Please Don’t Let Me Go by Julie Arduini

Posted on July 21, 2023 by juliearduini

Thanks to a very anxious dog, I spent late afternoons through late night in our basement movie room where the sound drowns out the massive fireworks. This schedule started weekends in late June, a few days before and after the 4th, and weekends after.

I watched a lot of movies during that time.

Fast X, a few Mission Impossible movies, and not quite a movie, I started and finished, The Chosen, Season 3.

I’m glad I was isolated in the basement because I ugly cried. As I watched, I was silently bemoaning that I know Jesus is real. I know He’s working miracles across the globe. Yet there are prayers I’ve prayed for years that remain unanswered. In most situations. the people are worse off than ever.

To see the woman with the issue of blood basically take a nosedive in the crowd to access the hem of His garment, that’s faith. And His response? It sent me to another ugly cry. I lamented if Jesus even hears, and there He is portrayed as He truly is. Hearing. Caring. Loving. Moving.

But my lesson wasn’t over.

Simon, oh abrasive, spontaneous Simon. In Season 3 his faith is tested. He understands he’s part of history. He’s blessed to walk with the Messiah and carry out the mission to tell others about Him. He’s watching miracles. He’s participated in them.

But.

But like us all, Simon faced personal storms severe enough for him to ask great, raw questions. He wrestlec with it all and wore emotions on his sleeve.

I’ve been there.

Bet you have, too.

Without giving too much away, Jesus of course knew all the pain and questions. He wanted to deal with it, and His way was to test Simon Peter’s faith.

The scene ended with a broken Simon clinging, clinging to Jesus. Over and over he repeated to Jesus, “Please don’t let me go.”

I can’t get that scene out of my mind. Every time I’m frustrated I think about it. When I feel God doesn’t hear, I think of Jesus holding Simon and loving him. When I hear about those I’m praying for not doing well, I repeat the words from that episode, “Jesus, please don’t let me go.”

I never want to be so bitter I cast Jesus away.

I never want to be so proud that I’m cavalier about needing Him.

I never want to believe the lie that I’m too far gone for Jesus to show up and care.

Show up?

He’s there.

With open arms, ready to accept us no matter what we look like or have done. Or didn’t do.

If you’re battling discouragement, I pray this touches you. If you haven’t watched The Chosen, I encourage you to give it a chance. It’s not perfect, but it presents the Gospel in a way I personally find Biblical.

God bless you as you seek His Son today.

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Let Him be the gate of your life.

Posted on July 20, 2023 by dtopliff

Delores Topliff

John 10:7-11

7 Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

I don’t have a photo from that special day except this that I found online. On my first trip to Israel in 1984, the Lord connected me to a network of friends that opened many opportunities for me. For volunteering to assemble lecture papers and paint benches for Biblical Resources Learning Institute then between Gilo and Bethlehem, I was included on several unforgettable day trips. On the north side of the road midway between Jerusalem and Jericho, our guide led us through a dry field to a stone corral. It had thorn brush piled high above its walls to keep out foxes and other predators, but no gate. We asked our guide why the gate was missing. He had us offer several guesses and then he gave this answer.

“The shepherd folds his own body into that space each night to close the opening and protect his sheep. He sleeps there or fights there as the need may be.”

Those words still give me chills. Some Bible versions translate the term door instead of gate, but in Strong’s Concordance entry #2374 its meaning is the same:

  1. a door
    1a) the vestibule
    1b) used of any opening like a door, an entrance, way or passage into the door through which sheep go in and out.

How blessed we are that our good shepherd interposes his own self between us and all harm. All we have to do is stay near him and graze, and drink, and then rest where He guides us. Many other scriptures speak of our shepherd leading and caring for us, but those of the shepherd protecting us with his life mean the most to me. May they also bless you today and every day.

