One of the saddest moments in life is when I’ve finished an amazing book.
It’s been awhile since I’ve been truly absorbed in a book. Sunday evening held that moment when I had to shut the book in closing to a truly amazing story. That story was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. And when I shut the book, I couldn’t quit crying. I was in shock over my reaction. So was Dave, who was sitting next to me on the couch. I had to retreat to my quiet place and drop to my knees in prayer. I offered thanksgiving—so very grateful for the love that God has bestowed on me, the love that he gives freely regardless of the ugliness in my heart, regardless of the mistakes I’ve made in the past. The book was a picture of God’s sacrificial love, and I was incredibly touched.
I’m also thankful for good books. Good books make the reader a part of its world. After being immersed in a book’s world for several hours, setting the book down leaves an awkward feeling. It takes a couple minutes for me to come back to reality. And after completing a good book, I spend days still thinking about the characters, as if they’re really a part of my life.
Now that I’m finished with the book (I finished it in one weekend!), I’ve said goodbye to the characters and hello to a new picture of love—love between a man and woman and love between Christ and His bride.
I suggest that you too read Redeeming Love.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Going Green--the "Christian" Thing to Do
Sadly, the topic of being environmentally friendly has become very political. In reality, many topics have become political; there are two sides to every issue, and based on your political views, you’re either on one side or the other. Truthfully, I’m starting to find this to be frustrating and rather ridiculous.
Being a Christian, I know many other Christians who could not really care less about being “environmentally friendly”. This topic has been discussed often among my friends, and I must admit that I understand why they show little concern and that I’ve even felt the same. I remember two years ago that the “green” kick started to become big with everyone. I was quite excited about it. I bought the reusable bags, started a recycling project for an elementary school, and taught my kindergarteners “The 3 R’s” by Jack Johnson from the Curious George soundtrack (a fun song for kids). But then it became too much.
I believe “going green” became a huge marketing tool—a great way to make money and win the favor of consumers. Companies announce, “We’re going green”, and stores set up special displays promoting their “green” products. Yes, it may be their way of helping make the world a better place, but many times I feel it is just part of the so-called movement (a movement to make money). I soon lost interest. I don’t like trends for the sake of trends. And actually putting to use my reusable bags was inconvenient—not to me, but apparently to the cashiers at a large, very well-known supercenter.
In recent months, however, I believe the Holy Spirit has convicted me on this issue. It began with my thoughts on the multitude of illnesses, such as cancer, and how our “newer” and “better” products and technology could be playing a huge role in these. What made me sad was the underlying reason why newer and better products were so important to us. It’s the need for more, lack of satisfaction, greed, the desire for convenience, and our must-have luxuries that have led to this mess. And just think what we’ve done to our earth because of it as well as to ourselves. Food is unhealthy, products lack quality, people are taken advantage of, and natural resources are being depleted a little too quickly. Basically, it’s our total depravity (of every human being) that has caused this.
When we Christians are honest with ourselves, we must admit that taking care of the earth is a moral issue; we must set aside the political agenda that people have created. It comes down to something much bigger than that, and it’s done for Someone much bigger. We can’t really read the Bible and not see that it’s our responsibility to take care of what God has given us. Of course there are much bigger issues facing our country today—issues that have much bigger spiritual implications—and we must be concerned about those as well. But God also expects us to be good stewards of His property.
Another thought is this . . . Shouldn’t we as Christians set aside all politics and look for commonalities with unbelievers? Sometimes I’m afraid that we are so concerned with setting ourselves apart (which we should do to become more like Christ, not just to be different) that we become the opponents of the rest of the world. We need to make those connections—to find those commonalities—without comprising Christ. How else are we going to truly reach out to the world?
Showing more concern for the earth and paying attention to how much I waste have become new goals for me, because I have felt convicted. The joy I feel as I walk out of the store with my reusable bags or because I am using a cloth napkin at lunch is not a result of some fad. It’s a result of being obedient to God and knowing that I’m being purposeful about the decisions I make.
Being a Christian, I know many other Christians who could not really care less about being “environmentally friendly”. This topic has been discussed often among my friends, and I must admit that I understand why they show little concern and that I’ve even felt the same. I remember two years ago that the “green” kick started to become big with everyone. I was quite excited about it. I bought the reusable bags, started a recycling project for an elementary school, and taught my kindergarteners “The 3 R’s” by Jack Johnson from the Curious George soundtrack (a fun song for kids). But then it became too much.
I believe “going green” became a huge marketing tool—a great way to make money and win the favor of consumers. Companies announce, “We’re going green”, and stores set up special displays promoting their “green” products. Yes, it may be their way of helping make the world a better place, but many times I feel it is just part of the so-called movement (a movement to make money). I soon lost interest. I don’t like trends for the sake of trends. And actually putting to use my reusable bags was inconvenient—not to me, but apparently to the cashiers at a large, very well-known supercenter.
In recent months, however, I believe the Holy Spirit has convicted me on this issue. It began with my thoughts on the multitude of illnesses, such as cancer, and how our “newer” and “better” products and technology could be playing a huge role in these. What made me sad was the underlying reason why newer and better products were so important to us. It’s the need for more, lack of satisfaction, greed, the desire for convenience, and our must-have luxuries that have led to this mess. And just think what we’ve done to our earth because of it as well as to ourselves. Food is unhealthy, products lack quality, people are taken advantage of, and natural resources are being depleted a little too quickly. Basically, it’s our total depravity (of every human being) that has caused this.
When we Christians are honest with ourselves, we must admit that taking care of the earth is a moral issue; we must set aside the political agenda that people have created. It comes down to something much bigger than that, and it’s done for Someone much bigger. We can’t really read the Bible and not see that it’s our responsibility to take care of what God has given us. Of course there are much bigger issues facing our country today—issues that have much bigger spiritual implications—and we must be concerned about those as well. But God also expects us to be good stewards of His property.
Another thought is this . . . Shouldn’t we as Christians set aside all politics and look for commonalities with unbelievers? Sometimes I’m afraid that we are so concerned with setting ourselves apart (which we should do to become more like Christ, not just to be different) that we become the opponents of the rest of the world. We need to make those connections—to find those commonalities—without comprising Christ. How else are we going to truly reach out to the world?
Showing more concern for the earth and paying attention to how much I waste have become new goals for me, because I have felt convicted. The joy I feel as I walk out of the store with my reusable bags or because I am using a cloth napkin at lunch is not a result of some fad. It’s a result of being obedient to God and knowing that I’m being purposeful about the decisions I make.
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