What did you learn?

Okay, it's payback time for all those times when Mom asked "What did you learn from this experience?"

The women of College Church of Christ spent a beautiful weekend in Cambria, on the Central Coast, contemplating God's creation and learning a LOT about intercessory prayer from our speaker, Marci Bertalotto!  I encourage you to ask one of our "moms" who attended, "What did you learn from this experience?"

I will give you a small snapshot of some of the lessons we learned this weekend:

• We are meant to live "in Christ" (that phrase is repeated 164 times in the Bible).
• We are meant to live in "Kingdom Order", which means we practice thinking, speaking and acting like God's royal children.
• We are co-heirs with Christ, which means we share equally in His inheritance of His Father's riches
• We have authority over evil--it has been granted to us by our Father, God.
• We can pray for one another and take authority over evil influences that may be holding our prayer partners captive to Satan's lies.
• To have an effective, active, healthy prayer life we must:
• A) Believe God is who is He says He is
• B) Believe God will do what He says He will do
• C) Constantly choose to believe we are who God says we are
• When we realign our lives to match "Kingdom Order" we will go from:
• Judgment-->Love
• Selfishness-->Giving
• Critical Spirit-->Grateful Heart

There's lots more! Just ask one of our "moms"--"What did you learn from this experience?"

--Posted by Mama O.

How do we ask "how"?

"It is hardly ever the 'what'.

It is almost always the 'how' that makes the difference."

Clora Ann Crum had a mentor during the years she worked as a school principal. He would often repeat this phrase to her when she was facing a problem. There are always issues that must be confronted. But how we confront those issues can make all the difference in the world in how our words are received. 

Our wise and insightful ladies' Bible study partner, Clora Ann, brought up this quote in the context of this week's study, in Malachi 3:6-8:

"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says, the Lord of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?' Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions." (English Standard Version)

The question of the day was, "How do we ask 'how' to God?"

When the Israelites of Malachi's day asked "how", it was in a disrespectful way, like a clueless "so-called" romantic partner who can't understand why your feelings are hurt when they forget your birthday--three years in a row!

In poetic and prophetic imagery, God had married the nation of Israel. He was their devoted, faithful, gift-giving husband and they were his unappreciative wife with the wandering eye and the critical spirit. The gifts he gave weren't their style, or didn't look like the gifts their neighbors had. They used the gifts he gave, but they sulked and pouted and complained about them. 

And, when it was time to give their husband, God, gifts on his special occasions, they had every excuse in the book why the checkbook was overdrawn, the kids needed the money for new sandals, or they'd have more to give if he would give them more in the first place!

It was the classic case of a super nice guy marrying a woman who does not deserve him.  It breaks your heart to watch a romance like this. And it makes you want to wring the neck of the complaining, undeserving wife! (Watch the movie, "Spanglish" for a great example of this!)

It's like God was saying, "I made sure you had a bouquet of fresh flowers and breakfast in bed and gifts from the whole family on your birthday and you didn't even remember to wish me 'Happy Birthday' on my day."

This was the context of the question "how" from the Israelites. It was not nice. It was mean and rude and thoughtless.

There is a different way to ask "how". Clora Ann pointed out that we can ask God, "How can I obey you? How can I do this impossible task you have given me?" 

That's a different kind of "how". That's the kind that tells God, "I take you seriously. I respect your ideas and your opinions. And, I need your help!"

It's all in knowing how to ask "how"! Thanks, Clora Ann!

--Posted by Mama O.

Why be Humble?

Developing Humility: that's a seminar title that brings people flocking to register like "Improving Your Oral Hygiene Habits" or "Keeping Your Checkbook Balanced"!

Developing humility is one of those "unglamorous" and "unnoticed" things that seem like a lot of work for little to no glory or recognition. Generally speaking, people don't pay proper attention to areas like flossing or checkbook balancing or humility until problems develop from a lack of maintenance in those areas. Bad breath or excessive cavities can drive us to disciplined flossing habits. Overdraft notices and bank charges can encourage us to stay on top of our finances.

But what can drive us to feel the need for humility? We live in a culture that promotes pride and accomplishment and conspicuous consumption.

