Chronicles Reflections

I've been doing some "light" reading in Chronicles. Recently, in my journey of reading through the Bible this year, I've been coming across not a few kings in Judah whose lives, while being listed as “mostly good” as far as their deeds were concerned, were followed by the denunciation: Nevertheless, they did not follow Adonai wholeheartedly.

Amatzyahu was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name was Y’ho‘adan, from Yerushalayim. He did what was right from Adonai’s perspective, but not wholeheartedly.

We had this whole discussion about it the other morning while we were having coffee on the deck, which got me thinking: “What does it look like to follow God wholeheartedly?”

Amaziah started off being a good King, but then he went into battle against Edom, and ended up bringing back their gods (by which I assumed is meant idols) and setting them up alongside YHVH, the one true living God.

After Amatzyahu returned from the slaughter of the people from Edom, he brought the gods of the people of Se‘ir and set them up as his own gods, prostrating himself before them and offering incense to them.  

In what ways does God look at us and see us doing the very same thing? 

I think if we are going to examine that, we're going to have to define what we consider a god, what we consider to be wholehearted.

In our western church and in our western society in general, there is such a syncretism - a blending of the sacred and the common. God called us to be set apart, but what does that actually look like in real life? We are a blend of cultures and traditions with a long history of adopting cherished practices which are generations removed from our pagan ancestors. In our eyes, we reason that those practices have been “redeemed” somehow, when in fact, Scripture says nothing of the sort. We as humans have been redeemed, but we are told to “put aside foreign gods”, the sins “which cling so closely”, and “renounce disgraceful ways”. We are quick to criticize the Pharisees, but we too “leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

Does being set apart just mean putting on nice clothes and walking through the church doors one day a week? Is that really what it takes to be set apart? If so, we have millions of people doing just that but living their lives looking exactly like the rest of the world. So my question remains, what exactly are they set apart from?

Somehow I don’t think we define it the same way God does.

• Moses outlined how clothing, decorative items, food, people, and even land could be “set apart for God”

• Jesus said that he had been set apart for holiness, so that [we] too may be set apart for holiness by means of the truth. 

• Jesus was set apart by his having been resurrected from the dead.

• Paul calls us to offer ourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. He further says we are “freed from sin and enslaved to God” which “consists in being made holy, set apart for God, and its end result is eternal life.”

And why are we to be set apart? Ezekiel explains it:

…’The nations will know that I am Adonai ,’ says Adonai Elohim , ‘when, before their eyes, I am set apart through you to be regarded as holy.’

The whole reason we are to live our lives set apart, whole-hearted unto God is so that the rest of the world will see a difference in us - AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD. I am not saying we need to thump our Big Black Bibles in their faces and doom them to hell. Living a life set apart means just that: We Look Different from the rest of the world.

Everyone of us has our own list of things that pull us away from wholeheartedness. I could make a list, but that would be my list - and it’s most likely that the things I struggle with don’t even attract you, and vice versa. I think the question comes down to: what am I seeking, spending time on, wishing for, or worrying about that does not portray the Truth of Who God Is?

If we don’t know Who God Is, then we will have a hard time discerning those answers. I make it a practice while reading my Bible to use a blue colored pencil to highlight statements of truth about Who God is. As I do that, it helps form a clearer, more accurate picture of how God is portrayed in His Word - which is usually a whole lot different from how the rest of the world portrays him! 

Following Him wholeheartedly just means to me that I need to be living my life lined up with the belief that God really is who He said He is, not what I think He should look like, what I heard from someone else that He looks like, or what the world says He looks like. The truth is: He loves me. He has a good plan for my life - but it does not have to line up with my expectations or desires, because He is God and I am not. Living anything different would be putting myself in His place. 

I hope that in so doing, I will be able to say with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:

…:our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand… But if not… we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

And with Job:

“Though he slay me, I will hope in him…”

What is He Worth?

I had an odd dream last night, which for me is nothing unusual. Most of my dreams are convoluted, to say the least, and better left on the pillow than remembering for any prophetic value. 

This time, the question was posed about a well-known person in the entertainment industry: What is he worth? 

My immediate thought was: To whom? 

What we are worth is first of all going to be answered by how we define the word WORTH. And it then depends on who is answering the question: His CPA or financial advisor? His studio? His ex-wife? His mother? 

What any one of us is worth depends on pretty much the same criteria. But the opinion many don’t consider asking about is not of a person or an entity, it is of the One who created us - who knew us before we were formed. 

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them. 

Psalm 139:13-16 

This was the verse given to me as a young, newly-married person - someone who did not see herself through a proper lens. The older we get, the longer it takes to filter out the noise of everything that life has dished out to us, but understanding who we really are and how we are valued by the One who designed and created us is the starting place and the best platform on which to build our true sense of self-worth.

