To Tell The Truth

Jul8

Gavel-and-scales-of-justiceTwo years ago, I, along with thousands of others, found myself glued to the T.V. as I watched the drama of the Casey Anthony murder trial unfold in an Orange County, Fla., courtroom. I think it riveted me for a couple of reasons: the Anthony family lived just down the street from me, and it was about a mother supposedly murdering her child.

I admit, I did not presume her innocent. Whether or not she killed her child in cold blood, as the prosecutors suggested, or whether little Kaylee’s death was the result of some sort of negligence on the part of her mother, I don’t know, but I was appalled that the jury found her not guilty of some sort of hand in her daughter’s demise.

Now, the nation is once again focused on my little corner of the world. George Zimmerman is on trial in neighboring Seminole County for second degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin. I’m not riveted to this one: I’ve watched maybe a total of 15 minutes, and I haven’t formed any solid conclusions. Except for this one: No one, and I mean no one, except the Lord God Almighty, knows what’s in the heart of George Zimmerman, and what was in the heart of Trayvon Martin.

I’m very sorry Trayvon is dead. I think there were many, many things that should have been done differently. What I can’t abide in this case is the call for vigilante justice and the threat of riots if George is found not guilty.

Really? Why is the assumption that, because Zimmerman is “non-black” (seriously?) and  Martin was black, Zimmerman automatically is racist and targeted Martin from the get-go?

And I’m not saying he didn’t. But I am saying that this is a no-win situation. Trayvon Martin certainly didn’t win anything; he’s dead. And George Zimmerman loses either way as well. If he’s found guilty, he goes to prison. That’s a big loss. If he’s found not guilty, he will never experience a day of peace in his life, because the media won’t let him. He’s guilty because he’s not black.

That’s how I read it, anyway.

But this is what I read also: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV)

Casey Anthony, George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin, Stephanie Reeves.

We’re no different. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV).

Yet, I can say along with the apostle Paul, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24, 25a NET)

And on a daily basis, I need to do a heart check: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalms 139:23, 24 NASB).

Our justice system is imperfect, I think we can all agree on that. And none of our hearts are white as snow, unless they’ve been washed by the blood of Jesus.

Thank God I am not on trial on a daily basis for the deceitfulness of my heart. But, woe to me if I judge others too harshly. I don’t know what really happened to Kaylee Anthony, and I don’t know what happened on that street when George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin. But I do know this, as John Bradford did: There, but for the grace of God, go I.

photo from iraqinews.com

Happy Dependence Day

Jul4

in·de·pend·ence [in-di-pen-duhns]

Noun; freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.

american-flagToday we celebrate Independence Day. It’s an important day in our nation, of course, because it signifies that we won our freedom, at great cost, from another nation that was subjecting us to laws to which we did not want to be subject. Nobody denies our right to our independence. No one  denies us the right to be a sovereign nation.

For a country, independence is desired, sought after, fought for.

For people who need a Savior, it’s not such a good thing.

Think about it. Look at the definition above. Do we want to be free from the control, influence, support, aid or the like of the Holy Spirit? Our country said to England, “We don’t want you to control us anymore!” But if we were to tell our sovereign God that we don’t want His influence or support in our life, we would fall apart.

One of the pastors at my church prayed something one time that I have never forgotten. He said this: “If You took Your eyes off of us, we would be undone.”

Happy Independence Day, America!

Happy dependence day for me. And may it be so for the rest of my life.

A Grand Hotel Desire On A Motel 6 Budget

Jun20

David and I have the opportunity several times a year to work at a JESUS Film Executive Briefing. These are large, fundraising events for our ministry always held at very swanky places. The hours are long, but the benefits of hearing how God is working in people’s hearts all over the world are amazing. And, on my Motel 6 budget, I’d never get to places like this on my own.

Image 1Our most recent trip was just two weeks ago to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan. I’d never been to Michigan. The Grand was the site of the 1980s film “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. The hotel is incredible–126 years old. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the island, so everyone travels by horse or bicycle. It’s idyllic, quiet, peaceful–and cold. It virtually shuts down in the winter when Lake Huron freezes and the only mode of transportation is snowmobile.

