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FROM FOLLOWER TO DENIAL, TO BECOMING A ROCK

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This past week in the Lenten devotional I’m reading along with a group of others from my church family, we camped out in Matthew Chapter 26 for a good portion of time. As of this writing we’ve all read about Peter denying Jesus three times on the night of His arrest. It won’t become known to us later after Jesus’ death and resurrection, how important Peter will become in advancing the kingdom of God on earth. Much will be written about Peter. Yet, in his evening of denial, he gets a bad rap from believers who don’t know “the rest of the story”.

Questions we ask ourselves is “how could he deny knowing Jesus”? “Didn’t Peter know that Jesus was the messiah? After all, he’d been in ministry with Him all that time!” “How could Peter deny a best friend and teacher?” These and perhaps many more are legitimate questions and I fear that we can find ourselves in their very answers.

I know there are times in my own life that I’ve not represented Jesus very well. How many times do I sit through a movie and not walk out when His name is thrown around like a beach ball. Have I always defended my faith well in the midst of conversations about Christian teachings that leave many confused, myself included. 

The Bible has many confusing or contradictions when perceived with our human mind. For example, I’m currently reading the Bible in chronological order and just finished the book of Judges. There’s a lot of brutality and carnage that took place in the history of the Israelite nation. I honestly don’t comprehend the “why” behind all the warring, but God allowed it. He even commanded it. And with Him it’s always with purpose. To reconcile my confusion I tell myself “well, He created. He has ultimate authority. He gets to call the shots”.

But, back to Peter. I think we are all more like Peter than we care to admit. When faced with unknowns or fear, it’s human nature to self protect. By Peter “staying at a distance”, actually sitting outside the courtyard where the high priest is questioning Jesus, he is close enough to hear all that is taking place. Combined with loyalty and fear, Peter remains as close as his emotions will allow. In the course of the night’s events, Peter “ physically remained” near the trial, yet fear became a driving motive to be “emotionally removed”  from Jesus. 

Peter offers me great hope. I hope he does for you as well. The more I learn about Peter the more I can relate. As a fisherman by trade he would have been strong. He was a servant, evidenced by his willingness to lay down his livelihood and follow Jesus as a disciple. He was married. He was passionate and bold which is shown through later preaching times to crowds coming to hear the “good news”.

I’m glad Peter didn’t end up his ministry in the wrappings of denial when things got hard for him and for Jesus. I’m encouraged that even though he chose a path of temporary cowardness, God used him later to shed light on telling fellow Jews about the resurrected Messiah. 

Peter may be seen by us as a coward. Let us not miss his humanity. Let us not downplay his role in launching a “new” way…The Way as the early church was called. Him being credited as “on this rock (Peter) I (Jesus) will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”. You see, even before Peter would deny knowing Jesus, he is set apart as someone who will have a key role in creating Jesus’ church–not man’s–God’s!

What can we take away from Peter? Even with his character flaws and failings, God set him apart BEFORE the night’s events of arrest and trial of Jesus. God allowed Peter to be himself, to walk through the coming days and then take his rightful place of confidence and authority to preach the “good news” to all who would listen. And listen they did! The Book of Acts records his first sermon to a crowd and we read about thousands being added daily to the list of all who came to believe in Christ’s death and resurrection.

If God can use an ordinary fisherman turned disciple and preacher, He can use you. The challenge is this, will you follow? Will you share the “good news”, too?

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JESUS KEEPS US CLOSE

This past week my morning scripture readings have come from the book of Matthew. He gives us a good account of all the events leading to the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Christ. In his writings we get a glimpse of a last meal together between Jesus and His disciples, the introduction of a “new covenant” using bread and wine, along with chilling words describing betrayal and denial that will involve all 12 men. For those of us who know the backstory, it’s Judas and Peter who will be singled out as two who fit the description applied to their integrity as faithful followers. 

When entering the Garden of Gethsemane for fervent prayer, I find it interesting that Jesus invited Peter to join Him, along with the sons of Zebedee, James and John who had reputations for being very passionate–actually a couple of hotheads at times. As often as I have read these verses over the years, it was this week that I asked myself “why did He choose these three men to join Him in a time of prayer bathed under great sorrow, trouble, and fear”. Reflecting on my own question I surmised that perhaps Peter needed to witness firsthand the anguish that Jesus felt in the garden, knowing what the coming days would unfold–His betrayal by Judas, the arrest, trial, torture and ultimately death by crucifixion. 