Proverbs 16:18 says: "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling." (New American Standard Version)

What does pride destroy? It can destroy good relationships, it can cost you a job or a sale or your ability to make wise decisions.

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis calls pride "a spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense." He contends that pride will prevent us from having intimacy with God, who desires to free us of pride, allowing us to become "delightedly humble, feeling the infinite relief of having for once got rid of all the silly nonsense about your own dignity which has made you restless and unhappy all your life."

We make ourselves so miserable, in our own pursuit of dignity and pride, that we completely eclipse the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, who would bring humility and freedom as refreshing as "a drink of cold water to a man in a desert."

What will I look like if I become humble? Will I go around in mismatched clothes or will I be constantly describing my faults and shortcomings to other people? Not at all! This just draws undue attention to myself, if the mismatched clothes are a choice and not a necessity, and becomes another manifestation of pride.

"Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy (insincere) person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all."

(Quotations from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, Collier Books-Macmillan Publishing Co., New York, New York, copyright 1943, Book 3: Chapter 8: The Great Sin)

--Posted by Mama O.

"Rejoice with me"

Dia Martinez and Carolyn Ocheltree at Dia' 33rd birthday party at Rescue The Children

Our raffle tickets

"Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified;
do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God
will be with you
wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9 (New International Version)

This was the theme verse for Dia Martinez' 33rd birthday party this week at Rescue The Children. She has nearly completed the 18-month rehabilitation program for women and is well on her way to a new, clean and sober lifestyle, with enrollment in business classes at community college and a job where she has already been promoted to assistant manager of the restaurant where she works. She rides the city bus to work and school, and does the hard work of making sure she navigates the system to arrive on time. Dia and I have been together in a mentor-mentee relationship since she first arrived at Rescue The Children. It is a joy to meet with Dia weekly for encouragement. Many of my church family have met Dia, as we attend Wednesday night church dinners and classes together.

For her 33rd birthday party this week, she was able to cater a hamburger dinner for all the women and children living at Rescue The Children. She catered through The Cravings, where she works. She asked several of the other disciples in the program to share their testimonies. We played fun party games, where we had to dig through our purses and pockets to locate candy and fingernail clippers to get points for our team! The children played party games where they traced letters of the alphabet on one another's backs and guessed the letters. We had a raffle, in which the winners won prizes that Dia had purchased herself at The Dollar Store, all plaques with Bible verses or inspirational messages on them! And, Dia gave a donation to Rescue The Children as her birthday gift to the women who have built into her life.

I am looking forward to a lot more GREAT parties like this one in heaven someday, where we all get to play games and win prizes and eat red velvet cake and rejoice over God's grace to sinners!

"Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this parable: 'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me: I have found my lost sheep." I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.'" Luke 15:1-7 (New International Version)

--Posted by Mama O. 

A Game With No Winners

We were discussing things (and people) that exasperate us during our ladies' Bible study yesterday morning. We are right in the middle of the Old Testament book of Malachi, and the Jewish people of Malachi's day were exasperating God with their constant complaints and accusations against God. (Malachi 2:17-3:5)

Our very insightful Bible study author, one Miss Lisa Harper, was asking us to dredge around in the muck of our own (you-know-what) lists, and think about how long it takes us to "get hot with people who've wronged you but won't admit it".

Answers varied as volunteers shared their responses (we do not force our lovely ladies to answer such revealing questions!). But, for the most part, the answers hovered around the "ASAP" area. It doesn't take long to feel the blood rise in your neck, your muscles tense, your "fight" responses kick in, when someone is just plain wrong!

Then, another corner of the room was heard from. It was Della Southall, breathing life and wisdom into the situation:

"Once I was very angry about a situation," Della shared, "but the Lord showed me that, 'Vengeance is a game that has no winners! With love and forgiveness, there are no losers!'"

And that is exactly what God did with those complaining people in Malachi's day! They were busy cheating and deceiving. But, when someone cheated or deceived them, they cried "foul" and asked "where is the God of justice?" (Malachi 2:17)

God let them know that he was going to send the Messiah.

"(God) explains that instead of the justice (the people) are demanding--which would mean them getting zapped right alongside the (evildoers) they'd jabbed their fingers at--He was going to refine them.