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The Wounds of Christ by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 19, 2023 by jrcoggins

A few years ago, my wife had major surgery. Fortunately, it was laparoscopic surgery. Rather than one massive incision, the surgeon made four small incisions an inch or two long to insert scopes and tubes into the interior of her body. This approach is less invasive and leads to faster healing. After about twelve days, a doctor removed the two dozen staples and assorted stitches holding these incisions closed. When the supports were removed, the cuts bled a little. When the stitches were removed from the largest hole, from which the last drainage tube had been removed, a channel about an inch long and half an inch deep opened up. A month after surgery, two of the wounds still had scabs over them and were still weeping a little. My wife was still in considerable pain and relying on pain medication to make the pain bearable.

We somehow have the idea that, after the resurrection, Jesus’ wounds would have been healed completely. But the crucifixion had been only a few days before, and, as John 20:19-31 reveals, His wounds were much larger and deeper than my wife’s. They might have been scabbed over, but they were still there. There were nail holes in Jesus’ hands large enough for Thomas to put his finger into and a gaping hole in Jesus’ side large enough for Thomas to put his hand into. We should not underestimate the bodily and spiritual harm caused by human sin and the tremendous cost Jesus paid to overcome it.

The recent surgery was not the only one my wife has endured. Our eldest daughter was born by emergency caesarean. Because of the urgency, the surgeon made a vertical incision rather than the more cosmetic bikini cut. The result was what might be considered an ugly scar. But, other than doctors, I am the only one who will see it, and I think it is beautiful. You see, the vertical incision was faster, and my wife accepted it in order to save our daughter’s life. I know that that scar is a love mark, a sign of love.

The same is true in the story in John’s Gospel. It is only the eyes of faith that are allowed to clearly see Christ’s wounds, and to such eyes those hideous scars are lovely, the marks of a tremendous self-sacrificing love that have brought life.

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God’s Children, Part II by Peggy Webb

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.  Matthew 18: 5-6

Kaylee is one of the adorable children who come to my Sunday school class every Sunday, full of innocence, joy, and a love that overflows in spontaneous hugs and giggles and songs. As you can see from the picture of the purple house, Kaylee is an artist. She loves drawing and coloring, and she particularly enjoys decorating her art with stickers of dogs, cats, hearts, butterflies…and rhinestones. Her love of bling makes her a girl after my heart!

She drew the purple house and wrote the sweet letter to me after the horrific slip-and-fall that kept me out of the Sunday school class for a while. She brought me a lovely journal, too. The gifts were her ideas. What a beautiful, giving heart she has! It will be one of her best qualities when she’s a grownup.

She’s a cowgirl, too, and is the cutest little equestrienne in the arena when she enters horse shows. Nurtured by family–loving parents, grandparents, and a large church family–she’s going to grow into a fine Christian woman. 

She will be nurtured and protected by all of us. We will be watchful to protect her from the terrifying trend of usurping parental rights and letting radical public figures destroy her with ideologies that take away her innocence and confuse her about who she is.  

Kaylee knows who she is. She’s an adorable little girl who loves her parents and worships God. Every Sunday, she says, “I love Jesus.” She prays for her family. She listens to Bible stories, and if she doesn’t know the answer to the questions I ask, she always says, “God.” Because…of course, she’s right. God is at the center of everything. She loves freely and with the exuberance and innocence of a child.

We must do everything in our power to protect her and all God’s children.

God is good!

Peggy Webb  

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Finding a Hidden Gem by Tara Randel

Posted on July 17, 2023 by tararandel

At the end of this month, my husband will be traveling to Colorado with some friends to hike up Mount Bierstadt, a 14,065-foot-high mountain summit. (I’m very jealous that I don’t get to guy. Guys trip.) We live in Florida. Where it’s flat. So back in February I suggested he start walking every day to work up his stamina. He’s a healthy guy, works out at the gym regularly, but has never been to that altitude. The round trip to the summit takes about eight hours. Certainly not a stroll in the park.

As the trip grows closer, I wanted to find a place close to home to go hiking so he’d get used to walking a good distance. Ten minutes from my house is Brooker Creek Preserve, which has turned out to be a wonderful place to hike. I’ve driven by the entrance to the park dozens of times and have never stopped to check it out. Did I quickly discover what I was missing!

Our first time there, we walked 5.6 miles in 2 1/2 hours. It didn’t take us long to acclimate to the heat. We went early in the morning, which helped. The paths are shady and once we got moving, our rhythm helped to make the time enjoyable. When we finished, the temperature was hovering close to 90 degrees.

