Saturday, June 19, 2010

A Little Less Legalese

I used to attend a church that was very legalistic.  Self indulgent, humanistic messages like "Put Your Buggy Back" and "Limit One Per Customer," or something like that, emphasized our need to be "above reproach" in the world.  For years I worried that if I changed lanes without signaling someone would follow me into the parking lot of the Acme and jump from their car screaming, "Hey!  Did you know you didn't use your signal back there?  Wait a minute, you go to That Church, don't you?  You're supposed to be one of those Christians.  Well, Christians follow the rules, and you didn't follow the rules!  I reject Christ -- I always will reject Christ because of your appalling testimony!"  And how would I ever be able to live with that?  There was just so much wrong with my thinking back then, it was easy to fall into that "try to be good" trap.

First of all, legalism is all about "trying to be a good person."  In light of Christ's death on the cross, we should already be running the other way from a concept such as "trying" to be good.  As Christians we know it is Christ's actions that redeem us, purify and perfect us -- not our own.

And is a "good person" what we should really be striving to be?  What would happen if we all tried to be good disciples, or faithful followers, or fully capitulated children?  Wouldn't that be better?  I know Christians who do not measure up to the standards -- behaviorally, charitably, or socially of some of the non-Christians I know.  Does it negate their salvation?  No.  Could it be that they are not truly dependent on Jesus Christ?  Maybe.  Are they human beings living in a flawed world going through human trials and temptations and, sometimes, failing?  Most definitely.  But hopefully, they trust, same as I do, that one day they will be perfected in Glory; until then, they look to Jesus to not only carry them through difficulty, but help them up when they foolishly blunder.

So what of "fruit?"  Doesn't Galatians 5 say the works of the flesh are directly opposed to the Spirit?  Doesn't it list all the fruit we should bear if we are truly walking as we should -- in the Spirit?  Let's not put the cart before the horse.  When was the last time a pear tree closed its little eyes, thought really hard, and popped out a fresh ripe pear in the dead of winter?  Just because a tree "wishes" or "tries" to bear fruit, doesn't mean it will.  The tree must suck up all the water and nutrients it possibly can, rest, abide and do "tree things" while the gardener prunes, provides necessary nourishment and cares for the tree.  That tree's not gonna spring into adulthood overnight either.  Neither will it have optimum growth year after year; there will be seasons of want and seasons of plenty.  That tree just needs to keep on doing what trees do, faithfully, consistently, and fruit will come.

Lastly, let me tell you a little secret.  I always took my buggy, back to the cart corral after I unloaded my groceries.  Does this make me a righteous person?  Nope!  Does it make me feel like a righteous person?  Well, as I sat there listening to that pastor's message that Sunday, I felt good.  "This message is so on point.  Yes, yes.  Amen. Set a good example for those who would know Jesus."  BLECH!  I cringe at what was going through my mind at that moment.  The pride that "doing good things" can instantaneously place in one's heart...  I held my head a little higher the next time I walked a cart from the nether regions of the lot back into the store; my chest stuck out as I handed the cashier the six cents I found in the gum rack under the counter.  "I am a conscientious person.  I am an honest person.  Everyone will look at me and know immediately that I am a Believer."  I didn't really believe I was earning my salvation, but that's not always what legalism is about.  Sometimes it's about earning righteousness, or "rightness," and Satan can use that as a foothold if it is not the genuine outpouring of faith in our lives.  He had such a foothold in my life, I couldn't see a forest of mistrust for the trees of good works. 

Today, I still take my buggy back to the corral, but not for the same reasons as before; fewer buggies in the lot mean fewer dings on my truck.  Just last week I had a handful of bogus coupons someone had sent me in an e-mail.  I picked up the products, but brought it to the cashier's attention before she ever rung them up.  Why?  Didn't feel like the aggravation of fighting over something I was pretty sure was wrong.  The next day, however, someone gave me a list of stores that took the coupons, counterfeit or not, no questions asked.  I had no desire to even print them back up.  Now, that's fruit! and I didn't even know I was in season!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Can This Be True?

