Small Thoughts on Suffering

Nearly every human will admit to some sort of suffering, whether in their body, mind or spirit, or, in relationships with other humans.  Most often, we as humans view suffering as bad, that is, the pain overshadows and at times interferes with our ability to creatively think how in the world could this hurtful body or painful situation result in good.

Herein lies the problem with our small human minds: small thoughts on suffering are the result. I will not defend in this post mankind's technological progress nor it's scientific understanding of our world and the universe.  The plain fact is that we just do not know everything.  Blaise Pascal, the brilliant French mathematician and physicist, was quoted as saying, "Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, let us know a little bit about everything."

Dilemma, isn't it?

Fortuitously, mankind was given, as a gift, the answer.  No, not as a scientific discovery or math equation, neither an excavation of an ancient civilization or newly created substance is the answer derived. The answer arrived apart from our doing, from the One who existed before time began.

For brevity's sake, the One is the Eternal, Triune God, three persons yet of one substance and not created. We owe our life to Him, whether we acknowledge or believe it to be true. "In him we live and move and have our being" reads Acts of the Apostles, chapter 17, verse 28, from the Sacred Scriptures, the Holy Bible.

"What is truth?" asked Pilate, ruler of Judea, responding to Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, not realizing that here in front of him stood the Truth .  Relativism rules today, at least in our culture, and in our small minds.  Yet, the Sovereign God rules over heaven and earth.  Illusion rules otherwise.

Back to suffering...our view of the world determines how we understand suffering.  Views vary, but the only one that makes sense, the one to which I return is God's revelation.  He alone makes sense of suffering:  a sin problem exists (God sets the boundaries - obey and flourish; disobey and die) and we, as mankind have rebelled against him. Suffering, as opposed to flourishing in life with God, is the end result.

It's our own doing, starting with Adam and Eve believing God was holding out on them, not giving them the best, rebelling, and continuing throughout history to today. The only way out of it, God says, is bloodshed, wrath and death.  Because we could never give what God needs for the atoning of our sins, He provides the answer to our sin problem:  He gives Himself.

The historical Jesus, the Christ, born to a virgin, living a sinless and righteous life (yes, he obeyed his earthly parents just as His Heavenly Father), suffering, being crucified and resurrected - God in the flesh.  Fully human, fully God.  How this can be is agreed upon through the centuries to be a mystery, yet God revealed this truth through His Word.

Even 500 to 600 years prior to Christ's crucifixion, the words of Isaiah (53:4-6) prophesied the brutal suffering of Christ and result for us.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Again, for the sake of space, I'll cut to the end.  Our sin and hostility to God were borne by Christ.  He is the "he" and "him" in the quote from Isaiah above.  Do you believe Christ atoned for your sins and there's nothing you can do to stay the wrath and judgment of God?  If so, salvation, peace, eternal life and so much more are yours.

Suffering...unemployment, broken relationships with sisters and brothers, terminal disease, lifelong illness, unsaved family, homeless, abused...Christ suffered and He continues to suffer with us.  Baffling.  No other "god" makes this claim. In this context only is suffering and the ability to bear up under it made possible because the One who bore our sins continues to bear us, upholding us by His grace and mercy.

May you see with eyes of faith this Holy Week the One, the Christ, who alone takes away the sins of the world, and suffers today with His children.

-CFM

Update to My Review of CollegePlus!

Well, a surprising amount of people have viewed my little post about CollegePlus! (CP!) so after some nudging from my dad, I am writing an update. As a brief background: I graduated from with my Bachelor of Arts in Communication with the aid of CP! in June 2008, just 2 years after first enrolling.

I took some much needed rest and recuperation.  I studied intensely during my degree and was quite burnt out by the time I was done. I didn't want to read another textbook, or any book for that matter! And I certainly had no desire to continue my education. I had my degree and I was done, thank you very much. I wanted nothing more to do with book learning. However, God had other plans.

We took a vacation to visit family at the end of May 2008 and during one of our many excursions we listened to a CD where the panel was discussing the fact that some Christians were getting Master's degrees in Literature to help them understand Scripture since the Bible is primarily poetry and stories. I thought since I loved literature that I would love to get a degree in that area. I returned from our vacation surprisingly interested in continuing my education! I poked around the Internet to see what I could find in terms of Master's degrees.

I searched for months on and off, finding very little that met my requirements. Again, I looked for an online program; plus, it had to be affordable. I looked for literature, English, and humanities degrees but nothing was turning up.

