The Glory of a Glimpse

Have you ever caught a glimpse of someone familiar?  

It's tantalizing and temps you to go after them to get a clearer view because all you saw was a foggy image......their essence.  

It might have been the essence of their body shape, 

their hair, 

the way they move, 

or the sound of their voice.

Whatever it was, there was a connection that left you wanting more.


Exodus 33:18-23:

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Moses didn't just seek the anointing of God which was already available to him......he went a little further and asked to see the glory of God.  He thirsted for the sight of the one who was pouring His anointing out on him.  He wanted the EXPERIENCE of God.

God obliged Moses

God obliges us too

The definition of "Glimpse":
1.  A brief or incomplete view
2.  A vague indication
3.  A glimmer of light

The definition of "Experience""
1.  A direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge
2.  Skill or knowledge you get by doing something
3.  The length of time you have spent doing something

Have you ever caught a glimpse of God?

Its not a coincidence that we catch that glimpse in hindsight.

God told Moses that he would place his hand over him until he had passed by and then he would reveal himself to Moses but only from behind

only a glimpse.

He does that to us too.

How many times have you went through something in life or experienced an event and then looked back and said

Wow......God was there!

That can be considered a kind of a superficial analysis of that passage, but still rings so true.  I love this passage because there are a couple applicable layers and there is even a touch of prophetic in it.  Hopefully you can follow me through this (I'm sure incomplete) dissection.  It certainly makes sense in my head but getting it into words can be very difficult for me sometimes.

~God laid out the plan and boundaries.  
      1.  He identified and confirmed the plan......and Himself......to Moses so there was no doubt

      2.  He promised to proclaim His name.  There is some importance here but I have only a "glimpse" of it right now.  Im sure there is a historical gravity to this besides the spiritual gravity.  I figured it was worth mentioning even if I couldn't explain it.

~God asked Moses to come near him.  (Get near Him friend!)

~When Moses came near to God, He protected him in the crevice or cleft of the Rock because to see God's face is to die.  

      1. God commanded that anyone who looks upon his face will die......to break His commandment is to die.  Its not about actually seeing Gods face, its about obeying God.

      2. But then there is also the angle of confronting/challenging God or following Him.  If you are facing God (looking into His face), you are not following......or allowing Him to lead.

      3.  We don't ultimately need to know why God's face is off limits.  You know He is an omniscient, good, just God.  Humble yourself and understand that God knows more than you and has your best interest in mind.  He's not out to be an overbearing, manipulative jerk.  Trust Him!

      4.  Jesus is our Rock who protects us from a death or separation from God.  God provided that Rock for Moses to stand on.  How did Moses know what rock was near God if he had yet to see God?  He opened his eyes when God told him to.  He obeyed in "blind" faith.

      5.  Its not lost on me that there were many "crevices" in Jesus by the time he was taken off the cross.  The blood that poured out of the "cleft" in the "Rock" was to protect us from a death that separated us eternally from God.

~When Moses allowed God to place him in the cleft of the Rock......God placed his hand over him......to shield him.

      1.  In prophetic terms, I believe this signifies and confirms that the cleft is the will of God......or to be more direct, it was the hand of God.  

      2.  In hindsight, we can look at the situation of Jesus' death and see a "glimpse" of the glory of God.  To us, its huge......but it is still only a "glimpse".  How awesome is that?!?  

Unimaginable

      3.  In a more "applicable today" way, this refers to the idea above, of not being able to see God's hand in the moment but in hindsight.  Also, not being able to see God's hand in a situation literally, but merely a glimpse.  



How can you experience the glory of God?
      
      1.  You have to look for God......seek him through prayer and through everyday activities......open your eyes.
      2.  You have to know God through his doctrine in order to know that you are truly seeing God and not just natural worldly things.  Learn about His character and His promises.
      3.  Don't give up......Moses didn't just stop when God gave him His word.  Doctrine wasn't and isn't enough. Seek it wholeheartedly and it shall be given!  His timing is perfect.


I really wish you were all at my church last night.  This is a spin off of what we talked about and Im sure you would have gotten a better picture of "experiencing God" than I could give you.  I could give you the outline (Pastor had 7 bullets, I have 3 haha ) but to understand it more deeply, you'd have to hear what was said.  My three bullets are the brief important basics......for me anyway.  We didn't have time to get into the whole glory and anointing aspect as planned so it was suggested that we go home and read the remaining verses ourselves.  Exodus 33:12-18 was one of the verses that we were supposed to cover......I just read a little further and was struck by verses 18-23.  Mostly because I identified with seeing God in hindsight.  I've seen Him move in huge ways (and little ways too) in my life and I love seeing how God moves in other peoples lives.  It also struck me as prophetic and I had not seen that before.  Funny how that works and I love it when that happens!


