...no different than the Roman Colosseum?

from en.wikipedia.org

I recently read an a book review by a guy named Matthew Lee Anderson. He was reviewing a newly released book, A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans. (I'm also planning to read the book... maybe over Christmas vacation?) If you look on my blog reading list, you'll see that I do read her blog, and while I frequently disagree with her ideas, interpretations, and perspectives...

from en.wikipedia.org

...I'm also frequently challenged... forced to examine once again what I believe and why I believe it. Many times, I've discovered that her point of view deserves closer examination rather than mere dismissal because it doesn't line up with what I've always thought and been taught, even if after that examination I still find myself holding closer to those original beliefs. At least I know why I say I believe as I do. 

But that's not really the point of this post. Mr. Anderson, in his review, utilizes a powerful metaphor that has detained many of my thoughts of late. Let me share his exact words (emphasis mine): 

from en.wikipedia.org

"I am increasingly saddened by the state of our Christian discourse online, including my own involvement in it.

I’m no Roman history expert, but I take it that it was their love of entertainment that led them to the [Colosseum].  It’s a bloodthirsty idol, entertainment, for it knows no boundaries nor respects no persons.  Over the past two years, Christians have engaged in a variety of controversies—which they have been doing for a long time, but which seem to be coming and going with a greater rapidity while being discussed at a significantly more shallow level.... 

The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer, byJean-Léon Gérôme (1883)

In each, the form of arguments have rarely been commendable and the level of discourse ennobling.  We have increasingly, it seems to me, been taken by these controversies and fought for page views in the midst of them.  And that has meant mostly fighting each other, clashing verbal swords and letting the digital blood flow in the streets.  I know well that there is a time to disagree and to draw lines.  And I also know that when the controversy is upon us, the drumbeats of war always beat the loudest, and it is usually in such moments that we should speak of peace.  Perhaps we would all do well to wield our intellectual swords with a good deal more care....

Pollice Verso ("Thumbs Down") by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872

...I thought that blogging held promise for the church to improve its dialogue and help minds think more Christianly. I now wonder whether that is true, or whether the intrinsically shallow nature actually induces an entertainment-oriented mindset that prefers the action of a controversy to silence or to the boring, mundane work of saying the same old thing. I see the tendency toward degrading speech in myself and have watched it come to the fore over the past year. And I am not at all certain it should continue, either in me or in the rest of this small corner of the internet. Because if evangelicalism continues to be a movement that lives on controversy, then it is certain that it will someday die by it." 

As a reader of blogs... 

perhaps as one who comments, or one who shares poignant 

or meaningful-to-you posts 

on Facebook or some other social media outlet, 

what responsibility do you think you have to prevent 

the type of electronic gladiator games of which Mr. Anderson speaks?

If you are a blogger, do you believe you have a responsibility to steward your words? How do you go about doing so? 

Do you have some method to keep yourself accountable?

5 Minute Friday ~ Here

Joining Lisa-Jo @ Gypsy Mama for another Five Minute Friday...

"...where a beautiful crowd spends five minutes all writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em over here.

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.



1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on..."

Here…

What are you doing here and who gave you permission
to cut out a grave for yourself here,
hewing your grave on the height
and chiseling your resting place in the rock? "Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you
and hurl you away, O you mighty man...."

(Isaiah 22:16,17)

I've been reading in Isaiah recently. And thinking about these words. A lot.

Sometimes it is easy to dismiss the Old Testament as not so relevant to my life today. It isn't good idea to dismiss any part of God's Word, and He continually reminds me of that.

The Lord sent Isaiah to speak these words to Shebna, an ambitious steward in the service of King Hezekiah. Maybe his behavior was fueled by ambition, a desire for people to respect and think highly of him, but for whatever reason, Shebna had carved for himself the type of tomb usually kept only for those belonging to the royal family or others of high rank and noble distinction.

Shebna did hold a prominent official position in the king's court... Isaiah describes him as a "mighty man." Yet he also appears to be using his position for personal gain and glory. He wanted to be remembered long after his death as an important, respected and valuable man.  Isaiah had already prophecied that the nation of Judah and Jerusalem; apparently Shebna did not believe the reality of God's judgment.