Then in December of 2008, my mom providentially inquired at the local public library the requirements for becoming a librarian. The clerk explained that a Master's degree was required to be a librarian. Say what?! I had no idea; my mother had no idea. Amazed by this encounter, I went online and searched the American Library Association website. They have a very helpful search engine which allows users to narrow down schools. I limited the results to online programs. I think I looked through every single program on the list.

Long story short, there was only one program that stuck out: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. I contacted the school and learned what the program required. Each year only about 40 new students are selected to participate in The School of Library and Information Studies' Master's program for librarianship. I was informed that only about one (1) out of four (4) applicants were selected. Statistically speaking, I had about a 25% chance of acceptance but I felt this was where God wanted me to apply so I moved forward.

I had to send in references, official transcripts from Thomas Edison State College, my statement of purpose, and GRE scores. The due date for the application was April 2009. This was all taking place in December 2008. I immediately began studying for the GRE. The GRE if you do not know is similar to the SATs but for Master's programs. CP! definitely helped prepare me for studying this massive exam. I did well, submitted my results and simply waited.

Oh! Another amazing event was the fact that I got a job at a fast-casual restaurant just up the road from my house, something I would need very much to pay for tuition. I got the job at the beginning of April 2009; at the end of April 2009, I had been officially accepted into the University of Alabama's online cohort for a Master's in Library and Information Studies (MLIS). I could not believe it! Scared, excited, shocked. My "unconventional" degree from Thomas Edison was not a hindrance at all to getting accepted. In fact, I was quite comfortable learning in an online environment thanks to my experience through CP! and Thomas Edison.

Two years later I am on the verge of graduating with my Master's. I have been able to complete six (6) years of schooling in four (4) years, thanks to the route God provided through CP!. My graduate studies have been difficult and stretching but extremely rewarding. Moreover, I have been grateful for this validation of my undergrad degree. I always wondered if my degree was really acceptable and if it would be good enough for further education. I am here to tell you it is. CP!'s program is a legitimate course for obtaining a Bachelor's degree and is in no way a hindrance to obtaining a Master's degree. The self-discipline, -motivation, and -education that occurred with my undergrad was very helpful for succeeding at the graduate level; here, professors expect that you are self-motivated and self-disciplined.

I must insert here a plug for the University of Alabama's MLIS program. It is affordable, convenient, and most importantly, very well run. The faculty here are wonderful and I cannot say enough good things about the 43 people I entered the program with. As a cohort, we were required to visit the campus for about four (4) days for an intense orientation, just one more benefit of the program. This was an opportunity to meet the faculty, school director, and my fellow cohort members. The cohort moved through the required courses together, building friendships and contacts for when we enter the profession. It was huge to have a group of people who were going through the program with me that I could talk to, ask questions of, suffer with (only half-joking). I am planning on attending graduation ceremonies in August of this year because I love the faculty, the cohort (which I am hoping to see a few of them at graduation), and the campus of the University of Alabama. Here is the link to the website: http://www.slis.ua.edu/

God has been faithful and gracious during my education. It has not always been easy and I will admit to complaining at times when it got tough. But now, on the other end, I am incredibly grateful. I hope to find a job working either in a public library or an academic library. Jobs are relatively scarce since many people are looking for positions. Then again, this whole process has been one entirely orchestrated by God. What do I have to worry about, right?

I do hope this is encouraging for all who have are either considering, in the midst of completing, or have graduated from CollegePlus! As always, I welcome comments and will try to answer them the best I can.

--HM

The Act, er, Journey of Sanctification

To the elect -

After the historical, overwhelmingly merciful act of salvation, that is, Jesus Christ's atoning work on the cross and the grace (free gift) to believe by faith that his death and resurrection alone are enough to pay for our sins and grant us salvation, God provided yet another gift. He said he would not leave us as orphans but would give us Himself, through the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit's work is to not only call us and renew us to a living faith with God through Christ, that is, salvation, but it is also sanctification. We no longer are controlled by our original, sinful nature, sometimes called "the old nature," but instead now are a "new creation" in Christ by the indwelling of His Spirit.

The struggle I sometimes face in this all-out war of our original, sinful nature and the Spirit of Christ is that I focus on the visible and the internal.

• Visible: My 3 year old keeps asking me the same question, despite my same answer.
  
• Internal: My thoughts when I am cutoff in traffic on the way to work are not always Christ-like, dare I confess and easily "heard" by God.
  

These examples are easy to "see" by me. Yet, they are not the whole truth.