Thank you God for revealing your glory to us......even if it is just a "glimpse"......thank you for letting us "experience" you.  Thank you for revealing yourself to Moses.  Thank you for revealing to us the way you move through your word, and the sound of your voice through the Holy Spirit.  Thank you for this connection that keeps us thirsty for you and strengthens our resolve and faith.  You know our weaknesses and inabilities more than we do.  You knew them before time began and provided for those weakness and inabilities before we even knew we needed provision.  You are Jehovah-Jireh!

Fairy Tales

“Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis: you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory.”

― Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time

I got my new issue of Acts and Facts in the mail today.  I noticed a subtitle on the cover that said "Hijacking the Scientific Method".  I still haven't read the whole thing but the above quote was put into a special box and caught my eye.  I had to read it a few times to really understand what he was saying...I mean it is a little out there.

You mean facts aren't really facts? 

If facts are not facts, than what is real? 

Is there a reality?

Hmmmmm.............

Did you follow that train of thought that I just had going on there?  

I could really go places with that!

Right?

Romans 1:20-22(NIV)

For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

While its kind of fun to ponder right on down that path, it's futile...

pointless...

foolish even.

Is your heart beating?

Can you pinch yourself and it hurts?

Yes people, we are ALIVE...therefore there is a reality.

You are real, believe it or not! 

What is the absence of reality?

What is the absence of real?

Death?

Is death real?

Can you choose your reality?

In other words, is it relative?

Well, I suppose you could...but then is it really reality?  Maybe it depends on your definition of reality.  

Lets look at the definition by the way:

re·al·i·ty 

1. The quality or state of being actual or true.2. One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual: "the weight of history and political realities" (Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.)3. The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence.4. That which exists objectively and in fact: Your observations do not seem to be about reality.

I think if you can prove that reality doesn't exist or is relative (same thing because then its not reality)...

oh wait...you can't prove anything...

nevermind...

conversation over!

or is it?

I can't really be sure.

Haha...okay...enough messing around

I think you get the point.

If you can't prove anything (especially physical things) to be factual then you are basically saying reality doesn't exist...in which case...absolutely nothing matters.

Its futile because if reality didn't exist, you couldn't prove that anyway.

The book of Romans tells us that futile = foolish

You either believe there is general order, rationale, patterns (begs of a creator)...or you believe there is general chaos, relativity and unpredictability (evolution). 

Romans 1:20 basically tells us that in everything we see (visual = reality) there is an indication of God's existence...his character...his qualities...his nature

have you seen the structure of DNA?

Does that look random to you?

Hawking speaks of the beauty of the double helix...yet he denies Gods hand in it.

God = order, symmetry, pattern = trust

How about this?

Do you see it?

There is a theory of gravity that says if I jump, I will come back down. 

According to Stephen Hawking, I can't prove this...I can never be sure that the next time I jump, I won't keep going. Somehow the universe is going to just randomly change without notice.  Kind of like how the big bang occurred...out of nowhere, with no ignition.

Can you imagine living with an ethos like that and how it affects the way you live your life? 

At some point our thoughts become futile...pointless. 

A brilliant man easily overthinks. 

Can we just talk about the psychological, attachment and trust issues this guy must have?

Maybe another day. 

He says Christians are scared so we make up this fairy tale called heaven (paraphrased quote He said at premiere of his documentary).

Is Hawking fearless? Doesn't sound like it.

He has no idea there is so much more to Christianity than a cover up of our fear. 

I know one thing:

We can not make a possible imagined future our reality in the present! 

It's called paranoia....altered reality. 

Know anyone who suffers with paranoia?

A mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically elaborated into an organized system. It may be an aspect of chronic personality disorder, of drug abuse, or of a serious condition such as schizophrenia in which the person loses touch with reality.
Suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification:  the global paranoia about hackers and viruses

I like this definition because it uses the word reality which we've been discussing.

Has Hawking "seen" what he fears?  No!  Its absolutely irrational by all psychological standards to suggest that everything physical in this world can never truly be fact.