Shebna's presuming angered God. And this is one of the few spots... perhaps the only place in the book of Isaiah... where God pronounces judgment against an individual, and it is a scathing one.

Like I said, I've been thinking about these words.

What am I doing, here? 

Am I busy about the business of promoting myself, building my own memorial, here, for my own glory? 

Here can refer to many places... my world as a missionary, doing discipling and literacy work with women... my position as a mama... the program I've had a part in building at the school... the scripts I've written for children's radio programs... this home I've created in the cyberworld...

Am I here... wherever, however that here may be... for me? Or for the glory of the One and Only Worthy?

God's asking me:

What are you doing here?

Who gave you permission to cut out a [place or position] for yourself here,
hewing... and chiseling [this] place?

I need to make sure I know and act on the answers to those questions... each and every day... each and every here and now.

When Daddy's Delinquent

Amnon and Tamar
by Jan Steen
@ http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/jan-steen/amnon-and-tamar-1670

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand.”

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.

“Send everyone out of here,” Amnon said. So everyone left him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.” (2 Samuel 13)

This is one of those biblical accounts that I find repulsive on so many levels - and so yes, I'd read it and yes, I'd even thought some about it... but I still allowed my distaste for the events in this story to push me away. I had never really studied it in detail... until now.

If you'll recall, at our last ladies' meeting, we'd started looking at 2 Samuel 13 as a part of our continuing Bible study of biblical conflict and confrontation. And the resulting discussion was quite rich... culturally eye-opening for me, too! Because that last post had already grown quite long, I decided to stop and come back to it later. Here's later!

We talked about the encounter between Jonadab and Amnon. And we recognized that our different background knowledge and cultural upbringings impacted how we looked at that passage. For me, it seemed pretty clear cut that Jonadab was not a true friend who may have started off well (i.e. he noticed that his friend was upset, went to him and asked him about it), but then tickled the ears of his buddy by telling him what he thought his friend wanted to hear. The ladies in this group weren't quite so sure that this was the case and helped me see at least two other possibilities for what might have motivated Jonadab to counsel Amnon as he did. And we all agreed that regardless of the ancient reality (which we may never know), what is clear is that we need to understand our own motives for becoming a confronter and make sure they are for God's glory and our neighbor's good...

Jonadab's plan, whatever his motivation, while deceptive was clearly effective. King David did come to see his ailing son to find out what was wrong. Here was one place where both the ladies and I agreed 100%: THIS was a missed confrontation on the part of David. Consider the context. David had just been confronted by Nathan for his sin - the pursuit of a woman who was not rightfully his to pursue. Murder followed adultery; the entire affair was immersed in subterfuge and deceit. We all believed that David was probably well aware of what was going on. In other words, he recognized Amnon's passionate feelings for Tamar, but chose not to confront his son. Why?

Differing ideas propose by the women:

1. David's sin didn't occur in a vacuum and palaces are notorious for the gossip and rumors that wander through kitchens, courtyards, storage rooms, stairwells and hallways. Perhaps David felt he had no business confronting his son... that his sin disqualified him from being a mentor, invalidating his authority and any advice he might have to offer his clearly confused man-child.
2. Amnon might have refused to respond to his dad, saying something to the effect of "Hey Pops. I'm only following you and the example you;ve set for us... doing whatever it takes to get what I want. What business do you have judging me, you hypocrite."
3. David might have taken a fatalistic sort of view. Nathan had prophesied that these types of things would befall his family - a consequence of David's own sin. Therefore, he might have assumed nothing he could do would impact what was about to happen.

This led into a very fascinating discussion. These ladies, I think because of the very fatalistic view that is part and parcel of a Muslim background, seemed to really believe that Amnon had no choice in the matter. In their minds, God, through His prophet had declared that these things would happen and nothing David nor Amnon could do would change that. In other words, it was ordained that Amnon would sin to fulfill Nathan's prophecy. 

What? 

