A Visit with Indiana's Top Executive

I count myself blessed to be part of a home school co-op.  We have been part of one for a year now, and we are moving quickly into a new year with new topics, and new learning adventures!

Last year, Emma was part of a United Stated Geography class.  The class had completed a quilt of the 50 states.  We were not sure what to do with the quilt when we were done.  We decided to try to give it to someone in government where it can be displayed.  We contacted the office of Mitch Daniels office and were contacted right away about the opportunity to present the quilt to the Governor of Indiana.  Below are some pictures of our memorable day!

Governor Daniels spent about 20-30 minutes talking with the kids about their quilt squares and asking questions about what they learned.

The table in this pic was made by inmates at the correctional center in Westville, IN.  It was an incredible work of art!

The kids helped the Governor carry the quilt over to his couch where he said he would store and display it. 

Opening the "gift"

We had a wonderful day.   A BIG BIG thanks to Renee for coming up with the idea of making a quilt AND doing all of the quilting.  It looked great.

Book Review: Crazy Love Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

A while back I shared with you my thoughts on a book called Already Gone authored by Ken Ham.  I felt that Ham had a small piece of the puzzle of figuring out why so many leave the Christian Church as young adults, but that he wasn't grasping the whole story.  I think I am about to present to you the rest of the story!

Crazy Love is an amazing book.  It is not a "feel-good-about-yourself"  kind of  book.  It is a book that challenges the very heart of the believer.  If you are looking for something to lift you us and tell you that you are on the right track, opt for something else to read!  If you are looking for something that will take you deeper into relationship with Jesus Christ and challenge you to become all that Christ desires of you, read on!

Over the past year I have had conversations with several people of several religious persuasions about topics like politics, religion, etc.  One thing that I have noticed is that no matter how sincere your political opinion, it is sure to anger someone!  That is because what we argue is merely opinion.  It is of ourselves.  When we talk about religion, it can be much of the same.  Sharing opinion rarely makes an impact.  Sharing God's Word has a much greater advantage!  Why?  Because we, as Christians, need to realize that God's Word is the only truth we can claim as absolute!  When we insist on adding our opinion or perspective to it, it can off as unloving. Does that make holding an opinion wrong?  Certainly not!  Does it make attempting to share principles of God's Word to make a deeper impact on the life of the believer wrong?  Certainly not!  There is a time and place for all of that.

BUT, I ask you: why does that world look at Christians as hate mongers and intolerant?  We can certainly say that it is because they are blinded to the truth that we know.  We can say that.  It would make us feel much better about ourselves.  Right?  But we do need to ask ourselves, it that what it is really about?  Feeling better about ourselves?  Truly it is not.  Crazy Love challenges the idea that we are the "good soil" that Christ talked about in the parable of the sower.  If we truly are the good soil, then why is God's Word being "choked out" in America today?  Maybe we need to consider whether or not the message that we are conveying is truly one of love and self-sacrifice that Christ calls us to.

I challenge everyone to read this book.  Read Chan's profiles of "lukewarm people" in contrast to  people who are truly head-over-heels in love with God.  I will not lie to you and say that I felt good after reading this, but I will say that it has changed the way I look at my relationship with God, and  I pray that it will make a greater impact on those around me who need Jesus.

Another Great Tool of Introspection

http://theresurgence.com/what_it_means_to_be_truly_reformed

Personal Holiness

In previous posts I have shared with you details of my past and my personal testimony of coming to faith in Jesus Christ.  It has been quite a journey, and while I have always struggled with regrets I am thankful for where I am today.  My post "Embracing Brokenness" was inspired by a Beth Moore Bible study that I attended.  She taught that you simply cannot divorce your past from your destiny.  I believe this to be true.  People who knew me in high school will find a much different person today, but all of my experiences culminated into who I am today.  To try to sweep my past under a rug would be unfruitful.  Perhaps dishonest?  I have a heart for people who are struggling with feelings of unworthiness.  I have been there.  Sometimes I am still there.  But one difference today is that I know that my worthiness lies in Christ alone.  In  my faith in His finished work on the cross.  I do not have to struggle anymore.  I was unworthy.  He made me worthy.  What joy!