If James and John were indeed deeply passionate about Jesus’ ministry and their role in advancing God’s kingdom on earth, why wouldn’t they be included in prayer that was raw, tearful, and brutally honest pleading for a way to escape impending brutality and death?

Sadly, as we continue reading Matthew’s account of the evening’s prayer time, Jesus is left alone in His anguish, as every one of the disciples fell asleep. Were they bored? Had they said what they could in prayer, feeling depleted and exhausted? Had they given up on the night to wait for morning and a fresh start to a new day?

I think Peter gets a bad wrap for his choices. I would even stretch the blame we put on the disciples as being too judgemental. I think if I’m honest–if you’re honest–we all can relate to Peter and the others in ways that cause us to feel shame, guilt, fear…exercising our need for self preservation when faced with insurmountable odds.

An old testament psalm used in the second week of Lent comes from Chapter 27. Beginning at verse 11 we read: “Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”.

As Jewish men, the disciples would have been very familiar with this psalm. For three years they had been taught. They walked Jesus’ path that led to His oppressors. They heard lies spoken about them and that Jesus declared Himself as Messiah. They may not have always seen the goodness of God in daily life and indeed their strength failed and hearts wept from fear and not knowing the painful days ahead for their beloved Master.

Now that we believers have the advantage and beauty of the bible in its entirety, we can read Matthew’s account of their ministry coming to a crossroad. Their lack of comprehension for Jesus’ impending death was not yet clear. With tired minds and bodies they fell asleep. I like to think they were “waiting”. Waiting for an upheaval to Roman oppression. Waiting for Jesus to make His move to set the Jewish community free from Roman rule.

Peter, James and John, had front row positions to Jesus’ anguished prayers. In their failings, they most likely missed the opportunity to minister to their beloved teacher. Even with their faults, Jesus kept them close, allowed them to remain with Him. I visited the Garden of Gethsemane in 2019. It’s not a huge area. It’s very serene with olive trees, flowering shrubs, and rocks along the walking path. Even though nine of the disciples fell asleep a short distance away from Jesus and the other three, they were still fairly “close” which would have given them the ability to see and hear all that occurred. 

What can we glean from this? Even when we are weak, tired, full of fear and our own deep anguish, God is with us. In verse 5 of Psalm we read: “For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock”. 

WHY ASH WEDNESDAY?

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By the time you read this Ash Wednesday will be behind us, however, this important observation in Christian faith is the focus of my thoughts. Taking into consideration the deadline for the paper, I’ve made it my habit to sit down every Wednesday morning to write. So, staying in step with my weekly habit, this week’s article happened to fall on Ash Wednesday which kicks off the lenten season in Christian churches worldwide.

What is Ash Wednesday and why do we set this middle of the week day apart from all others? To understand and get answers to these questions–and more–a quick online search took me to several sites. Because I want a trusted source I was happy to find that biblestudytools.com had an article on the topic. From their site is the following information:

Although Ash Wednesday is rich in Christian symbolism, you won’t actually find it mentioned in the Bible. The tradition developed over time, starting with the Council of Nicea, which established a 40-day fasting period before Easter. There was some debate about when this period should start, but in the fifth century, Pope Gregory officially moved the beginning of Lent from a Sunday to Ash Wednesday. While the holiday itself isn’t directly from Scripture, its core practices—fasting, prayer, and repentance—are deeply biblical.

The heart of Ash Wednesday and Lent is about turning back to God. The 40 days of Lent reflect Jesus’ time in the wilderness, where He fasted and prepared for His ministry. For many Christians, this season is a time of self-reflection, letting go of distractions, and drawing closer to God as they prepare their hearts for Easter, the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

I grew up in a Lutheran church where Ash Wednesday and midweek lenten services were part of our worship schedule leading up to Easter. As a child I didn’t fully comprehend the deep spiritual benefits of this particular season in the church. It would be years later, at the age of 25, that I fully embraced the teachings about Jesus’ love for me and His plan of salvation for my life. On Ash Wednesday 1979 I responded to the gospel in the way that brought repentance and delivered grace through forgiveness and the promise of being a new creation in Christ! That decision changed my life and I’ve never looked back. Instead, I’ve lived a beautiful life filled with love, grace, mercy, and hope. 

