The Embrace of Grace / Caleb's Testimony

My family and I recently received a book entitled The Embrace of Grace, written by Caleb Thompson from his prison cell--the cell where he experienced the embrace of God's grace. I'm not sure how many of you have heard about Joshua and Caleb Thompson, who were put in prison for disciplining a child (with parental permission) in 2003. I never knew prisons, such as the ones they have been sentenced to serve in, even existed. The living conditions are unbelievable!!! These guys are in with murderers and rapists, etc., etc.--the worst of the worst! To show how unjust this is, Joshua's sentence is only a few years shorter than that of a man who killed two people!!! Insane!!!

Every Christian should read Caleb's book, The Embrace of Grace. I'm at a loss of how to describe this book. It is profound in its simplicity. It goes against every fragment of the flesh and all logical human reasoning!!! I'll be honest with you. I have to make myself read the book. I have to force my mind to concentrate on these supernatural truths of grace that the human mind can hardly grasp. I'm reminded of Isaiah 55:9, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." This concept of grace falls under that category, to be sure! God's grace, and the ways in which it leads us, exceed human understanding. It takes a spiritual comprehension from God alone to absorb the endless depths of God's grace, as seen in this book. And that's the best way I can describe it.... I haven't finished reading The Embrace of Grace yet, but I know this: It will change your life!!! It's changing mine.

Joshua and Caleb's father, Hank Thompson, who was a pastor, recently went to be with the Lord. I just sat down a little while ago and read the testimony of Caleb and his last moments over the phone with his dad. I bawled through the whole thing. It really makes you think…...

Click Here: Remember My Bonds

"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them;

and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."

~ Hebrews 13:3

Please remember to pray for Josh and Caleb!

If you were behind bars, wouldn't you want people praying for you???

Housecleaning and Hard Truths

Over the last couple days I’ve been doing a lot of cleaning in my room and in the rest of the house. I wanted to start this new year, 2009, with a clean house. Now I have things in the house all cleaned and organized, but is that good enough?

I wrestled before the Lord this morning during my personal devotions…praying about various things. And God showed me a few things in my own life that could use some attention. Now that my house is clean of dust and clutter, some items that my family and I own could also use to be “cleaned up,” as in they need to be introduced to the garbage. Like I’ve written in previous posts, I can’t say it’s anything out rightly wicked. That’s not how the devil works. He slyly sneaks things that seem “okay” into our lives, under the guise of being “Christian.” But are they really? As I’m searching my own life, God is showing me that things I thought were “okay” aren’t “okay” with Him.

I feel an inner battle raging inside me. And I tremble with these thoughts. I think Judgment Day is going to be a rude awakening for many of us “holy” Christians…those of us who presently think we were in good standing with God. I quiver to think of the things I thought were okay and would be approved by God, and now He is showing me otherwise. And who knows how many other things He will bring to light as I ask Him to show me!

This morning we got together as a family and disposed of a few things that we didn’t feel were pleasing to God. Our good “Glad” CD’s. You know, I have to admit that I like the hymns CD. If you just heard the music you’d think it’s fine. Then one day I looked inside the cover and saw a picture of men in black, sloppy clothing, with longish hair, standing in what looked like a construction site at night. The whole thing radiated “WORLD.” That was a real shocker, considering I was picturing godly-looking men in sharp suits, clean-shaven, with trimmed hair. After that, the music never sounded quite the same to me. Then I remember one day a few years ago when I was telling a friend of mine about this group of men who sang acapella. I turned the CD on for him to listen to, and suddenly I heard that music with different ears. I felt embarrassed. Something inside me (perhaps…just perhaps the Spirit of God?) said that there was a problem. There were no drums. There was nothing that could be specifically pointed out as being wrong, but there was something that just wasn’t right. I shrugged it off as nothing, ignoring what God was trying to communicate to me. Now I’m realizing that when I have that feeling that something isn’t RIGHT, then it’s probably WRONG! There can’t be middle ground. It’s either one or the other. Well, on Saturday we were listening to the “Glad” CD, which we do on occasion. Once again, there was a song that just wasn’t right. No drums. No electric guitar. It just wasn’t right. The tone of voice. The emphasis of the singer, not on the words he sang, but the way in which he sang them. It was fleshly! And let me tell you!!! This old flesh needs NO ENCOURAGEMENT WHATSOEVER!!! We turned the CD off. And this morning after a short discussion, it was a unanimous decision that the CD would go. Like much Christian music today, the “Glad” project started out great. The hymns were beautiful. But as they became famous, the music changed. It was no longer meant to please God, but to please man. A vain show. That was the goal. Seeing as this singing group has changed their music/style, there must have been a spiritual instability from the start…from the very first CD that was made…even though there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it. If music is not consistently good as each CD is released, then there is an underlying problem, a SPIRIT problem, that was existent from the very beginning. We’ve adopted a new principle in our house: If it isn’t good from start to finish (from album #1 to album #10) then don’t listen to it at all! Better to be safe than sorry!

