Is reverence a lost commodity?

Posted on March 18, 2008 by Barbara Harper

When my boys were younger, we used to have family devotions from a Bible-in-pictures book for children. With that and other story books, we tried to make sure that the illustrations weren’t cartoonish. We wanted them to understand that these stories were different.

As Jesse in particular got older, we developed a bedtime ritual of devotions together. I found some devotional books for children that included a Scripture passage to read and a story that illustrated the biblical principle. We’ve done that for years, but now that he’s 14, I tried to find a devotional book geared toward teen-agers. I was disappointed at most of the fare available at the Christian bookstore for teens, but I came across one book written by a Christian author I respected who had written many great books in the area of apologetics. I knew he was in a “New Evangelical” camp, but I thought he was fairly conservative. especially in his theology. I had never read one of his books through from cover to cover, but I had used them often as reference books. So I felt this would be pretty safe, but I was on alert all the same.

Much of the book is good. But one problem I have with it is that there is an undercurrent of…I don’t know quite what I would call it. Flippancy, maybe? Not toward biblical truth, but towards God Himself. For example, one day’s devotional has the reader imagining himself in a dream with God standing before him in Reeboks and jeans, counting up the blessings He has bestowed on you with a calculator.

Now, I don’t think jeans are evil (Reeboks either, for that matter). If Jesus walked the earth today as He did in the first century, who knows what He would wear. I don’t think He would wear a suit and tie 24/7 and speak in King James English, and He probably would handle things like calculators and computers and such. That is all just speculation and I don’t want to veer too far down that rabbit trail just now.

I know when He did walk the earth He handled carpenter’s tools, held children, touched lepers, prepared a meal on the sea shore, ate, slept, was tired and hungry. I know He became a man, experienced what human beings do, was tempted in all points like as we are.

But I also know that when John, the “beloved disciple,” the one closest to Him of His inner circle, saw Him in his vision in Revelation, there was no back-slapping or hand-shaking or comments like, “Jesus! So good to see You again! It’s been a long time!” He fell at His feet as dead.

When Isaiah saw Him in His glory, his response was “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5).

When Joshua saw the captain of the Lord’s host, thought to be an pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, he “fell on his face to the earth, and did worship.”

To be honest, I don’t know quite how to reconcile the intimacy of the heart-cry of the Psalms or of calling God the Father “Abba” (Romans 8:14-16 and Galatians 4:5-7) with being overwhelmed with God’s glory and majesty to the point of falling before Him in worship. In another sense, though, I can say I have experienced something of each of those things, though not at the same time and not to the extent that believers will when we see Him in heaven. All true Christians have the sense of calling out to God as our beloved Father and pouring out out hearts before Him, and if we think very much on God’s majesty and glory and greatness, we can’t help but respond as David did in Psalm 8: “who are we that You even pay attention to us?”

Maybe that’s the problem: we spend more time calling out to Him and asking Him to help us and meet our needs without spending time meditating on Who He is, beholding Him, thinking about His holiness and power and greatness and majesty. We do need to do the former, but we can’t neglect the latter.

God did come down to us in the form of a man, and Jesus is called our friend and our brother, yet I think we need to be cautious about “bringing God down to our level” to the point that we’re overly-familiar and disrespectful and have forgotten Who He really is. We can’t forsake reverence for intimacy: we need both in balance.

Hebrews 12:28: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Time Travel Tuesday: Smells

Posted on March 18, 2008 by Barbara Harper

My Life as Annie’s weekly Time Travel Tuesday asks this week if there are any smells that take us back in memory. I don’t really remember too many.

My dad wore Old Spice cologne, so a whiff of that always makes me think of him. I don’t remember my mom wearing perfume, though I think she did. I don’t think she had one particular scent that she wore all the time.