In the church I attend now, we may not hold a service on Ash Wednesday or midweek ones, but it hasn’t diminished my ability to embrace this time in our church calendar. Due to technology with use of a common Bible app available to smartphone users, I’m part of a group who began reading a lenten devotional together. In the comfort of our homes, with the choice of time to open the daily reading, we are digging into scripture that points us to the ministry of Jesus and with one focus question we have the opportunity to interject ourselves into the story and respond about its impact. If we truly apply truths and promises found in the Bible we will begin to look like people described in 2 Corinthians 3: 18: “And we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from (one degree of) glory to (even more) glory, which comes from the Lord (who is) the Spirit”.  (Amplified Version)

The words of that verse are a wonderful goal for every believer. It should be our intention that anytime we attend church to hear a sermon or participate in a study of the Bible, that we leave differently than we arrived. 

Repentance. Forgiveness. New Creation. Transformation. These are keywords to focus on this lenten season. Don’t forget gratitude either. Prior to my salvation in 1979 I had walked away from God for four years. I was choosing to live under my own power and warped standards. Yet, in all that, like the good shepherd who leaves his flock of 100 to go after the one lost lamb, Christ pursued me and brought me back to the fold. What He did for me He will do for you!

WALKS & MUD PIES

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These slightly warmer days in the month of February which serve as ushering in windy March are what I refer to as “inbetweener days”. February has a reputation of giving us a range of temperatures…all the way from frigid to ones that tip  moderate warmth helped along by more sunshine as compared to wintry cloudy days threatening heavy snowfall. As snow begins to melt, creating puddles in drives and dirt roads, snowbanks become dotted with large splotches of mud. The sound of squish-squish is now a familiar sound under my feet as I walk down our driveway to the mailbox or along the road on the shoulder when avoiding traffic.

This past week’s warmer temps allowed me to get outside a bit more compared to January’s extreme cold. Feeling the sun on my face has been wonderful. Going for walks without bundling under several layers has been liberating! Now that I can avoid icy conditions, though, I find it necessary to watch my step on the mud. This gooey mess concocted from water and dirt can be dangerous to a misplaced footstep, resulting in slip sliding away when least expected.

Such was my experience this week. Thankfully, I did not slide to the point of a fall, however, I found myself being very careful testing the “muddies” so-to-speak whenever I moved off the pavement of our road. On one of my walks, I intentionally did not listen to a podcast, music, or an audible book. Instead, I wanted the luxury of being “mindful” of my surroundings. What would I see? Hear? Smell? My senses did not fail me.

As I strolled along I enjoyed bright sunshine on my face and cool air filling my lungs. In tall trees I heard birds singing. The breezes smelled fresh and clean, even though my eyes caught winter’s end with melting snow, dead underbrush exposed above once deep snowbanks, muddy blotches on remaining piles of snow. Though not pristine by any means, I comprehended that there is a “season for everything”, complete with the rough edges of waning winter giving way to  promises of lush springtime growth coming in a mere few weeks. 

All that I took in with my eyes reminded me of our relationship with God. By nature we are all sinners, covered with sin’s dirt, marred by its effects. Yet, when He comes into our lives, those things are removed by His salvation and grace, leaving us white as snow.  “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,  they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

And if it isn’t enough to have sins washed with such purity, Jesus is also a healer. In the book of John we can read about a time that Jesus healed a blind man by mixing His saliva with dirt, creating a mud pie in His hands which he applied to the man’s eyes. I’m not sure why He chose this method to deliver a healing, but it shows us how He can use ordinary elements of the earth to grant a miracle. Afterall, if God created Adam from the dust of the earth, why can’t Jesus use a mixture of dirt to restore sight? When common meets divine I’m in awe.

Yes, my ordinary walks outside are opportunities for me to observe the world around me. I can look up and see planes streaming across blue skies. I am able to notice roadside areas covered with mud, stones, and dead plants waiting to wake up to spring’s alarm. I can marvel at numerous deer trails winding through wooded areas, their tracks molded in mud next to pavement, leaving behind evidence of their presence in our neighborhood.

My mind, on another walk outside, has had the opportunity to meet with divine, to enjoy present day temps while anticipating the promise of spring in a few weeks. When spring arrives, my eyes will have new things to behold. I’ll be able to smell different aromas in the air. And, most likely I won’t be walking in mud. Unless it rains! Maybe, just maybe, I should have fun making “mud pies”…..