Several years ago we listened to “Sound Doctrine” very regularly. Other CD’s would be played, but we always had “Sound Doctrine” cassettes ready to be popped in the tape player. For years we listened to their music and loved it. It really “pumped us up.” Then we rediscovered a few Marshall tapes we had, and those replaced “Sound Doctrine.” For months and then years we listened to the John Marshall family. Then we found a dusty “Sound Doctrine” CD one day and somebody played it. Suddenly, after “Marshallizing” ourselves for quite a while, we heard “Sound Doctrine” with different ears. Something wasn’t right. There wasn’t that same spirit of prayer and holiness that we sensed in the Marshalls’ music. Suddenly it bothered me that the song “Nothing But the Blood” was being played so fast (and with such irregular rhythm) that the words barely registered. We’re talking about THE BLOOD! The precious blood of Jesus Christ that washed away our filthy, vile sins. As the Spirit of God inside me was strengthened with Marshall’s music, “Sound Doctrine” lost its fleshly appeal. We haven’t touched the “Sound Doctrine” CD’s since we came to that realization. And now it has become apparent that “Sound Doctrine” isn’t as doctrinally sound as everyone thought. This morning all the “Sound Doctrine” CD’s and cassettes were disposed of, because we don’t feel that God is getting glory when we listen to that music, and since we aren’t going to listen to it, there’s no point in having it around to cause us to stumble in a moment of weakness. Did I like it? No. There are two songs in particular that I really loved--“What Love!” and the wedding song (“Her Mother and I”?). Sometimes…no, most of the time doing what is right isn’t easy, but it’s better to do right the hard way than to do wrong the easy way. See what this man of God has to say about it (here).

There were several other CD’s and also DVD’s that we removed from this house today. Why? Because we don’t want to grieve God!!! When He shows us light, we need to act upon that light…with haste!!! Last year, around this time, I received a book from a friend, which I was told was very good. I read that book, and Hannah liked it, but the Spirit of God IN Hannah did NOT like it. The book appealed to my flesh. The book was sensual and carnal, and put ideas in my mind that should never have been placed there. As if that wasn’t bad enough, God was a last resort for those in that book. God was a crutch. You heard His name when the problems came, but never at any other time. I read the book out of obligation because it was from a friend, but the whole time I was asking myself why I was reading it. I knew I wasn’t right with God and He did not approve. After I finished the book, my heart smote me. The Spirit of God inside me was grieved, and my flesh was well-fed and feeling healthy. Let me tell you something, this wicked flesh of mine is stubborn enough and willing to do great damage, let alone when I make “provision for the flesh” by reading/listening to things that encourage it!!! I repeat. This old flesh needs NO ENCOURAGEMENT WHATSOEVER!!! I have enough ideas in my mind that need to be suppressed, without reading something that helps my imagination form clearer images of things I have no business thinking on!!! GOD, HELP ME! I let that book sit on my bookshelf for a few months. Then the Lord impressed it on my heart to throw the book in the garbage. I had no intention of rereading it or lending it out to anybody. Then I began thinking that since that was the case, why keep it? I pondered this thought: If I was raptured today and left all my belongings behind, would I want somebody to find that book on my bookshelves and know I had read it? NO! I would be ashamed. So, I took the book and tossed it in the trash, and I can tell you that any other “romance” I receive from the author Dee Henderson will join it. I cannot afford to encourage my flesh, therefore estranging myself from God. I cannot afford to let ANYTHING interrupt that tender stream of communication between us. It’s only too easy for that to happen! God, forgive me! God, forgive me!!!

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17

As if you can’t tell, this has been a pretty intense day for me. This is quite an intense post. As I said earlier, I feel an inner battle raging inside me. Most assuredly, Judgment Day is going to be a rude awakening for many of us. I tremble and quake with these thoughts. The things that most Christians think are “Christian” could very well be a perfect trap set to ensnare us. Is what we consider “Christian” REALLY Christian? Would the Lord Jesus Christ approve? I fear that many of us are so accustomed to grieving God’s Spirit by listening/reading things that in truth are anti-GODliness and pro-flesh, that we have lost our sense of discernment. So much “Christian” music today starts out softly, working on our emotions, drawing us into the song. We become moved and weep, thinking it’s the work of the Spirit of God. And then a little further into the song the drums start up and the tone of the singer changes, singing in your personal space. We get so caught up in the emotion of it all, that our discernment of the spirit behind it is numbed; our flesh is so busy feasting that we fail to hear the Spirit trying to awaken us to reality. When we listen to “Christian” music, often what we think of as spiritual emotion for God is, in fact, fleshly emotion responding to fleshly “Christian” music. Our wicked flesh cloaks itself as “God’s Spirit.” This is the greatest danger of most music today. As we continue listening to this music, the Spirit of God becomes weaker and soon we cannot differentiate between the two spirits--the spirit of the flesh or the Spirit of the Lord. The flesh overpowers the Spirit, stifling His ability to scream out a warning. Soon we become altogether immune and can’t discern what is right music and what is wrong music. And Satan has tricked us into believing we are worshipping God when in truth we are feeding our human nature. The flesh has scored another point, but we honestly believe that God has been glorified…because the words are good. Good words don’t justify a song. Good words don’t justify a song!!! GOOD WORDS DON’T JUSTIFY A SONG! Satan has us so deceived. And we can’t even see it. We are blinded, because our flesh, in the form of “God’s Spirit,” has taken control.