The main loop is 4 miles. If there is no standing water blocking the way, that is. Of course, we didn’t know that, although the name Blackwater Cutoff should have given us a clue. We had to backtrack a few times, which made the trip longer, but I had my trusty walking stick to help me along.

For our second trip, we had a better idea of which trail to follow. No water! We did the entire loop in 2 hours. Still hot, but we got so caught up in the beauty of the preserve, it wasn’t uncomfortable. We had plenty of water, just in case. My husband also carried the backpack he’ll be taking on the trip, filled with necessary items to get used to the weight. What started out as a way for him to get used to walking for miles was a great time for me too. (Especially since I didn’t carry any weight!) I’m actually the one in the family who likes to hike, usually dragging everyone else along when we go on vacation.

We will certainly return to hike the preserve before and after my husband’s trip. It’s amazing that the natural hiking paths are so close to home, yet we’ve never been there. A gem of a find and a great place to spend a few hours minus the phone, social media, and all the stresses of everyday life.

It’s also a reminder of what a magnificent world God has given us. You can’t walk through a place like this and not marvel at God’s creation. God is good!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her latest Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HER SURPRISE HOMETOWN MATCH, available now. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.

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I’ll Take Patience Please!

Posted on July 13, 2023 by Ann Malley

Are you blessed with endless demands and too little time? How about a short fuse? If so, patience is the cure.

Patience is a virtue.

But how do we get some?

Prayer, confidence in God, and plenty of practice dealing with life’s crazies is the way to go. Growth in virtue demands increased trials. Practice makes perfect. Patience will eventually sprout, right? Sounds good on paper, but my breaking point hovers just below the surface more often than I’d like. (That’s pride talking.)

Yet frustration leads to outreach. And while life’s struggles try us, sharing them in all patience strengthens the bond we have with our fellow man. Being honest, vulnerable, and admitting the truth about being just as flawed as the next guy is one way to get the help we need while keeping us humble.

Check out this treasure from my library:

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them—every day begin the task anew.”

― Francis de Sales

According to the Bible, patience is a virtuous quality that comes with some seriously sweet rewards. It tells us to hang tight with a calm and peaceful heart, knowing that everything will fall into place at the right time. As the Psalmist wisely puts it, “Relax in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). Basically, it’s all about trusting a higher power and having faith that our wishes will be granted when the moment is just right.

My family has just been blessed with an answer to prayer. Think, “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” and you’ll get the idea of the past three years. Fear, flagging faith, human instincts, & a host of other temptations are thrown by the devil to derail the patient, fully engaged trust God desires. And for our own benefit…I haven’t been this happy in far too long. Thank the good Lord!

The Bible serves up a host of stories about those who chose the patience game in the face of tough times.

The Book of Job in the Bible is a powerful account of a man named Job who faced tremendous trials and tribulations. It portrays his unwavering faith in the face of immense suffering. One verse that describes Job’s hardships can be found in Job 1:13-19:

“One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them, and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!'”

Wow! Job’s story is intense, over-the-top. His trials seem to impossible to endure. (Deliver us from temptation!) Yet, through it all, Job still blessed the Lord and waited patiently on his mercy. Job was rewarded. Yes, he likely grieved for his lost loved ones, as we must at times, too. But he never lost faith and was rewarded in kind, not only with a return of earthly goods but a deep and abiding awareness of God’s sovereign goodness.

And it’s not just the Bible that has patience on its VIP list. The Quran says, “Believers! Seek help in patience and in Prayer; Allah is with those that are patient.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153). That verse is all about how patience brings us closer to the Divine and gives us the strength we need when life gets bumpy.

“Patience is like the ultimate form of self-control,” according to the Buddhist Dhammapada 184). It’s like a spiritual superpower that helps us grow and find freedom from suffering. By nurturing patience, we can rise above our desires and find that inner peace we’re all searching for.

