Why I Continue to Believe that Christ is Worth It

(This post is an excerpt from a paper I wrote last semester). 

          Perhaps you are wondering what the catch is, “Christianity cannot be that easy! I know that when you become a Christian you have to give up all sorts of things and follow all these rules. God has so many expectations.” Christianity may appear that way at first, but becoming a Christian is very different than this dismal picture. On first glance, it may seem difficult, but a closer examination reveals that Christ is the real treasure you've been searching for your entire life. 
                 Perhaps a story will make my point.  Once, Mommy and I were in the car—a question weighed on my 8-year-old heart and after a long contemplation, I finally asked, “Mommy, will Jesus bring my dollhouse to heaven?” 
             Mom raised an eyebrow,  “I don’t think so, Lynley. Why do you ask?”

            “Well, I’m not sure if I want to go to heaven if my dollhouse isn’t there. I would miss it. I really like playing with my dollhouse—it’s my favorite toy.” Mommy explained that I would not miss my dollhouse when I got to heaven because I would have Jesus. I remained skeptical, of course. How could I ever be happy without my dollhouse?
            Of course, we all laugh now because I have grown up. I no longer think I will miss my dollhouse in heaven, because I have outgrown my need for it—but at that time, my dollhouse was of great importance to me. Why? Because the pleasure I derived from the toy was immediate; it was right before me and instantly provided joy, entertainment, or an escape from the “hard stuff” (i.e. chores). At that age, I knew nothing of how I’d feel grown up—that I wouldn’t miss my dollhouse because I would be enlightened to all sorts of new things that were better than dollhouses.
              This mirrors how we relate to heaven and God. So often the phrase "pick up your cross" strikes terror into our hearts to think of losing or giving up the things that comfort us now. But this is because we are, in a way, children. We do not understand everything right now; we see only what is right before us. We cannot imagine life without our pitiful toys.
               But then God calls to us, telling us there is more to life than we presently see. “You will understand someday,” he tells us, “but until then, you will just have to trust that what I say is true. You won’t miss your old way of life once you grow-up spiritually.” If we believe and trust God, we will begin to grow up, and only gradually will we see why the dollhouse was no big deal. There are a lot of “dollhouses” in our lives that we do not want to give up because they seem necessary to our happiness—what we fail to see is that if we say “yes” to Jesus and learn to spend less time on the immediate pleasures around us, we will start to grow up. And once we’ve “grown up,” we’ll have a good laugh with Jesus remembering the time when we thought we needed those things to be happy.

Trees

Imagine you're Adam or Eve, standing in the Garden of Eden. You're angry at Adam for not saying something--how can he even be mad when he didn't even try to stop you? He ate the fruit too! You're mad at Eve for taking the fruit--didn't she know better? Do you have to do everything for her? You have been fighting. Fighting for the first time in your human existence. It feels foreign and broken. You feel self-conscious and naked; vulnerable and dirty. Your shame is slowly iced over by anger. And then, you hear God coming, so you hide in the...

Trees. 

"I know where you stand

Silent in the trees

And that's where I am

Silent in the trees.

Why won't you speak

Where I happen to be?

Silent in the trees

Standing cowardly.

"I can feel your breath.

I can feel my death.

I want to know you.

I want to see.

I want to say, hello." *

After all I've done, God? 

Yes. You broke yourself apart, but I made you, so I know how to put you back together again.

Will you come out of the trees and say hello to me?

*   *   *

Sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, when you hear His voice do not harden your hearts. 

Come out from the trees, into the light that you may receive healing. 

*The song Trees is by Twenty-One Pilots. All italics in quotation marks are their lyrics.

What He Understood

These are the things that my Savior understood. 

He understood what it is like to be unimportant in the world - He had no stately form or majesty that we should look at him.

He understood what it is like to feel ugly and unattractive - He had no appearance that we should be attracted to him. 

He understood what it is like to feel desolate and lonely - He was despised and forsaken by men.

Am I Serving God with Reserve?

An excerpt from my devotion this morning. It was so rich that I could not help sharing. As you read this, allow the words to penetrate your mind and to sink into your heart. 

"Natural love expects some return, but Paul says--I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God  "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Paul's idea of service is exactly along that line---I do not care with what extravagance I spend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul. 