It is not our reality that physical things in this world exhibit randomness or chaos.  Therefore, we shouldn't expect them to...to do so would be out of touch with "reality".  

His suspicion and mistrust of the physical things of this world are without evidence or justification.

His very statement in itself is nothing but a hypothesis with no basis in "reality" whatsoever...

AND he can't prove it to be factual according to his own admission.

Who exactly is living (and thinking) in a fairy tale?

Is he basically asserting to throw out the scientific method and science with it? I guess I'll have to read that article and someone else's opinion...someone smarter than myself. 

Atheists think christians hate science...they should check this guy out!

Hawking would like us to believe everything is relative and subjective. No right, no wrong. No dependability in anything...don't trust anything, it could change at any moment.

The wedge between God and Man is mistrust.

He knows he can't prove evolution as fact...He knows it goes against every observable thing in this world...so this is his way around it I guess. 

Too bad he had to leave reality to get there.

I know something else...I know he will never accidentally fly off into space in his lifetime... 

but he will spend it thinking about imaginary things (fairy tales) that might happen.

The Offended

Shhh!  The baby is sleeping!

Well all my babies are still sleeping.  I have an extra little treasure this week as his mama and daddy find him an opening in a daycare somewhere in the area.  Ive got a few minutes to sit down with my cup of HOT coffee and type some words.

Believe me...I have some words to get out today.

Its time to get the bible out and share with you whats on my heart this morning.   I really have no idea where Im going with this but its going to fly from my fingers and hopefully its coherent.  After all, I haven't finished my coffee yet!

I woke up with a heavy feeling on my heart...I had forgotten about something I heard last week.  

Why was I reminded of this?  

As I woke up and got things ready for the baby to show up, my mind was thinking through it and grasping for the bible verses that I knew were there but I couldn't recall.  There was no battle going on in my mind and no hard feelings so thats a relief ( I hate those times).  This memory popped up and I simply started to chew on it and see what I was supposed to get out of it.   

It is so interesting how some people are so terribly offended by me and it keeps happening over and over again.  Its really been a thread running through my life...among a few other things.

Of course, when something like this happens my stomach always hits the floor and I am left wondering what in the world I could have done or said...then I start to mull over the conversation a million times to see what I may have done.  I wasn't exactly born with tact or taught much of it so its not unlikely that my tone of voice was off or I just plain old said something dumb.  

Then there are just those times that are mysterious...

One of two things happened:

1.  I did something and I just really don't know what it was in order to correct it 
2.  I really didn't do anything wrong at all

Lets talk about #2

I think you all know what Im talking about...I mean I can't even blame it on Facebook and the fact that I'm opinionated.  

By the way, Facebook is like the biggest "fence cleaner" I've ever come into contact with.  

If your friends were on the edge about liking you or not, Facebook will knock them off that fence into greener pastures somewhere else.  

If your friends don't agree with you on stuff, one of you is going to get FB'd right off that fence into greener pastures somewhere else.  There is the rare occasion that I have come across friends that can seriously debate hot topics and we can still hang out outside of FB too...and its not weird.  

What can I say...I think I found an anomaly.  

Facebook actually lets us look through the fence at each other...and visit too! 

SQUIRREL!

Lets get back on track here.

Mystery, oh yes...I love a good mystery!

#2  I really didn't do anything wrong

I have offended people that I have only met once (and had pleasant conversation mind you).  Really, there was absolutely nothing in the conversation or body language that was snobbish, rude or anything of the sort...sometimes its just an exchange of names or about how "wonderful the weather is" and "your kids are so cute, how old are they"...blah blah blah.

I also have an apparent knack for offending people I've never met.  People who have only heard my name are slandering me!

How does one do that?

Its a mystery...

I know I am not the only one who has experienced this...maybe some of you are struggling with it.  Maybe you can't figure out why someone is offended by you.  

Stop trying to get them to like you!  Stop trying to be politically correct in order to please them.  Stop suppressing your beliefs so that you will be agreeable to the masses.  Even if they say they are a fellow christian...don't let a label fool you.  If you have repented and done everything you can to right a wrong or if you truly have done nothing that would cause offense, then you are right with God and THAT is what matters.  Keep your focus eternal.

This is where my mind was wandering this morning...mulling over the fact that it has happened once again...its getting kind of creepy

I mean there really is no other conclusion sometimes other than they are offended by my very essence...or my name?  

Seriously, that usually makes me friends right?  Everyone loves Summer!