Confucius, that wise old Chinese philosopher, tells us, “Slow and steady wins the race. It doesn’t matter how slowly you go, as long as you don’t stop.” Basically, progress may be turtle-paced, but as long as we keep pushing and stay patient, we’ll reach our goals eventually. (So, stop rushing if you’re able. You’ll feel better.)

Let’s face it, in a world that’s obsessed with quick fixes and instant gratification, developing patience can feel like wild hare herding. We’re constantly bombarded with messages telling us to hurry up and get everything right now. But amidst all the noise, let’s not forget the timeless wisdom of the Bible and other religious scriptures. Patience isn’t a sign of weakness, my friends. This quintessential virtue empowers us to endure, grow, and find contentment in the present moment.

So, take a deep breath and make patience your new BFF. Trust that everything will fall into place when the time is right, because it will!

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The Dominant Ideology of Our Age by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 12, 2023 by jrcoggins

It began with a discussion of journalism, in particular, a post by a fellow historian, Gerry Bowler. Bowler decried the collapse of journalism in the 21st century. (He writes from a Canadian perspective, but much of his analysis is relevant to the US as well.) He wrote: “The absence of a vigorous adversarial press led to politicians and pressure groups being able to establish certain Grand Narratives that could not be challenged—only one set of opinions could be held about Covid, climate change, sexual identity, or Indian Residential Schools. Public disgrace, de-platforming, mob violence, or loss of employment was the fate of those rash enough to express a contrary voice. Now important voices are calling for ‘deniers’ to be jailed.” Bowler quoted journalist Terry Glavin as saying that the lack of a public forum for free debate is fatal to liberal democracy, as the search for truth is replaced by “state-enforced belief.”

In a private discussion with me about Bowler’s post, a journalist acquaintance asked me, “What, in your opinion, is the new dominant ideology?”

Now that is a very good question. What is at the heart of the now dominant ideology? We can see its outworking in issues such as abortion, the “right to die,” LGBTQ rights, etc. But what is at its heart? What is its core belief? What holds all of these movements together?

We could call it “woke.” But that is a rather imprecise and unhelpful term. Woke to what? It is more an insult than a definition.

A term used a couple of generations ago to describe the rising and now dominant ideology is more precise: secular humanism. The modern dominant ideology is certainly humanist, in that it raises human opinion to the level of ultimate truth. It is also secular, in that it opposes any god or religion that would challenge the supremacy of human authority.

The new dominant ideology also has something to do with human rights. But not human rights as traditionally defined. The Enlightenment definition of human rights focused on freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly. Those human rights are now under attack by the dominant ideology.

I think it more accurate to say that the new worldview is all about my human rights. That is, at the core of the new ideology is a deep streak of selfishness, the attitude that “I have a right to do whatever I want and get whatever I want, with no consequences and no criticism.” This is taught in the schools, as children are told, “Follow your dreams. You can be whatever you want.” Even if the child has no aptitude or ability. The teaching is reinforced when every student is given a pass. This attitude translates into terrible singers demanding their right to be on American Idol because “This is my dream.” It is evident in LGBTQ individuals demanding the right to be leaders in churches (and other institutions), regardless of whether this would be good for the church or whether their beliefs match the church’s. The church is expected to change its beliefs to suit them. This attitude is evident in people pursuing personal sexual pleasure and then avoiding the consequences by aborting the resultant children or dumping them on the state to raise. It is evident in spouses divorcing because they both expected the other spouse to do all of the giving and none of the taking. It is evident in drug addicts’ expectation that society should provide them with free drugs and free accommodation while giving up nothing in return. It is evident in criminals expecting to escape punishment because of their race or past trauma or the failure of society to support them—or simply because of the widespread idea that there is no such thing as right and wrong, morality being an obsolete social construct. It is evident in politicians assuming that corruption is just the way the system operates and it does not really harm anyone. It is evident in environmentalists’ naïve expectation that we can eliminate carbon emissions without eliminating jobs or reducing our standard of living, that we can have our needs met without ever chopping down a tree or excavating a mine, that we will never have to make hard choices. It is evident in the general attitude that the state (that is, everyone else) is obligated to provide me with whatever I need or want.