"The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the sain is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Paul delighted to spend himself out for God's interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economical notions--"Suppose God wants me to go there--what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A person must consider these things." All this is an indication that we are serving God with reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz., not one who proclaims the gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives."  (From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers)

The question is, am I serving God with reserve? Does my idea of Christian service look like Jesus' or the world's?

"And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of external possessions, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Mark 4:18-19

In the face of these piercing words I can only cry like the Tax Collector, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." 

Book Review: Theirs is the Kingdom

Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America by Robert D. Lupton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was short, but powerful. It was perfect for someone like me who struggles with replacing people with type A personality programs, processes, and organizations. It confronted head-on my ideas about the Kingdom of God and how I'm really living out my life as a Christian. It was very realistic, but also hopeful. No matter you level of interest in the subject of the title, I would highly recommend this book.


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Book Review: A Heart for the City

A Heart for the City: Effective Ministries to the Urban Community by John Fuder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phenomenal.


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Dr. Mills Quotes of the Day!

Dr. Mills: "How much power does God have? He's the source of power! And you could apply that to any part of God."

David (who sits next to me): "How many teeth does God have? He's the source of teeth!"

Dr. Mills: "Well, you know what they say...all tooth is God's tooth!"

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"Hypercalvinism? Oh, that's when you give Calvinists a lot of sugar and red food coloring."

Update #3 on Dad

Hello Friends, 

As of right now, Daddy is still in the hospital and not on solid foods yet. Unfortunately, his stomach is distended and his bowel isn't working so he is unable to eat solid foods. 

You can be praying that his bowel will  heal properly and that it will begin to work soon so he can go home. I have a suspicion that he's a little grumpy about being there longer than he wanted to. :) 

Once again, thank you for your prayers and support!

Update #2 on My Dad

Hello Friends! 

Here's the second update on my Dad. He is still in the hospital and in a significant amount of pain. However, Mom says that medically, he is doing well. They were able to remove the catheter and he will be moving to solid foods today. His Dr.s hope that Dad will be able to go home Thursday or Friday. God has been very good, and there appear to be no complications thus far. 

You can continue to pray for his spiritual state and that he will transition well to solid foods. Also, for my mom as she endures some of stresses of trying help my Dad and take care of my brother and the house. I think she is beginning to feel the stress of the situation.

Thank you for your prayer and support! 

Update on Dad

Hello Friends, 

First off, thank you for all your prayers! 

As many of you know, my Dad was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. He had surgery to remove part of his colon this morning at 9. Here is an update on his condition. 

Dad's surgery is over and the news looks pretty good. The tumor had not perforated the wall of the Colon, which hopefully means this surgery will be curative (aka. it he won't need chemo). I haven't seen him yet, so I'm not sure how he's actually doing/feeling, but I'll post another update later. 

Thank you again for your prayers! Please pray continually for God to work powerfully in my Dad's heart and for him to get saved as result of this experience. 

Thank you so much for your guys' love and support! 

The Cost of Comfortable

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,"

Philippians 3:7-8

I have read these verses a thousand times, always with a certain apathetic regard for the passage. For a moment my heart exults in the knowledge that this is the way I was made to live, but this fleeting thought succumbs the fact that I am too comfortable to truly endure the "loss of all things." 


But this summer, the time came when God would allow my lazy heart to sleep no longer. My mother checked out a book-on-tape called Kisses from Katie. The passion and joy this book excited in my heart brought those verses to life. Katie, the author, is a 22 year old missionary to Uganda and she wrote this book about how her ministry came to be (she's been there since she was 19). I don't personally feel called to the mission field, but this book cut sharply through my contented passivity. You see, my ideal lifestyle has always been this: a calm, easy existence. To be successful was to have enough. But Katie truly discovered the heart of God. As I read her words heavy with compassion, love, and burdened care for the least of these, God exposed my ideal existence for what it really was: fearful selfishness. 

The Best Love Story to Remember

Last month, I posted a video and a few words entitled "A Love Story You'll Never Forget"- it was a truly moving story. One reader, my writing-major-roommate-to-be, was so touched by the young couple that she wrote a beautiful reflection on what she had just witnessed. Tabitha is a gifted writer and was good enough to share this reflection with me and in turn allow me to share it with you.

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Once Upon a Time...

