by Elizabeth | Feb 15, 2011 | Learning Story
Do you want to be happy?
“Christians are often skittish about happiness,observes Ellen Charry. They live in the hope of heaven but are somewhat nervous about experiencing too much joy this side of paradise.”
From the book cover of God and the Art of Happiness
Ellen Charry, an academic theologian, “writes from practical concern, especially for readers who wonder if life is ‘more than a vale of tears simply to be slogged through somehow in hopes of a heavenly reward.’ She wonders this herself, having recently lost her husband of 40 years to an ‘untimely and pointless death.'” (Christianity Today review online.)
I think I have a pretty good understanding of Christian suffering, but I’m a little tentative about happiness. Charry chooses St. Augustine as the entry point for tackling the subject — here is one summary of Augustine’s view of happiness:
“…all people want to be happy, and God has made this possible; humans are defined as both body and soul, implying (against the Stoics and Plotinus) that the well-being of the body is important. Further, human life is purposeful: to become wise and filled by enjoying God as much as possible in this life is to achieve our purpose, knowing that here we will never be completely safe from suffering and distress. Only those who know or have God to the fullest experience this spiritual joy.”
For reflection:
What do you think about God and happiness?
What makes you happy?
What is your purpose in life? Does living a life of purpose give you happiness?
by Elizabeth | Feb 14, 2011 | Learning Story
Can Jesus do this problem??
When I was 15, I became a Christian at a Young Life camp. For the first month or so after that, I had this sense that Jesus was with me everywhere I went. There I was working in the school library — Jesus was there, smiling at me, handing me the book to shelve. Walking into the lunchroom, wondering if I would find my friends to sit with, there he was.
But the best place he went with me was Algebra II. I really studied for Algebra II tests, but they were still so hard. I remember the first Algebra II test after I became a Christian — Jesus sat in the desk right next to me. I worked on the test and would occasionally look over and see him there, cheering me on. I even asked him the answer to question 22, and he tried but he was no good at Algebra II:) (Before anyone strikes me down for heresy, I’ll admit, I am sure an all-knowing God can do Algebra:)– but does He want to??) .
I have no idea what I made on the test or in the class. The point for me was — he was with me wherever I went, and he really didn’t care how I did in school. He loved me before the test, during the test, and after the test. He wanted me to ‘come to him’ and know his love.
Sometimes as a grownup, I forget that he is with me wherever I go. I forget how much he loves me. As weird as that story may sound, I think it’s probably closer to the reality of our lives as Christians than we know.
Here’s my valentine for you: your heart for Jesus beams his love into every nook and cranny of this broken and beautiful world. His heart for you is even bigger than that.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
by Elizabeth | Feb 12, 2011 | Learning Story
</iframe
by Elizabeth | Feb 11, 2011 | Learning Story
Some of the awesome campaign staff -- there were many, many more!
This is part two of a blog(see part 1, Kirby Knows) about my experiences on the Auburn University campus this past week as our eldest son campaigned for Student Body President. Yesterday I wrote about three aspects of the campaign team that awed me. Here are two more:
Values and Vision: I was awed to hear the campaign workers and Kirby discuss the platform. They had a vision to add to the beauty of the campus by making good things better. They saw the broken places and moved to create better ways to do things. The contest wasn’t a popularity contest – all of the candidates believed in their platforms and wanted to explain them to anyone who would listen. The vision and values were summed up in Kirby’s pre-callout prayer, “To you be the glory, God!”
Gratitude and Celebration: I was awed by the excitement and celebration at the announcement of the results. In this case, my husband’s pictures do reveal the spirit of the moment. Kirby’s head bowed in prayer with his girlfriend tucked at his side waiting eagerly, the workers surrounding them in various positions of anticipation. Even without hearing the announcement, the upward motion of the Kirby-camp’s eruption defines a spirit of celebration. And then, when the interviews had been done, all of the congratulatory hugs and well-wishes spoken, when the large crowd had dispersed and the 15 or so remained alone in the cold night of the quad, Kirby asked us to gather one more time to pray before they went off to a victory party. The prayer was centered on gratitude for what God has done and will continue to do.