In an interview today, USA Track and Field’s chief executive, Doug Logan, said (of the recent USA track team's performance at the World Championships), “This is not a sport of breakthroughs. If you see week-to-week or month-to-month chopping of three seconds or four seconds, you ought to start asking questions. It’s a sport of progression." (from Alan Abrahamson's blog on universalsports.com)

[I include this quote because, 1) Track and field is one of my favorite sports; 2) It is a succinct sports analogy that describes our life in Christ, post-conversion. As a side note, I think God is gracious to use sports and other day-in, day-out examples to communicate His truths that are already expressed in the Bible.]

The truth is, God is at work in us both to will and to do his good pleasure. (Phil 2:13) Sanctification is both an act starting at regeneration and a journey, a progression, only completed when we are at home with Christ in heaven. Typically our life is a series of progressions with a few breakthroughs.

So to apply the truth of progressions, that Christ by His Spirit is continually at work in me, I need to periodically and soberly assess my character.

• Do I see a greater patience towards drivers cutting me off in traffic (what's my internal chatter)?
  
• Am I understanding that my 3 year old will not converse with me like my 21 year old and, hence, am I patiently repeating my instruction to her?

If so, I need to give thanks to God for working His character in me. Apart from him, I can do nothing (John 15:5), so, how can I boast (Rom. 3:27)?

--CFM

What we want as parents

"If we are prosperous, it will delight us to think that we are not acquiring wealth for those who will squander it on their lusts, but who will employ it for the glory of God when we are in dust. Or, if we are poor, it will cheer us to reflect that though we cannot leave you the riches of this world, we see you in possession of the favor of God, a portion which, after comforting you on earth, will enrich you through eternity. My dear children, if you are anxious to comfort the hearts of your parents, if you would fulfill our joy, if you would repay all our labor, anxiety, affection, if you would most effectually discharge all the obligations that you cannot deny you owe us, fear God and choose the ways of religion: this, this only will make us happy." Pg. 5

James, John Angell. The Christian Father's Present to His Children. Orlando: Northampton Press, 2008.

Where's My Anchor - A Review of "Marley & Me"

- Marley & Me: a real-life story, but not just a "dog lovers" movie -

If you've viewed the flick, you'll find:

• family values - a sound marriage, 3 children, living life together
  
• contrast of life between the married guy and the single "world traveler" guy
• perseverance with real life situations
  
• real life - infertility, miscarriage, multiple children, sleep deprivation, husband/wife disagreements, in-laws, job dissatisfaction, job change
  
• choices and consequences
  

All of the above, along with the main characters made for an entertaining movie, and, I admit that towards the end, my eyes filled with wet matter (aka tears). Afterward I conversed with my date, the lovely Catherine Miller, and told her that I was bothered by something in the movie.

At first I was unable to voice the lingering distraction, but the more I replayed the highlights of the film in my mind, I realized that the movie did not show a key to the reason why this family enjoyed life. I had questions:

• how did the wife stick to her choice to be a full-time mom when she apparently was a very successful career woman?
  
• what enabled her to get past her emotions which contributed to some spontaneous, serious, intense spats with her husband?
• how did the husband persevere with his wife through the infertility, sleep deprivation?
• what drove him to believe he could be successful by moving his family 1,000 miles away from the current home and job for a new location and job?
  

Finally, the lightbulb turned on for me: The husband and wife both operated from a foundation of faith and hope that: 1) it all would either turn out okay, or, 2) they would just continue with life and make the most of the situation. But the movie's director chose not to reveal their source of their hope and their understanding of how the world works.

True, not blind, faith must have an object to be faithful to. A camper must secure his or her tent with anchors to ensure that it's not washed away by a sudden downpour. A homeowner in Florida relies on roof anchors screwed into the dwelling to prevent the loss of head covering during a tropical storm or hurricane.

Hope is more than just a feeling. I think you would agree that feelings change more than the weather.

So what object then is to be my focus for faith? What or who does not change?

If you are a Christian, then you may have read (from the ESV, all bolded text mine):

• OBJECT: "...but God shows his love for us in that while were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

• OBJECT: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1

• TRUTH & HOPE: "...for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began..." - Titus 1:1-2

• ANCHOR: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor build it in vain..." - Psalm 127: 1

--CFM

Does My Position Here & Now Matter in the Hereafter?

With my dad here in town, a baptism at church, and extended family gatherings, I've recently been giving some thought to my family history. I find it easier to listen than to read the "family tree" so I asked my dad to tell me about his recollections of his relatives - you know, oral history.

After hearing the memories and looking backward, I would confidently conclude that the Miller clan cannot claim the "pull-myself-up-by-the-bootstraps" or pioneer mentality throughout its 20th century generations. Living in dark shacks, in the grip of alcoholism, and other self-destructive behavior - this was the legacy until Grandpop - my dad's dad.