As a Christian and a citizen, I believe that I have an obligation to love my neighbor, assist the needy, help the helpless, care for the natural world, and treat all races equally. But I also believe that all of us have an obligation to do the same. It is not all about me.

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Everything To Him by Mary Alford

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Author Mary Alford

Do you ever think about what it means to give everything to God? I mean every part of your life, no matter how small it may seem or how messy. How broken.  

Until recently, I know I didn’t. Oh sure, I prayed for a closer relationship with God and asked Him to show me ways to draw nearer through His word, but I never really got that He wants every part of me, not just the ones I choose to share.

Recently, God opened my eyes to this, and I started praying over the little things in my life, as well as the mountains.

It started with a slight pain in my side that I’ve dealt with off and on for several years. It was nothing serious, just mostly annoying. I prayed and asked God to take it away, and guess what—He did. I’m still praising Him for that.

God wants more of us than just to come to Him on Sunday or when our world is falling apart, He wants to be there with us through every moment of every day. He wants a relationship with us as a friend, a father, and a savior. I’ve finally gotten this, and I strive each day to include Him in everything that’s happening in my life no matter how small and I can’t tell you what a relief it is to realize I don’t have to struggle through the small things alone.

So, no matter what you’re going through, no matter how small or how big. . .pray. Bring it to His feet and let Him carry your burden.     

Philippians 4:6-7 says,

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Until next time, dear friends, I wish you the peace that comes from trusting Him.

Many blessings!

Mary

www.maryalford.net  

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Spiral by Julie Arduini

Posted on July 7, 2023 by juliearduini

This is one of the posts where I feel like there’s one person out there who needs to read this and be encouraged. I believe the bloggers here are transparent and helpful, but you might have the thought because we are Christian authors, we are perfect.

Don’t believe the lie!

We’re as flawed as anyone, maybe more so because we have characters that talk to us every day. I face temptations and I continue to sin not because I believe my relationship with Jesus is a free pass, but because in the flesh I fail. I try do do things on my own strength.

Speaking of strength, I recently felt depleted and wanted to walk you through that. Not because the episode was fun, but again, I feel someone will be encouraged.

I take anti-depressants. I resisted for decades thinking by admitting I needed help for my severe hormonal imbalance, it was a sign I was less than as a Christian. That’s a lie from the pit of hell.

Would I deny myself treatment if I had cancer? Of course not. So why did I wait so long to receive this medicine?

When I forget to take it, it doesn’t take long for me to realize it. I spiral, and fast.

Last week I realized I forgot the meds AND I ran out of Black Kohosh, a supplement that keeps my volcanic body temp at bay. It was a recipe for disaster. I didn’t just forget, the medicine fell in between a crack and I wasn’t sure if that happened the day before, or earlier in the week.

The first statge for me when I spiral is I get weepy. It can be a touching commercial, a memory, or even a predictable sitcom with a horrible laugh track. That tends to clue me in that perhaps I forgot my meds. I’m not a crier by nature.

The next stage is an odd grief. Out of nowhere I start to cry and miss my parents. My actual grief I talk about them and I tear up. When I start to cry and think to myself I miss my Dad, I know I forgot my meds. It’s hard to explain but it isn’t normal grief for me.

This most recent event I skipped the second stage and quickly transitioned to I want to be with Jesus. I will irrationally process all the ways I’ve accomplished God’s will and my time is done. I’m sobbing and I just want to go Home. This is when I know I need meds fast. When I was younger without medical assistance I got to stage four once, and it took me to the bathroom where I held pills in my hand. I don’t want to go there.

The freefall leaves me physically and mentally depleted. I feel beat up on the inside and out. I felt this last time like I was on an out of control train trying to use my feet as brakes. It wasn’t helpful and I felt hurt.

It isn’t easy to share this and I’m thankful to say the next morning I was basically good to go. I write this because there’s no shame in struggling with imbalance, depression, or anxiety There’s nothing wrong going to the doctor and admitting you need help/

I tell my family when I’m struggling and what to expect, and what I need. Why make them guess and tip-toe for reaction when I can be sure to fill them in? I also told a friend who prayed for me and checked in the next morning.