How can we escape the strong grasp of the flesh? Once we have lost our ability to discern the spirit of the music, how can we reprogram our minds to know what is right and what is wrong? I want to propose something. Without even meaning to, this is how we came to recognize godly Christian music from “Christian” music that is flesh-feeding. We listened to the John Marshall family for over a month, and the Spirit of God inside us became so strong that we lost the desire for music that was less than holy and worshipful. I can pray to ANY song the Marshalls song. It never fails to amaze me that when I am in the middle of doing house work, and I hear the Marshalls singing, I have to fall to the floor and pray. The Spirit of God fills my being, and the kitchen linoleum becomes holy ground. I’m telling you…there is something about that music!!! God is IN it!

I remember a time when my daddy was out fixing the CD player in our van. A young man, our neighbor boy, was also helping Dad out. The two of them got along well. I remember Dad asked Lydia to grab a CD from inside so he could try the CD player out. Lydia came back with their album “Peace.” The first song on the CD is “I Could Not Do Without Thee.” Before the first verse was finished, Sjaak was so deeply under conviction that he was practically tripping over his words, grasping for any reason to escape. GOD is IN the Marshalls’ music!!! I would encourage everybody to saturate their hearts and minds with Marshalls’ music for at least one month, and then listen to the music you usually do. I can guarantee you, you will have the discernment to know what music is God-honoring and what music appeals to the flesh. I use it as a standard by which I judge all other music.

I know this post is heavy. I had a hard time writing it. I stand in judgment of NO ONE. Am I bragging about how spiritual I am? NO way! I’m admitting what a loser Christian I am. God has been knocking for a long time, now that I look back. But, like everything else, it takes hard blows to get my attention. I just want to share with you what God has done in me today. This morning I prayed with tears on my cheeks, “Lord, show me the things that need to change!!!” I trust He will continue to do so. And as I remove the things that stand between me and my Savior, His glorious presence will grow more intense as I enter the realm of His holiness, and our sweet moments of fellowship will become precious indeed!

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If Jesus Came

by Lois Blanchard Eades

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest,
And all the food you'd serve Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there--
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But--when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door?
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out,
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder---if the Saviour spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep its usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read?
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

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This is a thought-provoking poem, isn’t it? I wonder what the Lord would say if He saw the books sitting on our shelves or noticed the book on our nightstand. Would we blush with shame if He heard our music and saw the CD albums we treasure most? The thing is, God DOES see. And He does hear. But we forget. Oh, if only we would keep in mind that Jesus lives inside, and He is the beholder of all we do and say and listen to and read!!! We might come to the realization that something in our lives and homes needs to go. Housecleaning never hurt anybody. In fact, you might feel relief, and God might speak to you as never before, now that no clutter is standing between you and Him. What do you think? Is a little housecleaning in order….? =)
I know it was for me. And I know it’s not finished…not by long shot! Lord, grow me!!! Help me to have a clean house that brings honor and not shame to Your name!

Excuse me while I blab...

The weather has been funny lately. On Thursday evening at street preaching it was so chilly that I wore my pink sport jacket with my purple corduroy jacket over top and then my cowboy boots. But, yesterday was nice and warm. I don’t think the weather can make up its mind. It’s almost been feeling like fall.

The kids are back in school now, but our next-door neighbor, who we really do like a lot and get along with well, have been gone on vacation for two weeks. Boy, it sure is nice to have quietness.

It seems like it’s been a long time since I wrote a journal post, and a lot has been happening lately. God has been doing some good things in our church. The upcoming months are going to be busting with activity. In September (I can’t believe it’s just around the corner!) we’re going to be having a baptismal service (Sept. 14th) and the very next Sunday we’re having Friend Day and a meal after the special service. It looks as though some people who used to come to our church a looooooooong time ago are going to be coming back. I’m trying not to get my hopes too high, because I’ve been disappointed before when people have said they would do something and then haven’t, but it is an exciting thought. God is working!

Anyway, then in October we’re going to be having company (I can’t wait!!!). That also means we’ll be having a special speaker at church. I love having special speakers in. It happens so rarely. Then in November it’s starting into the birthday/holiday season already. This year has flown by!!!

We had a really fun family night last night. Mom and I made a yummy Taco dinner, which tasted extra good to me. After the guys cleaned up dinner (Friday night is “guy night,” when the males in our family get to do the kitchen cleanup, and needless to say that makes us girls very happy) we got together and tried to come to a conclusion as to how we should spend our family night. Several suggestions were made, and finally we decided to take a long walk. We walked several miles. That felt good, and when we got home we all felt good and tired and Dad certainly couldn’t say that we didn’t get our exercise for the day. (chuckle) Lydia got some cute pictures which I’m going to steal from her and add to my own few pictures of the evening.