One thing that I want to clarify is my stance on personal holiness. I expresses my belief before that we cannot change ourselves.  We can't "clean up" our sins on our own.  We rely solely on Christ to cleanse us and make us worthy.  When we receive the Holy Spirit, however, we receive the power to see sin for what it is and turn from it.  I am constantly amazed at what the Holy Spirit is convicting me and  changing in my life!  Things that I might have never before seen as sin, He gently points out to me in His merciful way and timing.  God's love is a purifying, refining love.

Romans 6:20-23  "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.  But now having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We can't clean our lives up outside of Christ.  The Bible refers to our old selves as "slaves to sin."  When we come to faith in Christ He gives us the power to change.  A relationship with Christ creates in us a hatred of our own sin.  After salvation we are called "slaves to God."  You cannot serve two masters.

We are called to personal holiness.  1 Peter 1:15 "..but He who called you is holy, you will also be holy in all your conduct because it is written, be holy for I am holy."

The Bible is to be the authority in our lives.  I believe that means that we cannot ignore the parts we don't like and adhere to the parts we can live comfortably with.  There are things in the Bible which are clearly spelled out for us.  There are other things that take a bit more searching, praying and studying.  We are all at different places on our journeys.  I have experienced friends who have convictions about certain things that I do not feel convicted about.  It is not important that we agree on everything.  Paul addressed this fleshly struggle in his letter to the Roman Church.  He instructs us not to quarrel over doubtful things.    Romans 14:4 "Who are you to judge another's servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."

We are to encourage one another on to good works, and to grow personally in holiness.  The only heart that I can be responsible for is my own.  Failure for us to grow can be due to spiritual pride, which is sinful.  However, I believe that we  need to be careful to keep our admonition Biblical, and not allow it to be tainted by opinion.  Being able to back up correction, rebuke, and reproof with scripture takes the burden off of us and points others back to the Lord.

I am happy to share with you the things that God is doing in my life.  To me it is a sign of a real relationship with God.  Real relationship brings about real change.   1 John 5:4 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith."  Are you overcoming the world? 



 

A Fun Start to a New Year of Learning Together at Home

Hannah decided that she also wanted to make some cuniform tablets out of the extra clay.  Okay, so they are just lines.  It still feels like an ancient language because I have no idea what it's supposed to say!

Embracing Brokenness

Take a moment, please, and picture this scenario with me if you will: There once was a young girl who grew up in a Christian church. She was always perfectly groomed, and looked beautiful in her flowing white linen dresses. She spent her days thinking about how much God loved her, and how she wanted to live her life to please Him. She kept herself "pure" in the sight of God, and never let a man touch her until her wedding day. She raised 3 perfect children who were always perfectly groomed and behaved. In fact, her family looked just like they had walked off the pages of a Dickens novel. Everyone loved and adored her, and sought out her advice on every aspect of life. She was a shining picture of God's glory!

Now take a moment please, and consider reality! How I would LOVE to say that this is my story. The truth is, though, my story is so far from this fairy tale, that when I read it I laugh out loud! I want you to understand, that in the following paragraphs, I am going to be brutally honest with you. I am going to tell you things about myself that I really don't want you to know. Then, when I am finished, I will tell you why I choose to share such painful memories with you.

Here is the truth: Once upon a time, there was a young girl who grew up in a Christian church. She struggled with other kids. She fought with her best friends. She copped an attitude when she felt shamed or rejected. When she was 10 years old, she made what she thought was a commitment to God, but sadly, she struggled her whole teenage existence with feelings of inadequacy. There was something missing in her life....and she knew it. Not knowing how to fill the void, she tried many things that the world had to offer. She tried to find intimacy in sinful sexual relationships that brought her temporary comfort. She found a refuge in the music that consumed her thoughts and molded much of her view of the world. And, while she never gave in to the temptation of drugs, she tried drinking and found that being drunk was more uncomfortable than it was fun. She spent many nights laying in bed crying because she knew there was a God, and she KNEW that she wasn't good enough for Him!