Yes, I’m a Christan author but I’m not perfect. I write stories about flawed people who find freedom in Christ because that’s reality. He gives peace and freedom. I’m proof of that. As a reader, I’m not interested in perfect characters with happy circumstances. I can’t relate to that and I bet you can’t either.

You can stop the spiral. Jesus and His leading is the way. Sometimes that means medicine, and that’s okay.

If you are struggling, Heavenly Father, I pray over my friend and ask You heal them. Re wire anything that needs re configuring. Touch anything that needs healing. Give them divine connections, including doctors, who can lead them to wellness. If they do not know You in a personal way, I pray they hunger and thirst for You. Lord, renew their minds. Re train their brains and eradicate all dark thoughts and word curses from them. May they live abundantly in Your peace and freedom, in Jesus name. Amen!.

—Julie Arduini
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I know it’s not the Fourth, but still…

Posted on July 6, 2023 by Patricia Bradley

I hope everyone had a safe and blessed day on our nation’s birthday! July 4th holds another celebration for me–it’s my sister’s birthday. Although I will admit to being upset many years ago on her third birthday…

I grew up in Memphis when neighborhoods were like small towns. Parents sat on the front porch while the kids played games together. Games like kick-the-can, hide-go-seek, Mother, May I… anyway, all the kids were talking about this big birthday party and I thought they were talking about my sister’s birthday. Remember I was only about seven.

Well, that put my nose out of joint, so to speak. I moped around, almost tripping over my bottom lip until my mother had enough. I can still see her in my mind’s eye–she’s standing on our little front porch, her hands on her hips. “What in the world is wrong with you?”

“Everybody is coming to Barbara’s birthday party and nobody ever comes to mine! (My birthday was in January so after Christmas, no one had money for parties or gifts, at least that’s they way I remembered it.) And everybody gets the day off for her birthday! And I don’t get anything on my birthday!” That last was a wail I can hear today.

This probably wasn’t the first time I encountered the Green-eyed Monster, but it’s the one that sticks in my mind. As does my mother’s response. Most of the time when I acted unreasonable, she would tell me if I didn’t straighten up and stop being whiney, she’d give me something to be whiney about, but this time she asked, “Do you think God would be very happy with the way you’re acting?”

I had to think about that. Finally, I shook my head even though I didn’t want to. “God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to others,” she said. “When we do, we’ll either think we’re not as good as the person we compare ourselves to or we’ll think we’re better. He wants us to be happy with who He created us to be. He wants you to be happy for your sister because today is her birthday.”

It’s so easy to get caught up in the comparison game. Why isn’t my book selling as well so and so’s book? Why did he get a contract? My books are as good as his. And so it goes.

Galatians 5: 25-26 says “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

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Locked Doors by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 5, 2023 by jrcoggins

John 20:19-29 tells the story of Jesus’ followers fearfully hiding inside a locked room after His crucifixion, when Jesus suddenly joined them. Locked doors were no barrier to Him. This story is symbolic as well as factual.

The point is that Jesus is still capable of getting through locked doors, and He still does pass through locked doors. People in the Muslim world are forbidden to read the Bible or receive Christian missionaries, but there are many stories of Jesus bypassing the usual methods of transmitting the gospel and appearing to people in dreams. In 1949, the communist government of China slammed the doors to Christian missionaries. Over the next thirty or forty years before the border restrictions began to lift slightly, the tiny Chinese Christian church grew from a million believers to an estimated fifty million believers.

There are many kinds of locked doors and other barriers that Satan tries to erect to keep Jesus out. It was not the Jewish authorities but Jesus’ followers who locked the doors to the upper room. Besides persecution, the barriers to the good news of Jesus include the fear and doubt mentioned in John 20. The list of barriers is even longer than this, including anger, racial prejudice, guilt, feelings of unworthiness, traumatic experiences, and many more. The hopeful thing to remember is that Jesus can pass through these barriers as easily as He passed through the locked doors of the upper room.