LIVING ROOM SOCIAL MEDIA

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Ah, the blessings and curses that come with social media.

When Facebook surged above all other social media platforms, I joined a myriad of friends and family making use of this communication tool. I quickly connected with friends who live in different geographic locations…families spread out across Michigan and beyond to the west coast … .close friends…highschool classmates…individuals and groups that feed into my personal goals for understanding of scripture and ministry where I serve. The past years belonging to Facebook, and now Instagram along with X, have been heartwarming, intriguing, plus an occasional wringing of hands in frustration.

Reflecting on my experiences with social media, I could not help but remember Sunday afternoon visits with my grandparents. Following a delicious dinner, it never failed that I ran back and forth between the living room from playing outside, my grandpa seated among dad and his brothers, along with brothers-in-law were, discussing current events. My memories are totally foggy and I certainly don’t have recall for those conversations other than to remember they were quite lively, but never critical or mean spirited. Sources of topics were what they heard on the evening news, newspapers, radio, and magazines.

On one such visit, our family was the first to arrive on a Sunday and when we walked in the door my grandpa jumped up excitedly, waving an issue of Time magazine in my dad’s face, declaring “Jack, do you know what them Roo-sians are up to?” “Read this, Jack!” Before dad could react or respond, Gramp told dad word for word what was contained in the article.

Going back to my uncles. Within their career circle were two engineers, a car salesman, a laborer for General Motors, a self employed building contractor,  a minister and a colonel in the United States Air Force. My dad was employed in the building inspection department for the City of Saginaw in the 60s, the years of many family dinners and living room conversations. Grandpa’s working years spanned farming, logging, and in his later years, some small machine work. My Jewell “guys” certainly represented a variety of work skills which included a strong foundation of integrity. 

IF they had strong disagreements when discussing America’s woes in the 60s, it never was evident to me. What I heard and observed was a group of siblings having lively conversations. When I really leaned in to what they were talking about, I was happy to sit and listen when many “yarns” or stories from childhood dominated their lively banter,  many of which were repeated year after year and are now beloved memories from my childhood.

So, social media. As I’ve been a part of my “friendship circle” the posts have often gone from family photos or highlighted vacation moments to discussions of current matters in America. Admittedly, I have joined in all of these topics but having done so has not always been beneficial.

My observations boil down to things for me. One, there’s a lot of courage behind a keyboard evidenced by some very mean spirited posts. Secondly, I’m convinced social media is never going to serve as a beneficial or uplifting platform to discuss “hot topics”. Certainly, I enjoy reading a variety of opinions, while struggling with motives behind “jabs” or “disrespectful” words. Once again, of my own admission, I often got sucked into a “ping pong match of wits” with those who think differently than myself. Not anymore.

I made a conscious decision to keep my social media focused on family photos, special moments we’ve enjoyed as a family, connecting with family and friends, sharing encouragement from “my” source of all that is good–scripture.

My Jewell guys never solved any of America’s problems in the 60s. At most, they accomplished hearing the viewpoints of each other. No one ever left angry or “unfriended” one another. 

Yes, social media is now an outlet that illustrates our human nature ranging in behaviors from elation to anger. Missing is the ability to “hear” a tone of voice behind typed words, or the “heart” behind comments. Missing is the beauty of face-to-face conversations which allow differing angles to meet over closely held passions and stances without resulting in being cut off.

I can’t imagine any of my dad’s sibling relationships being severed due to thinking as an individual. In my grandparents’ small living room, in that small close knit circle of the Jewell men, there was love, acceptance, and always yielding to differing opinions.

I think those of us who use social media could learn a lesson or two from a circle of loving and goofy brothers. Who, when finished bantering away the afternoon, went out to the kitchen for another slab of pie or outside for a rousing game of horseshoes, brothers against brothers in fair play and healthy competition.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4: 29) 

LESSONS OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

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Happy anniversary to me!

In what seems like a whirlwind swirling through the past 12 years of my life, I am marking two decades of writing my personal blog, which is now being featured weekly in the ‘News & Views’. I am grateful for personal satisfaction I receive in the expression of written words as well as being given an audience in the paper’s readership. Both experiences have been paths I would not have considered showing up in the landscape of my life.