Josiah gave me a ride on the back of his Koga; I should feel very privileged. (chuckle)

After we got home Dad and Josiah began hauling old wood out from behind our shed, which, if you don’t know, is a good place for a mouse to make a home. The only mouse my parents can put up with is me, so we decided to de-house any mouse who’d made its home behind the shed. Josiah, my pyromaniac brother, had a blast feeding the fire, and “poking” it, which he informed Dad is the best part of having a fire. (chuckle)

While the guys got the fire started, Lydia and I discussed a project I had in mind. Most of my sunflowers were dead and looked quite sad, so Lydia and I decided to rip the dead ones out and try to replant. I’m not too sure we’ll be able to have more sunflowers before it gets cold out, but it’s worth a try. We cut down the old dead sunflowers and, with much difficulty, tried to pull the stumps out of the ground. When I planted the sunflowers this summer I dropped the seeds in handfuls, so they would grow in clusters. The roots of about 12 sunflowers grew together, all entwined in each other. Several years ago I planted sunflowers individually and it was amazing how much easier it was for them to get knocked down and pulled out of the ground when they were standing alone. This year, however, when they grow close together there was a strength that made them almost indestructible. There is strength in numbers. Lydia and I briefly discussed the spiritual aspect of it all. When a Christian is planted off by himself the devil can come and easily destroy it without much trouble, but when Christians are growing up together in church, there is a strength that makes them almost indestructible as a whole. That reminded me of a verse in Hebrews that goes something like this: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Dad has often talked about the protective umbrella of the church; God takes care of those who abide in His dwelling place. And that reminds me of another verse in Ecclesiastes: “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” A Christian who leaves the spiritually-protective umbrella or the “hedge” of the church is just plain foolish!

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes...the sunflowers. We got my little garden looking all neat again. I was pleased, but when Mom came to the back door and saw that most of the sunflowers were gone, she made a sad noise…sort of like a sigh mixed with a moan. Suddenly I felt a very sick kind of sadness inside. If I had realized that cutting down my almost-dead sunflowers would make Mom sad I wouldn’t have done it. A little later, as I quietly sat watching the fire flickering in the darkness, I had the thought that if there is one thing I wish it’s that I’ll never disappoint anybody I love. I know that’s almost impossible. After all, I can’t be perfect all the time, but I hope I never make a foolish decision in life that would cause somebody I love a whole lot to be very sad because of what I did…or didn’t do. It’s a very terrible thing to break somebody’s trust.

As the evening grew darker and the fire glowed brighter, Mom brought a big bowl of popcorn outside to where we sat on the patio, and we drank hot chocolate. Dad read our Sugar Creek Gang book, The Tree House Mystery, to us. The Sugar Creek Gang books rank among my favorite books. They are a perfect blend of exciting mystery and deep spiritual values for everyday living. As you read them you’ll learn more about God’s marvelous creation and get a deeper appreciation for life and how wonderful it is to just be alive!!! Throughout the book you won’t miss the subtle lessons about living a clean, honorable, and godly life that pleases God. It’s the story of six Christian boys and their adventures and spiritual victories, written in a fun, warm, and homey style that will leave you feeling convicted and moved to love the Lord Jesus more and more. (Boy, this sounds something like an advertisement, doesn’t it?)




Anyway…As we were reading on the patio, with our nice little campfire going in the yard nearby, Dad’s reading suddenly got interrupted by the sound of a window slamming. Whenever we dare to have a campfire our neighbors get annoyed. It doesn’t bother me, because every Saturday night for the past several weeks we’ve had to endure their parties, which means we get to “enjoy” their rock-and-roll “music,” if you can call it that. I think they can put up with a little wood smoke. It’s sort of ironic that they like the sounds of Hell, but they don’t like the smell…and wood smoke smells gooooooood compared to what it’s going to smell like down there.

Josiah let the fire burn down, since it was getting late. He had a lot of fun blowing and poking and spraying any burning wood that fell out of the fire with his water gun. He doesn’t have any brothers to pester, so I guess spraying burning wood is the next best thing. (chuckle)



We all went into the house and watched a movie Dad borrowed from Mr. Kamps called “Epicenter,” about Ezekiel 38 and 39 when Russia and other eastern countries sweep down on Israel to destroy it and God intervenes and sends fire and hail and brimstone and supernaturally slaughters all of Israel’s enemies. Dad preached about this back in February, I think. You can hear the messages on our website; they were preached in English. Anyway, Dad is reading the book right now and said it’s really interesting, so I might read it. It’s so neat to see Biblical prophesy being played out before our very eyes! If you’ve been keeping up with the news about Russia and the eastern countries, then you know what I mean. Christ’s coming is just around the corner. That is one exciting thought!!! =)

Okay, this post is too long already, so I’m going to go now. God bless!

Dear Princess

Several weeks ago I finished up a great girls’ devotional, Dear Princess, written by a Mennonite woman. It really is an excellent book to help girls develop a beautiful, godly character. I’ve gleaned so much from this book, as I have read it for part of my devotions every morning and have tried to apply it to my life. I would certainly recommend it for young ladies!

I would like to point out a few things, however, that could become a problem. Being a Mennonite, Mary M. Landis believes in head-coverings. Some Christians have discovered this erroneous “doctrine” and put it into practice in their own lives. I wasn’t going to write about this, but since the subject has recently come up in our church, I thought I’d go ahead anyway. It seems to me that Christians love to quibble about things that really don’t matter. I’d like to talk about some things I’ve taken note of.