George Santayana:
"Those who cannot remember history are condemned to repeat it."

http://www.wimp.com/oilspills/

Really Deep Thoughts by Judi Murphy

This morning I awoke from a nightmare! (a dawnmare?)  I dreamt one of my teeth had rotted out of my head; it fell out as I was crossing the street with a group of people.  There were other teeth that were rotten as well but, at least for the duration of my dream, they remained safely stowed in my mouth. That wasn't the part that scared me, though.  The part that caused me to awaken in fright was the concept that it didn't matter to me it had fallen out!  How on earth did I wind up in such a state that I would not care if one of my teeth rotted so badly it just fell from my mouth as I was crossing the street?

I'm not sure how I feel about the interpretation of dreams.  God spoke to many people throughout Bible history via dreams, however I believe there are plenty of charlatans out there today, many of them with links to the occult.  The dream was so disturbing, however, I had to see if I could find some sort of reason for, or meaning behind it. 

Allegedly, "teeth" dreams are extremely common; to my knowledge, this was my first.  Interpretations run from a fear of lying or being lied to, (Can't quite miss with that one, now can you?) to a fear of menopause and the lack of attractiveness it brings, (Has anyone seen Raquel Welch in those new Foster Grant commercials?  Bring it on!) to a loss of power or control.  Some interpret falling teeth as the onset of sickness or impending death, others as an unexpected financial windfall -- you know, like the Tooth Fairy.  Well, when I was a kid, the Tooth Fairy left a quarter -- not exactly what I'd call a windfall, and certainly not worth the risk of ignoring the "sickness and death" possibility.  Although my mom did hand me a penny she found on the way to our house today.  One site said it can be a Biblical caution about putting trust in something other than the One True God.  I'm not quite sure what that has to do with the need for regular flossing, but I will most certainly take that one to heart.

Given the plethora and scope of "advice" to be gleaned from my subconscious, I decided to see what I could learn from the "crossing the street" element of my dream.  At least on this one, most "experts" concur: charting the unknown, taking risk, possibly putting oneself in harm's way, and again, death.  So, let's just say I am standing on the cusp of something really big; let's assume I am embarking on a new journey.  Doesn't it stand to reason I would be fearful, apprehensive, maybe even feel a loss of control or experience powerlessness?  Hmmm...

Or maybe it was a friendly reminder of my dentist appointment in two weeks, and a warning to look both ways.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Mirror, Mirror...

So my daughter, Christine thinks I should write a post about some of the people I know.  I agree.  We all know people who inspire us, infuriate us, and make us laugh at them, or at ourselves.  I cannot, however, in good conscience poke fun at others without, first, poking fun at myself.

1)  Sometimes I think I wear too much... 
     a) Jewelry.  In an effort to combat the idea that I wore too much jewelry, about a year or two ago, I sold many of my silver rings and bracelets.  One day I awoke with the image of a local woman who most people consider to be a little "touched."  She wears mountains of silver and turquoise and wears cowboy hats.  I didn't wear hats, so I sold my jewelry instead.  I also allowed my second and third holes in my ears to close, thereby reducing the holes in my head by two.
     b) Eye Liner.  When I watch "What Not to Wear," Stacey (does she spell it with an "i" or an "ey?"  Trendy people spell Staci with an "i," I think) and Clinton seem very disappointed by ladies who tend to wear too much eye liner.  They say that although these ladies are striving for a youthful look, too much eye liner in fact, ages their appearance.  I'm not sure what to do here.  Eye liner and I have maintained an exclusive relationship for many years, and I can't imagine parting with it any time soon.

2)  I'm fat.  I like to eat.  I have never been a Size 6, except in fifth grade when I probably should have been a child's size 14.  I am more of a rectangle than your average flat screen TV, and due to years of fad dieting, eating disorders and severe mistreatment of my body, my metabolism is slower than Justice.  Before you say it, I know I can exercise to increase metabolism -- I don't want to.  Thirty minutes of running would mean sweating in 88 degree weather with 70% humidity -- it's NOT going to happen.  I walk the dogs and do a flight of stairs multiple times every couple of hours; Bishop, who follows me with each step weighs 45 pounds and looks like Skeletor.

3)  I can be a little neurotic.  I don't like my food to touch.  I replace all of the dials in my truck to the OFF position before I exit the vehicle.  I *mentally* correct people's grammar as they speak.  I once returned a set of dishes multiple times because I continued to find them cheaper at different stores.  When Steven was small, I kept a tally of the animals in his Noah's Ark playset to ensure that at the end of the day, they were all present and accounted for.