"God explains that His refining process is restorative, that divine discipline will purify their lives and make them more beautiful, but that it was going to sting. A lot. Because a refiner's fire has to be hot enough to separate the dross from molten metal--gold melts at approximately 1,337 degrees Fahrenheit. Because in Old Testament times a fuller used strong lye soap to separate stubborn dirt and grease from clothes, then laid the laundry on a rock, beat it with a stick and scrubbed it with a stiff brush until it was clean again.

"The bottom line is that true repentance never comes cheaply, but the intimacy it affords us with our Redeemer is invaluable." (Malachi: A Love That Never Lets Go by Lisa Harper, Lifeway Press, Nashville, TN, copyright 2012, p. 122)

God did not play the vengeance game with his people--where there were no winners, only dead bodies of the guilty awaiting burial. No, God played a game that has no losers--he sent Jesus to model and teach about love and forgiveness, to refine his people, to lead them to repentance of their sins, not to destruction because of their sins.

Thanks for the great reminder, Della!

--Posted by Mama O.

"Living Sacrifices"

"God didn't create you to conform to the hopeless goals of the walking dead."

This was the powerful interpretation of Romans 12:1,2 from our preacher, Dr. Jason Locke, yesterday.

He gave us a little history and literature lesson on the book of Romans, explaining that the first 11 chapters of Romans tell us how "God has been incredibly merciful and gracious and wants to have a relationship with us, and has done a lot to make that happen." Then, Romans 12-15 gives us a challenge: "In light of all God has done, this is how you should live."

That makes Romans 12:1,2, the linchpin that connects the two main parts of Romans, leaving readers with the question: "So, what are you going to do about it?"

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2 (New International Version)

"Your definition of success and accomplishment are not always the same as God's definition," he informed us. "Once you start playing that game (of conforming to the world's goals for success and accomplishment), society relentlessly pushes to you to achieve those goals, which are based on standards that are cruel, unrealistic and shifting."

In light of God's incredible love for us, creation of the world for our enjoyment and provision, and sacrifice to regain a relationship with us after man sinned in the Garden of Eden, the only rational, logical response is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God, allowing Him to transform us into "something unique in God's kingdom, beyond what you would imagine!"

To pursue idolatry (which is possession and control of the created world for our own purposes) as opposed to a relationship with the God who created everything in this world, is a form of insanity. It is utterly irrational and foolish.

I have heard that neurotics build castles in the sky and psychotics move into them! We laugh. But, the longer we live, the more we experience the downright cruel, empty promises of idolatry, that promise things they can never deliver, lure people into investing their whole lives in ventures that rob them of peace, joy and a clean conscience at the end of the day, and blame the investor for their foolishness in not researching the empty and deceptive claims of the promise before being lured in!

Humble, dedicated service to God is the only rational response to God's love. Anything else is insanity.

It reminds me of the Apostle John, the apostle of love. After writing many, many chapters on God's love for us and our privilege and duty of loving God and other people, he ended his book with the simple plea:
"Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21 (New International Version)

Do you want to live a successful life? A life that counts for something? Then give it to God and it will be successful! That was the closing challenge from Dr. J.

God will give you the freedom to discover your true purpose and identity. He will not require you to conform to the expectations of other people.  The only thing idolatry can offer you is slavery and conformity to the expectations of others.

Don't be conformed to this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind!

--Posted by Mama O.

Dallas Buyers Club

The captain of my book club, Amanda Whitten, posted these words on Facebook:

Amanda Whitten

March 2 near Fresno, CA

The Oscars were incredible (except the part where I got really upset about the Best Director award). This is the 6th year I have challenged myself to watch all the nominated films .. Even if they sound boring or weird. I cannot tell you how highly I recommend doing that. This year, I added all the short film categories and the full length documentaries. Next to travel, nothing expands your world view like the arts. So grateful for the films I was exposed to this year.

It sounded like a great idea to me, so I am taking the challenge.

This week, we have used our DirecTV "Oscar Nominated" category to watch "Nebraska", "Dallas Buyers Club" and "American Hustle". 

Amanda is right. I am seeing the world through a variety of "lenses".