During these past years, sitting down each week to write, I’ve had numerous “a-ha” topics come to mind, making my task easy to complete. Admittedly, there have been mornings where my thoughts are stuck. I feel dry and empty sitting at my laptop, asking myself “what shall I write about this week?” Some call it writer’s block. Such spells can often be described as a “dry patch”. I have endured both afflictions, yet neither of them has devoured my ability to “pen” something that I feel is worthy of a “job well done”. Most weeks, when I struggle to hone in on a topic worthwhile of writing about, my go-to source has been to ask God…”what would YOU have me write about today, Father. What can I say to encourage someone today or cause them to smile and even provoke a hearty laugh?” Never to my surprise, He has been faithful to answer.

Today, God has been showing me small lessons from the birds who visit our pan of birdseed. We have resorted to using a cake pan to hold the seed, as several bird feeders have been either destroyed or stolen–maybe a crafty racoon? Fortunately, we’ve not lost the pan; it has survived weeks of cold or rainy days.

When the pan is empty, I have observed the numerous birds sitting on the deck railing, waiting for their morning meal. Sometimes they perch in a nearby pine tree and swarm the pan when we fill it. We’ve got our share of sparrows, juncos, morning doves, and blue jays who compete for a “seat the table”. Vying for a turn to feast on the mixture of seeds is our resident squirrel who plops his or her plump body smack dab in the middle of the pan, choosing the sunflower seeds, tossing aside the shells which are now strewed over the deck. We’ve even had a chipmunk or two enjoy a turn dining. Watching them dart back and forth competing with our fine feathered friends is always a source of laughter for me.

When I take time to watch the feeding frenzy our beloved creatures create, I soon realize that in their need to eat, to survive, there’s a bit of competition and chaos. The Blue Jays are the most aggressive; the morning doves seem the most docile. What they lack in aggression, is made up in their own sizable bodies to dominate the seed by sitting on top of it as though perched in a nest. 

Then there are what I refer to as “dive bombers”. These are the fellas who come in from the safety of the neighbor’s shrubs, swooping in to take over our small country buffet. Their fast approach and crash landing antics cause all others to quickly scramble. Until all bellies are full, this is a cycle I’ve seen continue for several hours.

One small baking pan of birdseed may seem insignificant as we do our part to feed the birds who remain with us during Michigan’s cold winter months. Yet, I’m confident even our small efforts are producing great results for all who rely on the pan being on the table for them, filled every morning for their delight.

So, a question to God…what do I write today?…a small pan of birdseed. Small amounts of common birdseed and witnessing the ability to provide for small beautiful creatures provide me with an example of God’s love and faithfulness to me, too.

Sometimes I come to Him in a fast swoop, too. There are mornings I have the gift of leisurely time to “sit in the middle of God’s Word” and feast on His promises. The difference for me in comparison to our little outside creatures is that I do not need to worry about competing for God’s presence or feeling satisfied from His provision.

God is able to meet all needs. He does this for everyone who comes to Him, all who are hungry or thirsty. And He does it every day without slumber or sleep. His riches and glory are never ending. And I like to imagine Him smiling and laughing at me when I come to Him frantically, or waiting with arms out wide to hug me as a child needing comfort and safety.

GOD, THE UNIQUE CREATOR

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Children, babies…their presence among us older folks often bring out the best in us. With gentle cooing to downright hefty belly laughter, I find that these little people bring a unique type of joy and innocence that overshadows any form of negativity in a room.

Admittedly, I’m not one to gravitate to newborns other than a quick glance and word of congratulations to new parents. Yet, when it came to welcoming our own two children, and later our four grandchildren, my appreciation for newborns changed with noticeable measure.

For the past several years, I’ve been serving in children’s ministry at our church. Twice a month I’m in a room full of elementary age children who are ready to shout, sing, and enjoy a Bible teaching through cleverly written videos. I’ve seen kindergarten age kids grow up and leave our group; they’re now part of the middle and high school groups. Being part of their spiritual growth has been a source of great joy and has also given me insight into the unique qualities God places in every person.

Psalm 139: 14 says: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well”.