When we can see our value from the eyes of one who loves us - our innermost being - that puts all of the rest into proper perspective. It frames how we live, what we in turn value, and how we treat others. 

What are Your 2 Mites?

Last night I was hoping to have some lucid dreams that had significance instead of the goofy mixed up ones that I could barely remember in the morning. Something that I asked for as I lay in bed was a peaceful rest. 

What came to me was somewhat of a lesson, or an amalgamation of things I have been hearing over the past days and weeks. Somewhat of an "aha! moment," if you will.

A little over a week ago, Andrew taught about the parable of the talents. Now, I don't think it was a mistake or a coincidence that the original language was translated as "talents." Yes, it did refer to money in the original culture, but the application is so much broader than how we steward our money. How we steward the character qualities, the gifts that God has given us, is equally as important as we learn to discern how God is working in our lives.

It came to me in the form of a dream last night in which I was trying to convey the concept to my friend Tami who teaches and loves on the young children at church. What a perfect age to start learning what it looks like for God to be working in and through you to accomplish His greater plan. 

I started thinking of people I know who are gifted in areas that I am lacking. My friend Denyse has the uncanny ability to SEE people who are overlooked by others and make them feel SEEN. People who are shy, introverted, or wounded easily pop onto her radar, and she does not shirk at singling them out, talking to them, hearing their story, and often - if the situation warrants it - doing something to help when there is a need to be met. She is also gifted with what we jokingly call the "Martha Stewart anointing." No one I know can organize and pull off a simple or a special gathering so creatively and elegantly and all the while make people feel welcome and right at home.

With so many good examples in the friends that I have, I could go on for quite awhile listing their talents or gifts, but I think maybe just elaborating on a few will get the thought across of how we can be on the lookout to recognize - and possibly call out - these qualities and gifts where we see them.

Recognizing gifts we see in others can go a long way toward nurturing and growing a gift that is maybe unseen by the one with that particular talent. I know people who are gifted with numbers and arithmetic - to the point that they can merely look at a long list of numbers and tell you within a few dollars what the total is. They are also gifted with understanding statistics and how to apply them to practical matters, such as investing, saving, budgeting, and managing resources. This gift has translated to helping people with limited resources and blessing the local church and beyond.

As important and meaningful as such talents as music, acting, writing, and other gifts of artistic expression are, how we use them to bless others and thereby glorify God is equally - if not more important. Years ago, there was a father who brought his twin sons regularly to mow lawns and rake leaves at the church. Not only was he quietly displaying a gift of service, he was instilling in his sons the importance of giving back to bless others. It is not insignificant that Jesus pointed out to the disciples the widow who gave 2 mites. The amount of money we give, the "significance" that others attribute to our talent is irrelevant when it does not bring honor to God and further His kingdom in the lives of others and our community.

Comforting the sick or bereaved, standing up for the marginalized, sewing quilts for the veteran's home or foster agency, singing in a rest home, giving half of your sandwich to someone on the playground who "forgot" their lunch, walking 2 miles through the park with friends with friends to raise funds to feed the homeless or provide clean water in an African village, speaking truth to someone who has been living a life deceived by lies... there are so many ways and instances where we think we only have 2 mites, but God is able and regularly shows up and multiplies our meagre talents and gifts to transform and reform.

And all this, because we ask.

Anxious and Annoying

I had an interesting conversation this morning with a former NorthState resident; we were commenting on the sudden and unexpected death of our Congressman Doug LaMalfa that hit the news this morning. Not everyone in our district was a fan of Doug, as evidenced by the weekly protesters outside of our business complex where he had his office.

I must have indicated some hesitation in my response, because she surmised that I was "non political." 

No - not even an inch. I decided long ago that "being political" was a not just a waste of my time and energy - seriously, what of anything that I could do would make a difference? (Aside from voting, of course.) I told her that getting myself worked up about what the bigwigs were up to just made me anxious and annoying, not to mention the rise in my blood pressure.

And I will admit to being more than a bit snarky at the protesters every week as I crossed their "picket line."

I did like Doug, and was sorry to hear the sad news. I think it is telling when people are glad to hear about the death of someone they disagree with. Besides that, "This world is not my home."

RIP Congressman LaMalfa

2025:: That's a wrap

It's hard to know where to start when the whole year is a blur. I'm sure we went places and did things, saw people and endured the summer heat. All those things are "the usual" of our lives. Honestly, looking back it feels like we were not much more than pachinko balls bouncing from one forgettable pin to the next. If I sound melancholy... well, I guess I am. 

