreams of white fluff inflated like a large balloon. Soon, the surety of snowfall was all anyone could talk about. The excitement was building as we all anticipated the arrival of a winter wonderland. Dads covered pipes and plants. Moms cleaned out the grocery stores and turned on crock pots. School districts cancelled classes. Then we waited. And waited. And waited.

If your house was like mine, you had children waking at all hours of the night (maybe I woke up a time or two also) to peek out the window as if it were Christmas Eve. But then, when morning came there was no snow. That inflated balloon of white winter hope popped right in our faces. We turned on the TV for some type of reassurance from the weathermen. Maybe the snow was just running late. Come on, weatherman, what happened to your forecast? You promised us snow!

The snow never came. The covered pipes and plants were safe, the food in the crock pot was still delicious and we did get out of school, but we would have traded all of that for the fulfillment of the promised snowfall. Our heads hung low, we tried to rally but let's be honest, our hearts were broken just like the weatherman's promise.

While it was easy for me to blame the weatherman, in reality there's only so much a weatherman can do. Weathermen read radars not crystal balls. They can only give their best guess at a forecast. Weather changes constantly. You can't really know for sure what the weather will be until it happens.

Fortunately, not everything works like that. There are precious few things that are certain. My favorite bankable promise is the assurance of Christ's return. Jesus warns us to 'stay awake' spiritually in anticipation of His coming. Unfortunately, we live in a very busy culture with lots of distractions. It's easy to forget all about eternity. I barely have time to think about what I should fix for dinner tonight, much less consider the life hereafter.

But consider these words of Jesus in Matthew 24, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

It's amazing how often I miss this 'forecast' in my daily life. I plan and prepare like crazy for the slightest chance of snow. I want to be sure my family is ready. The snow may or may not come but Jesus is a sure thing. He IS coming back. Am I preparing my family? Am I living in anticipation of His return? I want us to be found ready.

Our un-snow day turned out fine. We were prepared for the winter blast of 2011. Maybe it will snow next year, maybe not. Maybe Jesus will come back and we won't have to worry about it. Weathermen report on shifting changes in the atmosphere. Jesus reported on the firm plans of His Father. Are you ready?

Fine China or Paper Plate?

I don't know if you are like us, but around our house we use paper plates for just about every meal. Dinner time I usually bring out the "everyday china" but it's very rare for me to go to the trouble of pulling out the "good stuff".

In 2009 I had the privilege of speaking at a Pine Cove Mother/Daughter Conference. The theme scripture for the weekend was 2 Timothy 2:20-21, "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things (sin), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."

I love these verses because they compare us to items of gold and silver (like fine china); they tell us we were made for a special purpose; and in order to be used for that purpose we must be pure.

I have 'vessels' in my house of fine china, handed down to me from my grandmother. I have other 'vessels' in my house of generic brand paper plates. Can you imagine me serving my 10-year-old son and his friends snacks on my grandmother's fine china? No way! I keep the china in a safe place so it cannot get broken. That doesn't mean I can't use it often. It just means I use it for specific and special purposes.

Sometimes in life we make choices to do things or say things that are not part of God's special purpose for us. Kind of like using fine china to serve chile cheese dogs to a pack of boys. The words we say, the attitude in our heart, and our actions determine what type of vessel we are...fine china or a cheap paper plate.

God didn't create me in His image to be harsh or judgemental any more than a toilet brush was made to double as a toothbrush. Nevertheless, sometimes I find myself being 'used' for something I know God never intended. Do you know what I mean? Can you relate? How I long to get rid of the things in my life that would make it difficult for God to fulfill his special purpose for me.

What are some noble purposes God might have for you? Are you in a place where God can use you for His glory? If you've been living more like the paper plate, ask God to cleanse you and restore you to the fine china vessel He created you to be and get on with the noble plans He has in store.

My Afternoon in Heaven

Recently, I signed up through the school district to be a substitute in the front office at my children’s school. I went through the appropriate training then emailed the school secretary to let her know I was ready for action. When she called me to sub, I immediately said ‘yes’. I couldn’t wait to work up front helping visitors get signed in, delivering forgotten lunches and chatting with the office ladies (they’re awesome).