Believing something like that allows culture to trump God's Word. It is not consistent with what the Bible teaches. God does not change, but there are occasions where He relents and pursues a different path. Abraham pleaded with God for Sodom and Gomorroh; Moses pleaded for the nation of Israel. As far as a New Testament example, there is the parable of the unjust judge who finally relented at the widow's persistence. Don't forget, either, what James writes: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." (James 1:13)

God gave me an opportunity that Saturday. I encouraged these woman to begin erasing a very predominant cultural conception regarding God. With God, it is always possible to make the righteous choice, to act justly, to be obedient, to show kindness, to be angry and sin not... Because we have been made in the image of God (and if we have trusted Him as Savior and have His Spirit living within), there are some wants and wishes that come from within and that are beautiful and pure. Because we are all sinners and have all chosen to disobey and violate His law on countless occasions, our hearts can also be deceitful and direct us towards disobedience, devience and disgusting, distasteful desires.

We are never left without the opportunity to choose the right from the wrong and to refuse temptation. 

David ignored his duty as Amnon's dad. 

• Yes, David had sinned. 
• Yes, he was unqualified to sit in critical judgment of his son. 
• Certainly his children would have to bear some of the effects and negative consequences of his sin. 

But that is precisely why he was the perfect one to talk to Amnon. This was his boy, after all (and Tamar was his daughter...)! Isn't it sometimes amazing when we see our own struggles and shortcomings revealed so clearly in the behavior of our children? It's sometimes like a slap in the face. David had just walked this road. He knew the pleasures were not worth the resulting pain. He knew there were other, better courses of action to take. He knew the consequences for this sin... for any sin, really... were grave, for all sin is ultimately a sin against the only most high, most holy Lord of Heaven and Earth.

David failed to confront - and then Amnon received his tacit approval. In Amnon's twisted thinking, he might have perceived it as a blessing even, when David acquiesced to Amnon's wishes and sent Tamar to him. Maybe he thought Amnon's passions would be calmed just be spending time with his sister. Maybe he never dreamed Amnon would let his lustful feelings actually lead to physical harm. I also can't forget that maybe he truly had no inkling that Amnon's feelings for his half-sister were so vehement and potentially dangerous.

Whatever the case may have been - David squandered this opportunity to disciple his son by authentically and transparently sharing the hard and difficult lessons he had learned. Additionally, he failed to protect his daughter. I was a bit surprised that the women saw this to be the case, as I wondered if their cultural perspectives would influence how they understood these verses.

All in all, at least in this chapter, David was a delinquent daddy. He who'd been such a good shepherd to his father's flocks failed to adequately shepherd his family.

This missed confrontation is a powerful reminder of our responsibility. We are to be looking out for each other. If we see a brother or sister (or child) making a sinful choice, we are accountable for our action... or lack thereof. True - God does not call us to directly intervene every single time we see something questionable. Often it depends on our level of relationship and trust with the other person to be able to confront in such a way that pleases God. But when He does place us in that position, we must listen. We must make sure our motivation is God's glory and the other's good. Then we must gently engage the other person, making sure we share Biblical truth. 

We can't determine another's choice, but at least we can know that they understood there was another option.

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We had one more great discussion topic that Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago, but once again, this post has grown long. Stay tuned for the continuation - coming soon! 

In case you want to go back and look at the previous posts from this series, here they are, in order even! 

• So what do you do when someone just won't listen to plain "good sense..."
• Am I my brother - or sister's keeper?
• "Nin go ga ti bora din..." or "You ARE that man..."
• Expensive and Expansive
• that "action of bringing two parties face to face"

The Power of Words... by Brendan Wright

When God created man, he equipped him with incredible tools. All were instilled to make him more like God and to bring glory to the Creator. Each tool, each gift, was bursting with potential for good. One gift with great clout was the ability of speech, enabling men to praise God and encourage others. Great leaders, the men who motivate and inspire others, are often great orators. Words have power. Unfortunately, after the fall, these God-given tools along with their masters became double-edged, able to do as much harm as good. The mouth began to blaspheme, discourage and hurt others. Hitler stirred and fired the hearts of the German people to fight for their “Fatherland” through amazing speeches. Words should not be used lightly. To rightly use this God-given gift, it is critical to know just what words can do: the tongue has the ability to link societies, cause change and affect others.