I grew up near the Gulf of Mexico with frequent excursions to Padre Island, and the smell of sea water takes me back to my childhood there. So many birthday parties, overnight camp-outs, family get-togethers, and fish fries held there! And this was no wimpy strip of beach alongside a highway and hotels: this was sand dunes and sea grass as far as the eye could see in one direction, and endless waves in the other. I forget how much I miss the sea until I am around it again. We’re a few hours away from the water now, and, really, with the lack of public modesty we wouldn’t go much any more anyway, especially with three boys in tow. But a few years ago our kids’ spring break was an off week from the public schools’ and we spent a few days in Charleston at a hotel right on the beach. Hardly anyone else was around. It was wonderful!

Who knew I had so much to say?

Posted on March 17, 2008 by Barbara Harper

When I looked at my blog stats yesterday, I was surprised to find that Sunday’s post was my 995th, making this my 996th. 4 more posts to 1,000!

I should do something celebratory for my 1,000th post, but I don’t know what yet.

I’ll keep you…ahem…posted. 😀

For Palm Sunday

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Crown Him

by Leila N. Morris

Behold one day a wondrous scene:
There rode a Man of lowly mien,
Along the dusty way, along the dusty way;
The people thronged Him as He passed,
Palm branches in His way they cast,
And cried, “Hosanna to the King, today!”

Refrain

Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crown the Savior King of kings;
In your hearts enthrone Him,
Lord and Master own Him;
Crown Him! Crown Him!
While heaven exultant rings;
Crown the blessèd Savior King of kings.

He’s passing by, just as of yore,
And great and small and rich and poor,
Today their Lord deny, today their Lord deny;
Oh, make of Him supremest choice,
And with uplifted heart and voice,
“Hosanna to the King of kings” still cry.

Refrain

Soon He is coming back again,
A thousand years on earth to reign;
We’ll see Him by and by, we’ll see Him by and by;
All the redeemed with Him He’ll bring,
Who in their hearts have crowned Him King,
And they shall live and reign with Him on high.

Refrain

Tortilla Pie

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Barbara Harper

FiddleDeeDee at It Coulda’ Been Worse has started Saturday Stirrings where we can share favorite recipes and find new favorites. I hope you will join in!

I was going to put up a cozy winter recipe as a last hurrah before spring starts…but I just couldn’t do it. Nothing ovenish appeals to me right now. So I am sharing this:

Tortilla Pie

1-1 1/2 c. of browned and drained ground beef or ground turkey
1 T. or so minced onion
Garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder, more or less to tast
3 flour tortillas
1 1/2 c. refried beans, divided
1 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 c. salsa
Sour cream, if desired

Brown meat with onion; drain and add garlic powder, chili powder, and salt; mix well. Place tortilla in greased microwave-safe pie plate. Spread with 3/4 cup refried beans, 1/2 cup cheese, 1/4 cup salsa, and 1/2-3/4 cup meat. Top with tortilla; layer the same amount of beans, cheese, salsa, and meat. Top with tortilla. Cover; microwave on high for 5 minutes. Broil 30 seconds. Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired. Makes 6 servings.

Note: This can also be made with cooked chicken. I like to make one each with chicken and ground turkey for the same meal. The leftovers reheat well, too. Tip: frozen boneless skinless chicken tenderloin can be sprinkled with spices (for this recipe, salt, pepper, minced onion, garlic powder, and chili powder) and cooked in microwave in 9 minutes, rearranging pieces once during cooking. Dice into bite-sized pieces.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt: I Spy

Posted on March 14, 2008 by Barbara Harper

PhotoHunt

Theme: I Spy | Become a Photo Hunter

There is an owl somewhere in the trees behind our house that I hear from time to time, and I was hoping to catch a glimpse of him for this theme. I didn’t have any success there, but then I remembered this picture that I used on a previous Wordless Wednesday. It’s a little different, I think, than what TN Chick had in mind for today, but it fits “I Spy.”

Last Mother’s Day my middle son, Jason, took this picture of my youngest son, Jesse, through a wrapping paper tube.

Know and Tell Friday

Posted on March 14, 2008 by Barbara Harper

(My Friday Show and Tell post is just below this one and my Ultimate Blog Party post is here.)

To Know Him hosts Know and Tell Friday, and we’d love to have you join us. The questions this week are:

Question 1
What can you draw well?

No, not at all. My drawings look rather pre-schoolish.