Now I have a bunch of questions: What happened at the point of my Grandpop's life to change the pattern? How does one get where he or she is at in life? Is it just happen-stance? How can my family of origin be doing so well? Define "well" by most people's standards: My health, Roof over the head, Safe area to live, Healthy children, Food on the table, Clean water, 24/7/364 Electricity (we live in Florida, hence the outage factor of 1 day), Steady job, Bills paid, Friends, Reliable transportation.

Answers??

• If I believed in Hinduism, then I would accept this as "karma," that somehow I had done something right in another life and was benefiting now for past actions.
• If I were a humanist, then my family must have worked real hard and had many who helped them to this place.
• If Taoism were my central belief, I might believe that sacrifices to my deceased relatives had somehow curried favor with eternal entities and now I find myself in the flow and balance of the life with the universe.
• If I were an evolutionist or pragmatist, I would believe that my family evolved in their thinking in each succeeding generation and loosened their bonds to poverty.
• If I believed in Zoroastrianism, then I must have had enough good thoughts, good words, and good deeds to have brought on this station in life.
• If I was a post-modernist, I'd be skeptical of any ideas on how this happened.
• If I were silly, then I'd think I was "lucky."

As a Christian, however, I am closer in life to the lyrics that Chris Rice writes in his song, "Face of Christ":

How did I find myself in a better place
I can’t look down on the frown on the other guy’s face
‘Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing
With the face of Christ

See you had no choice which day you would be born
Or the color of your skin, or what planet you’d be on
Would your mind be strong, would your eyes be blue or brown
Whether daddy would be rich, or if momma stuck around at all

The apostle Paul wrote:

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind
to live on the face of the earth,
having determined allotted periods
and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
that they should seek God,
in the hope that they might feel their way
toward him and find him.
Yet, he is not far from each one of us, for
'In him we live and move and have our being...'"

Acts 17:26-28 (ESV)

As much as I think about the station in life from whence my family recently occupied, my attention is captivated by the truly remarkable present contrast:

My family tree was taken from the kingdom of darkness
and brought into the kingdom of light,
and made a Covenant Family
by the God Almighty, through Jesus Christ His Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The life given to me, I am told, is a gift.

"For by grace you have been saved
by faith (in Christ).
And this is not your own doing
it is the gift of God,
not a result of works,
so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) (italics mine)

How I am grateful! Soli Deo Gloria - To God be the Glory!

--CFM

In The World

Have you ever wondered what demons converse about? In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis vividly portrays a demon and his reactions to certain situations. HarperCollins published the book in 2001. Interestingly, this book is fiction, but feels authentic. While reading this book, C.S. Lewis, who was born in Ireland on November 29, 1898, paints a vivid picture of a demon's attempts to influence a human. Using humor, Lewis keeps his book lively when it could have been foreboding.

Screwtape is the author of the letters written in the book. Closely, he oversees his nephew Wormwood's temptation techniques. Throughout the book, Screwtape shows his growing disgust of Wormwood's rookie attempts at enticement. Although we never hear directly from Wormwood, we are able to picture, from Screwtape's responses, a "field agent" who is trying to please his uncle. Failing miserably, he comes to an unhealthy end. The "patient," the human Wormwood is "working" on, is completely oblivious to the spiritual struggle for his soul. He doesn't realize how his thoughts and actions are influenced by Wormwood. His story line ends happily. Of the three main characters, the "patient" changes the most while Wormwood "works" on him.

Prepare to enter the demented mind of demons. Screwtape shows Wormwood, as well as the readers, the many ways to turn Christians from their spiritual lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, most of the temptations use our pride and selfish thoughts to reverse our direction from God to physical pleasure and gain. In the "patient's" life, the law of undulation is a powerful tool. As humans experience life's joys and pains, they exhibit the law of undulation through peaks (joy) and troughs (pain), which is also how God strengthens our faith in Him. Demons use it differently. Tempting us, demons manipulate the desires of the flesh to turn us to sinful thoughts and actions. While in the troughs, our resistence to sin is at its weakest, leaving us open for attack. God wants us to turn to Him in these troughs, trusting in Him to get us through. Screwtape states that our sinful nature makes us feel inadequate in contact with God. Not surprisingly, the "patient" experiences the same inadequacies.

Screwtape fears. Wormwood fails. The "patient" succeeds. Interestingly, Screwtape instructs Wormwood to keep the "patient" safe from physical harm. His reason is that if the "patient" dies, he will surely be lost to them. During life, the doldrums of middle-age are, in Screwtape's mind, the best time to have a human die. "The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or...adversity are excellent campaigning weather," Screwtape states. A reason for his anger against Wormwood is that the "patient" has a Christian woman he loves. "Such a Christian," Screwtape moans. Sadly, all stories come to an end. During an air raid, the "patient" dies. Understanding instantly "how all his doubts" were "ridiculous," he is joyfully received in Heaven. Wormwood doesn't have such a happy reception when he returns to Hell.

