The mama drama

I'm sharing a piece from Kathleen Y'Barbo. It's a wonderful piece on choices and love. Although it's written to teens, we can all learn. This week is Sanctity of Life week. And because of the Hollywood Mama Drama, it is also a perfect time to understand that mama drama doesn't only happen in Hollywood. Every year nearly 1 million teen girls find themselves pregnant, and unlike Hollywood stars who have the money and fame to carry them, these girls wonder what they should do. Many choose abortion, and because of this they not only sacrifice the life of their child, but this decision also brings heartache they must carry for the rest of their lives. Perhaps YOU can be the one who can make a difference. Who was the first one Jamie Lynn Spears turned to when she found out she was pregnant? Not her mom. Not her sister. She turned to a friend. What if you were that friend?

As a teen what can YOU do when a pregnant friend comes to you for advice? Remain calm and loving. Your friend most likely feels alone, frightened and extremely sensitive about her pregnancy. The most important thing you can offer is your continued friendship. Show God's love and forgiveness. Your friend may have been looking for love by giving herself intimately to a guy. Now she might feel ashamed and unworthy of love at all. Point her to God, who loves her unconditionally. Celebrate life. She may consider this baby a "mistake"--a barrier between her and "normal" life. Lovingly remind her that no matter how the baby was conceived, he or she is a gift from God. Be available to share ... and to listen. Your friend has big decisions to make, and although you can't make those decisions for her, you can be available to help her consider her options. Share information you've discovered on fetal development and on the physical and emotional trauma of abortion. Most of all, be willing to listen to your friend's deepest concerns. Find help. Your friend is most likely in need of more answers than you can give. Visit a local crisis pregnancy center with your friend, or call CareNet for help at 1-800-395-HELP. Encourage her to tell her parents and to seek the counsel of a pastor or youth pastor.

Partner with her to make better decisions in the future. My Life, Unscripted (Thomas Nelson) is a book for teen girls and encourages teens to script their lives instead of being caught up in the drama and emotions of the moment. Read it together. Talk about the importance of making good choices.

Friday Five: Always I AM

I AM = eimi (I exist-always. No beginning or end.). John’s gospel has two sets of “I am” sayings of Jesus. One set declares Jesus’ divinity:

`I am, who is speaking to you.'

John 4:26

They were afraid; and he said to them,

`I am, be not afraid;'

John 6:19-20

Jesus, therefore, said to them, ‘When you may lift up

the Son of Man then you will know that I am.’

John 8:28

Jesus said to them, `Truly, I say to you, Before Abraham's coming--I am;'

John 8:58

`From this time I tell you, before its coming to pass, that,

when it may come to pass, you may believe that I am.’

John 13:19

`Whom do ye seek?' they answered him, `Jesus the Nazarene;'

Jesus said to them, `I am.”

John 18:4-5

Knowing

Jesus had just had an amazing set of encounters in Jerusalem. He’d drawn whips to chase the merchants out of the temple. He’d compared himself to the temple, shocking the Jews. He’d performed many miraculous signs, causing many to believe.

Yet, in John 2:24, we’re told that he did not entrust himself to the people.

Why not? Hadn’t he done the signs to stir belief? Hadn’t he revealed his zeal for God’s house in cleansing the temple? Hadn’t he confronted the religious leaders?

The people responded with belief. And he didn’t believe their belief.

Rightly so. Even the disciples believed and then didn’t and then believed and then didn’t throughout Jesus’ ministry. At the end, when he was arrested, they scattered like lightning bugs in the light.

Jesus didn’t entrust himself to the people for he knew what was in a person. He hadn’t come to this earth to befriend them or to set up a fraternity but to save them. He wasn’t fishing for approval or even understanding.

He knew what was in us and his mission was rescue. He wasn’t a church planter or a consensus-builder. He came because he knew our sin nature, that we are incapable of even belief apart from him.

When did the disciples finally come to the place of commitment and courage? After Pentecost, when they were indwelt by the Spirit of God.

We can’t do this alone. In that early chapter of John, many people believed Jesus’ signs and his words. But Jesus never sought their approval. He knew it would waft in the wind like fog off the river.

He didn’t come to be approved but to save.

Next: our knowing

John's world

Why the book of John? At John’s writing, there were already three gospels, the synoptics (Matthew, Mark and Luke). Why John?

First, we need to understand that each of the gospels was written to a specific audience. For example, Matthew, with its many references to the prophets and Jewish customs, was written largely to a Jewish audience.

John was written to an audience wrestling with unbelief, pummeled by society’s philosophies that were, at best, diluting the gospel message.

Gnostics were in search of knowledge (the word “gnosis” means secret knowledge). Irenaeus, an early church father (he was martyred in 155 AD), wrote that John refuted Gnosticism. Scholars today assert, however, that the Gnostic movement didn’t really have strength until the second century – Irenaeus’ time. However, the aroma of that viewpoint wafted into the church even in the first century. Influence was already beginning.

Early Gnostic teachings celebrated all that is spiritual and condemned all that is physical. That was at the core of their “secret knowledge” and obviously Gnostic thinking would deny God coming to earth as a man.

They toyed with such ideas as Jesus being a spirit who looked like a man but they denied Jesus as fully God and fully man.

John wrote to a broad audience – Jew and Gentile – but especially to those swaying in the wind of cultural philosophies.

The opening paragraph of John (v. 1-5) describes Jesus in a way that would have resonated with those early philosophies, using familiar terms (light/dark, Word/Logos) in a new way.