Question 2
Name a TV show (at any period in your life) that you watched that you were probably a little too old to watch.

Besides the shows my kids watched? 🙂 I really can’t think of anything, though I am sure I probably did. We still love the Disney and Pixar animated films but I think those are geared to the whole family rather than just to kids. I’m not much for TV cartoons any more but I still love the one with Tom and Jerry’s antics to classical music — I think Tom is trying to conduct or play an instrument, I can’t remember, but Jerry comes along and havoc ensues. Maybe Tom plays the piano — I seem to remember Jerry hiding in one and running along the keys.

Question 3
What color is the dominant color of your wardrobe?

It depends on the season. In the winter there are a lot of blues, blacks and grays as backgrounds with florals mixed in. In the spring and summer I would say it’s predominately pink. And I wear my denim jumper year round.

Question 4
Favorite donut?

Krispy Kreme’s glazed when they’re hot and ready. 😛 One local grocery store also sells “Tiger Tails” in their bakery — chocolate and regular glazed, twisted. Luscious!

Question 5
Wear painful shoes just because they are cute?

No!!! I am about as unfashionista as you can get and have foot and balance issues anyway. They have to be comfortable.

Bonus Questions
Question 6
Is there anything that you believe you do not believe God about?

I had to read that one over several times to make sure I understood it. There is a level in which I believe everything God says in His Word, but of course that is tested all the time. Probably the area where I struggle with it most is when something awful happens, particularly to little children. As much as I have read and studied and concluded about suffering and God’s purposes for it, I still struggle with His sovereignty and love and care when it happens. But we walk by faith, not by site or by feelings, and I have to go over and over those verses that assure that He has a purpose in everything and that all things will work together for good to those who love Him.

Question 7
In general, do you think it is ok to be frustrated with people?

Well — I think it is inevitable. We are all sinners, and our rough edges are going to jab into each other some times. I think it is what we do with it that’s key. Being frustrated with someone isn’t an excuse to blow up at them, act unkindly toward them, or carry a grudge against them. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3: 12-13). We need to remember that we likely frustrate other people often, too, and we need to treat them the way we would want to be treated if the tables were turned. I think we need to examine our reaction, too. Was it just “one of those things,” or was it, as it is all too often, a selfish reaction because someone impinged on something I wanted — my time or space or the way I wanted something done.

I had a roommate in college who would continually use my little hot pot that I used for heating water for instant coffee for her herbal tea — which she made with loose leaves and left as is when she was done, so that when I went to use it I had to clean all that gunk out. That was frustrating! And I don’t think it was wrong to feel frustrated. But the right way to handle it would have been to confront her (kindly) and ask her to clean it out when she was done instead of seething under the surface, which is what I tended to do instead because I hated confrontation. A few uncomfortable moments of confrontation would have saved all that frustration. On the other hand, if I get frustrated because someone is sitting in “my” favorite spot on the couch, and they know that’s where I like to sit when we’re in the family room, well, then, I just need to get over myself. 🙂 I do sometimes ask if I can sit there, though.

Show and Tell Friday:Laundry room

Posted on March 14, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Our laundry room thoroughly needs to be redone. I was reminded of just how much when I tried to take pictures of the few things I have on the walls in there! I ended up taking a couple off the wall and photographing them on top of the washer. Someday we want to fix it up — it’s just low on the list of many things to do right now.

But I do have a few things in there to brighten it up a little.

I especially like the little clothespin holder there on the line.

This picture is maybe only 4×5″. We got it as a souvenir when we visited the Wren’s Nest, home of Joel Chandler Harris (author of the Uncle Remus stories), when we lived in the Atlanta area.

While I was thinking about these pictures, I remembered a cross stitch piece my sister had done that for some reason needed to be reframed. I had forgotten all about it. But I dug it out and hope to take care of that in the next few days!

I don’t usually feel that way about laundry, so that’s a good reminder, besides being just cute in itself.