I remember the very first time I heard all of Psalm 139. We were attending a benefit for a Christian organization, Concerned Women for America. Our guest speaker for the event was Cal Thomas, renowned veteran columnist and commentator who has written for numerous publications. Mr. Thomas’ speech that evening focused on looming abortion rates in America and the role we as Christians could take to help save innocent lives. Our event was in the mid 1990s when abortion was making frequent headlines, not unlike our present times.

His speech, his use of Psalm 139 helped to reshape some of my opinions regarding a very sensitive topic, most of which I cannot express with adequate words in a short article. But it was the Psalm itself which burned remaining truths in my mind and heart that every life, every person, is indeed precious to God, created in His image, and with great purpose He is the author and the one who creates the uniqueness we see in everyone we meet.

In my large group of children at church there are the loud noisy ones. Sitting with them on a bench are the more shy, the “let me merely sit here and not be noticed” ones. During worship time I’ll see lively kids jumping up and down, doing all the motions that go with each song. Another glance around the room reveals those kids who are happy to stand, hands at their sides, expressionless faces, you know, the ones who “I may be standing but I’m sitting on the inside; you can’t MAKE me sing even though I want to but I’m way too cool…”

There are girls decked out in party dresses, some are wearing their comfy leggings. Boys come wearing hoodies, a couple don a button down shirt, maybe one or two will sport a tie. Our kids come in all shapes and sizes, every color of hair and eyes–some need glasses, some need a pair of headsets due to the noise level. Most of them are wiggly squiggly giggly human machines. I love that!

I love that no two people are the same. Even identical twins do not have the same DNA nor do they have the same fingerprint configuration. Though our human eye may not be able to quickly differentiate between a set of twins, by God’s design they are unique individuals.

I encourage you to read the entirety of Psalm 139 this week. Take hold of David’s words as you discover the power behind God’s creation of every person. Marvel in knowing that God knit you together, He knows you and He sees you. You are precious to Him. 

Now, I can honestly admit I love being around small children. Their joy is infectious and their antics bring laughter to my spirit. Their love and ability to embrace Jesus and Who He is a beautiful thing to see on a Sunday morning. We’ve got several little girls who will do cartwheels during worship. We’ve got girls who sit on a bench holding hands like best friends do…we’ve got boys who are excited to show off their dance moves when we sing “Church Clap”. We’ve got kids who will ask if they can be the one to say a prayer at the end of our time together.

Jesus’ own words offer us a beautiful admonition: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. (Matthew 19)

I can declare with confidence that children matter to Jesus. Therefore, they can and should hold great significance to us, too.

So, if you need a healthy dose of joy, a measure of hope, an example of innocent jubilation for a beautiful savior, get yourself around some kids at church. And when the music starts, join in for some wild and crazy worship!

GENTLENESS OUTWEIGHS ANGER

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Last week I wrote about the necessity of having a strong foundation when building a home and paralleled that process to creating a healthy life for ourselves. As a woman who grew up with a dad who had built our family home, who knew how to properly construct a foundation, then erect walls and roof trusses, I gained proper perspective on the importance of having a blueprint, the right tools, and the knowledge how to follow every step in the building process. By not running ahead of any one of the building’s necessary processes or taking shortcuts, arriving at its final completion date is being able to say a “job well done” and “worth the blood, sweat and tears”.

As mentioned, my dad built our family home which was completed in 1954. With his skills the only work he outsourced was the electrical and plumbing as well as the fireplace in the living room. When I was old enough to understand, I remember dad telling me how the mason who came to lay the fireplace bricks had clearly enjoyed a few drinks too many….yet, with a watchful eye my dad watched to make sure the mason’s level actually read correctly and that each row was put in place with required precision. I often wonder why dad didn’t ask the contracted mason to return when he had full capacity of his mental processes; perhaps my dad’s gentle spirit and reluctance to confront uncomfortable situations prevailed over what others may see as pure logic to resolve a tense situation.

In the 70’s my folks purchased land in the Rose City area and built a small cabin. This structure had a crawl space and when the local building inspector came to observe dad’s progress, he instructed that a rat wall had to be part of the crawl space walls. I’ll never forget my dad’s laughter every time he repeated details about the inspector’s visit. Dad knew the Uniform Building Codes inside and out. He used them every day in his career and even taught them at college level to architects and builders. He knew that his small rural cabin didn’t need a rat wall because rats are typically a city problem, not one in small communities. But, rather than argue, he complied with the request as deep down he knew it didn’t affect the final outcome of our cabin’s foundation and ultimate completion.