What I know: I had coffee (or lunch) with various friends on various occasions, in mostly diverse locations. If I were to say those times were the highlights of my year, you might be tempted to think I live a pathetic life, but the truth is, all of those times were refreshing, insightful, and reflective. A real opportunity to share my heart and listen to the heart of a friend. A time of honest connection. I believe that if more people sought out those honest connections on a regular basis, our world would be a healthier place.

I know that at one point this year I finally had breakthrough dealing with the after effects of an event that has darkened my life for 60 years. In the space of a month, I was able to speak of it to more people than I have over the previous 60 years and each time I do that, more of the garbage is taken out and my mental and emotional play list is about getting freedom from the lies of the deceiver.

I know that spending time in Scripture is affirming in ways I did not realize it could be. Things that are difficult to navigate become clearer. I am able to turn away from the toxic in some people and learn to be more generous with giving people the benefit of the doubt when their actions do not line up with my thought process.

I know that as much as I love my family - both immediate and extended - I have to lay down my expectations. We are not Ozzie and Harriet. 

I know that as much as I would love to visit many places, the reality is that I do not enjoy the traveling that it takes to get to those places... and I really just do not like leaving home. 

I know that I am blessed beyond measure to have a husband who doesn't always understand me, but who values me, asks my opinion, loves me, and still thinks I'm "beautiful." And this, after 54 years. Yes, I am very aware and very thankful for that fact every single day. (Not only that, he vacuums and does the dishes.)

I know that the very sure prospect of death at some point in time does not overwhelm me. I am, however, enough of a control freak that I have written my own obituary and planned my memorial in advance. Some people find that morbid, but I find it mortifying to have things said about me that are not true. And the truth is, I am probably not the person that most people think I am. I can see it in the raised eyebrow or look of surprise when I make a random statement about my faith or personal beliefs. (That's OK... you don't have to agree with me. For goodness sake, I don't always agree with other people either, but it's always nice when we can have confidence that God is working on each of us in His own time.)

...and with that said, I say adios to 2025. No New Years' resolutions for me, but I am going to try to wrap my brain around adopting this verse for the year 2026: 

Colossians 3:15 - Let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart's decision-maker...

My Roots... and Resulting Branches

I believe that I have mentioned previously that I grew up in the Southern Baptist denomination. (One thing to remember: Southern Baptists in California look and sound vastly different from those you will find in the actual South. And I'm not just talking about a southern drawl.)

As a matter of fact, it is true that I have been "going to church" since the first Sunday I landed on this planet. Growing up, we knew that if the church doors were open, we were to be there. For one thing, my mother was the church secretary for many years after my youngest sibling reached school age until she finally retired. For another thing, we lived in the "heartland" of the California Southern Baptist Convention, and it is no surprise that the majority of my church friends had parents who worked for or were ordained by the SBC. To say our world was "church-centric" would be spot on.

That I met my future husband at a Southern Baptist college should also come as no surprise, but much to everyone's shock and dismay, I did not immediately "walk down the aisle" to move my membership to my new husband's home church the first Sunday after we were married. When my new sister-on-law invited us to visit her church, my in-laws were not best pleased. Do not laugh when I tell you that I had a visit from their pastor within the first few months of our marriage, admonishing me that I was leading my husband astray...

Over the ensuing years, it has been a journey of discovery to note how many things I grew up taking for granted as "truth" were a result of tradition or the SBC heritage, rather than based on Scripture. But first, let me state that I am not one to throw out a tradition just because it does not appear in the Bible. That would be like throwing out Reese's Peanut Butter cups or mochas just because the apostles never had them. That would just be silly. Nor will I claim that I was indoctrinated by some cult and grew up with some wildly heretical point of view. I can honestly say that I believe Baptists got more things right than wrong, at least in my experience/opinion. And - like I said - this is California, not Mississippi or Texas. I can hardly speak for anyone else's experience. 

I can find nothing wrong in teaching children Bible stories, helping them see how those faith lessons can be applied to their own lives, and encouraging young people to think of others first and ask themselves how their actions fit in with being a good Christian witness. These are what I have taken away from growing up in what is commonly known as a conservative denomination. 

What I learned that I had to later unlearn were things like we were the only denomination who "got it right" when it came to how we understood and lived out our faith. The way we baptized (total immersion by water only!), the way we took communion (once a month, soda crackers and grape juice only!), the way we worshipped (don't you be raising your hands! This is not a Pentecostal church!) were just the start. 

But even as I transitioned to attending a different (albeit mainstream) denomination, there were still things being taught that I have since had reason to reconsider and reject as extra-Biblical tradition. Ironically, much of my "re-examining" has been thanks to the teachings and writing of some former Southern Baptist or other so-called "conservative" teachers or pastors. 