First off, some people say head-coverings are Biblical. Okay, Bible women are often portrayed in pictures with long mantle-like cloths over their heads. This was required according to Jewish Law. Note that this was Jewish Law--not Biblical Law; there is a very clear difference between the two, and they should not be confused (Titus 1:14). These Jewish mantles totally covered the head so that only the face was visible. Folks who believe in head-covering usually cover their heads with a little piece of cloth, really only covering their hair, which God says is the woman’s “glory” (1 Corinthians 11:15). If we are going to do this right (according to Jewish Law), then we really should be wearing more than a little head cloth. What is considered a typical head-covering today is neither Biblical, nor is it correct according to Jewish Law.

For some reason, Christians believe a head-covering is only needed in church. This is another thing I don’t understand. Head-coverings are supposedly supposed to show the woman’s submission to her husband and God. Is the woman only commanded to be in submission to her authority during the span of a church service? What about the rest of the week? If the head-covering is a true indicator of the woman’s submission, then a Christian woman ought NEVER, EVER to take it off! That means she must wear it even while washing her hair and when sleeping! Why would God have commanded a woman to wear something symbolizing something so very essential when she would have to remove it for daily living?

To be honest with you, I’m really not sure where Christians pull the head-covering idea out of the Bible. At times you would think Christians simply enjoy being contentious. Paul could not have been more clear in 1 Corinthians 11:15 if he had spelled out the words “NO head-covering needed.” “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” How can it be any more plain?

While some Christians make a big deal about head-coverings, other things truly important to the Christian life are sadly neglected. While some folks insist on straining over a gnat, the elephant-sized issues are totally ignored--things like daily quiet time (both personal devotions and family devotions), faithful church attendance, the wise spending of God’s money, tithing, soul-winning, getting our children saved, disciplining them…the list goes on and on. Let’s not major on the minor and minor on the major. I personally think people focus on the insignificant things, like head-coverings, so they can side step these things--that which really matters to God. If we are going to be holy, let’s really do it, and not just pretend. That’s what the Pharisees did, and Jesus sharply rebuked them for it.

People believe head-coverings symbolize submission. Let’s ask ourselves a few questions: Are we truly in submission to God? Do we really understand what submission is? Do our children understand what submission is? A child can’t understand a head-covering; after all, it’s just a piece of cloth. What a child does understand is how her mom responds to dad’s “commands” or requests. She understands the spirit of submission when mother happily complies without shouting and a big fuss. Mothers would be wise to invest the time it takes to put a head-covering on into making sure their little girls really understand what submission is by seeing it in action. Daddy is submissive to God. Mommy is submissive to daddy. Little girls are supposed to be submissive to mommy and daddy as they are submissive to God. Any woman can put a head-covering on, but not every woman wisely takes the time to teach her little girl to be submissive to her daddy so she will one day be submissive to her husband. Let’s major on that which is major!

Several years ago my family and I were visiting a church in the States during furlough, trying to raise more support. To our great discomfort, the church also had a country gospel group in. We were seated in the front row, right in front of these folks as they sang words (I’m sure they were good words, although I couldn’t hear them above the din of the “good, Christian” music accompanying them) to the wretched beat of the world’s music. To be frank, it was disgusting. After each song, the congregation clapped wildly. (I thought a special was sung for God’s glory--not for the glory of those “performing”? I’ll spare you the music spiel.) The one girl singing in the group was wearing a nice dress; I would have found it impossible to believe her music could be so…so godless. What I found almost humorous about this whole picture was that the girl wore a head-covering. Was the music she sang and her performance “on stage” showing her submission to God? No, on the contrary, for the music was anti-God, though the words were an attempt to please Him. This is a perfect example of how a woman can wear a head-covering and not be right with God according to His standards.

Another thing I want to point out about Dear Princess is that the Mennonites believe that any lace or ribbons (adornment) on a dress or even curling one’s hair is sinful. They get this from 1 Peter 3:3--“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel…” The next verse continues, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Paul is stressing the importance of the attitude, not the appearance. He isn’t saying we should not look nice (use jewelry, wear clothing with lace and ribbons, braid our hair, etc.). While many Christians could use some help in the modesty department, the Mennonites believe in simple dress. I do respect this, though this verse should not be taken out of context. If we took 1 Peter 3:3 literally we wouldn’t be able to wear clothing, because Paul writes, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning…of putting on of apparel.” Obviously we are supposed to be clothed! In regard to jewelry, etc., Philippians 4:5 is recommended--“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” As Christ’s representatives, we are obligated to look clean and be well-dressed. Our clothing should be modest in every way. Make-up and jewelry are great--in moderation. We need to keep this before us.

Well, that’s all I have to say. Dear Princess is a wonderful book. Despite these issues, which are only brought up in one chapter (I believe), this devotional has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. Thank you, Mrs. Landis! =)

The Trail of Blood

I’m going through a discipleship course right now, and I had to read a little booklet called The Trail of Blood, by J. M. Carroll, to complete one of the studies. The Trail of Blood is a compact booklet tracing Baptists throughout history from the days of Jesus Christ until today. What an awesome book! Every Baptist should own it! I learned so much and was especially made aware of how off Catholicism is. Wow! When one departs from God’s Word things sure get messy!

The Baptists have held fast to God’s Word throughout the ages. They defied the Catholic beliefs and practices of infant baptism, infant communion, transubstantiation, the union of church and state, image worship, saint worship, Mariolatry (worship of Mary, Jesus’ mother), the selling of indulgences, Purgatory, etc., etc., etc. Because Baptists made the Bible their sole authority for living, they were brutally persecuted.