Even with a Starbuck’s on the island, I felt as if I had stepped back in time, like Richard Collier in the movie. Oh, there are all the modern conveniences–running water, indoor plumbing, cell phone service–but the quaint Image 2atmosphere devoid of all engine noise (well, there is a small airport) created a sense of peace that I so long for back home. I think if I could, I would live in a place like this–only it would be 75 degrees year round. I’m not really a cold-weather person.

We’ve stayed in other fancy hotels before, but none with the history of the Grand. Apparently, the hotel is owned by a single family rather than a corporation. In fact, one of our JESUS Film Project staff members had a chance encounter with the owner and chairman, Dan Musser, and his children at Sadie’s, the ice cream shop in the hotel, the night before we were to leave. Mr. Musser asked Gabe and Rachel’s young son if he had had some ice cream and, impressed by his enthusiastic answer about the strawberry cone he had consumed, Mr. Musser then gave him a gift card in the shape of a dog bone, good for a free scoop.

Image 3Oh, to sit each night on the porch of the Grand and reflect on God’s goodness while gazing at the water of the lake. In my ordinary world, I would never be able to spend time at such places. But God has blessed us immeasurably to be a part of this ministry and a part of this briefing team that serves at these events. I don’t take it for granted. And when such privileges help bring people into the kingdom of God, it’s incomparable. During this event, and others like it in other locations, our guests pledged to fund new language translations of the JESUS film, projects such as the JESUS Film Media app and tools like motorcycles for film team workers in hard-to-reach countries. Praise God that He has blessed so many people with the income and the hearts to help reach the world for Christ. And praise God that I get to be a part of seeing that happen.

Even if it means having to hang out at places like the Grand.

He asked “Will you?” I answered, “Yes!”

Jun12

sc0079bb1f The day was June 12, 1990; the place: San Bernardino, Calif. We were anticipating the wedding of a friend a few days later, and then a 7-week separation as David traveled to the former Soviet Union to record several languages of the JESUS film. We had talked about marriage, shopped for rings in an out-of-town mall so no one would see us, and decided to wait until fall and the end of a busy travel schedule. Or so I thought.

But in order to spend a little time together before our separation, we decided to go up to the Arrowhead Springs Hotel, then the headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ, and enjoy the view and each other. David had arranged to borrow a red-and-white-checked tablecloth from friends, packed a picnic basket with crystal goblets and Martinelli’s sparkling cider, and a book of poetry. As we sat on the back lawn overlooking the city, David, with a bachelor party to attend in a short time, suggested we pray together. We closed our eyes, clasped hands, and prayed for safety in his travels to an unstable part of the world, and for our hearts as we were separated from each other. In the middle of the prayer, David stopped and said, “Hold on a minute, God.” I thought he was getting choked up from the emotion of the moment.

Far from it, apparently. With my eyes still closed, giving him a minute to compose himself, I felt his hand on my chin, lifting my head and encouraging me to open my eyes. He looked into them and said something like, “Will you marry me?”

The rest is just a blur. I think I said “yes” first, and them something about, “I thought we were going to wait,” and then he pulled out the ring and placed it on my finger. Yea!

Now, 23 years later, as I think about what that day meant, I realize that his simple “Will you?” was much more complex than I first thought. By saying yes, I was agreeing that I would be his biggest fan. I would know him better than anybody and allow myself to be known. I would love him best, judge him least. I was agreeing to live 1 Corinthians 13, not keeping a record of wrong, never giving up. sc00863cfeHas it always been easy? No. Has it always been worth it? Unequivocally, yes.

It’s been 23 years, three kids, three miscarriages, two cats, two dogs, numerous fish and crabs, one bird, two apartments, one cross-country move, two houses, one set of parents dying, one set of parents divorcing, his mom moving in, lots of laughter, lots of tears, and always, without fail, a boatload of love and grace and forgiveness.

Happy engagement anniversary, Hunny. I still will.

Thankful today for:

901. history

902. summer break

903. a successful first year of teaching 6th grade

904. the chance to work on Mackinac Island for a few days

905. air travel–even if I don’t like it very much

906. gift cards

907. bike rides

908. family visits

909. possibilities

910. roses