John’s ultimate goal was to present Jesus as truly God – as described in this opening of his book – and as truly human, as seen through the stories of his life.

He was the light of the world, God who became man to banish the darkness. This was the talk of philosophers and John chose his approach and word choices intentionally to refute false values.

John can be read, not just as another narrative of Jesus’ life, but as a brilliant literary work intended to defend Jesus’ incarnation. Yes, Jesus was God but he was also man – vital for belief in his redeeming work.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (NRSV)

Setting the belonging bar

On my latest incursion through the book of Romans, I found a mirror lurking in the second chapter. The first chapter of Romans flails the decadent element of the first century. You can stand in the checkout line of Wal-Mart and see the modern-day version of that on the covers of the magazines.

Ever get really satisfied seeing the wicked get theirs? The end of Romans 1 methodically dissects their lives and promises their end.

However, I turned the page: You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else. (Romans 2:1)

If you haven’t in a while, journey through Romans 2. Where Paul refers to the Jew, put “church-goer” in there. Maybe it’s you. Maybe it is me. Replace “Gentiles” with “nonbelievers.” That’s them.

Do I “rely on the law and brag about [my] relationship to God”? (Romans 2:17) What do I do that makes me special?

Ever heard this: “He’s such a nice person that he must be a Christian!” Or this: “She’s so good that if she’s not a Christian, she will be soon!”

A man's praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans 2:29)

Irony drips in many of our churches. We proclaim a “saved by grace” gospel while enabling our doorkeepers to identify the nice people for admittance. We read Romans 1 with vengeance, pointing out the failures of the world around us. Surely if the world only sees our love for one another (contrasted with their evil ways), they will rush into our buildings.

Here’s our philosophy: behave, then believe, then we’ll let you belong.

I have a friend who sends me regular e-mails about God’s protection and the need for prayer. I don’t know for sure if she follows Jesus although I tend to think not. However, I allow her to belong. I tell her about people who are praying for our family. I tell her about God’s work in our lives and how I’ve submitted my heart to Jesus. I tell her I’m praying for her.

My philosophy is this: let her belong, give her time to believe, and then let the Spirit teach her to behave.

When Jesus called Matthew, he didn’t ask the tax collector to quit swearing, stop smoking, skin off the tattoo, and buy a suit. He said, “Follow me,” and went to Matthew’s house for supper, earning the scorn of the religious leaders. He embraced Matthew as he was and Matthew was overwhelmed by his presence.

What rules do we have in place? Where have we set the bar for joining? What do we see in the mirror?

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Mark 2:17

Five Things I Dig About Jesus

I was tagged by Angela at Refresh my Soul and so I’m plunging into the refreshing text of the gospels. What do I respect about Jesus? Here’s my list:

His prayers. I love how he prioritized prayer.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

I love how he prayed for his own disciples and for future believers.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. John 17:20

I love how he’s interceding for me right now.

Because he always lives to intercede for them... Heb 7:25

His touch. He touched little children, the unclean (dead, sick, handicapped), and his followers. He encouraged touch. He understood our incredible need for connection and he touched.

The people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. Luke 6:19

Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." Luke 24:39

His humility. He came to serve. He gave up the grandeur of heaven, the intimacy of the Father, the purity of paradise to wash feet!

But I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:27

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor. (2 Cor 8:9)

But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…(Phil 2:7)

His death. It’s a cliché, but Jesus came to die. He willingly endured the suffering and the death to pay my debt. He fulfilled the Father’s plan and bought my freedom.

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life…John 10:17

And became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Phil 2:8

His resurrection. But death could not hold him! I love the power of the resurrection. Evil is no longer king but there is hope and life.

He has risen! He is not here. Mark 16:6

Three days later he will rise. Mark 10:34

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

Thanks, Angela! This was a fun morning exercise. Now I’ll tag Ann, Millie Jo and Maxine (but only if you have time!)

Friday Five: Jesus' I am.....

Five times that Jesus describes himself using “I am…”

“I am the bread of life.” John 6:48

“I am the light of the world.” John 8:12

“I am the gate.” John 10:9

“I am the good shepherd.” John 10:11

“ I am God’s son.” John 10:36

Plus a few more because these are good, too!

“I am the way, the truth, the life.” John 14:6

“I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25

“I am the vine and you are the branches.” John 15:5

(See Exodus 3:15 for God’s name, which is “I AM.”)

Hanging out with tadpoles

Few things captivated me more as a child than a puddle of water teeming with tadpoles. I loved watching the swarm move and it fascinated me to catch a baby with legs starting to sprout. Those tadpoles quickly changed from water-dwellers to amphibians, able to live on land as well as in the water.

Being able to live in two places made me think about Jesus’ life. Jesus chose to eat with sinners and tax collectors. He allowed a prostitute to anoint his feet with expensive oil. He chose to hang out with the tadpoles.

Frogs need to stay near water to survive. They maintain their body temperature with a balance of time in the water and time on land. Also, it’s only in the water that they reproduce. If they stay out of the water, they have no babies.

We know that the early church as described in Acts had “favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47). They were amphibious. They flourished in the water and on the land.

I know many followers of Jesus who not only stay on the land, but go far away from the water for fear of being unclean. They don’t want the tadpoles to get any mud on them. They’ve nearly forgotten how to talk to a tadpole and manage to keep tadpoles out of their mind.

How about you? Ready to get your feet wet?