An excerpt from the book:
Page 3 -- Froude, the English historian, says of these Ana-Baptist [another name for the Baptists] martyrs--
“The details are all gone, their names are gone. Scarcely the facts seem worth mentioning. For them no Europe was agitated, no court was ordered in mourning, no papal hearts trembled with indignation. At their death the world looked on complacent, indifferent or exulting. Yet here, out of 25 poor men and women were found 14, who, by no terror of stake or torture, could be tempted to say they believed what they did not believe. History has for them no word of praise, yet they, too, were not giving their blood in vain. Their lives might have been as useless as the lives of most of us. In their death they assisted to pay the purchase of English freedom.”

Some fifty millions of Baptists were mercilessly slaughtered at the hands of the Catholics, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, yet, as their persecutors fell on them with still crueler methods of torture and death, the Baptist faith grew and spread like wildfire until it could not be stopped. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Praise God! I have never been so proud to be a Baptist as I am at this moment.

Another excerpt:
Page 46:16 -- “As many as 30 preachers at different times were put in jail with the only charge against them -- “for preaching the Gospel of the Son of God.” James Ireland is a case in point. He was imprisoned. After imprisonment, his enemies tried to blow him up with gunpowder. That having failed, they next tried to smother him to death by burning sulphur under his windows at the jail. Failing this also, they tried to arrange with a doctor to poison him. All this failed. He [Ireland] continued to preach to his people from the windows. A wall was then built around his jail so the people could not see in nor he see out, but even that difficulty was overcome. The people gathered, a handkerchief was tied to a long stick, and that stuck up above the wall so Ireland could see when they were ready. The preaching continued.”

It’s a shame Baptists aren’t that determined to hear the preaching of the Word of God today. At times you would think going to church is like getting teeth pulled. Sad to say, the persecution of the Baptists kept them spiritually alive and fighting. Satan realized that attempting to exterminate them would not rid the world of their beliefs. Now he lets us alone, realizing that our own laziness will destroy us. All he has to do is watch while we fall asleep and become spiritually dead.

I wish Christians would get on fire for the Lord. Baptists need to know their amazing heritage. God said in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” There is no way that we can stay spiritually nonchalant once we start searching the Scriptures and begin reading about the agony our predecessors suffered. Our Baptist forefathers left a trail of blood that we might hold God’s precious Word in our hands today and enjoy the religious freedom we now take for granted. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of the great cloud of witnesses, the ones who have gone on before us, who encompass and watch us as we run the race. Have they found us to be faithful? Will God say, “Well done, though good and faithful servant” to us as He has to them? I hope and pray we will be found worthy.

FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES

1. A spiritual Church, Christ its founder, its only head and law giver.
2. Its ordinances, only two, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They are typical and memorial, not saving.
3. Its officers, only two, bishops or pastors and deacons; they are servants of the church.
4. Its Government, a pure Democracy, and that executive only, never legislative.
5. Its laws and doctrines: The Bible and that only.
6. Its members. Believers only, they are saved by grace, not works, through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
7. Its requirements. Believers on entering the church to be baptized, that by immersion, then obedience and loyalty to all Biblical laws.
8. The various churches--separate and independent in their execution of laws and discipline and in their responsibilities to God--but cooperative in work.
9. Complete separation of Church and State.
10. Absolute Religious Liberty for all.
    

My Books, My Friends

My Books, My Friends
Growing up in on the mission field of Holland, with no cousins or close friends at church, I was used to loneliness and aloneness. I would sometimes play with some of the little neighborhood girls, but to them I was what I call a “back burner friend.” If their first-choice friends weren’t available to play with, then they would settle for Lydia and me; otherwise, we weren’t really usefully to them. I learned at a young age to make books my best friends. They were always there, always reliable, always ready to share their intriguing contents with me.

The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you the knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination. ~ Elizabeth Hardwick

The Wonderful World of Books
Oh, what wonder lies in the world of books! A person who finds no pleasure in reading has been robbed of such great joys! A book is a time machine in itself. It can whoosh you away to ancient lands or send you speeding ahead to behold the events of the future. In a book you can be anyone you want to be ~from a princess to a pauper, a Southern belle to a slave. Your horizons are limitless. In a mystery book you are the clever detective solving confusion and crime; reading a biography you experience the joys and sorrows of an individual’s life as though they are your very own. In a book based on history, you can grasp in a small way what life was like during a particular period of time. Theology books draw you into the spiritual world and give you a better understanding of God and His divine nature. War books explain all the details surrounding past wars, how they began and what transpired during and after them. Recipe books open up the world of taste and explain the proper way to prepare delicious dishes. The smooth flow of poetry sooths the word-thirsty soul, while rhyming children’s books send napping little ones off on their dreamy flight. This is just the beginning of all the wonderful books this world contains.

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~ C. S. Lewis

The Power of Imagination
Certainly, books are a world of their own. That’s the wonder of them; they release you from the present and allow you to create your own world. Unlike a TV that shows images as they are, a book allows you to use your imagination and picture things the way you see them in your own mind. Nobody can peek into your brain and tell you how it is supposed to be; it is your right as the reader to allow your imagination a chance to soar, creating wonderful pictures in your mind that nobody else can copy or criticize.