Imagine my surprise when I was told I wouldn’t be working in the front office, I’d be working in one of the special needs areas called “YCAP”. I don’t know what YCAP actually stands for but as it applied to me, it should have meant “You Can’t Assist worth Poop!” I wasn’t trained for helping children with special needs! How could I possibly walk in here and know what to do? What if this experience was too overwhelming for me? What could I possibly have to offer these kids?

I warily agreed to take the scary assignment. Praying as I made my way to the YCAP room, I nervously opened the door, anxious about what I would see. You’ll never guess what I beheld in that classroom. Much to my wondering eyes, there sat before me nine angels!

I had never seen angels before, though I’ve read about them. Angels are servants of God who deliver His message of hope. Sometimes angels appear as celestial beings. Sometimes they come as mighty warriors. Sometimes they’re disguised as strangers. We don’t know a lot about angels but you can be sure you never know when or where they’ll show up.

I never expected to see angels in an elementary school, but there they were. Six of them were disguised as ten-year-old boys with autism. The other three were dressed as teachers. They invited me to sit down for quiet time. Seeing the fear on my face, one of the boy angels quickly came over and sat on my lap with a hug as if to say, “Do not be afraid.” (Angels say that, you know.)

While none of the boy angels could speak, they could communicate unconditional acceptance without saying a word. The angels disguised as teachers, I soon discovered, were strong, compassionate and fun. Who knew angels had a sense of humor?

I spent the next four hours learning all kinds of things from these heavenly creatures. I learned children with autism love potato chips just like regular kids. I learned children with autism don’t really like doing sit-ups any more than regular kids. And I learned that even in a world where innocent children are helplessly stricken with challenges like autism, there is still room for hope and joy and laughter.

I learned that teachers who commit themselves to serving these special angels are themselves very angelic. They are brave as warriors going into battle. They are tender as mother lions with their cubs. And they’re as determined as a starving man in front of a free buffet. These teachers will fight for these kids, they’ll love these kids and they’ll do whatever it takes to develop the very best in these kids.

Next time you are asked to do something kind of scary, go for it. You never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet. I expected to go help some needy kids in a classroom but instead, I found myself surrounded by angels who, as it turned out, helped me. (Angels do that, you know.)

Oh, and I found out what YCAP really means: Yes, Children with Autism are Priceless!

The Captain's Chair - by Chris Archinal

I basically fly on a plane for a living. Meaning, my job requires me to travel to see my customers. I average around 75,000 air miles per year. I’m pretty sure I've seen it all - delays, turbulence, missed flights, and some of the most interesting people you'd ever encounter. Planes have taken me to Little Rock and London Heathrow; Amarillo and Amsterdam; San Francisco and Singapore; Dallas and Denmark. Okay, you get the point. This ain't my first rodeo.

But today, January 18, 2011 was no ordinary flight. I was flying with a colleague from Dallas to New Orleans for a quick trip to take some clients to dinner. The first bit of bad news was the announcement of a delay. The delay was not a biggie, but, it was for a reason I hadn't heard before. Apparently the captain's chair was broken and had to be replaced. Fortunately, we were still departing in time to make our dinner. So an hour later, off we go.

Just before take off I always say a prayer. It's basically the same prayer each time, but said each time with great sincerity and complete abandonment. It goes like this, "Father God, you know my heart and you know desires. You know my love for you and for my family. My desire, God, is to be the husband to Lisa and the father to Mary Cate, Jack and Ellie for a long time. But, God, if your Kingdom work can be accomplished more quickly or radically as a result my death on this flight I just say to You, 'not my will, but Yours be done, oh God.'"

Kinda morbid, huh?! I don't think I've shared that prayer outside of this blog entry with anyone other than Lisa and maybe a close friend until now. But it's an important, intimate part of my walk that is very serious to me. I honestly mean that prayer each time I say it.