Geez!

Believe me when I say that it really doesn't bother me anymore.  I used to be bothered if someone didn't like me and sick to my stomach if they slandered me.  

Im so over that!

It doesn't hurt so bad anymore...now I just sit back, observe, learn and apologize when I need to.  I've even gotten to a point that when I hear stuff like this I laugh sometimes.

I almost expect it to happen.

But on the other hand and on a bigger picture...Its really very sad. It weighs heavy on my heart but not for the typical reasons.  

Im not offended or hurt because it was a strike against me but because of what it reveals about the person.  I've been there...offended by someone I barely know.

That is a sure sign of a lost soul! 

I am not a picture of holiness Im sure, but I think its pretty obvious what I believe and I know that people pick up on that without me even telling them.  Sometimes that is apparent in the kinds of things they say when they are slandering me.  I don't talk about Jesus to every person I just meet...if faith is mentioned at all, its just in a passing phrase often heard lots of places....certainly not exclusive to their experience with me.

Im also not a picture of beauty.  My husband would disagree, but according to society I am not so beautiful and therefore, its not my looks that are incurring the wrath.

Instead of being bothered by these strange and mysterious things I have chosen to take it as a good sign.  A sign that things are going well with me spiritually.

(I should be bothered by the fact that my coffee is cold instead!)  

John 15:18-27 is an important thing for all Christians to know and truly understand.  We only experience the tip of the iceberg so to speak.  I am blessed that I am not challenged to greater depths other than just people I don't know slandering me.  Thats really nothing in the grand scheme of things.

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry."

That section of John addressed for me what I was mulling over but it also inspires something in my heart about the easter season that we are in.  I love when the Word can do so many things at one time.  

Jesus performed miracles...even toward the end of his earthly life story.  One of them was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  A disciple cut the ear off a soldier who had come to arrest Jesus.  Jesus miraculously healed it...for all to see.  They still hated him.  

So you see...if they can hate Jesus after seeing that, they will definitely hate me too. 

For I am His and He is mine.

In Matthew 10:24-25, Jesus said:

“Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!"

Luke 6:22 says:

"What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man."

These things make me feel better in a way.  But it also exposes that there is a mass of people who are lost.  They pretend to be happy with their life...and maybe they've convinced themselves that they are for now.  

Until something happens...so easily shaken.  

I hear christians say they can't imagine a life without the hope that we have.  I know the lost can't even begin to know life with the hope we have.  

To them it doesn't exist...we must certainly be bumbling along just as they are.  In a sense I can see how they would think that.  Im not talking about hypocrites and all that stuff...Im talking in more tactile terms.  I technically could choose to turn my back on God and decide not to believe in all that "spiritual mumbo jumbo" and believe in "science" instead.  After Ive said it a few times, I would start to believe it and accept it into my very being (funny that isn't how it happens going the other way...a post for another day perhaps?).  The day to day of my life would still remain the same.  Not much would change other than I would have an extra day to myself on the weekends and wednesday nights would be free too.  I might even enjoy more acceptance and understanding with family and friends.  Most of the time, its really not what most christians think it is.  Its not dark and scary all the time...they don't live in hell on earth.  Those times are not reserved for the unholy and unbelieving.  God's day-to-day love and blessings are not reserved for people who go to church and/or believe in him.  

We are ALL his children.  

God was with me even when I refused him.  The difference is that I didn't see it then.  I see it now, both in my past and in the present.  There is however, a sense of a certain and everlasting hope and joy that is unattainable to someone who rejects him.  There is a sense of relationship that carries us through the fire, through the depression, through the awful things that the world can dole out to all of us regardless of our belief.  When the whole world turns its back on you...because it doesn't matter who you are or what you believe in...it will.  That is one worldly perk to being a loyal follower of Christ.  I know there is more to come.  It really is indescribable.  

As a sort of disclaimer, I usually hear of the things said about me second hand.  Because of that alone, I don't hold any hard feelings towards these strangers.  Instead I choose to ponder on the spirit of the circumstance rather than the details and the person.  I chew on it because the sources are varied, there is some small validity to the claim that it was said, its something that has happened over several years and in the many different places we've lived in the world.  I also ponder on the simple fact that I actually hear about these things...and not because I ask.  To me, that usually means I have something I need to get out of it...

...and maybe someone to pray for.