Am I saying I now have all the answers? No. I am saying that I have come to a place of being willing to weigh the idea that what I thought was Truth may have just been the result of someone's interpretation, but is not necessarily supported by Scripture. Once I figured out that I had enough basic intelligence to read and study scripture without some theologian or divinity student holding my hand and telling me how I should interpret everything, it was only a short trip to realizing that maybe we have not come up with all the right answers, even after all these years.

So, spoiler alert: I still believe the Bible is true. I still believe God created the universe and everything in it. I still believe Jesus died to set us free from the penalty of sin. I have yet to figure out how we arrived at other doctrines that have been handed down through the centuries by various denominations, such as "once saved-always saved", "the Church has replaced Israel", and "the Sabbath is now Sunday - or any day I want to take my rest." 

A few things to think about: Myths we believe

What I don't say...

 It was the 1980's, and we had recently discovered (and quickly devoured) the fantastic book series Anne of Green Gables written in 1908 by Lucy Maud Montgomery. As "luck" would have it, in 1985 a 4-hour Canadian mini-series based on the novels was produced by CBC. In this instance, I have to agree with Wikipedia: "widely considered the definitive version to date."

What brings this character and series to mind is a recurring complaint that I have in common with the titular character: "I know I chatter on far too much... but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don't. Give me SOME credit.”

In my case, I probably don't have to worry about chattering on far too much (unless you launch me into a tangent about which I have strong opinions,) but rather I often feel "if only people knew how much I want to say - and don't..." I feel your pain, Anne.

I learned many years ago that people don't always share my opinions on any number of topics, and I could be as correct as the Oxford dictionary or Encyclopedia Britannica and it wouldn't change anyone's mind who wants to hold on to their own beliefs. Of course, I can also be wrong about something - and obviously, no one likes the thought of having to reexamine their beliefs. Even less appealing is contemplating that one could be wrong or have been misled in some of their views or beliefs. In my case, a challenging 10-year examination of my personal faith upbringing and the resultant shift in how I view God and the Bible specifically, and religion in general. These days, it's become a popular trend to "deconstruct" ones spiritual beliefs, a thin disguise for abandoning them altogether. I prefer to "reexamine" or "realign" - because from the very beginning as I read and researched the belief system I held dear, my prayer was "Lord, take away everything that is not your Truth... but please don't take Jesus."

Having said that, I feel the need to address another popular trend, and that is the tendency to "cancel" anyone whose opinion differs from ones own. I find it ironic that one person can feel justified in believing that they have every right to hold a point of view that flies in the face of basic biology or physics, while holding to the idea that someone who does not share their POV does not deserve to have that same "right."

Lately, I've been wrestling with the question of how to proceed when confronted with the accusation that my beliefs are toxic or somehow abusive. I could understand that assertion if I was trying to force my opinion down that person's throat, but that is not the case (as far as I can tell.) Does the mere fact that I don't agree with someone make that a hateful act? I don't think so... and if it were so, then the same logic would necessarily apply to the person who is disagreeing with me. 

However, as I continue to read my Bible and keep my mouth shut, I am realizing that while I don't have to agree with someone, and I can (and should) give them the respect of having the right to their opinion - but I do not, and should not, have to change my opinion to suit them. (Reexamine, yes. We should all be willing to do that.)

I liken it to two people playing a game together, but they are not playing the same game. One is playing checkers while the other is playing Candyland. If two people don't have the same "rules" or beliefs from the outset, the game will go nowhere. Of course, that analogy falls apart because one person could easily abandon their game board in favor of playing the same game, whereas ones core belief system of how they maneuver life's decisions is not so easily discarded.

I am not sure that I have an answer to this dilemma. But I know that I cannot simply chuck my belief in a loving God who created me and wants to be in relationship with me - with very clear criteria of what that looks like. The choices I make each day are based on how I understand that simple reality. Those are far bigger things to consider than if someone has decided to "unfriend" me for the simple reason that I am not going to jump on the current bandwagon of whatever social experiment is in vogue this year. 

Sad, but true. Some may have the conviction that you should do ANYthing and EVERYthing you can to maintain a relationship, especially when it is a family member. I am not convinced.

Yes, I know that the Bible says: (1 Jn. 3.11) ..."you have heard from the beginning that we should love one another." Guess what? Right after that, it says (v.13) "And do not be surprised, if the world hates you." 

So, this is me, not being surprised. Sad, but not surprised. But I am going to continue to do my best to align my actions with another Biblical instruction: "speaking the truth in love..."