Upon our initial decent into the NOLA airport we began to experience slight turbulence. Now, with the landing gear down, and somewhere in the neighborhood of about a thousand feet from the ground, the light turbulence turned moderate then quickly into extreme. It was the worst turbulence I had ever experienced. People were vomiting, gasping for air and even crying out at times. It was bad.

As bad as it got, I was at peace, that is, until the pilot suddenly "pulled up". With the landing gear down, a 737, at such low altitude, does not ‘turn on a dime’ . I could hear the massive engines straining as the big hunk of metal fought against gravity. I could feel the force of the storm pushing the plane to the ground. Periodic bursts of lightning and heavy rain made the experience even more intense. (I later learned this extreme weather was called a "micro-burst").

Looking to the flight attendants for reassurance was a poor choice. I found them locking arms as they cried and prayed together. The plane struggled to gain altitude and the turbulence increased. I, too, found myself praying. I confess that, though I am prepared for death, I'm not quite ready to go. My thoughts turned to Lisa and the kids.

Visions of who would attend my funeral began to pop in my head...it was crazy. I thought of my friend and co-worker, John, with whom I had just shared Christ the night before. Would my death make him see God's love? And then, in that moment, I thought about the Captain's chair. I thought it interesting that this entire flight was initially delayed because the pilot's chair was broken and had to be replaced in order to fly. I doubt very seriously that our pilot's ability to navigate through the storm would have been impacted based on a broken chair. Nevertheless, it made me think.

I thought, perhaps, the Captain's chair has been broken in my life...or maybe empty. It made me realize that I have been flying this ‘plane’ called life on my own of late, and, while I seem to have been navigating some storms on my own I'm not really prepared to do life flying solo. The Captain's chair of my life has been occupied by me, and that my friend is a broken chair!

I don't want to oversell this story. While I do think this was as close of a ‘near death’ experience as I have ever encountered, it wasn't filled with prayers like, "God if you save me I promise to...." I didn't see my life flash before my eyes. I didn't see a white light or loved ones who have gone before me. But let me tell you what I did see. I saw a massive plane wreck. I saw my family weeping over my demise. I saw a long road ahead for my friends and family as they cope with life without me. (I mean, I am pretty special. It might take hours or even days to get over me). I saw my life as it is today and wasn't particularly happy with it.

When you see yourself in the Captain's chair it should, quite bluntly, scare the hell out of you. It should cause you to reevaluate just who's in charge. It did me. Truthfully, I didn't like what I saw. With me in the Captain's chair of my life, I am destined to experience as massive wreck. A wreck that could, quite possibly, devastate my family and friends.

So today, I evacuated the Captain's chair. I hope I have the discipline and courage to do it tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. Yes, I hope I have the discipline and courage, because le’me tell ya something. I'm a pretty good guy but there are a few things you wouldn't want me to do: perform surgery, defend you in court...or fly a plane. I am not capable.

So, today, I relinquish control and ask God to once again take over the Captain's chair in my life. Will you do the same? Don't wait for your own hard lesson. Learn from mine.

See you in the skies!

The Great Pizza Crisis

It was a rainy Sunday night. My sister was over and we were watching the Golden Globes on TV. There are two sacred nights at my house each year. One is Golden Globes night; the other is The Oscars. On these two nights, my husband and children know how it works:

* My sister comes over early to watch the pre-show, red carpet events.
* We then settle in for the actual awards ceremony.
* We are not to be disturbed with questions about anything outside of the awards show (ie. statements like, "Where are my shoes?" or "Mom, blood is gushing from my head." are not allowed. Only questions pertaining to dresses, shoes or jewelry are permitted.)
* We order pizza.

This is pretty simple and straightforward. Everyone is on the same page and understands the proper protocol for awards show night. There was no indication that this particular night would be any different. Husbands and children were all in line. Everyone was following policy until...