In the 80’s our family home needed to be reroofed. By that time my brothers and husband were able to help dad. Although dad was in his 60s, he amazed us with an agility to go up and down a ladder to supervise and lay down new shingles. A couple of family friends came to help; they had years of experience with all tools, but also had the same accumulation when it came to enjoying a cold beer. During one of the work days, on a particularly hot afternoon working on the roof, one of the fellas was showing obvious signs of having over indulged to quench his thirst. Shingles need to line up correctly in order for the entire project to be perfect. Dad observed a slight decline taking place with a row of shingles. In order to save the project, but not use a direct approach, he chose to “shut down the day’s work due to the sun’s heat”. Once again, his gentle nature took precedence rather than confronting our friends “one too many beers”.

One might ask, why didn’t your dad just go ahead and be bold to correct a mason, an inspector, and a family friend in the errors of their ways? My answer is gentleness. I think my dad showed me that sometimes much is accomplished when gentleness is given rather than a harsh response. In fact, in Romans 15:1 it says “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”.  O, how many arguments or tense situations could be avoided if this admonishment was actually put in place in our conversations and actions with family and friends!

My challenge to myself and you is to consider using the gift of gentleness to diffuse an uncomfortable situation or request a change in behavior from a loved one. That we can remember a soft approach and words of kindness laced with encouragement go a long way to creating healthy relationships. We can endeavor to achieve what is written in 1 Thessalonians 5: 11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing”. 

One last favorite memory of my dad’s gentle spirit. While serving in the U.S. Navy, whenever his ship was in port with short leave granted, dad told me each sailor sometimes received two cans of beer and a pack of cigarettes. Dad always gave one beer away as well as the cigarettes. On one occasion, a fellow shipmate asked “Jewell, how come you don’t smoke?”

“Because my mother asked me not to….” I can hear Grandma Jewell’s sweet voice making this simple request to her son as he became a young man and went off to serve in World War II, leaving behind farm life and facing many different new challenges. I like to believe that her steadfastness to remain kind, gentle, always parenting with huge doses of love and hugs, made my dad into the man he became so that in turn I could learn those same traits.

BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION

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“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him”. (Psalm 34: 8)

This is one of my favorite statements within all of the 150 psalms that are contained in Old Testament writings.  David is credited for penning this particular psalm; he did so when fleeing his homeland in order to escape Saul’s rage.In order to further protect his life, he actually acted insane under Abimelek, the ruler of the Philistines where David had escaped. In the earlier portion of the psalm David declared he would “extol the Lord at all times”, that “His praise will always be on my lips”. He offers an invitation –”Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together”. David describes the protection God gave him as “the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them”.

In light of California’s devastating fires raging through neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area, I did a quick search to find any stories of the miraculous. I stumbled upon an article describing how a $9 million home survived total destruction while considering each home on both sides were total losses. Looking at the accompanying photo is proof of its resilience against fire and wind created by the wildfire.  Explanations for the mansion’s survival are attributed that the house was built with fire resistant materials, including stucco and stone walls, along with a specially designed fireproof roof. These elements likely shield the property from the intense heat and flames. (source businessstandard.com)

Wisdom. Forethought. These are two themes often taught in scripture. As the words of David in Psalm 34 instruct, likewise Jesus’ own words regarding wisdom are found in a parable He taught in Matthew 7: 24-25: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation built on the rock”. 

You and I, when creating and building our faith, can do well to follow God’s blueprint for a beautiful and successful outcome for our personal journey with Him. Like the mansion, we will be surrounded by people who are constantly negative, who will attack our belief systems, who challenge the very fabric of our biblical truths. By standing firm, by placing our trust in God, those weaker than us face the possibility of destruction, all while living “lost” and “unprotected” because of refusal to surrender pride and arrogance to an almighty God.

Let me make it clear, I’m not saying that God caused the wildfires in California. Although I’m a novice at best when it comes to that locale, I am wise enough to understand how policies prevented ample water supplies along with years of not performing deforestation practices may have greatly contributed to these current fires. Comparing years of enacted laws to that of common sense leadership appears to have been a mute topic until thousands of families are now displaced who are now calling out for answers and accountability from those who’ve been making decisions for Californians. 