There is a scene in "Dallas Buyers Club" where Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey) and his business partner, Rayon (Jared Leto), are grocery shopping. Both men have contracted a deadly disease and are in business together to provide medication and supplements to others suffering from the same illness. If these treatments are to be effective, the patients must do everything they can to keep their bodies healthy. They must avoid food additives and artificial ingredients which can affect the body's immune system.

In this particular scene, Rayon throws a package of lunch meat into the grocery cart. Ron Woodruff pulls it right back out and hands it to his business partner.

"It's protein," Rayon protests, "it's good for us!"

"It's processed!" Ron Woodruff responds, "Put it back!"

Made me think about Christians. We are all suffering from a deadly spiritual disease, called sin. Each of us is doomed to perish eternally without the proper medication and supplements (the blood of Christ). But, in order for those treatments to have the greatest effect they can right now, we need to avoid things that drag down our immune system. We must avoid things that lack God's love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and holiness. There are conversations that we must walk away from. There are attitudes we cannot endorse or embrace. These are things that may be seen as "good for us" by the world. But, a Christian needs to learn what are truly the best activities to engage in.

I'll just ask one diagnostic question here: Are our lives so busy with "good" activities that we have little or no time to develop a holy relationship with God: one in which we have time to reflect on God's Word and listen for God's specific communication in our personal lives?

"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." Ephesians 5:15-17 (New Living Translation)

--Posted by Mama O.

Good communication

I took a class this week on the use of social media in the marketplace. I found it very helpful on a number of levels. Our instructor sells advertising for a major television station locally. He has become an expert at "spreading the word". I was impressed with his advice: social media should be used in a friendly, "folksy" sort of way, not as an electronic form of junk mail.

He left us with a list of "Do's and Don'ts":

The Do's:

1. Do use transparency and candor.

2. Do be ethical.

3. Do provide relevant information--add to the dialogue and be interesting.

4. Do address negative and positive comments--dealing with a negative comments directly can have a positive impact and change opinions. And remember, happy customers can be your evangelists.

5. Do have a little fun--show your brand personality, and leave the "corporate speak" behind.

The Don'ts:

1. Don't jump in without listening

2. Don't be deceitful in your conduct.

3. Don't delete negative comments.

4. Don't be a spammer.

5. Don't let your accounts go stagnant.

6. Don't fill your followers' feed with advertising.

7. Don't tag them for no relative reason.

It seems to me that these are good rules for any of us who want to communicate the gospel message with our lives and our stories.

Although the #3 "Do" and #4 "Don't" may seem contradictory, they remind me of two Proverbs, which sit back to back:

""Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes."
Proverbs 26:4,5 (New American Standard Version)

In other words, don't use your precious, valuable communication time to engage in "spraying matches with skunks"! Don't waste your own words or the time of others in engaging in arguments with fools--people who never intend to learn and practice the truth, they just want to fight.

But, you can give an appropriate and civil response to criticism. You don't have to pretend that it doesn't exist, but you don't need to give it undue attention.

"Don't #1: Don't jump in without listening" matches another proverb:

"He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him."
Proverbs 18:13 (New American Standard Version)

One of the rules of good salesmanship is to listen to the needs of your customer, first, then tailor your sales pitch to the customer's needs.

We would undoubtedly find more receptive listeners to the gospel message if we employed these wise communication tactics in our daily lives!

--Posted by Mama O.

Communion and Oxygen Tanks

When I walked into Gracie Sanchez' apartment on Monday afternoon, I was surrounded by oxygen tanks. Because of her illness, she must be hooked up to oxygen almost all the time. Her circulatory system is not able to deliver the life-giving oxygen to all of her body without the extra help.

Because Gracie was unable to attend church on Sunday, I brought her communion. As she sat on her sofa, with the oxygen tubes inserted into her nostrils, we prayed together and she took the communion bread and cup, symbols of Jesus' body, broken for us, and of Jesus' blood, shed for us.

In a healthy body, the circulatory system works to pump blood to all parts of the body, which need the oxygen and nutrients that are carried in the blood. But, when a person gets sick, the circulatory system may not function as it should, and the body needs help.

Spiritually speaking, each of us is "sick" with the disease of sin. Our spiritual circulation is limited, at best, and is not able to function as it should, to deliver the life-giving breath of God to all the parts of our soul, spirit and personality that so desperately need it.

