Bob's Habit

A missionary friend of ours is in heaven now. One of the chosen habits of Bob Boardman is a good example, and a call, to all followers of Christ.

Bob was a Marine for four years during WWII. During these years, his life radically changed when he “moved from being a dog-tag Christian to becoming a true believer and follower of the Living God.”
God used several things to reach Bob, who had never read the Bible before, and who was not necessarily interested either. He was a hot-headed, worldly young Marine who had chosen a fist fight with an Aussie and ended up smashing his hand through a window.

During his recovery from surgery, God began to humble and convict Bob of his sin. Bob also took out the New Testament that the Red Cross had given him, and he starting reading it. He read it for three months. God kept revealing Himself and working in Bob, and at the end of those three months, Bob accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.

In combat, God also spared Bob’s life. He was shot through the throat by a Japanese bullet, which also destroyed his larynx. After several surgeries, Bob recovered and had to talk with a husky whisper voice for the rest of his life.

Fast forward a few years. Bob kept up with his chosen habit. God also sent Bob and his new wife Jean somewhere no one would have expected – as missionaries back to Japan, the land of his enemy. They faithfully brought the Japanese people the Gospel of Jesus Christ for a few decades.

You may have guessed by now the habit that Bob chose. During the last year of Bob’s life when he was in his 80s, he wrote, “Through my motley career as a Christian servant and since I began to keep records in the early 1960s, I have read the Old Testament 55 times and the New Testament 120 times. Perhaps I am boasting, but only to let you know that I could not successfully overcome the ravages of this world system without the spiritual power of God’s written Word. Let His powerful Word be praised!”

How about you? Are you reading through the Old Testament? The New Testament? Regularly? There is no substitute if we want to know the Lord our God and His spiritual power to overcome.

The Fire

About 3 months ago, I walked out on our back deck and saw a huge fire coming down the mountainside towards our house. I was absolutely stunned. And panicked.

I ran around the house and grabbed some essentials in less than 30 minutes. While I packed them into the car, choking smoke filled our garage. A mammoth cloud of black smoke had suddenly descended on our neighborhood. When I tried to drive out to safety, our whole neighborhood was in a massive traffic jam as everyone tried to flee.

The smoke made it harder to breathe, and harder to see. My adrenaline was pumping and I was terrified. During those frantic moments, I thought, "This may be what the end of the world will look like." The mass of smoke had blocked the sun and turned it an eerie dark orange.

A little later I thought, "Life is short." Everything can be gone in an instant.

Thankfully, our house is okay. Going through all of this was emotionally and physically exhausting for several weeks. I had done a voluntary evacuation as well, before the fire crested the mountain and I had to flee. After that, I had another 4 days of mandatory evacuation. During all of this, my husband was also out of the country on a missions trip.

The ordeal made me reflect on "What am I living for?" Life is short. James 4:14 says, "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

What are you living for? Are you living like you will truly give an account to God one day? Are you living for the things that matter to Him and for His Kingdom? Only 3 things are eternal and will last forever - God, His Word, and people.  

Blue Angel Undies

Last week I talked with a Navy wife. I’ll call her Julie. We were watching the elite Air Force Thunderbirds practice their incredible aerial maneuvers for the Academy’s upcoming graduation. It was awesome!

After some small talk, Julie told me about a friend whose Navy husband also became an elite pilot with the Navy’s Blue Angels. And not just an elite pilot, but the lead pilot!  

A stellar achievement certainly, but Julie added that it also took its toll on her friend’s family. Qualifying to become a Blue Angel pilot took time and family sacrifice. In addition, the Blue Angels and their families are treated like royalty everywhere they go. Sounds awesome, but it grew old for them.

Then Julie said it. “You know, my friend told me that her husband wears Blue Angel underwear too!”

Initially I laughed. Then I thought “Oh no!” because I immediately understood the downside. Too many of those in the Navy or other military service branches take on their job or position as their whole identity or persona—right down to their undies. They can bring their job as pilot or their position as Colonel into their home and relate to their wife that way. Or to their children. Or to their friends.

But is that what God wants? Hardly.

Sadly, this Blue Angel pilot and his wife eventually divorced. A huge factor likely was his inability to separate his personal identity from his position.

It’s easy to do. I have at times. But beware—it can easily inflame our pride and cause multiple problems. Big ones.

Have you witnessed this with some men and women in ministry positions? I have. Though these “leaders” may even accomplish much, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is often absent.

Second Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that we who are born again are new creations in Christ! Therefore, our identity is now first and foremost in Christ. We are His—forgiven, cleansed, redeemed, and sealed in Christ with eternal life!