There are two people right now that have apparently been offended by me.  They are in a very dire place in their lives, and Im not referring to their souls being lost right now.  I mean in worldly terms...they are in a world of hurt.  I don't know how, when or where but maybe God wants to reach them.  Not through me of course...not now anyway.  In my opinion, based on what I know...these people are not reachable by human interactions...but thats where God comes in, in my experience.  

Please pray that they are reached, a seed is planted or watered...wherever they happen to be in their spiritual walk. 

Looking for Grace in all the Wrong Places....

You know that song by Johnny Lee....."Looking for Love"?

Ive heard it a million times growing up.  Its a common thing for people to be looking for love in all the wrong places.

Its a less common thing to be looking for grace in all the wrong places but thats where I find myself today.

Most people, myself included, grow a thick skin and things roll off.  Even the biggest softies, myself included, can be "hardened" by life's circumstances.  We don't need grace.....at least we won't admit it.  We all know this can be really unhealthy if you take it too far.....but WOWEE life is so much easier and you are so much more successful.

sort of.....

It really depends on your definition of "successful".

My definition of "successful" was for nobody to be able to hurt me again.....and to appear "strong", "good" and "functional" to the outside world.  Sure people saw the cracks here and there but I thought I could just pretend like they didn't.

Thats a problem.  Success is fleeting.

Long story short.  A person came into my life that really helped me see myself and the damage I was doing to them.  I was a zinger!  I could reduce you to nothing......probably still can but I won't.....promise.  Im not going back there.

That person, just by being who they are, did me in.....sent me for a tailspin.

I crashed and it was ugly.

Thank GOD!

It's been a really long hard road.....Ive been in construction for many years now.  I hope I'm never out of construction (but somedays I really wish I could just take a rest).  One of the things I've been trying to work on is being a more tactful, graceful person.....able to verbalize myself more clearly.  Most of the time I don't think its working out so well.  I fail miserably on a consistent basis.  Usually if I take my eye off the ball for one minute, Ive done something I shouldn't have.  I've all but given up.

I know I can't do it by myself so I wait for the potter's hands.

You know, sometimes the potter throws a pot that gets damaged and it just doesn't work very well.....but He keeps trying so here I am.  Even when I shook my fist and turned my back in all my glorious ignorance, he picked me right back up, added life giving water to soften me and started over.  He kept sending people into my life to help build me back up and He made it obvious.  He's still doing that today.

I often wonder why.....he certainly didn't need to.  I yelled at God from the depths of my soul.  I was done.

His grace.

How can you deny He loves you after that?

Today, I had a person be something less than graceful with me.  Not understanding, lashing out etc.  I don't even know this person to speak of.  Usually, this just rolls off and if it bothers me, I try to come up with scenarios that would cause them to behave the way they did and I can find some compassion somewhere.  I really don't have a problem past this.  So what is my problem today?  Well.....

Im having an adult tantrum

I've had enough, Ive seen enough and I just want people to have more grace with each other.  Mostly because I really would like some myself but also because I know what its like to be the person who it seems isn't getting a lot of it lately.  It can really hurt.  I've always known that, but this seems to be cutting a lot deeper.

I'm noticing some changes in myself.....I think gracefulness is taking root in my heart.....I hope it is anyway.  Because of that, Im probably being really sensitive to the lack of it around me.

The potter is likely putting me in the kiln to make sure his work stays.

I can appreciate that

While I sit here and cook (or as I like to call it "receiving my beauty heat"), I need to quit looking for grace in all the wrong places.  Hopefully, when I'm done, I'll have grace and compassion for those that don't.  It'll be soaked into the depths of my heart until its second nature.  Most importantly right now...

I need to look for grace in all the right places.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time   

-2 Timothy 1:9

His grace

given

before the beginning of time

Geography and Israel

Our Pastor mentioned in bible class wednesday that Israel is mentioned a lot in the news.  He's right...and you know what, we learn a lot about Israel in the bible too.

Here's the thing...I don't really know that much about Israel...nor do I "fully" understand what is going on over there.  I hear lots of things about it on the news but they are just random facts...I can't begin to intelligently tell you why that information is important.  I mean other than I know where its at and its connected to prophesies in the bible...but even then, I can't give you detailed information or back anything up.

I can't make the solid connections.

Thats a problem for me.

I'll admit, Ive done a little research on this topic before...way back in the day when I was young...and  confused.  I ended up getting my mind wrapped up in a philosophical/religious questioning session and most "connections" were lost...mostly because I didn't have a solid foundation/worldview (aka I didn't really care).