Not long after the Flood, men forgot who saved their ancestor Noah and disobeyed his commandment to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 9:1). Rather, they congregated on a great plain in Shinar and built a city. This city quickly grew, fueled by the efforts of a people sharing language and culture, laboring to make a name for themselves. Pride wormed its way into their hearts, replacing the previous self-preservation instinct. They decided to build a tower to reach Heaven and God himself on their terms, not God’s. They just about succeeded when their sins caught up with them. God judged them: he confused their language; he destroyed their community; their work was thrown into disarray. Unable to communicate, they dispersed, grudgingly obeying the Lord’s commandment and leaving their tower unfinished (Gen.11:1-9). Good communication is essential for any government or infrastructure. When God confused the peoples’ speech, he rendered their work futile. After being able to work together seamlessly, a language barrier proved devastating.

Words achieve. They have effect, stirring hearts and lifting spirits. They convert angry rabbles into attentive audiences. Words tip the scales causing certain politicians’ reputations to rise while others’ fall. Rebellions, revolutions and coup-d’états are spear-headed by well-prepared speeches. After Solomon’s death, his son inherited the throne. Instead of aiding the hard pressed, he divided his kingdom through foolish speech (1 Kings 12:1-20). Friends are frequently found through what we say just as rash words often nurture new nemeses.

Relationships grow and change via conversation. For example, four words, will-you-marry-me, is a known relationship-starter-changer. We encourage others through positive comments and compliments; at the same time we can easily dismantle confidence through thoughtless remarks. How amazing and sobering that the fallible are given power to alter, for better or worse, others’ lives. Once said, words can never be erased. Those cruel commentaries often haunt people for years, whereas a simple “Well done!” bolsters spirit.

We should not trifle with the tongue. Words affect others, causing transformation and are essential for well-working societies. Words have power. Word wielders must be prudent in what language exits their mouths. The Bible clearly warns that the tongue is incredibly potent: the tongue sets even large forests ablaze with a tiny flame (James 3:5). Yet words are incredible gifts, God-given, to make men more like him, permit them to praise his name and exhort others. Christians are challenged to use their tongue justly and honorably, that they might not be ashamed of what they said when some day, they stand before Christ (Matthew 12:37).

30 Days, 30 $s

Why do I have this picture of some family I don't know on our family blog?

Nathan Adair's evening meal consists of two scoops of rice, tomatoes, half a potato and some green peas ”at a cost of about 21 cents”while his 3-year-old daughter, Emerson (left); wife, Lindsay, and even 7-month-old Payton enjoy more typical fare. Adair is spending 30 days living on $1 a day -- ”the lifestyle of one-third of the population in India. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Nathan Adair)



I've posted this picture because I'm intrigued.

Nathan Adair, in order to better identify with people who don't take their daily bread for granted... Statistics tell us that globally, there are more than a billion people who live on the amount of food that they can purchase for less than one dollar a day. I don't think I've every only existed on $1/day. It is a very different sort of fast... and if you are interested in reading more about it, read this article or check out his blog.

Would you ever consider doing something like this? Why or why not?

Serving and Stewardship

I'm reading through 1 Kings right now. Much of the time, I'm a bit bewildered by where God has me in His Word when facing difficult times. The first truly difficult time in my life, I was reading through Jeremiah... the weeping prophet. We cried a lot together during that time, Jeremiah and I, - and I discovered some true gemstone verses to cling to, including the incredible promise of Jeremiah 29:11, for the very first time.

We are definitely walking through a difficult time right now with the closing of our mission organization and the loss of much of our EBM family. And where am I presently planted in the Word of God?  I'm reading through the book of I Kings... not overly encouraging on the whole, as I read about king after king who chose to worship the idols of this world instead of wholly following the Lord with a heart like David. I guess it could even be depressing... except that the Holy Spirit is pulling out powerful, convicting questions to ask me as I examine my life in light of the examples of the sons of David.

1 Kings 12:1-17 in my Bible is subtitled "King Rehoboam acts foolishly." Rehoboam is the son of Solomon, the chosen heir to the throne. After his father's death, he calls together his father’s counselors to ask their advice. Next, he assembles all of his buddies and asks them what they think. They think something very different from what the elders counseled...



Rehoboam rejecting the elders recommendation...



He rejects the advice of his father's sages, choosing instead to submit to the leading his peers... probably greedy, power-hungry, self-centered men who’s concern was simply “Make a name for yourself. Be greater and more terrifying than your father... and bring us along for the ride!”