My dad reads to us before bedtime. One day our family described how we each pictured the position of the house, barn, fields, and road which were depicted in our book. We each gave a different account of where our imaginations had placed all of the objects mentioned. We were all reading the same book, our ears heard the same words, yet our minds all created settings that varied greatly from the other’s. I thought that was very interesting.

I have re-read books that I read years earlier, and what I find amazing is that my mind always pictures the characters and position of house, etc., the same as when I first read the book.

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier. ~ Kathleen Norris

My Books, My Escape
As a girl, my afternoons, after having completed my school work, were spent pouring over books. They traveled with me in the car, train, bus, and plane. Truly, if books could talk, mine would be sure to have some interesting stories to tell. My free time was spent with my nose buried in a book, always hungry for more words. I devoured new books so fast that Dad would have to limit how much I could read each day.

Books are a good way to escape life, the unpleasant circumstances that we sometimes find ourselves in. As I mentioned before, books are a world of their own, and that is the wonder of them, for they release you from the present and allow you to create your own world. Now, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but as the Bible says, we need to do everything in moderation (Philippians 4:5). Sometimes I do enjoy reading, if for nothing else, to get my mind off of disturbing situations in church, etc. It’s refreshing to step into another world for a short time, but I’m always happy to step back into my own world. Problems must be faced; we can’t use books to hide from the realities around us…unfortunately.

I remember a time when Dad forbade me to read, because he was concerned that my constant reading was my way of blocking out reality. I was lonely, and I didn’t always enjoy living in Holland. My parents thought I might be creating my own world of fantasy and, therefore, thought it best for me to set my books aside for a time. Well, that wasn’t the case; I simply enjoyed reading. At the time I didn’t particularly cherish the idea of saying farewell to my friends. Now I appreciate their foresight; I understand that they were looking out for me.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~ Charles W. Eliot

My Books, My Teachers
Not only are books a great way of learning about countries, peoples, wars, history, etc., but they are also a wonderful way of learning the basics of English grammar and punctuation. I have to admit that English has never been my strong point. If it weren’t for all the reading I’ve done over the years, my writing would probably be atrocious.

I recently discovered that I was making some punctuation errors due to the large amounts of reading I’ve been doing lately. I continually noticed that all quotation marks were placed outside the commas and periods in my book. It puzzled me, so I checked into it and found that I had been using my quotation marks incorrectly. Oops! :)

Grammar Book
More on Grammar

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. ~ P.J. O'Rourke

Judging a Good Book
I once received a book and was told that is was really good and had minimal touching in it, etc. Well, it sounded good to me. 1 Corinthians 7:1 tells us that it is good for a man not to touch a woman (that works the other way around too). I haven’t found one love story that did not have pre-marital touching in it (I wish Christian authors would discover 1 Corinthians 7:1 in their Bibles). Janette Oke is my favorite “romance” author, because, though she does have some touching in her books, it’s not written in a slimy, super detailed way, and she does not use inappropriate phrases like some other authors I have come across. Morality and respect are extolled in her books. Her men are portrayed as honorable gentlemen, and her women are described as virtuous ladies.

As I was saying, I received a book from someone and happily began reading it, thinking I had finally found an author who did not believe in touching during courtship. I finished the book, feeling obligated to read it since it was a gift, but I decided I would never read it again. I did not appreciate the thought patterns of the suitor about how his girlfriend would look in shorts. First of all, that is lust (Matthew 5:28), and secondly, a woman should never wear shorts (Deuteronomy 22:5). There were some phrases that were uncalled for. The only time God was mentioned in the book was when some catastrophe occurred and they suddenly needed divine intervention. God is not to be “used and abused” in this way. A friend who talks with a friend only in a time of need isn’t a very good friend. If the author can only find time to mention God during the stormy times of life, then she can’t walk very closely with Him. The Lord is a Friend to be called upon and spoken with on a daily basis.

After a time, I began wondering why I even had the book on my book shelves since I never planned to read it and would never lend it out to anybody. Then I began thinking, if I were raptured today, would I want someone to find this book on my bookshelves? They would see my Bible and my other Christian books. They would know that I am a Christian. Would I want them to know I read that book? I decided that it would not do to have someone find that book alongside my Bible. I would be embarrassed, so I threw it out. It was then that my conscience stopped bothering me. I’ve decided something since: I’m never reading something like that again, gift or no gift.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and a few to be chewed on and digested. ~ Sir Francis Bacon

Personal Preference
Everyone has their own interests. A book that might interest one person another person might find dull. I find pioneer history about the great western expansion very interesting. I enjoy reading books based around this time period of wagon travel across barren prairie land, populating new countryside, and building prosperous farms and ranches. I guess this is one reason why I enjoy Janette Oke’s books so much.

