Thankful

"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21

As we celebrate a time of thanksgiving, the first item on my list is thankfulness itself. In a world where the focus of the pilgrims' Thanksgiving is often omitted from our history textbooks, we should be grateful that we have a thankful heart. In a society where public prayers are often prohibited, those of us who understand the meaning of worshiping the living God should be thankful for whatever circumstances have brought us to the consciousness that we have.

I'm thankful I was born in a time when even the television characters still customarily went to church! I'm thankful that during the first three years of my education, the public school teachers were still allowed to begin the day with Bible reading and prayer. I'm thankful I grew up in an area that had churches on every corner and where church attendance was the norm and not the exception.

Today we live in a society that has a leftover Bart Simpson attitude of, "It's all paid for, so thanks for nothing." The only time many children hear the name of our Savior is when their parents use His name in vain. To many, Thanksgiving is just a day of food, floats, and football. For some, it's less than that.

I could have been born in an area where the community youth group is typically called a gang. I could still be waiting to hear the name of Jesus spoken lovingly by someone who knows Him personally. I could be cold, calloused, scornful and empty. I could be many things other than thankful.

But somehow, by the grace of God, I was born to a family who loved me. I was nurtured by a community that cared about my soul. And I was ransomed by a Savior who gave His life for me. So before I even begin to count my other blessings, I'm thankful that I'm thankful.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:15-17

A Tree Not-So-Firmly Planted

This view along the Virginia Creeper Trail was strikingly beautiful. I found the leaning tree, whose stand of roots had been washed away by the stream, very poignant in the midst of perfection. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Many years ago when I was very active in my church, I struggled with the question of whether or not God frowned upon women taking leadership roles in ministry. Personal circumstances inclined me to think that Paul had good reason to "suffer not a woman to teach." (1 Timothy 2:12) Yet, I was asked to do so and seemed equipped to do so.

I spent a lot of time in my own personal research of the issue, reading from articles by Robert L. Saucy, A. Duane Litfin, and H. Wayne House, as well as the Broadman Bible Commentary and other sources. For a period, declining specifically to teach men served more than one purpose, even though I felt I was forfeiting gifts and blessings along the way. I saw that Jesus empowered women, but I couldn't argue against the seemingly obvious instruction of Paul's words.

One of the strangest influences in my eventual realization was Dennis Covington's book, Salvation on Sand Mountain, a true story about a preacher convicted of attempting to murder his wife with rattlesnakes. If you read the book, you must also listen to Kate Campbell's haunting song, "Signs Following," which is related to the same story. Near the end of the book, Covington writes about a message he delivered at a snake-handling church:

I knew I was in the Word now. It was close to the feeling I'd had when I'd handled. "Mary Magdalene was the first person to spread the news of the risen Christ!" I shouted. "She was the first evangelist, and the men didn't even believe her! So when we start talking about a woman's place, we better add that a woman's place is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! In Him there is no male or female, no Greek or Jew!" and I spun on Carl. "Am I in the Word?"
"No," Carl said. "You're not in the Word."
"Are you telling me I'm out of the Word?"
"Yes, you're out of the Word." He smiled. It was a smile of enormous satisfaction and relief. At last, we had reached the end of our story, his eyes seemed to say.

About that same time, I read Nancy Ammerman's collection of articles, Southern Baptists Observed. Let's just say a lot of things came into focus for me.

On Wednesday nights, I'm now attending a class that's discussing, "What the Bible Doesn't Say about Women." Still seems to me that we work too hard to climb over Paul's words. Look at how Priscilla taught Apollos in Acts 18:26. Now, about that leaning tree....

Seeing and Knowing Fully

Today I rode the Virginia Creeper Trail in Damascus, VA, and the day was perfect. The air was just cool enough to be invigorating, and the sky was a beautiful October blue. My favorite parts of the trail were the spots where the aromatic pine needles scented the air and where the fall colors were reflected in the streams and looked like Monet paintings.

At a particular spot where we stopped to take photos of little waterfalls, I noticed this wonderful leaf in the water, light reflecting in places, the details muted and vibrant at the same time.

I used to look for concrete answers in life and think that I could actually find them. I found it pretty unsettling to consider that things might not be quite so easily determined. I looked to others who could help me interpret God's Word and tell me exactly what it meant. However, I've come to believe that one reason that the Bible is as relevant to today's world as it was when its words were penned is that it reveals to us what we require to meet the day's needs. No matter how many times I might read a passage, I can still find something new. To me, God's word is truly living, and as I've grown, I've learned that the more I come to understand, the less I seem to know for certain, and I'm OK with that. I can now say, "I'm not sure," and it doesn't bother me. God is big enough to handle my questions, and He's not offended by my quest, as long as I'm still seeking and desire to draw closer to Him through the process. People who think they have all the answers now scare me.