Kelli at There’s No Place Like Home hosts “Show and Tell Friday” asking “Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there’s a story behind your special something, that’s even better! If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your “Show and Tell” on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky. Guidelines are here

Division and multiplication

Posted on March 13, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I came across a link from Amy’s Humble Musings this morning to this post titled “Multiplication” that has been ministering to my heart ever since I read it. If Amy has linked to it, you probably have already seen it, but just in case, I wanted to share it.

Here is one paragraph from the post. This and the last one especially spoke to me.

I can only divide myself, my time and my effort. And in the dividing, in my own strength, it shrinks away to nothingness. The fruit shrivels before it is ripe. The harvest never comes. I am cold, frustrated, and bitter. But when I give it all to Him, it is multiplied. In His hands my efforts yield an abundance that defies logic.

Why do we so often forget this?

Book Review: Northanger Abbey

Posted on March 13, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Northanger Abbey is Jane Austen’s first book completed for publication, but the last to be published, with Persuasion, her last book, after her death. It had been sold to a publisher but never published. Eventually Jane bought it back for the same sum for which she sold it, but it was shelved for years.

Northanger Abbey, especially the first part, is a parody of gothic novels popular at the time, with their requisite ingredients of horror, castles, secrets, and villains.

“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be a heroine” is the opening line of the book, and the first several paragraphs expand on the reasons for such a supposition: she is not particularly beautiful nor remarkably intelligent or diligent, and her family, while well enough off, is not rich. All about her is rather ordinary. Her major asset is her trusting, innocent, good-natured heart.

Her adventure begins when she goes to Bath with neighbors and friends of the family, the Allens. Yet it doesn’t seem very adventurous at first: Mrs. Allen is obsessed with fashion and can’t seem to discuss much else, and they know no one in all the crowded places they go. Finally they run into the Thorpes, old friends of the Allens, and one the the Thorpe daughters, Isabella, is a friend of Catherine’s brother, James. And then Catherine and Mrs. Allen unexpectedly meet an affable and pleasant Mr. Henry Tilney at a ball, who engages Catherine for the evening.

Isabella’s brother, John, is a rather boorish young man who pursues Catherine, but Catherine is not interested. Isabella, after becoming engaged to Catherine’s brother, becomes interested in Henry’s brother when he flirts with her. Henry’s father, General Tilney, mistakenly believes Catherine to be richer than she is, and therefore invites her to Northanger Abbey, the family’s home, for a visit. Catherine is delighted, both because of her growing interest in Henry and friendship with his sister, Eleanor, but also because she longs to have the experience of visiting such a structure as is often found in the gothic novels she loves.

One of the many things she learns, though, is that life is not like those novels, and once her views are shaped by reality, she begins to grow and mature.

I don’t want to go further into the plot for the sake of those who might not have read the book. I found it very enjoyable. It contains Austen’s trademark observations of the social mores of her time, though not quite as ironically or satirically as her later books. Plus she includes a spirited defense of novel reading as well as a caution against the wrong kinds. Catherine has to learn not to let her imagination, influenced by highly unlikely tales, get away from her. Catherine also learns one of the most painful lessons of maturity, that, while it is generally good to have a trusting heart, there are people not worthy of that trust. (Update: I just finished listening to this via audiobook 4/22/13, and I can’t believe I thought this book less ironic or satirical. It fairly sparkles with both irony and satire, but in a fun rather than a put-down sarcastic way.)

The particular copy I bought is a Barnes and Noble publication, complete with footnotes and endnotes, which were often helpful but sometimes unnecessary and distracting. The introductory notes I felt were better read after the novel than before, especially if one has not read the book yet, as too much is given away.

In the back of the book are a few questions, one of which is “Is there any sign that any of the characters in Northanger Abbey feels sexual desire? Can Austen’s realism be considered complete without this aspect of human relationships.” Good grief, what questions! One of the things I most resent about modern adaptations of classics is the inclusion of sexual scenes, or the spelling out of what had been written with restraint and decorum. The continued popularity of Austen’s books should indicate that an audience can be entertained without going into great sexual detail. Restraint and subtlety are no enemies of realism.

Update: I listened to this story again for the Austen in August challenge in August 2014.