Okay, I’m going to go on a little rabbit trail here. Though Janette Oke’s books are categorized as romance, and there is a love story in each one (yes, love is a part of life!), she emphasizes the value of the family, the warmth of family love, hard work, helping others, having a strong character, and living lives that bring glory to God. What I like about the books is that there is no dating. The young men and women wait for God to bring their spouses along and only enter into a romantic relationship with the idea of marriage being the end result. I also like the fact that the ladies are described as only wearing dresses, since the books take place back when women still followed Biblical principles and pants weren’t even an option for females. (Would to God it had stayed that way!) The gospel is given in almost every book as the main characters witness to their lost neighbors and friends. Not only do they witness with their words, but they live what they believe; you see the impression this makes on all who observe their godly lives. Janette’s characters struggle with bitterness, hate, death, and the sorrows that life tosses our way, and they come through having conquered them. Janette’s books should be classified as Christian family books, because that is what they are.

I like WWII history. I have a personal interest; my grandfather was an active Dutch Underground Resistance Fighter during the second World War. He was caught after blowing up a Nazi tank and was sent to a concentration camp. I’m interested in hearing the stories of those who survived the war. My papa was a little boy during that time and has countless stories to tell. My dad is also very knowledgably about that time period, and we often watch war documentaries and movies together as a family. Corrie Ten Boom’s The Hiding Place gives a detailed account of the horrors of the WWII while allowing the Lord’s glorious light to shine through her dark experiences in various concentration camps.

Being an independent, fundamental, Bible-believing Baptist, I have a special interest in my heritage ~Baptist history and the preservation of my KJV Bible down through the years. Reading about the unspeakable torture my Baptist forefathers endured gives me a deeper appreciation for the freedom we Baptists enjoy today. I am so blessed to have not one, but four Bibles on my book shelves. I can worship my Savior freely without the fear of being imprisoned or worse. God is so good! The Bible Makes Us Baptists is a good book I would recommend about Baptist history.

I also enjoy reading mystery books and biographies about missionaries and other heroes of the faith.

A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Recently Read
Around the time of my birthday I began reading a 4-book series I borrowed from one of the ladies in our church which takes place during ancient Russian history. It was interesting to learn more about the tsars and customs of that nation.
I received Roses for Mama from my parents on my 20th birthday. I read the book several years ago, and remembered crying as I finished it, which meant it was a good book. I hinted once or twice that I wouldn’t mind getting it for my birthday, and Mom, being as sweet as she is, ordered it for me from the States. After finishing my devotions on Saturday morning, I happened to glance at my book shelves and saw Roses for Mama. I had forgotten that I even owned it! I looked forward to taking up my favorite pastime of reading before bedtime. (I find it relaxing and a good way to get my mind off the day’s events and slowed down so I can actually fall sleep. Sometimes I wish there was an off button for my brain. I’ve tried my bellybutton, but it doesn’t work.) Anyway, it has been said that I demolish books. I guess I’ve lived up to my record, because I read Roses for Mama, a 222 page book, within a 24-hour time period. Don’t ask if I cried at the end. :)

You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend. ~ Paul Sweeney

Currently Reading
I am currently reading several books. In my Bible reading I’m in the Book of Ruth. (I’m reading through the Old Testament this year.) The Bible is a book I read every day. Even if it weren’t “required” I would read it simply because it keeps me nice. Let me explain. I’m not a nice person naturally; it’s not in my nature to be kind and gentle. Sometimes I find that I’m nasty and easily irritated. Then I stop and think back, realizing the reason ~I missed my Bible reading that morning. (Thankfully, for my parents and siblings, it doesn’t happen too often.) I’m not even sure how to explain it… God’s Word feeds the Holy Spirit inside of me. Even if I think I don’t get anything out of my Bible reading, somehow the Spirit of God in my heart is fed, and He keeps me on the “straight and narrow.”

Along with my Bible reading, I like to read a passage from one of my devotional books, My Utmost for His Highest or Morning & Evening. For some variation I sometimes read a chapter from some other book that encourages me to be the godly young lady God wants me to be, such as His Chosen Bride and Dear Princess. I’m also slowly but surely going through our church’s discipleship course. At the moment I’m reading through a book called I Have to be Perfect, written to missionaries and preachers’ kids about the turbulent times of the ministry and how to cope. I’m hoping to write something more in-depth about this book when I finish reading it. Well, that covers my devotional time.

As for my “fun reading” I’m currently reading First We Have Coffee, by Margaret Jensen. I’ve read this book several times, and it only grows more precious to my heart each time I read it cover to cover. It is the story of Margaret, the daughter of a Norwegian pastor, her mother, and her mother’s God, as seen through her young eyes. This book is full of lessons learned by Margaret about faith, trust, and devotion to God and the ministry, family love, the joys and trials of life, and the miracles that happened as her mother’s prayers were answered by an ever faithful God. Oh, to be such a godly woman! I read a portion of this book to my family, and I had to stop several times as I choked up with tears. This book shows the awesome power of our Lord and gives Him all the glory due to His wonderful name.

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down and commence living on its hint....What I began by reading, I must finish by acting. ~ Henry David Thoreau

The Best Book
Of all the books in all the world, the greatest of these is God’s Word, the Bible. I read my first words from its pages, and the first phrase I ever memorized was Ephesians 6:1 ~“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” My life revolves around this Book. I find my every comfort and joy in its precious pages. It is my final authority. I’m working hard to apply its principles to my life every day, so that I might please my Savior in all I do and say.

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” John 21:25

No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books. ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

God be thanked for books!