Look at the two words of counsel Rehoboam received:

·        From Solomon's sages:  “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” (NASB)

·         From his peers and pals: “But you shall speak to them [the people he ruled], ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’" (NASB)

The people of God, the powerful and blessed Hebrew nation, split in two. This division, a prophesied consequence to Solomon’s failure to pursuing God with a whole,  undivided heart, was tragic.
Only the tribes of Judah (his own family) and Benjamin followed Rehoboam, a rather remarkable example of obedience to the will of God and submitting to the authority He had placed over them, even when that authority refused to listen to reason. The other 10 tribes followed another man, Jeroboam, refusing to allow the arrogant Rehoboam the right to rule, even stoning his messenger. 

One "aside observation" I found very, very surprising in this chapter was the fact that God’s will for the southern part of the kingdom was to submit to this tyrannical rule, while His will for the northern part was to rebel. God obviously uses differing “political views” to accomplish His will.

But back to the subject of leadership... In this chapter, we are given a clear picture from Solomon’s elders of how servant leadership should look. I find myself asking this question:

How can I be a servant leader in each instance where the Lord has entrusted me

with the position, power and prestige of leadership?

One clear principle I see is the importance of really listening to the petitions of those I lead, and implementing them in part or in whole unless there is clear reason to say “No.” As a mom, how often do I say “No,” simply because it is more convenient for me, rather than having a clear and real reason. When I say “Yes,” when and as I can – the necessary “No’s” more palatable for those following me, for those over whom I have been placed in authority. That, in part, defines servant leadership.

One other key component of servant leadership I see in this chapter is submission to the wise and godly counselors God has placed around me, even when their counsel does not "tickle" my ears or does not always seem to match with my goals. It is my responsibility to weigh that counsel and recognize that God might be speaking to me through words that frustrate, hurt and do not necessarily please. As the one in charge, I do not have to submit... I make that choice. I don't always have to be the one with the "right" or "best" opinion and ideas. I don't have to "win," just because I'm the one leading. 

Isn't another definition of parenting "servant leadership?"

Leaders who serve? It is is simply good... maybe even superior, stewardship.

It is obedience to Philippians 2...

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

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Illustration is from Story-of-the-Bible, published about 1904 for author Rev. Hurlbut. Scanned photos from the book whose copyright has expired. An expired copyright means that you are free to use these photos in whatever capacity you wish, except you may not link to them at this site.

Day of Rest

"Rivers know this: there is no hurry.

We shall get there... some day."
~ Winnie the Pooh ~

Thursday is my favorite day of the week.

It is the one consistent day each week that I have made the time to get up early to just sit with the Lord, to slow down and relax, think, leisurely study, lesson plan, menu plan, spend chunks of time in prayer, drink tea (raspberry flavored, of course!) on the terrace, spend time with a friend, be still and know...

I love starting my morning early... watching the sunrise... as the river slips quietly by...

I'm learning as I do nothing but sit, sip, stare, hear the wind and water, listen to the world softly begin to stir,

observe fishermen start their work,

glimpse boatmen ferrying their passengers.

I'm understanding that sometimes the best stewardship of time the Lord has given is quiet stillness given back to Him.

He uses that time to prepare me for the adventures of the coming week... helping me to meet them with anticipation and joy, delighting in watching God's mighty hand work His designs and His plan.


Last-school-year-graduated boys... big boys my crew is missing... boys enjoying the sometimes gentle,
sometimes turbulent but always flowing, going, and eventually getting there Niger River.

“Vacation used to be a luxury, however, in today's world, it has become a necessity.”

Some unknown person made that statement - I heard it - and I've been pondering it....

Then last month, Brendan and I recently attended the 20th anniversary celebration of Ecole Alliance (the French language school where our children are receiving their elementary education) - and in the midst of that lovely opportunity to visit with my becoming young man without others around to distract, he mentioned that he was working on a speech for English... and his topic was the importance of rest. I asked him if he had come to any conclusions yet... hoping he would have recognized his own need to be more intentional about getting needed rest.... He hadn't (on either account).

I remember these words from a popular song during my high school years (yep... dating myself with that comment, aren't I?)

"Vacation

All I ever wanted.

Vacation,

Had to get away.

Vacation

Meant to be spent alone."