As we are secure in Christ, and humbly bow our knee to Him, our “position” or job is simply that, a position or a job. Then we are free to get rid of our "Blue Angel undies" and truly serve and bless others.

The Lure of Boasting

Tyler had a major part in planning, recruiting and putting on a 5-day seminar in Atlanta for a Christian organization. In his summary report afterwards, Tyler mentioned that he had taught at the seminar. A friend of mine who attended the seminar told me that Tyler did fine giving some announcements to the whole group. However, Tyler never taught.

Beware of taking credit for something that is not true. It is quite tempting because we want to look good, sound good, or seem important or impressive. I wonder if perhaps Tyler liked the spotlight a little too much.

I remember a conversation with a colleague, Trina. I told Trina about an idea I had. A few minutes later, as I walked by, I overheard Trina tell Eric about an “idea she had.” Only it was my idea she was talking about! Trina led Eric to believe it was her idea.

Beware of the lure of boasting, of taking undue credit, misrepresenting or maneuvering something to look better, sound better, or impress. At the core, it lacks integrity and it is pride. First Peter 5:5 tells us that God opposes the proud.  

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.”

Have you perhaps taken undue credit or boasted somehow? Then be quick to confess.

The beauty and wonder of our God is that He also gives grace to the humble.

Take a Step and Initiate

Recently, I was on a plane flying back home. Christy sat beside me.

I said hello and initiated small talk. Where are you from? Where are you headed? Is it a business trip or for pleasure? Christy shared freely.

Talking while in a plane is not easy for me because I get motion sickness. Being sleepy from taking Dramamine does not help either. As I was silently reflecting on Jesus and what He has done for me, I kept wondering where Christy might be spiritually. Has she heard about the good news of Christ?

So, I took another step after our brief conversation had died down. I asked her more about her life. About her current dating relationship she had mentioned. I genuinely wanted to know and was curious how she got where she was in life and in her dating relationship. Christy responded and opened up. 

Christy mentioned she went to a mainline church. I knew that that particular church taught a view of "earning" heaven that was contrary to what Scripture taught.

I also silently prayed, "Lord, I'd like to tell Christy about how to know You personally, about your Gospel. Please help me. Open her heart." 

In our discussion, I had mentioned that in dating relationships, I think it's important to share the same core values and why. Faith is one of those core values. Christy agreed. Spring-boarding from that, I briefly told Christy about how I came to put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

The plane began its descent and I wanted Christy to know how do to that too if she wanted. So I shared the Gospel and how God has solved our sin problem through Jesus Christ and what He did. However, we must personally receive that gift. We genuinely confess we are a sinner and personally ask Jesus Christ to come into our life, repenting of our sin and giving Him full control. And God will make us new and give us everlasting life!

It was a privilege to tell Christy what the Bible says about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and letting Him be our sin-bearer.

Yet, would Christy have initiated with me had I not initiated with her? I doubt it.

Jesus wants us to initiate with others for Him. It often starts with simply taking a step and initiating with someone.

Sarah and Submission

Like most wives, the word “submission” is not something I usually want to hear. Or do.

Submitting to my husband is not natural in my innate sinful self.

However, if we balk at submitting to our husbands when we should submit, we dishonor our Savior. Our sinful disobedience can also tragically thwart God's purposes and all He wants to accomplish.

Consider Sarah, the wife of our great patriarch of the faith, Abraham. 

What would have happened if Sarah had said “No” to Abraham when he said God had called them to leave their country and move to a new land that He would show them?

Sarah could have protested:

“But I don’t want to leave my family and friends.”   

“I don’t like change and I don’t want to move.”

“I enjoy my life and work here, I can’t give that up.”

Sarah could have chosen to not submit to her husband.

Consider the consequences of that. If Sarah had demanded to stay, then the nations could never have been blessed through all that God had for Abraham and Sarah. Consider what those nations—which includes numerous generations and thousands of believers in Christ today by faith—would have missed. All because one wife might have listened to her fears or demanded her way.

How is a submissive heart cultivated? 

I Peter 3:5-6 offers insight. Verses 3 and 4 tell women not to let our adornment be merely outward in terms of arranging our hair or what we wear, but to let it be the hidden person of the heart. Cultivate the inner, incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That is very precious to God! 

In reliance on the Holy Spirit, that gentle and quiet spirit will govern our heart, will and emotions. In that blessed place, He asks us to yield. We first submit wholeheartedly to our loving Lord and Master. Then we do whatever He asks, which includes submitting to our husband.

Look at Sarah again. Verse 6, “Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

I believe that “Doing what is right” here refers to Sarah submitting to her husband. And that is what women of God, in the lineage of Sarah and Abraham by faith, do. Willingly. In obedience. Out of reverence for our God and Savior. And as we do, God reminds us not to be frightened (or ruled) by fear.