When she was a young adult, someone gently challenged her thoughts on who God is. You see, I had spent my entire life thinking of God as a big authoritarian in the sky. There was a list of do's and don'ts. Most of my activities were on the don't list! The bigger problem I had was that I loved my lifestyle even thought I knew in my heart that it was wrong! Why would I want to change something that I loved so dearly? It was the only comfort I knew.

Let me just clarify something here. This is not an indictment of my family. I am so thankful for the family that God blessed me with! My parents loved me. They taught me right from wrong. They were strict, and that kept me out of some trouble anyway. We went to church every Sunday. I never felt unloved by my parents! I want to mention this because it doesn't matter what kind of family you came from. You can receive all of the love in the world, and still feel empty.

So, back to my point. Someone came along in my life who loved me enough to ask me questions about my faith. She never (that I can remember) challenged the notion that I was the Christian that I said I was. It was a simple seed that was planted. It was a simple as her asking what church I attended and then asking if I believed that I could lose my salvation. To be totally honest, I had no idea what she was talking about, but it was the turning point that made me want to ask questions, dig in scripture, and really understand her way of thinking. She didn't spend hours following up, and making sure I understood. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit did that for her.

Honestly, I do not know how long it took me to understand. I can't give you a date when I "prayed a prayer" and was saved. It was more of a process. What I began to realize, though, was that as hard as I tried, I could not change myself. I could not make myself into what God wanted me to be. Oh believe me...I spent years trying! What a miserable existence! I do remember laying in bed one night and crying. Then crying out to God. I told Him how unworthy I was of Him. I told Him that I wanted to know how to love Him. I told Him that I needed Him. What was the difference between now and when I was 10? It was HUGE!

My favorite Bible verse to this day was what made the difference. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This beautiful verse explains that we are not saved by what we do. We are not saved by our actions, the way we dress, or by looking like the "perfect Dickins family." We are saved by the grace of God alone. Through faith in God alone. We cannot boast in our goodness, because we are not good!! Romans 3:23 say "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I am a sinner. Well, I knew that! :) What I didn't know was that working to make myself a better person in the eyes of God was impossible. Unfruitful. Painful.

So here it is in a nutshell. God loves you. Whether you believe that you are lovable or not. God doesn't want you to strive to emulate other people, or to spend your life listening to self-improvement gurus. What He wants is for you to trust Him. Trust that you are unclean, but through Jesus death on the cross that HE can make you clean. Listen, only HE can make you clean! YOU CANNOT DO IT YOURSELF! Whew...what a relief. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, God reconciles us to Him. That means that at one point, we were not a friend of God. To be reconciled means there was an enemy relationship at one point. Romans 5:10-11 "For if when we were enemies of God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." I know for a fact that I was not a friend of God. Since then, I have come into a relationship with the creator of the universe. Wow, I get goosebumps when I say that!

So why would I share all of the skeletons in my closet with you? I have come to realize that my past has a great impact on who I have become today. I cannot change my past. I have a lot of regrets that I would love to wipe out. I have learned that I cannot clean up my past. I can't "clean up" anything. Neither can you. I was broken, but I was unable to embrace my brokenness and place it in the hands of God. Truly that is what we need to do. Admit we are broken, and admit that we are unable to fix it. Then let God do the rest. If my story can help just one person see who God is and help them "embrace their brokenness" then it is worth the pain of admitting my past mistakes.

My story is not of the pure girl in paragraph one. My white dress was so stained with sin, that I never could have cleaned it. However, when we trust Jesus and come into a personal friendship with Him, He gives us clean robes. A robe that can never stain. A pure white robe of righteousness. I can't be stained, because it doesn't matter what we do. What matters is what He did for us. We cannot tarnish His love for us. I can't explain to you the joy that results from the knowledge that God has sealed you as His forever. Joy that replaces pain and brokenness.