Today is a different day and a lightbulb has exploded (my non-linear, highly active, lightbulbs don't just turn on...they explode.  I'll contain my thoughts for your sake).  Its actually been working its way up to this for awhile and I didn't know it until today.

We are using My Fathers World: Exploring Countries and Cultures for our main curriculum.  As you can probably guess, we are focusing on Geography this year.  Today, I opened up the lesson plans and for our Bible time, we had to look up where Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem were on a map.

What?  Hold the phone! Im getting another call!

(Seriously, I know at this point its not as exciting to you as it is to me...and maybe none of this is exciting to you.  In that case, I express my deepest sorrow at you having to read this.  Im just trying to express the connections, which I am probably no good at, I realize.)

Anyway...yeah, we had to find a map of Israel that showed these places.  Of course, my mind instantly starting throwing random Israel files to the front...including Pastors talk on wednesday night.  It was the first one there actually.  The others were kinda slow.

Again...the fact that I can't make any real good connections was nagging at me.

Then, out of nowhere, I remembered the explanation I had to come up with for why we were calling Iran, "Persia" in Classical Conversations.

Are you ready to complete the call?

So the kids can make "CONNECTIONS" when we talk about events that happened in history and in the Bible.  Thats pretty important because thats how we really internalize and therefore understand.

Hmmm...Geography and connections.  DuH!

In CC, we are memorizing the geography of southeast Europe this week.
This includes Iraq, Persia (Iran), Kuwait, Turkey and Cyprus.  This area is very prevalent in biblical text and in the news.  That and the fact that I have had to answer the question in my own head about why Geography is so important, spurred me to the realization that I (and the kids) don't know enough about the geography of this VERY POPULAR place.  Just one week isn't going to do it.  This is a place that requires more.

The fact is, We NEED to have a real, tangible spatial understanding of these places to make more connections with the information that is bombarding us from all different directions.

Lets go deeper into the how and why.

I believe that the study of History is extremely important...more specifically, the chronological study of History.  In fact, I have fallen in love with making History the spine or backbone of my own eclectic homeschooling curriculum.

To take it one step further and really help kids make connections in the history timeline, they need to have an understanding of the worlds geography...in detail.  Unfortunately, most people think Geography is just learning where countries are on a map...but thats far from the truth.

The definition of Geography is:

1. the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries.

Basically its the study of people and places.

Now I understand why Classical Conversations puts great emphasis on map drawing.  Talk about internalizing geography...try drawing it millions of times before your even out of high school.

How can we make connections and truly learn from History if we don't have an understanding of the Geography?

In other words, how can we understand History if we don't understand the people and their practices.  How can we understand people and their practices if we don't know history?

Why would we care if we don't have an real understanding of either?

Fact is, most people don't.  Hmmmm...wisdom abounds doesn't it?

Do you see the connections yet?  Im not talking about just memorizing historical or geographical facts, which is what most of us had to do just to graduate high school and college.  Im talking about really understanding it, hide it in our hearts so we can put what we learn into practice.

On a side note, those of you knowledgeable about classical method of education, its like the public schools got stuck in the grammar stage in History and Geography.  There is little to no progression through the other two stages...in other words there is a lack of "maturation".  Sadly, most people (including myself), never got past the grammar stage when it comes to these two subjects.  We rarely, if ever got to logically think about historical events or how that applied to us and most of us still can't express ourselves about it in an intelligent way.  We were too busy just trying to fill in the multiple choice bubbles with the right year and get an A.

It is my experience that kids are capable of more than that.  If we want wise adults who are able to logically analyze and process whats going on in the world and in what they believe spiritually then we have to give them a foundation...we have to get them to make connections in these subjects.  I believe that History and Geography should be taking the forefront in our children's education with less emphasis on math.  Not only that, but it needs to be taught differently than it was when I went through school.

At any rate, I think we can all agree that having true wisdom is far better than just knowing facts.  Facts do us no good unless we can make "connections" and apply it.

Geography helps serve as that connection.  It is the connection between social and natural sciences...and of course, you need all that to truly understand History.

For those of us who love to be in the word and to teach our children the word:  The bible has a lot of history.  Its important to understand the geography (places and people) so we can make "connections" both in the book and in our everyday life and the things that are going on around us.