It was time to order the pizza. Pizza orders at my house are placed with Papa Johns. The same Papa Johns that we have ordered from for six years. When ordering online, I simply type a "p" in the web address bar and my computer automatically pulls up the Papa Johns website. My user name and password come up (I am a valued customer, after all) and with a simple "click", "click" of the mouse, I'm done! So easy. So peaceful. Pizza on the way. Awards show in progress. Beautiful dresses. Life is good. Until...

On this particular night, a night that would later become known as The Great Pizza Crisis, I went to the website to order our delicious, succulent, thin crust pizza with sausage, mushrooms and black olives. There I was on the website, like I'd been a thousand times before, when all of a sudden I'm told they do not deliver to my address! What's this?! What are you saying?! Somewhat confused and taken aback, I retyped the information (there must be a mistake). The same message reappeared.

We now went to Def con 4. I picked up the phone and dialed the memorized number of our particular P.J.'s location. On the other end of the line, I hear the dreaded, "I'm sorry, you have reached a number that is no longer in service." My breath cut short. We were now at Def con 5.

I called some other location only to be told the store that had once delivered our wonderful thin crust pizza, was now closed. What?! How could this be?! Why was I not called? What was I to do now? It's Golden Globes night! Didn't they know this? It's breaking with protocol!

Always good in a crisis, my sister reminded me of a Palio's just outside our neighborhood. I nervously called the unfamiliar phone number. The attendant on the other end took our order, assured us it would be delivered shortly and there was no need to worry. Just as he said, roughly 30 minutes later, the blessed doorbell rang. There he was, the strapping young pizza delivery boy with our treasured feast.

With the crisis resolved, we now went back to Def con 1. The rest of the rainy awards night went without a hitch. Whew! That was a close call.

What's the point of this ridiculous story?

Sometimes in life we face crisis. Whether it's pizza or near plane crashes (that's another story). We go to Def con 5 and put out the all-points bulletin. How do we address the turmoil? Philippians 4:19 is a good place to start, "My God shall supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

I love when scripture is practical. We all face times in our lives where circumstances are beyond our control. Don't panic! Don't give up hope! This is when God wants to demonstrate His unlimited resources to meet our need as only He can. Is God able to take care of your finances? Your health? Your children? Your aging parents? Friend, you'll never face any trial in which God cannot provide.

God never shrugs His shoulders and says, "Don't look at me!" God wants you to look exactly to Him. Where are you looking during the crisis? Do you believe Him? Would the people around you affirm that God is where you turn first? Are you demonstrating an unwavering faith that God will do what He said?

I was in a panic about my awards show pizza. Personally, I think God had a laugh over that one. But the truth is, when I'm in a pinch, I know He's there. He's waiting for me to get off the computer, hang up the phone, and call on the One who can truly give me peace (and in some cases, pizza).

Ten Commandments of a Blameless Life

Remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? I love that story because it's easy to see who to root for. The Turtle is slow but he's humble, he's a hard worker, he's an all-around good guy. The Rabbit, on the other hand, is so arrogant! He thinks he can sick back and nap while the Turtle makes his way, slow step by slow step, around the course of the race. Immediately, you cheer for that slow but true Turtle. You just hope to get a chance, when the race is over, to point a finger at the Hare, and say, "Told you so! That's what you get for thinking you didn't need to work at it"!

The moral of that simple children's story is clear: Pride and laziness lead to ruin. That's a pretty good life lesson, no matter how old you are.

In the wake of moral failure on the part of a pastoral staff member, our wonderful Head Pastor gave a list of Ten Commandments to live by which will help us cross life's finish line in victory. Whether you are a vocational minister or new to Christian faith, wisdom and accountability are essential. We have to work at this Christian faith. We have to humble ourselves and realize we're all capable of screwing up.

It's a steep and slippery slope to complete annihilation of our Christian witness, should we "fall asleep" and think it could never happen to us.