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12

Boundaries

Turn the other cheek. (Matt. 5:39)
Keep no record of wrongs. (I Cor. 13:5)
Forgive seventy times seven. (Matt. 18:21-22)
If someone takes what's yours, don't ask for it back. (Luke 6:30)
Control your anger. (Eph. 4:26)
Love your enemies and pray for them. (Matt. 5:44)

I gotta admit, I used to think that the fruit of the Spirit described as self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) was all about the things I wasn't supposed to do in response to other people. And then I read the book called Boundaries, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, and realized that Jesus did not intend for us to be doormats. That certainly was not His example.

He overturned the tables in the temple. He rebuked. He cursed the fig tree. And even though He came to die for us, He didn't allow the mob to throw Him off the cliff before it was His time to die.

The fruit of the Spirit called self-control is not only about keeping yourself from climbing over other people's fences but also about keeping others on the other side of your fence when necessary as well. It takes wisdom and discernment to know when and how to do that, but to be a doormat is not only unhealthy, it does not honor God.

"... your tormentors, who have said to you, 'Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground. And like the street for those who walk over it. Awake, awake! Clothe yourself in your strength..." Isaiah 51:23 - 52:1

Pocket Treasure

Our church is focusing on commitments to give, and we've been looking at the related joys of giving. This all reminds me of a particular Sunday when my son was just a little fellow.

One of the most stoic pillars of our former church was passing the offering plate down the aisle. I honestly do not remember having ever seen this quiet, gentle giant smile before. He came to our pew, where my son had scooted beyond my reach to the end nearest the man. When the somber gentleman presented the offering plate, my son began to methodically empty his little-boy-pocket of its contents onto the seat. One by one, out came all the treasures: a crayon, a matchbox car, a string, etc.

As his mom, I was getting a little nervous, knowing the serious nature of the man who still stood holding the outstretched plate. I looked up to see the man almost chuckling! He was deeply enjoying the process with great patience, and his eyes sparkled with true delight.

I've looked back on that moment many times down through the years as I've thought about the process of giving. What does God watch us empty from our pockets? Is he amused by our struggle to sort through our treasures and find what we want to give?

Transitions

OK, enough of that. For 12 years, I wrote from the heart for my church's newsletter, but I can now submit so few of them here. Some of them were "event specific," like the one I wrote in response to the Los Angeles street riot in 1992 or the troops going to Kuwait in 1991. Others were related to holidays or special activities like Vacation Bible School or the National Day of Prayer. Maybe I'll still work some of those in when it's appropriate to the calendar. However, most of the ones I feel uncomfortable sharing now are about thoughts and feelings that seem foreign to who I am today, even more so than many of the ones I've already posted!

As a young adult, my naiveté and idealism were even more pronounced than they are now! It was easier to see my world in black and white, and life's issues seemed simpler. But I've lived a little while since then, and I've found things a lot more complicated than I had anticipated! It's been about 15 years since I wrote for the newsletter, and let's just say that the Janni Journey has taken some twists and turns. Somehow, the mushroom seems just right.

Here begins a new chapter of posts.

Battles lost and won

Do you ever wonder why Satan manages to outsmart and overpower you even when you know you're trying to do God's will? Perhaps we are trying to obey God under our own strength, fighting spiritual battles with our human resources instead of God's. Are we ignoring the Holy Spirit and living as though Pentecost never happened?

The executor of a "last will and testament" is someone who has been appointed to carry our the wishes of the person who wrote the will. In this same way, the Holy Spirit has been given to each follower of Christ to see that God's will is done. Only through the Spirit can we become all God wants us to be, and only through the Spirit can our work for the Lord be blessed, successful and fruitful. As Christians, we each have the Holy Spirit within us, so why aren't the battles won and why aren't our efforts bearing fruit?

Having the Holy Spirit within us and being filled with the Spirit are two different things. We receive the Spirit when we accept Christ as Savior (Romans 8:16-17), but we are filled with the Spirit as we allow Christ to be Lord of everything in our life. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." While most of us are quick to agree that we should not be drunk, few emphasize the fact that we are supposed to be FILLED with the Spirit. Being filled is a continual process.

How do we know whether we are filled with the Spirit? We shouldn't have to ask! If we are merely witnessing and doing good deeds because God's Word says we should, we probably aren't being very effective. Are we motivated by God's command or by the Holy Spirit? To accomplish God's mission, we must utilize God's power. Is the Holy Spirit an influence we possess, or is it a person who possesses us?