When I saw that oxygen tube in Gracie's nostrils, I thought of the story of creation, when "the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)

But man lost that spiritual life-connection to God when he sinned. (Genesis 2:17)

Somehow, that spirit life connection had to be restored if a holy God could ever dwell with sinful man again. So, the godhead (God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit) devised a plan, in which Jesus, the Son, would come to earth, live as a human being, die as a human, and be raised again to life by God, the Father. Then, He would send the Holy Spirit to live in human beings, restoring the spirit life connection to God.

The reminder of this life-giving act is what we call communion or Holy Eucharist. This is the time of the week (usually on Sunday) when we receive a symbol of Christ's body and blood into our own bodies, thus releasing the miraculous, life-giving power of God into our spirits.

I believe a miracle occurs each week when we receive communion. In my own life, I have been given the grace to forgive hurts, the wisdom to see things with greater maturity and acceptance, the guidance to solve difficult problems, the comfort to endure difficult situations and the joy of fellowship with other Christians.

Without taking communion on a regular basis, Christians become weak spiritually, like a heart patient who refuses to use the oxygen prescribed to her.

"For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, 'This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way, He took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep." (1 Corinthians 11:23-30 New American Standard Version)

Perhaps Paul, who wrote this passage, wasn't speaking only of physical weakness, sickness and death for those who took communion in the wrong way. Maybe he was also referring to spiritual weakness, sickness and sleep, that keeps a person from seeing life as God sees it, keeps a person from having faith and hope, from practicing forgiveness and mercy, from experiencing joy in the Lord, for being thankful in all circumstances.

It is a scary thought to miss out on life, even while you are alive!

--Posted by Mama O.

A New Smile

My sister in Christ, Evaleigh Medina, and her new smile!

I got a wonderful surprise phone call on Saturday morning.  My sister in Christ, Evaleigh Medina, was calling me from San Francisco, where she is living in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. Evaleigh began her most recent journey out of addiction at Rescue The Children, a Christian-based program here in Fresno, run by The Fresno Rescue Mission. But, sometimes other facilities have more to offer clients with multiple needs, and a San Francisco program was a better fit for Evaleigh. Since moving north, she has maintained relationships here in Fresno, and we are blessed to keep in touch. She called me, in particular, to tell me about her new smile, and to text me a picture of it. She had lost some of her teeth due to the damage done during years of substance abuse. Then, she developed breast cancer while she was in prison. The cancer treatments further damaged her bottom teeth, leaving her mouth pretty vacant. She was fitted with dentures in prison, but they always fit poorly. Due to the connections of a Fresno-area dental hygienist, Evaleigh was introduced to a Bay Area dentist who fitted her with a new smile, and this one fits her perfectly!

Sin and abuse of our bodies has consequences. But God is the Redeemer, and he can restore joy and beauty where there has been loss and destruction!

"How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
I acknowledged my sin to Thee,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord';
And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness will surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous ones,
And shout for joy all you who are upright in heart."
Psalm 32: 1,3,5,10,11 (New American Standard Version)

--Posted by Mama O.

The Emotionally Destructive Marriage

I sat in on a truly eye-opening webinar this week called "The Emotionally Destructive Marriage" based on the book by the same title. The book's author, Leslie Vernick, and Pastor Chris Moles, a certified batterer intervention group facilitator, shared "insights into recognizing behaviors that can lead married couples beyond the bounds of a nourishing relationship," according to the webinar's host, RBC Ministries.

This is very heavy material and these two experts handled it with the utmost respect, avoiding the "pat" answers and shallow observations that can create more problems for an abusive relationship.

I will share a few of those insights here:

"The Definition of an Emotionally Destructive Marriage: An emotionally destructive marriage is one where one's personhood, dignity, and freedom of choice is regularly denied, criticized, or crushed. This can be done through words, behaviors, economics, attitudes, and misusing the Scriptures."

"An abusive relationship is one in which one partner regularly feels: Dominated, Demeaned, Degraded, Deceived or Dismissed."

"Abuse leaves one partner without a voice in the relationship. In other words: 'Can that person express an opinion without paying a heavy emotional price?'"