We joke about Niamey becoming an expat ghost town during the summer months. Annually, the week after Sahel's graduation is a great exodus of many returning to their home countries more or less permanently... others leaving to get a break from the heat and dust for some weeks while catching up with friends and family they may not have seen for some years. Embassy and many developmental organizations send their workers out of W. Africa for a bit of an almost mandatory break. So, in the preceeding weeks, I've heard many of my friends talk about their vacation plans. Now, I read Facebook statuses of people I know visiting exotic, interesting, or cool (temperature) places. Sometimes that makes it hard to maintain a spirit of contentment when dust, heat, poor veggie selection and endless afternoons at the pool are what I have to look forward to.

But then again, there is always the joke that is so very true about needing to take a vaction to recover from vacation once you get home. I'm thankful that mornings are a bit lazier, dinner times and bedtimes are relaxed and we feel we have the freedom and space in our life right now to spontaneously invite friends over. I'm also relieved that we're catching up on budget challenges too, instead of wondering how to make ends meet in the aftermath of vacation expenses. 

So... I'm getting ready to, as I like to say, "think with my fingers" because writing is how I process things more often than not - but let me first offer this disclaimer: I am in no way intending to criticize ~ please... if God gives you the opportunity to take a vacation, enjoy it with your whole heart... or complain ~ that God has not/might not give me and my family the same sort of opportunity.

In the States, we use the word "vacation," speaking of summer vacation... or going on/taking a vacation... "vacating" our place of work/school and normal living routine for a predetermined and usually preplanned period of time, often to go somewhere else and do something centered around fun, education, new experiences, rest, etc. Many try to use vacations to encourage special family times, taking tons of photos and building memories as well as deepening relationships. For something that only consumes a small part of our year... we spend an awful lot of time talking and thinking about it. Here, in our very international community, many of our English speaking friends from other countries prefer to use the word "holiday;" our French speaking friends always and only speak of "les vacances..." vacation is always plural, where as a holiday or day off of work might not be.

According to the dictionary, vacation is:

1. A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee.
2. 1. A holiday.
   2. A fixed period of holidays, especially one during which a school, court, or business suspends activities.
3. Archaic The act or an instance of vacating.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English vacacioun, from Old French vacation, from Latin roots meaning freedom from occupation, to be empty, at leisure.  I also read recently that the original Latin includes the idea of being still.

My Nigerien friends rarely take a "vacation," at least as we would define it. Our used-to-be guard Celestin goes back to his village to prepare, plant and then work in his fields so his family will have food for the next year. Teachers at the French school transport part of their salaries to members of their families living in villages or take continuing education classes. Safana, my good friend, travels to Togo to check on the health of her mother and mother-in-law, braving public transportation through dangerous mountainous regions where accidents are frequent and often fatal.

Our reality? When we come to Niamey, I'm ready for 4 years here... and "vacations" consist of driving outside of town to the dunes, traispsing down to the river for an evening picnic, or heading to the pool of the afternoon for a break from the never ending heat. It is just too expensive to fly our family anywhere... Given the current political climate in our region it isn't really safe for us to drive too many places and with the price of gas, driving isn't a whole lot cheaper than flying... Our kids' school schedules only give us time during the month of July and by that time, everyone else is gone so we are often the last ones left, holding down the fort...

Frankly, the money question (should we dispense this much in this manner) and our accountability to those who support us plays a huge factor. We have many who say "Go!" We have others who want to know how we justify going out to eat french fries with our kids once every couple of weeks. I know it is a balance and I am not going to be able to please everyone... but I do think we should be accountable.

I wonder what God thinks about pleasure and vacations. He commands us to take time for rest and sets the example Himself. Yet all this time, effort and expense devoted to more or less "selfish" pleasure... my pleasure, or the wishes of my family? God certainly wants us to find pleasure in Him, in people, in His creation, in our hope and anticipation of a future He has prepared. Is a traveling vacation a part of that? I think it could be... but I'm not sure that in our family's past, we've correctly appropriated funds for vacation purposes or that our goals haven't been purely self-oriented. Believe me, I do recognize completely the need for a break and sometimes that requires getting away. But how do we do so in a way that rests, reuvenates, includes wise stewardship of God's resources, satisfies those to whom we are accountable, builds memories and invests in people and eternity?

So, all of that writing to say I don't know any easy answers.