That being said,

We are going off the beaten path of our curriculum.  I just printed off blank maps of Isreal and we will be filling it out with the places we hear about in the news and in our bible for the rest of the year. We will also be looking more into the surrounding countries.  In general, Im going to be focusing more on this section of the world with the kids.  

I love it when things collide like this and create awesome teaching opportunities.  "Connections" are important.  I am SO THANKFUL that I have the opportunity to chase this rabbit trail with my kids...Praise God!

Help a Girl Out!

Can you all help a girl out?

Today I came across this article on my FB page:

http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2014/01/16/philippians-413-many-christians-misuse-iconic-verse/#comment-138089

You have to read it to understand what Im about to say.

In essence, the author is saying that people are misusing Phillipians 4:13...people such as Tim Tebow and Joel Osteen.  Now I'm not an expert on either of these men but I do know of them and have read a couple articles or interviews...and maybe watched a couple football games.  Might I also say that I don't know Jonathan Merritt...I can't assume concretely and eternally what he thinks and believes.  Any comments/arguments I make on his article are based solely on his writings here.

This article, written by Jonathan Merritt of the Religion News Service, strikes me as a little off.  I kind of grasp the concept at which he is getting at but I seem to disagree with him on many points.  I agree with him that context is extremely important but I also think that we can get a little legalistic about it too.  Some things are meant to be taken in spirit rather than literally.  Therefore, I don't believe you have to be in prison or depths of hell before you can accurately use Phillipians 4:13.  I don't believe thats exactly what Mr. Merritt is saying but then...Im not really sure what Mr. Merritt is saying.

1.  Isn't he ASSUMING that Tebow is just flinging that verse around to get attention?  Perhaps that is the crux of the whole "misuse" problem.  We can assume people are using it wrong when they really are not.
2.  Didn't Joel Osteen say in that quote that if God says you can, than you can.  I find that extremely hard to argue with.  What am I missing here?
3.  I think a bigger contention is that he says the bible teaches that God is a sustainer when life feels unsustainable. I'll explain later.
4.  Is the writer implying he doesn't need God when life is good but he wants him to hunker down with him when life is bad?

Before I go on...I responded to the article...I don't know why...maybe because the thing just bothered me...and I had a moment of weakness.  Its usually my mantra to avoid these things...Ive learned from experience.  Im hoping Im not missing an important concept here though.  Its totally possible...and maybe someone can point me in the right direction if I need it.  Anyway...here's the response.  Reader beware:  This is opinion only from my imperfect mind...in fact, I need to wrestle with my very first statement.  I know what I mean but Im not sure how to accurately verbalize it and maybe I'm treading in dangerous waters with it even.

"The beauty of scripture is that even in context, it can mean something different to different people and be more or less valid at different times. This is one reason why we call it the living word. I think this author has went too far and readers should beware. Im not a fan of Joel Osteen…at least I should say Ive never heard the man preach. I know of him and seen him do interviews but thats about it. In the quote, he clearly says: “if God said you can…you can!”. Nowhere does Joel Osteen say anything about using that scripture on a whim to get your next case of beer or whatever. Something the writer overlooks. The truth is if God has shown you a path and gave you a calling, then He will strengthen you. Saying or remembering this scripture to help put aside fears of failing and rejection while you are on that path, doesn’t seem wrong to me. We have the scripture to teach us and remind us. It should be on our minds at all times. We don’t have to wait until we are in prison, being persecuted or when life is tough to remember and say that through all things Christ strengthens me. Because of the Word, we can remember it before we get there. Sometimes our calling is a rough road…i understand paul was in prison when he wrote it…i get that, but none the less he said “in all things”. Really if you think about it…isn’t christ strengthening us always..even in the good times? Just his mere presence in our life strengthens us! He’s not only around when we are in the dumps. I think thats a truth that all christians inherently know. Now on to Tebow…I don’t for one second believe that playing back up quarter back is easy. All of a sudden he’s in the limelight…I don’t believe thats a pretty place to be for a real christian. We all hear the stories of how fame falls hard. Maybe that was his prison at that time…his time of great temptation. Perhaps he was calling on the strength of Christ to keep his humility. You don’t know until you ask him. Its sad to me that this writer assumes the worst of him. Its easy to assume that he was just flinging that verse out there so God could help him win a football game…or just to get attention. Thats what all the haters think. There is actually evidence out there to the contrary. You know, he did a fantastic job…was it luck or was it God? You can decide for yourself. I also don’t believe that Tebow is playing football just because he wants to…but maybe because He wants him to as well. Who are we to say that God doesn’t care if Tebow is on that playing field? Be careful we don’t start applying our man made doctrine to whats happening in the world. Thats probably very well his missionary field…thats his calling. God is probably using him to share his gospel on and off the field…even on TV! (gasp). Guess what…he succeeded. There are more people out there now that know that “in all things, christ strengthens me”. There are a few more people out there that have cracked open that bible they got as a wedding present. Whatever you choose to believe on the subject, God can make lemonade out of anything."