Beautiful homes require months to construct. Likewise, faith in Jesus takes time, too. All too quickly–in the blink of an eye–material possessions can be destroyed, leaving us homeless, empty, loss of hope, despair filling our once joyful hearts. Faith can also come under an onslaught of attack in the forms of illness, death, loss of income…but when wavering faith keeps eyes focused on the architect and builder–Jesus Christ–reconstruction comes! Faith is nurtured once again, perhaps even restored as something stronger than when life was smooth sailing.

Finally, to the families in California, to anyone who feels as though life is hard, take refreshment from David’s own words in verse 17-18: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

(source: businessstandard.com)

BREAD, THE KING OF THE TABLE

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Well, I found myself caught in a craze that offers great success or equal in failure. It’s a craze that uses simple ingredients which produce a rich product if everything is done correctly and with diligent care and determination to succeed. These simple ingredients are merely flour and water and when measured correctly, tended under the right conditions, produces a starter for “all things sourdough”. Although many of my friends tout the ease and beauty of baking with sourdough, my past attempts have not had successful outcomes. In response to my failures, I gave up trying to create a beautiful sourdough mix. Until this past week, I resurrected the challenge to try again.

Knowing that there “can” be the ability to create a starter, I set about mixing up my flour and water. I used a favorite YouTube channel for my guide, a woman who reminds me of a gentle kind grandmother, explaining each step with a soft gentle lilt in her voice. She assured me–as one of her many followers–that I too could make my own starter which she guarantees as “no fail”.

It’s Day 4 of my small bowl’s activity. Much like tending a small child, I’m in the phase of “feeding” my batter twice a day, after removing some of the gooey blend. The part I remove is referred to as “discard”, but it doesn’t mean I need to throw it away. Now that I have discarded batter, I can use it in other baked goods. 

Ours is a family that enjoys bread, all types of bread. Growing up in Saginaw, we were blessed with several family owned bakeries that specialized in breads. One favorite–Spatz–still operates in the same location, under the efforts of a third generation. Distribution of their bread isn’t widespread, however. To enjoy it we will on occasion purchase some during a trip back to visit relatives. It freezes well but doesn’t have a long shelf life on a counter. I’ve been told the recipe hasn’t changed since my childhood days enjoying grilled cheese or peanut butter/jam sandwiches. If a loaf wasn’t eaten quickly and became dry, my mother turned it into bread pudding.

Bread has long been a staple of diets for humans. A quick check revealed that the word bread appears in the Bible 492 times in the original languages. Bread was a staple of diets then and remains so for us today. Assuming that this delicious and filling food satisfies a hungry belly, I find it very comforting that Jesus declared Himself as “the bread of life, he who comes to Me will never hunger…” (John 6: 35). How surreal that Jesus used an everyday commodity to describe His heavenly role to feed hungry people–not merely empty bellies–but aching hurting hearts, too.

Back to my “starter”. My current phase requires my careful attention twice a day now. I haven’t had to set an alarm just yet to remind me not to miss a feeding (smile) but I hope I don’t forget and can make adjustments if I’m away. Comparing my little sourdough starter’s needs that can only be met by me pales to that of how Jesus cares and tends us who are part of His flock. As I imagine future loaves of bread from my starter, I’m also gathering the image in my mind from the time when Jesus fed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and fish. He was able to perform a miraculous meal that filled every belly–men, women, and children–complete with leftovers! Nothing was wasted, the leftovers were put into12 baskets.

Another quick search showed me there are at least 30 different types of bread. By today’s standards I’m taking liberty that not all of them on our store shelves are healthy versions of this basic staple. Maybe this is why I find myself–many friends–learning how to make homemade bread, leaving out unnecessary ingredients.

I’m truly hoping my sourdough starter will get to the goal of being nice and bubbly with a fermented aroma which is part of its intrigue. Deep down I know that if this batch fails, I can try again. In addition, when the day arrives that I can turn batter into a dough, I will delight in the time and effort to create a delicious loaf of bread.

Furthermore, each time I come across the word “bread” in scripture, I will smile. I will take delight in realizing that Jesus–the Son of God–who is often referred to as the King of Kings described Himself in the commonality of a mere loaf of bread. Notedly, as the “bread of life” He is the main ingredient…He has no beginning or end…He satisfies….He fills. The distribution of His “bread” is worldwide and available to all who are hungry.