I'd love for someone to address any or all of these questions - from your perspective! 

Is vacation a selfish luxury? a verifiable necessity? probably some mixture of both?

(Don't take the easy way out and say both unless you explain... give examples.)

What do YOU think?

What Biblical guidelines to you see?

Any advice or suggestions?

"I slept and dreamt life was joy,

I awoke and saw life was service,

I acted and,

behold,

service was joy."

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Looking for a Yardstick

I'm definitely one of those people who naturally measure success by how much I've done and how well I’ve met up to often unrealistic standards of what I believe I should (more accurately “wish” I could) have accomplished; another strong barometer of success for me is the praise or words of affirmation of those around me… Does someone, anyone, notice how much I’ve accomplished? How well or thoroughly it has been completed? And, do they appreciate it... at least enough to tell me?

I was recently challenged to consider my definition of a successful day, and since both of the above evaluative measures are not biblical, I’m now in the process of trying to retrain my thinking - hoping the “feeling” will trail along behind - by asking myself the following questions when it comes to determining my success:

1) When I come to the end of the day, can I say, “Lord, to the best of my ability, I’ve done everything as unto You, and in those areas where I failed, I’ve already repented and asked forgiveness from You and others?”

2) Has the focus of my time been psent on serving and loving others, investing in their lives… or has it been spent serving and loving myself (granted that a certain amount of time does need to be spent on self… but that time seems to come so much more naturally; the other is rarely so automatic)?

3) Have I been gentle, kind, patient, slow to anger, thankful, joyful, peaceful, content and positive with my words and actions… recognizing that my thoughts aren’t always on target, but that I do have the choice of what to do with wrong thinking before it becomes wrong words or actions?

And even just today, as I've continued to reflect, pray and listen, God has pointed out one more yardstick that I can use:

4) Have I gently and contentedly accepted God's sovereignty over that day, for all those times when my plans had to bend or change completely because God's agenda is obviously quite different from the one I concocted for the day?

This all sounds so nice on paper… I wish it were that easy to accomplish and by God's grace and mercy, I will find that I eventually have more successful days than the alternative... but I think the last part is recognizing that on those days where I can answer yes or mostly yes to those four questions, it was only by the grace of God and His Spirit working and changing me.

So... what's your yardstick? How do you measure success in your life?

yardstick photo: ohdeedoh.com tape measure photo: blog.taigacompany.com

The Center for Academic Progress

I've stepped into a new role this year... well, sort of... actually, it is an old role (teacher of students with special needs) that had been put aside for awhile while I was busy being wife and mama to this fabulous crew the Lord has given me.

For several reasons, last spring we started praying about my involvement with Sahel Academy. I'd helped teach and coordinate their swimming/water polo phys ed program for 4 years and loved that. I've consulted on particular cases where the administration felt my background in special education would benefit. But the Lord slowly impressed upon my heart - and then confirmed through the support of Tim, our regional coordinators and an amazing congruence of vision with the school administrative team - that now was the time for me to become more directly involved with Sahel.

One of the huge challenges at a mission school like Sahel is meeting the needs of an incredibly diverse student population consisting primarily of TCKs (or third culture kids) with limited resources, people and material - all the while living in a place where just the daily demands of life that had seemed so easy to meet just a few short months ago living in Michigan, are now exhausting...

• These kids come from many different language and cultural backgrounds - fitting the description of "English language learners:" the school has stopped referring to ESL (students learning English as a second language) because reality is that for many of the students, English is a third... fourth... fifth language.
• Expat children often move every 2-3 years, changing schools, school systems and curriculum with different scopes and sequences, still trying to meet differing graduation/college entrance requirements from universities all across the globe. This often leaves gaps and holes in their education that need to be addressed... or juniors and seniors scrambling for the credits they need to move into post-secondary life.
• Kids learn in so many different ways; no one questions that some do not best benefit from the traditional classroom experience the way they would learn, grow and advance given hands on opportunities. Yet with limited personnel, how do you best attend to those needs?
• And, of course, children have other unique learning needs, strengths and challenges, all of which need to be addressed if we want to fulfill the biblical command to "train up a child in the way that he should go."