Two very special people decided to love each other,

And when they decided to love each other,

Together with Christ, they were able to write this beautiful story.

~Lynley Turkelson

I just watched the movie of Ian and Larissa on YouTube - John Piper tweeted it and I’ve seen it
come up a couple other times, and have been wanting to watch it but haven’t until this quiet, overcast Tuesday morning. It brought me almost to tears. The love of Larissa for her husband who no longer looks attractive and can barely speak (certainly not with a clear, handsome voice) is so touching. Gentleness and peace and satisfaction run throughout her words and her demeanor.

Book Review: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Philip Yancey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was, by far, one of the best books I have EVER read. "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" unites the two topics that I love the most: God and human anatomy and physiology. Yancey writes in such beautiful language and detail that even if you have never found the human body particularly intriguing, you can't help but be drawn into his story. Yancey compares human body structures to those of the body of Christ, and the metaphor work's beautifully. I would go on, except I fear that by talking about the book, I will fail to portray how good it really is. I cannot recommend this book more highly.


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A Love Story You'll Never Forget

Once Upon a Time...

Two very special people decided to love each other,

And when they decided to love each other, 

 Together with Christ, they were able to write this beautiful story. 

I can only pray that my marriage will be this vibrant, romantic, and Christ-centered.

To view the original article, click here: The Story of Ian and Larissa

Book Review: Engaging God's World

Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living by Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book makes many interesting points.  Some of which I agreed with with, some I did not.  I found the authors discussions on shalom invigorating and inspiring.  However, I would differ with him on application of the principle.  Occasionally it seemed elementary, but it was well written.


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Book Review: Beginning and the End

Rereading Genesis's Stories and Revelation's Visions by Michael W. Pahl
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Not my favorite book. Not necessarily bad, but definitely not my favorite. 


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Shame - A Poem

One of my wonderful friends wrote this poem, and upon reading it, I immediately asked if I could post it on my blog; she graciously obliged. Take some time to think through this one, especially if you can relate to this story.

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Fearfully & Wonderfully Made - 3

Dear Journal,

When I first read that “God opposes the proud” or that “pride comes before a fall,” I thought that this opposition must be painful indeed. I sought to avoid this secondary fall at all costs. However, this week I have come to realize that in the midst of my pride, the most gracious thing God could do is to oppose my self-centered plans. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made points to the muscular system to illustrate this point.

Dr. Brand once had a patient whose neck muscles twitched with such violence that “every few seconds his chin smashed into his right shoulder” (Brand  Yancey, p. 189). The man’s story was a sad one, but Dr. Brand’s key point focused more on the dysfunction of a muscle. You see, the muscle itself does not cause the impairment, but the nerves that cause it to act independently from the body. The parallel drawn between the autonomous actions of a muscle in a physical body and the self-serving actions of a member of Christ’s body, are certainly striking. Yancey and Brand skillfully paint this picture in the book:

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - 2

Dear Journal,
Today was a difficult day; I was stressed about everything from my summer job to family strife. However, when I picked up Fearfully and Wonderfully Made God immediately reminded me of His peace that passes all understanding. As the book recounted Dr. Brand’s first secret encounter with the amoeba, I too could feel the chilly, sterile air of the laboratory scented faintly with formalin.

The lab is quiet as I take a seat and peer down my scope; it is just me and the organisms. No one yells or fights—there is no voice to hear but that of my own thoughts and of the Holy Spirit. It isn’t hard to imagine what these organisms look like: I saw them for myself last semester in Introduction to Biology (ironically, my sample was also taken from the campus lake). As I gaze at the wonderful, wiggling world through my microscope, I can hear the words of Jesus from John 4, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem”—indeed I worship Him in my imaginary lab.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

(Below is a journal exerpt sharing some of the wonderful ways God and Anatomy and Physiology have been working in my life. I hope you enjoy.)

Dear Journal,
I am both excited and awed by the book Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand - and I've only read one chapter and the preface!

First off, I was intensely excited by the "boyish enthusiasm for the grandeur of the human body" Dr. Brand conveys (Brand & Yancey, p.15). His heart mirrors my own in that way. From the moment I began reading my high school Anatomy and Physiology textbook, (ironically with the same title) I fell in love with the intricacy, efficacy, and beauty of God's divine knitting project. (Psalm 139:13)