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Nora’s Review of: Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

Authentically, Izzy By Pepper Basham

Published by Thomas Nelson, 432 Pages

NORA’S REVIEW: I was drawn in from the start, “Dear Reader, this is a cautionary tale. A tale of family, literary classics, podiatry, matchmaking, Shakespeare, and distance.”

It’s all that and so much more. I loved the bookish setting, and the authors’ fresh voice in contemporary fiction. I found myself smiling all the way through the book because of Izzy, her love of books, her transparency, and her wit. I enjoyed how the author wrote this tale. It reminded me of how the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was written through letters. This novel is written mostly through texts, and emails which included family chats that made the story endearing, different, witty, and downright hilarious and made me laugh out loud in parts. My family kept asking me what was so funny.

I’ve read other novels by this author, which were mostly historical, it was great to see her branch out to another genre. If you love bookstores, libraries, and bookish things, you will love this novel. I also liked the two main characters, and their loving families.  Izzy, who is caught up in a library job she likes, but her heart’s desire is to own a bookstore. I enjoyed watching her get the courage to chase after her dreams and pursue her chance for true love.

Brodie has dreams of his own. Could this person he knows only online might be something more than a friend? I loved every minute of this book, it’s fun, fun, fun. It truly is a wonderful escape that keeps your heart happy, and a grin on your face as you go on a grand adventure with Izzy, her quirky family, and Brodie.

 I highly recommend this heartfelt, joyful, uplifting story that includes discussion questions for your book club. This novel is a keeper.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

The Book Club Network blog

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Humble pie or humble power?

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Ann Malley

There was a day when I believed humble meant self-effacing. Never stepping forward. And refusing leadership roles because, well, a humble person would never, ever believe themselves capable.

Wrong.

If I’d had a humbler attitude early on, I may have discovered the subtly of meaning and made better choices. How? By having the good sense to appear as if I didn’t know, because I didn’t understand many things.

How many of you have let what you don’t know lie while you fake it until you make it? I love that saying. But taken to extremes, faking whatever to save face leads to idiot mistakes.

Humility properly understood is balance in one’s assessment of self-importance, talents, and knowledge. There’s always room to learn. It’s the person who knows everything that stops learning. Translated: The person who believes he knows it all will never know more because his eyes and ears are firmly set against learning.

Not my idea???

Heaven forfend!

But humility also means accepting tasks for which you are equipped. False humility leads one to defer to others and fail to speak when one has a certain talent that’s integral to the wellbeing of others. To humbly accept being appointed to a position one may never have aspired to is a laudable act.

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

Translated: greatness comes from acknowledging our limitations and treating others with respect and kindness. It encourages us to let go of pride and arrogance, emphasizing the rewards that humility brings.

Have you ever shut down in the presence of a know it all?

If not, you’re more virtuous than me.

See how smart and gorgeous I am?

But in that instance, even a person with vast knowledge fails to transmit said knowledge because their delivery lacks humility. The know it all seeks to exalt himself, not help. That’s why some enjoy talking over people’s heads in order to maintain their sense of superiority. But the fall comes when the support structure all humans need to thrive is repelled. Wham. Who will prop up that ego now? The know it all may salve his conscience by laying blame elsewhere, but deep down, he or she knows.

If not, more’s the pity.

Humility is such an integral ingredient to wisdom that its extolled in other faiths:

The Quran – Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” Note that nobility isn’t tied to wealth, prowess, or prestige.

The Bhagavad Gita from Hindu tradition has this to say.  Chapter 13, Verse 8: “Humility, modesty, nonviolence, forgiveness, and integrity; these qualities must be practiced by one who desires to attain divine knowledge.”

In Taoism, the ancient Chinese philosophy, humility is considered a cornerstone of wisdom and virtue. The Tao Te Ching states in Verse 39, “The supreme goodness is like water. It benefits all things without contention. In dwelling, it stays grounded. In being, it flows to depths. In giving, it is kind. In speaking, it is sincere. In leading, it does not control. In work, it is competent. In action, it aligns with timing. It is content with its nature and therefore cannot be faulted.”

Roman emperor and class-A stoic Marcus Aurelius had this to say “The pride which is proud of want of pride is the most intolerable of all,” in his Meditations. The one who prides himself on being SO humble is obnoxious. And how right he was. He continues, “We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne.”

