Just Keep Digging

As someone who accepted Jesus Christ as a child, I could arguably claim that I have a firm grasp of Scripture. In my 34 church-going years, I have heard and rediscovered the stories contained in the pages of the Bible, studied the various themes throughout, and spent years listening to sermons, attending small groups, and working my way through all sorts of devotionals and Bible studies. Over the years, I have taught Bible lessons in various forums, memorized Scripture, participated in debates and discussions about Biblical topics, and read the Bible cover to cover.  And yet, the more I dig and study, the more I discover how much there is still left to learn about God’s holy and inspired Word. I still find myself saying, “I don’t remember that being in there” or “Have I read that before?”

There are very few books that I have ever read more than once in my life. Regardless of how much I love a certain book, I rarely return to it. For one, books are time-consuming. I would rather invest those hours of my life exploring a new world rather than return to one I already know. And yet, I always find the Bible is the greatest exception to this unspoken, self-imposed rule. No matter how many times I read a passage, God’s goodness and love and faithfulness and mercy and grace hold some greater measure of understanding and application than they did before.  That is what makes the Bible so unique and what allows God’s Word to be living and active in our lives. 

Just recently, a series called “The Bible” has been airing on the History Channel. This series has received world-wide acclaim. There are churches that are not only encouraging their congregations to watch it, but hosting “viewing parties” for their members. As one that can be a bit skeptical about Hollywood’s “take” on Biblical events, I was interested to watch and discern what aspects were true and which were fabricated for entertainment purposes. What a great challenge it has been to test what I really know and use my Bible as a tool to verify or dispute the movie’s portrayals. 

Some scholars have devoted their whole lives to reading and studying God’s Word. Let's face it. It is easy sometimes to get intimidated by others who know so much more than we do. We may be tempted to just leave the studying and the digging to them. Let us not be satisfied with just knowing the stories. Let us ask questions and dig deeper ourselves.  What an amazing journey we are missing out on if we do not make this effort, asking God to give us wisdom and understanding as we read.   

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

I Corinthians 2:10, “These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

Whether you have been a Christian for many years or whether the Word of God is a new world you are just beginning to explore, I hope you are struck anew, as I am, at how much there is still left to learn.  May it be the desire of your heart, as it is mine, to jump in and dig deeper, and see what God will show you.

The Heart of Anger: A Book Review

by Jennie Smith
Assistant Secondary Principal

It's Spring Break...and that means spring cleaning in the Smith household.  I decided I would start with the most neglected room of the house - it's what we call the "den," but should really be referred to as "the dumping ground."  I started with the bookcase and thought I would dust and sort through the books.  Then, in true bookworm fashion, I found a dusty book off the shelf, was intrigued by it, and stopped cleaning in favor of reading.

The book was The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo.  I had originally bought it as a summer reading assignment for the teachers of the school many years ago, probably before I even had children.  But with a pre-teen and a pre-teen wannabe in my household, I was caught by the title and then, as I read, I was convicted as a parent.

Lou Priolo begins his book by first dealing with the plank in the parents' eye before touching the speck of dust in the child's eye (Matthew 7:3). He, first, challenges parents to have a God-centered home, rather than a child-centered home.  Here is the comparison he makes:

Child-centered Home Children: interrupt adults when they are talking, use manipulation to get their way, are entertained out of a bad mood, demand excessive time and attention from parents to the detriment of the other biblical responsibilities of the parents, speak to parents as though they were peers (pg. 24).

God-centered Home Children are taught:  to joyfully serve others, to cheerfully obey parents the first time, to understand they will not always get their own way, to suffer the natural consequences of sinful behavior, to esteem others as more important than themselves (pg. 27).  These ideas are now prominently displayed on our refrigerator door - as a guide for the parents and the children that reside here.

Secondly, he thoroughly addresses this powerful verse of Scripture:  "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."  Ephesians 6:4 (ESV).  He mentions 25 ways that parents provoke their children to anger, and I was surprised by how many I allow to go on in my own heart and home. Some of these 25 things are easy to remedy;  for example, asking forgiveness from our children when we sin against them is an easy way to bring peace in our homes.  Some take more of a deliberate effort on our part, like being consistent in discipline and knowing how much freedom your child should be allowed.  But in this section, I appreciate how Mr. Priolo gives biblical support for each way we can avoid provoking or exasperating our children.    

The second half of the verse from Ephesians "...but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord..." is addressed in the latter half of the book.  One of my favorite chapters is "How to Conquer Disrespect and Manipulation."  In this chapter, Mr. Priolo challenges parents in to be biblical in their response to disrespect and manipulation.  He encourages parents to examine their motives, examine their lives, maintain a spirit of gentleness, and choose the right words - the words that point the child back to the Lord and what He has for them. 

The Heart of Anger is now off my bookshelf and has taken residence beside my bed.  I have found so many nuggets of wisdom that I plan to implement in my parenting and know that I will be re-reading this book multiple times.  Are there parenting books that you've found particularly helpful?  Share them in the comments below.  Now, I best get back to the cleaning of "the dumping ground."  I wonder what nuggets of treasure I can find today!

You are Mine

Have you ever been introduced to Punchinello? 

If you haven’t, it’s about time you meet a little wooden Wemmick who never seems to get it quite right. You are Special, You are Mine, and Best of All are three little children’s books written by Max Lucado that have a powerful message for all ages. I bring these books up today because they are wonderful reminders of our Creator’s love and plan for us. Each book has its own unique message to share, but You are Mine speaks specifically to the issue of contentment. 

In this story, the silly little people of Wemmicksville become totally consumed with collecting boxes and balls to show how “important” they are. Punchinello, wanting to fit in, sells everything he has to accumulate boxes and balls. Not only does he have to purchase boxes and balls to be a “good Wemmick”, the boxes and balls had to be just the right kind—the newest, biggest, and brightest. Just when Punchinello thought that he had everything he needed, the Wemmicks started competing to see who could make their toys the tallest. Eventually, they try to race up a mountain to reach the highest point in the city, but fall off the path because they can’t see past all of their toys. [Surely you must be seeing the connection by now to real life and the human race.]

Punchinello wanders off the path and ends up at the home of his maker, Eli, the wood-carver. Although the boxes and balls had cost Punchinello all he had, ultimately, they cost him much more. Punchinello realized that he was trusting in toys to make him happy and not his creator. However, Eli’s response to Punchinello was this, "You're special - not for what you have but for who you are. You are mine. I love you. Don't forget that.”

What a powerful and convicting message from this simple children’s book! How many of us find ourselves trying to find importance and value in the things that we have?  Even as I write this I see the Sprint commercial playing with the motto, “More is better.” We are surrounded by this idea that happiness is directly related to the amount of things we collect. Yet, God’s word tells us otherwise. 

Luke 12:15 ESV 

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

 

Are you spending your life trying to collect boxes and balls that in the end are robbing you of your happiness? What is the real cost of all of your efforts? The next time you find yourself stacking your toys so high you are wandering off the path, remember  "You're special - not for what you have but for who you are.” And hear your Creator say, “You are mine. I love you.”