There is a difference between an abusive relationship and one that is disappointing or difficult.

A disappointing relationship is one where the partner is not all that you expected or hoped them to be. Maybe they are not as ambitious as you'd hoped, or as neat as you'd hoped, or as romantic as you'd hoped. That's disappointing.

A difficult relationship is one which has serious stressors putting pressure on the relationship. Perhaps there is a really difficult in-law situation, or children with special needs, family members who have mental illness or addiction issues, or long-term unemployment. These make a relationship difficult.

It is not helpful or Christlike to keep abuse hidden, even for the sake of "keeping a family together". Scriptures instruct us to "not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them." (Ephesians 5:11). As long as an abuser's deeds remain hidden, he had no motivation or reason to change. Helping hide abusive behavior is a way of "participating in the abuser's dark deeds" or, in other words, being an enabler.

Love acts in the best interest of another person. It is never in another person's best interest to help hide serious sin in their life. That would be like denying cancer in the physical world. Denial won't make the cancer go away, but it might encourage the cancer patient to stay away from getting much-needed medical attention!

There was a great deal more excellent information, available at www.rbc.org/topics/abuse. These two will be presenting another webinar, titled "Shepherding the Emotionally Destructive Marriage" on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at 10 a.m. PST. The webinar is free. You can register at www.rbc.org.

--Posted by Mama O.

Are You Sleeping?

                                    "Frere Jacques" Also Known As "Are You Sleeping?"
                                     Click on song title to play song in "YouTube Video"

There is a proverb that reads: "A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse." (Proverbs 27:14 New Living Translation)

When I read this Proverb the other morning, it reminded me of Jim Gordon from Pasadena and his group of teenage backpackers at Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Yosemite National Park. Steve and I were newly married (circa 1981) and were sitting in our lawn chairs enjoying the High Sierra summer weather when a man jumped out of his church bus full of teenagers, thrust his hand toward us and demanded, "Who's the head of the family?"

Steve and I considered ourselves as equal partners in our relationship at that point, so we were dumbfounded by his request.

"We both are," Steve replied, clearly frustrating this religious man's plans for us.

"Then who is the driver of the car?" he further demanded.

Being wise beyond his 21 years, Steve quickly discerned that he was not going to get rid of "Religious Man" until he gave him an answer he was looking for.

"I am," Steve volunteered, at which time the man thrust his right hand toward Steve, introducing himself as, "Jim Gordon, Pasadena!" With the niceties out of the way, he quickly informed us that our tent was crossing over the line and into the space he hoped to occupy with his church youth backpacking group. Upon walking the perimeter of the campsites, Steve declared that we were indeed on our side of the line.

With that matter settled, Jim Gordon parked his youth bus with its exhaust pipe facing into our tent window and began to set up camp for the night with his young charges.

At about 6 o'clock the following morning, the group arose and began to ready themselves for their backpacking adventure. The "Von Trapp Family Singers" could not have carried musically any louder into our tent than those youth did, as they packed their gear and literally (I am not kidding) SANG every word they were saying to the tune of "Frere Jacques" or "Are You Sleeping?" So at 6 a.m., we were hearing "Yosemite, Yosemite, Good For Camping, Good For Camping..." to that tune.

Steve and I were as long-suffering as you could expect a couple of 21-year-old newlyweds to be, but, finally, as the Grinch says, the "noise, noise, noise, noise" got to us. At about 6:30 a.m., I called out the tent window, "Can you keep it down out there? People are trying to sleep!"

At this point, again, I am not kidding, the entire youth group broke into "We Are Sorry, We Are Sorry, You're Trying To Sleep, You're Trying To Sleep..." to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?"  Shortly thereafter, Jim Gordon began to pump exhaust fumes from his youth bus' tailpipe into our tent.

And that's how Proverbs 27:14 proved true in our lives: "A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse."

The group returned a couple of days early from their backpacking trip. Rumor had it the bears had gotten all their food. We weren't sorry.

We were not evangelical Christians at the time and our encounter with "Jim Gordon, Pasadena" left us with a pretty bad taste in our mouths. I'm just sayin'...if you want to share the gospel in a campground, try observing the "Quiet Hours"!

--Posted by Mama O.