Are you living by the List?
1. Thou shalt never be alone with the opposive gender (except your spouse). Thou shalt never ride in the car alone with the opposite gender.
2. Thou shalt not develop an emotional relationship or friendship with a person of the opposite gender (except spouse). Thou shalt not engage in non-business related email/texting/facebook with a person of the opposite gender.
3. Thou shalt not counsel the opposite gender. Men minister to men, women minister to women. Though shalt not discuss your marriage or sexual problems with a person of the opposite gender.
4. Thou shalt have regular, transparent accountability in your life. Thou shalt have an acct. partner that you disclose all of your weaknesses to, ask prayer from and, give regular reports to. Thou shalt use www.covenanteyes.com.
5. Thou shalt live a life characterized by "glass everywhere." Thou shalt have nothing hidden in your life. No secrets.
6. Thou shalt not go to the "liquor store." Thou shalt remove yourself from temptations and remove temptations from you. (If you struggle with internet - GET RID OF THE COMPUTER!)
7. Thou shalt seek healing for unresolved issues in your life. Thou shalt invest in Christian counseling in order to get whole.
8. Thou shalt attend to the care of your soul. Thou shalt spend daily time with the Lord. Thou shalt allow the Lord to fill you more than the world drains you.
9. Thou shalt watch each other's backs. Pray for one another. Confront one another in love when you see warning signs and questionable behavior. Rescue one another from potentially dangerous people.
10. Thou shalt walk with the Lord, surrender to Him, and be filled with His Spirit through a yielded life. Invite Christ's Spirit to sit in the driver's seat of your life. Love God first, family second, everything else third.

If we think we can live our lives free from these Ten Commandments, we're much like the Hare. If we think we can make it without boundaries and accountability, we're prideful and lazy. 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee the evil desires of youth, pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Is that clear enough? If not, try 1 Tim. 3:2, "Be above reproach."

God wants to use us to be a witness of His love and grace. We can only be a part of His plan if we're willing to use wisdom to help us stay pure. Let's be like the Tortoise - slow but steady. That's the way to make it all the way to the end of life's race and have victory. God is rooting for us. Are you ready? On your mark, get set, GO!

Guard the Goal

This week Chris and I received some heartbreaking news about someone we love and respected. A man who was anointed by God succumbed to the lies of the enemy. He is a fallen soldier and the repercussions of his actions are far reaching.

While processing this scandal, I've felt many different emotions - shock, disappointment, sympathy, anger, discouragement, sorrow. Anytime one of our own falls it's hard to accept. Sadly, this happens more often than I care to think.

When a 'hero of the faith' fails, two things immediately come to mind:
First, it reminds me to pray diligently for our spiritual leaders. They are under constant attack by the devil. While satan wants to see all Christians destroyed, I believe spiritual leaders, in particular, walk around with a target on their back. They need our fervent prayers of protection and blessing.

Second, we must keep our guard up against the enemy in our own lives. My son, Jack, is playing basketball. He's a great defensive player. He sticks to his man like flies on butter. He guards that basketball goal with his whole being. Nothing's getting in that basket on his watch!

We should be intentionally focused on guarding our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 is red flag warning for us. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Our hearts are everything! We must choose carefully what goes in if we want good things to come out. We must protect and defend the health of our hearts as a good soldier protects his post!

Vicki Courtney once told the story of a young girl who failed to guard her heart. Several years ago, Vicki received a CD of a young female worship leader. The accompanying note introduced this girl as a gifted, up and coming, worship leader and would Vicki consider using her for an event. As you can imagine, Vicki gets many requests like this. She agreed the girl was talented but never had the chance to use her. A few years later, she heard this young lady on the radio, singing, "I kissed a girl, and I liked it". The young worship leader was Katy Perry.

Somewhere along the way, one decision at a time, this young worship leader let her guard down. She stopped protecting her most important asset. The repercussions of her choices are far reaching. (When I start to hear one of her songs, I pray for her and imagine the amazing testimony she can have when she comes back to Jesus.)

Friends, hear me clearly, God's grace is so far reaching. I pray earnestly for my friend to fall back into the arms of the Savior to receive forgiveness and healing. We're all in need of His mercy.

How much better it is though if we can heed the warning, guard our hearts with great determination, and stay out of satan's lair! Oh Lord, grant us grace to guard the goal.