Knowing this and contemplating the fact that we have at least two of our own children who seem to learn best outside the norm of what schools traditionally offer and who will potentially attend Sahel Academy at some point in the future, now seemed the perfect time for me to get involved, helping the team of staff at Sahel build a program to best try and address the special (and wonderful) needs of their beautifully varied student population.

Thus, the Center for Academic Progress was born. It is kind of funny... Tim and I have always joked about being on a "two-year-plan," as the Lord has, up to this point, seen fit to grow our family with one more child just shy of every two years. Well, there's no new little Wright foreseen... (a good thing too, as Mary Michelle is in no way ready to relinquish the post) and that little munchkin is rapidly approaching her second birthday. This program - its development, coordination and implementation - is my new "baby," one of my priorities this term.

If the Lord leads you to pray for me, please pray that I will be God-directed in the time I devote to this ministry opportunity. We are convinced that God has directed my involvement. However, God, Tim and our beautiful, wonderful children are still my priorities. As a family, we've decided to not engage someone to help with the house, I'm truly delighting in serving my family through all the everyday things moms traditionally do and everyone else (even Jonathan and Elsie Mae) is pitching in; I do hope and pray to resume teaching monthly ladies' bible studies if our pastor and his wife feel that is a need. I'm also continuing, albeit slowly, to learn the Zarma language - mostly through visiting friends and listening at church. I'm so thankful for the team of teachers and volunteers that God had already called together to work in the Center, even before I knew He was leading me this way. We truly want to see this program grow into something that God can use to encourage and minister to students, their parents and the staff of Sahel Academy.

Thanks, in advance, for each time you lift our family and God's work here among the people of Niger before His throne.

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All photos from Sahel Academy website.

A time to live... a time to die...

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Eccl 3:1-8

Our home/sending church is trying something a little different this summer for adult Sunday School... and we were privileged to participate, for a few weeks. Instead of keeping with our regular Sunday School class, different teachers chose different topics they wanted to study for 8 weeks. Then members of the congregation picked the class they wanted to attend... and it was, we thought, a nice way to mix up our church population a bit as well as hear from some different folks.

The class that Tim and I chose to attend was called "Accountable to God," considering stewardship... in all areas of our life... of ALL of our very lives. Our last Sunday, the lesson revolved around the topic of redeeming the time that we've been given by God for His purposes and His glory... and class began by looking at the familiar words of Ecclesiastes 3, and how there is a "schedule" to our life... a time to be born, a time of opportunity and a time to die. One key thought was that because of this "schedule," we must be intentional about making God's priorities our priorities during the window of opportunity we have between birth and death.

Great reminder... It is one of those thoughts that needs to be repeated over and over because an opportunity past is an opportunity lost. Time not redeemed cannot be recovered. However, the Holy Spirit had more that He wanted to show me... and I've been meditating on this a lot lately (especially of early of the morning, listening to the call to prayer and kneading our bread for the day...) Yes, there is one appointed time for a man to die and after that the judgment. But God also gives us more moments to die than we can count in the course of our lifetimes. I've been considering the words below from the perspective of what it would look like, what it would mean to die to me, each moment of each day so that I could actually live in Christ, for Christ and Christ alone:

• "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus Who...being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death..." (Phil 2. 5,6,8)
• "...I die daily... (1 Cor 15.31b)
• "... that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die" (1 Cor 15.36)
• "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor 15.55-58)
• "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us... Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us..." (2 Cor 4.7, 10-12)
• "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom 12.1,2)

And these are just a few of the verses to which the Lord has led me as I've mulled over and prayed through this idea:

My time to die is now, this moment...

and again, the following moment...

and again, the next...

and so on...

...to chose God and His way by dying to myself and my ways, choices, preferences... one of those things that is relatively easy to say or write, but very, very hard ~ impossible ~ to do minus the grace, mercy and power of God in my life. It adds depth and a new perspective to the words of Paul, "For me, to live is Christ; to die is gain." Although impossible in my own strength, I can have hope for "some day," because of Christ's words: "...he who believes in Me will live even if He die," (John 12.25) and begin trying to make that choice... once opportunity at a time. Could there be any better way to live redeeming the time ~ than choosing to" die to self" time after time after time..., every time?

"But in all things approving [myself] as a minister of God...as dying, and, behold, I live..." (2 Cor 6.4,9)