The campaign slogan was “Kirby knows.” That is true. He and his team know leadership. They know their platform. They know it is one that will enhance Auburn University.
But best of all, God knows Kirby. God knows these young people. And I am in awe at what God has done in and through them for His glory.
by Elizabeth | Feb 10, 2011 | Learning Story
“I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.” Psalm 145
The picture says a lot, but it doesn’t say it all.
Tuesday night, our eldest son was elected President of SGA at Auburn University.
“Aren’t you proud?” people ask. Indeed.
And humbled. Deeply deeply humbled by God’s grace, by the bigger story that this story revealed.
But mostly awed.
I spent five days in Auburn being campaign mom (which mostly involved two well-honed motherly skills: cookie-baking and ‘just being there.’) Over that time, I observed refined teamwork worthy of a national championship of campaigns! I was awed by Kirby’s campaign team in many ways. Today I’ll write about three; tomorrow two more:
1. Focus: I was awed by the way they kept their focus. Before heading to callouts (where the results are announced), my son asked the team to gather together to pray. Before praying, he said, “Anna Lee and I said at the beginning of this campaign that we had one overarching goal, Colossians 3:23 (“Whatever you do, do your work heartily as unto the Lord, rather than for people.”) And that goal has been carried out.”
2. Unity: I was awed by the team unity. The candidate selects a top 5, but in Kirby’s case, it seemed like there might have been a top 50. Over the days, many people came and went wearing “Kirby Knows” shirts, all sacrificing and working hard for a story larger than their own. As the 15 or so leaders gathered in prayer, I thought of the rare and precious gift this group experienced: unity derived from a focus on something greater than themselves. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6)
3. Diversity and Sacrifice: I was awed by the diversity of giftedness in the many campaign workers:
- The campaign manager, a sharp, super-organized, very determined, and deeply compassionate young woman
- the “bodyguards,” the guys who escorted Kirby on the numerous campaign stops and got him out of the crowd
- the lovely and hospitable young women who could charm a snail into voting,
- his roommate who not only gave up his bedroom for debate prep but did it and many other supportive acts with a generous spirit
- the engineering and drill-equipped folks who built some 25 signs and the artistic types who painted them
- his sister who walked all over the campus handing out “Take 5’s,” and all of his siblings who sent him words or videos of support everyday
- the friend who called ‘just to pray’
- and last, but definitely not least, his girlfriend who did everything from baking cookies to passing them out on the concourse to picking up dry-cleaning, but most of all, who loved him well.
Think about it: what stories do you have of awe and gratitude for something God has done?
by Elizabeth | Feb 7, 2011 | Learning Story
Many (MANY) years ago, in my early 30’s, (okay it was only about 15 years ago but it seems like eons), I used to like — get ready for this — sweating. I would deliberately go out on an August day at 1:30 and run 4-6 miles. I do think there was something seriously wrong in my head, or it may have had to do with having four children aged 6 and under.
Anyway, when I read this quote from Jerry Bridges, via Graced Again, I thought how glad I am that I am no longer ‘saved by sweat.’:):
“My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our relationship with God on our performance instead of on His grace. If we’ve performed well,whatever well‚ is in our opinion˜then we expect God to bless us. If we haven’t done so well, our expectations are reduced accordingly. In this sense, we live by works, rather than by grace. We are saved by grace, but we are living by the sweat‚ of our own performance. Moreover, we are always challenging ourselves and one another to try harder‚. We seem to believe success in the Christian life is basically up to us; our commitment, our discipline, and our zeal, with some help from God along the way.The realization that my daily relationship with God is based on the infinite merit of Christ instead of on my own performance is very freeing and joyous experience. But it is not meant to be a one-time experience; the truth needs to be reaffirmed daily.
Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace
Gracedagain is compiled by Dr. Tom Wood, Church Multiplication Ministries, a non-profit organization, whose mission is Empowering Leaders To Multiply Gospel-Saturated Churches and Church Planting Networks.
Sign up on the web; http://www.gracedagain.com