Recently, I faced an issue involving submission. Fear sprang up. Quietly yielding again to the Lord, I submitted. Not my will but yours Lord. Then His peace filled me. I still have to push some doubts and lies of the enemy away, but the supernatural peace is from God. 

It comes when we “do what is right” like Sarah did.

For Any Who Have Had a Miscarriage

This is for anyone who has lost a baby due to miscarriage. I too know that pain personally. The following “To My Baby” captures so much of the ache of grief as well as the tender arms of Jesus. Be sure you have a Kleenex tissue.

To My Baby:

Is it proper to cry

For a baby too small

For a coffin?

Yes, I think it is.

Does Jesus have

My too-small baby

In His tender arms?

Yes, I think He does.

There is so much I do not know

About you—my child—

He, she? Quiet or restless?

Will I recognize

Someone I knew so little about,

Yet loved so much?

Yes, I think I will.

Ah, sweet, small child

Can I say

That loving you is like loving God?

Loving—yet not seeing,

Holding—yet not touching,

Caressing—yet separated by the chasm of time.

No tombstone marks your sojourn,

And only God recorded your name.

The banquet was not canceled,

Just moved. Just moved.

Yet a tear remains

Where baby should have been.

Source: Found in One Minute After You Die by Erwin Lutzer, p 76. Written by Bob Neudorf , The Alliance Witness, 16 September 1987, p 14.

What are We Giving 5-Year Olds?

This week I walked in the local mall for some exercise. It becomes a good place for indoor exercise to escape the cold of winter. That's when I saw this little boy. I'll call him Mark.

The mall was not crowded, so it was easy to spot Mark, about 5 years old. He sat on the tile floor in front of a high-end jewelry store's glass counter. His coat still on, he was alone and engrossed in what I'm fairly sure was an Ipod. The Ipod was plugged into a nearby socket. I watched him for a few minutes. Curly-haired Mark was quiet and never looked up.

Immediately I was sad, and mad. Now I realize I had no idea what Mark's situation was nor all that was going on. But what is a 5-year old doing sitting alone and watching something on a screen? My next thought is, where is the adult who is supposed to be looking after young Mark? Hopefully she was nearby.

Can we please take back childhood for our kids? Five year-olds do not need mom's Ipod. One might think that there are fine educational Ipod applications or kid-movies that are suitable for Mark. Maybe, but digital apps and programs should not be primary babysitters. They engage a child only so far, and they fail to develop a child's true imagination, thinking processes, or sensory development because many apps do it for them.

Kids will thrive with a few good ole fashioned toys, coloring books, etc. that help them complete a simple task or spur them to create their own make-believe play. When a group of kids came with their parents to our house a while ago, they discovered my bucket of animals on a stick. The kids immediately grabbed them and began playing, making up conversations between them, laughing and enjoying themselves. It was wonderful.

And most of all, five-year olds need parents or caretakers who are there for them, teaching, nurturing and giving them a non-electronic toy. They don't need someone who leaves them sitting by themselves on the floor of a mall with some gadget plugged into a wall.

Difficult Mothers

Difficult mothers come in all types. Some mothers tragically abandon/reject their child. Others stay high on drugs, or get drunk frequently, or live immorally with a parade of men through their bedroom.

Some mothers are the perpetual enabler, the heartless steamroller, or the passive doormat. Maybe she tragically does  little to nothing to protect her own children from the secret abuse under her own roof.Years after the fact, I discovered that one of my aunts fit that category. It was heartbreaking. 

With difficult or challenging mothers, what does one do? When is it okay to stand up against her sinful behavior or choices? How does one enforce stronger boundaries with her?

In 2 Chronicles 15:16, King Asa, one of the kings of Judah, had a difficult mother. Her name was Maacah. She erected a statue of the detestable pagan goddess Asherah. This encouraged the nation of Israel to debased behavior of every kind in the pattern of the Canaanite culture where lust and murder were glamorized. In shameless misuse of her position, this statue was one of the things that polluted and corrupted the people, leading them into a pit of sin, including worshiping this pagan statue instead of worshiping the only true God. 

Since her son was king, Maacah became the queen mother. Thankfully, Asa was not only king, but a man who "did good and right in the sight of the Lord." This included courageously standing up to his mother. Asa removed his mother from the position of queen mother because Maacah had made the disgusting Asherah. He cut down the statue, crushed it and burned it.

We can learn from Asa, his heart for God, and how he stood against wrongdoing and sin even when it came from his own mother. 

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P.S. I also recommend the book, The Mom Factor - Dealing with the Mother You Had, Didn't Have, or Still Content With by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.