4)  I am a coffee addict.  I could swim in coffee; I could dab a little coffee behind my ears before  a hot date.  I love coffee.  I have a coffee maker that grinds beans; I have mugs that could house the Library of Congress.  I buy cream by the cow.  Through my veins courses Italian Roast; I launder my clothes in Guatemala Blend.  All right, maybe not really, but I could live in a Barnes and Nobles. Coffee and books go together like Antony and Cleopatra.

5)  I'm a dork.  I love to learn; I read at least a book a week and actually chose Chemical Engineering as my major in college.  I wore homemade clothes even in high school, and was not allowed to watch M*A*S*H because my father heard cursing in one episode.  I liked Sarah Jessica Parker much better in "Square Pegs," and, yes, it's true -- I really can't see a thing without my glasses.  I was a member of the Student Council and the National Honor Society.  I was a Library Aide and I love Math.  I know who Skeletor is.

I know if I solicited the help of others, particularly my family, this list would be much longer than it is.  In the interest of your time and my self-esteem, however, I will conclude I have been self-deprecating enough to allow me the latitude to mock others in the future.  And remember, they're not laughing at you, they're -- well, yeah, they really are.  (I shouldn't have started that sentence with "And," should I?)

Sunday, June 13, 2010

An Ultimate Rogue

What are we -- Day 47 of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico?  How many gallons have been spilled?  (I really don't keep track; the death and damage is beyond my comprehension -- a sickening reminder of the lighted fuel pricing board at our local super Wawa)  Nevertheless, BP executives have been and will be called to account for their role in this disaster.  The names Doug Suttles and Tony Hayward will undoubtedly go down in history with Joseph Jeffrey Hazelwood and Exxon Valdez.  Hazelwood even has his very own Wikipedia entry -- "you know you've hit the Big Time when..."  Unfortunately for Hazelwood, it's not very complimentary, and neither will Hayward or Suttles' future entries be.

Also with an infamous reputation is the first black mayor of Philadelphia, Wilson Goode.  A position that set him up to be a historical triumph became his Waterloo when, in 1985, he became the first and so far only, American to drop a bomb on American soil.  I followed the saga daily, before and after the dramatic climax, and have a hard time even today, vilifying the man.  The filth in that house, the demands of the neighbors, the pressure that was put on public officials, the threats that were obvious and, worse, those that were implied...  I would not have wanted to be in the mayor's shoes.

Speaking of race, where is Mark Fuhrman these days?  The infamous member of the LAPD who played such a significant role in the case against OJ Simpson, and later, in his acquittal.  Not that the Prosecution had an iron clad case, or Johnny Cochran (read "Satan") didn't have his skills, but Mark Fuhrman did more for the Defense than he ever could the State.  BTW, also a Wikipedia Gallery of Rogues member.

Despite being any of these scoundrels, or the guy in high school who scored the final two points for the other team during the state championships, or the PTA mom who embezzled thousands of dollars from the treasury, nothing can be quite as bad as being "Alexander the coppersmith." 

Today I was reading 2 Timothy 4.  In verses 14 and 15, Paul mentions Alexander who "did [him] great harm," and warns others to beware of him.  In light of the fact that Paul's letters not only reached the intended addressees, and all of those to whom they were read, and were made part of the Bible which reaches millions of people everyday, and are read by millions of people everyday, and have survived the years and will continue to survive -- they were and are and always will be the WORDS OF GOD!  Paul did not include Alexander the coppersmith because of some personal, Perez Hilton-like desire to drag him through the mud.  He was included because "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)  It was intentional!  For the ages, Alexander the coppersmith was to be a nefarious character in the story of the Gospel.  A warning to all that we are to beware those who would thwart the spread of God's Message.  A caution to every man, woman, and child that we avoid behavior that would cause others to stumble or reject the Word of God.  This is heavy!  This is not just public, bitter trash-talk by Paul about someone who has crossed him.  This is not some internet site put together by fallible, mortal egoists.  This is Paul's warning, a statement of fact with regard to Alexander's judgment, a caution to those he loves -- all intended and purposefully designed by God to be used by all of us through eternity.  Let's face it, when you've got your name recorded for posterity, you want it in The Lamb's Book of Life, not the "What Not to Do List."