Freed are from ego-driven obstacles, a person’s pathway is clear.

By embracing humility, we learn to acknowledge our imperfections. We appreciate the worth of others and approach life with a sense of openness and learning. As we strive to cultivate humility in our thoughts, words, and actions, we can experience personal growth. Humility fosters understanding and contributes to a more compassionate world.

“If you ask me what the essential thing in the religion and discipline of Jesus Christ is, I shall reply: first, humility; second, humility, and third, humility.”—St. Augustine

 

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Pray Always? Are you kidding ?

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Ann Malley

How does one pray always in a state of increasing chaos?

The storm is raging.

Vice is oozing out all over.

Satan has left off prowling thanks to a steady buffet of willing souls who foolishly believe there’s a party in the pits of hell.

And while Christians may not be of the world, we’re neck deep in it until we’re called home. The demands of husband, wife, kids, home, careers, extended family, church, and community are ever present. Satan is having a heyday keeping the elect spun up with ongoing scandal, both inside and outside the home.

Once trusted institutions are falling into shadows at alarming rates. Masks are off. The more jaded of us may have adopted an attitude of disgust that borders on indifference. But come on. What can we do anyway?

Pray!

From the heart.

That’s the only answer.

It’s a small thing and maybe why we often leave off praying because we believe ourselves capable of bigger things. Like changing global weather patterns–global warming anyone? Honk if you remember the second ice age scare of the seventies. Good grief.

But Jesus is in our rocking boat. He may seem to be sleeping, but God never sleeps. If the Lord did catch a wink, he was likely plagued with nightmares of his willful children’s ongoing antics. Loving does that. I almost long for baby days. A cuddle, dry diapers, a wee jar of Gerber, and we’re done. I’d trade being sleepy for feeling utterly powerless.

God has the power, however. We only need to seek it. And one doesn’t have to kneel beside one’s bed to reach God. Elaborate soliloquies aren’t necessary, and neither is a chapel in the woods. Simply lifting one’s heart to Him will suffice. Words are often superfluous as he reads our hearts clearer than we do.

Working and praying is the best. We do our part. God does his. Praying makes work light. It soothes the spirit. Grasping the fullness of who Almighty God is and who we aren’t is the surest way to find that calm.

So, set your intentions. I praise you Lord with every sock I wash, every report I read, each paper I grade. Every time I pick the kids up from school is a song of praise. I trust you with ever step I take today.

Wrap you mind around the reality that God is everywhere. He’s listening. He’s waiting much like we wait when those we love wander far.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen had this to say back in the day: “It is better to pray badly than not to pray at all. As Chesterton once wrote: ‘If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing badly. We may not breathe properly, but it’s is a good idea to keep breathing.”

The idea? Just DO IT! Pray. Always. It’s a little thing, but that’s what God has asked of us. This from the woman who used to fret about not breathing properly. No kidding.

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The Living and the Dead by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 28, 2023 by jrcoggins

Question:

I am sometimes asked: Why do you write murder mysteries? Why do you choose to write about death? Why do you focus on dead people?

Answer:

The question reveals a misunderstanding. Murder mysteries are not about the dead. They are about the living.

First, the victim. How did she live? What led to her being murdered?

Then, the murderer. How did he live? What led him to commit the ultimate crime?

And also the other people, the victim’s friends, family, and associates, the witnesses. How did they live? How are they living and coping now in the aftermath of death? What could have caused them to be suspects?

And then, of course, the police, the detective, the amateur sleuth. What motivated them to so passionately seek justice, truth, and understanding?

Life is a serious matter, and the reality of death brings into focus the value of life. Murder mysteries might ask how someone died. But the answer is often in how that person lived and in how other people lived. Murder mysteries are not written for dead people (the dead don’t buy books), but for living people—to offer them understanding and wisdom.

Note:

I called the murderer “he.” There is truth there. Most murderers are men (about 90% worldwide). “I called the murder victim “she.” There is less truth there. Contrary to popular opinion, most murder victims are men, not women—75% in Canada, 82% in the United States.

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