...on with it Sommer!

Ok back to #2...because I think I addressed #1 pretty well in my response and really nobody knows except Tebow.

What am I missing in Osteen's quote?  I know that its possible its taken out of context but for purposes right now...what did this author see to disagree with in that quote?  What am I missing?  Give me something to explore here.


#3 has me going...perhaps this (and #4) is the reason I've gotten riled up.  Mr. Merritt says:

"Contrary to popular belief, the Bible does not teach “God will give you the strength to do whatever you set your mind to.” (Actually, anytime a foundational view in your theology begins with, “God will give you”, stop and do a double-check.) God is not a heavenly bellhop or divine sugar daddy or cosmic power plant to fuel your dream-quest.  Instead, the Bible teaches, God is a sustainer when life feels unsustainable." 

I said I would explain and I will.  At first glance, I don't really have a problem with what he says.  Take it into context and I do (told you that you'd have to read the article).  That last sentence, he says the bible teaches that God is the sustainer when life feels unsustainable.  Oh MY is that truth!!!  but wait...I thought God is the sustainer at all times?  What bible have I been reading?  Is this something Ive made up in my own mind?  Can anyone provide biblical backup to my thoughts?  One more thing...didn't he just say that if anything in my theology starts with God will give you...that I should do a double take?  I happen to be under the impression that God sustaining me is a gift...maybe I should double check that?  After all, God is "giving" me sustenance.  Maybe Im dicing words and on the edge of deceit here...I haven't decided yet.  Ok...you have to read the next paragraph to understand what made me think of all that.

On to #4...

"And if you’re like me, this is a “good news” message. Because my experience is that life is messy and thorny and unpredictable and chock full of disappointments. Most of them, a result of my own doing. I don’t need a God who motivates me to pursue my career dreams or chase down opportunities for personal advancement. I possess that drive on my own. Instead, I need a God who hunkers down in life’s trenches with me, who isn’t afraid to get mucky and messy and wade with me through tragedy and pain and failure."

Is the writer not implying he doesn't need God when life is good but he wants him to hunker down with him when life is bad?  If so, I personally disagree and this could be the cause of the rub.

"I don't need a God who motivates me to pursue my career dreams..."

Does that just strike anyone else wrong?  I think its the first 6 words...

"I don't need a God who."

BUT...He does need a God who hunkers down with him when life gets rough.

In my humble opinion, Christ gives us the strength to survive our moments of weakness as well as the good times.  Who are we to judge wether someone using the verse is going through a moment of weakness or their own personal hell?  Just because we can't see it?

I honestly think he is probably trying to say he doesn't need a cheerleader to cheer him on even when he's not following the will of God.  But seriously, that could have been said a million times better and that may be just me trying to extrapolate onto someone else...who knows.  While I think I get what he's trying to say I have to question this whole idea of only needing God when we are in the trenches.  I think because he drives that point home not once but twice.  Perhaps the writer just failed to make the other point...that we need God even when things are good...we need Christ even when things are good.  Maybe its because I've heard this before...been there before. I've been in that place where God is a convenience...yet it strikes me odd that he is speaking against it at the same time and therefore causes me to be confused.  Maybe it was his avoidance and twisting of what Joel Osteen literally said that makes me think otherwise (but then maybe Im missing something there).  Maybe its just because the writer didn't find great sources to back up his point.

...or maybe it was the whole dogging on Tebow thing.

In the end...I shall have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"The God of the Bible—Jesus—is better than we’ve imagined because he gives us what we actually need: strength to survive our moments of weakness and a sense of freedom even in life’s prisons.

Go write that under your eyes."

Sorry Mr. Merritt...it won't all fit under there.  (I couldn't help myself sorry)

I personally think Phillipians 4:13 covers that pretty well.

Why?  Because I ACTUALLY need Christ even when things are going good...I don't ever want to not need him.

Where did I go wrong here?