Thomas More wrote that "the devil...cannot endure to be mocked." This thought-provoking book is definitely a mockery of the devil. Using parody, Lewis makes it look like Satan, "Our Father," is mirroring Heaven. Throughout the book, the letters written by Screwtape could be seen as parodies of the letters written in the New Testament. Interestingly, the temptations, which are used by Wormwood, create, in this book, a genuine feeling. Do we fall into sin by being prideful and selfish? The only answer is yes. Many, if not all, of the temptations in The Screwtape Letters have been experienced by us or by someone we know. The most important part of this book is that even in the hard times, the "troughs," God is still there. While in "troughs," humans feel alone and afraid. Things happen to us that we don't enjoy, but we need to step back and ask, "What is God telling me and what am I supposed to learn from it?" In this story of demons tempting man-kind, Lewis reminds us that we are in the world, not of the world.

--JFM

"Cheese, please?"

"Cheese! Cheese, me? Cheese, me, please?"

It may sound like a line from a Dr. Seuss book but it is actually the daily verbiage of my two, almost three, year old sister. A girl after my own heart she enjoys a good hunk of cheese as an appetizer before dinner. In fact, if she hears us in the kitchen, she will begin her pleading for cheese before she even reaches that room. Down the hall she comes chanting, "Cheese, Nan!"

The other day I was slightly irritated, okay perhaps just plain irritated, at how she constantly seems to repeat the cheese question until she actually receives her piece. I can even have said, "Yes, Grace, I will give you a piece of cheese", and she will still keep on asking for it.

I said to Mom, "Doesn't she believe us? Doesn't she know that when we say we will give her cheese, she will receive it?" In a calm, cool, and collected way, Mom replied, "We do the same thing to God."

Musing upon this, I realized that nothing could be closer to the truth. We beg, plead, pray that God will give us what we need and yet we don't always trust that he will actually give it to us. I've feared I haven't had enough faith. What if I die and find out that whoops I just didn't believe hard enough?

For starters, that's not how Christianity works. We don't will ourselves into Heaven. Faith is not something that I can conjure up on my own and it is not based upon the mood of the moment. Sometimes this is a whole lot easier to say than to believe which is where faith comes into play.

Moreover, God promises that he will supply the faith we need. From him come the desire to do his good will and pleasure. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24). "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:9). "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Yet on a daily bases, I struggle to trust that God will do what he says he will do in his Word. Mercifully, he does not treat me as my doubt deserves. He, instead, is more like my mom. Grace is continually asking for her aged dairy even though she has been guaranteed a piece. Mom continually tells her yes, and hands her a chunk of cheese.

Happy Reformation Day

"Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves
by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious
performances and devotions, but they were left
wondering if they had done enough
to escape God's anger and punishment."
- from http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/MP3-Audio--Multimedia/Celebrate-Reformation-Day/

"For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God, not as the result of works,
so that no one may boast."
- Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB

Reformation Day celebrates the reform of the church that occurred in the 1500's, captured in the storyline of Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the Castle Church doors to debate, among a number of issues, the ongoing practice of indulgences, basically explained as paying to have your sins removed.

The Reformation is also known for the "Solas"- 3 of the 5 listed here:

• Sola gratia. Salvation by grace alone.
• Sola fide. Justification by faith alone.
• Solus Christus. Through Christ alone.

Having grown up Lutheran, the denomination that grew out of Luther's bent on the Gospel, the grace theme of Ephesians 2, verses 8 through 9, runs strong in my blood. A free, unmerited gift of God is how grace was explained to me as I grew up. No way for me to earn salvation.

End result of grace:

• Christ's perfect life of obedience to God's Law for my life disobedience
• Christ's suffering God's wrath which I deserved for my disobedience
• Christ's perfect sacrifice to satisfy the necessary requirement to pay for my sins
• Christ's resurrection to conquer once and for all, sin, death and Satan and emphatically show He is the perfect Lord and Savior
• Christ's giving of the Holy Spirit, third member of the Trinity, to empower me to live a Christ-like life, change me into the likeness of Christ, and preserve me until Christ comes again
  

So, what's my response?

I believe in all that Christ did and that it all applies to me. Thank you, Jesus, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

-- CFM

Rolling Around

One night I was lying in bed listening to The Horse and His Boy, a radio theater production. As I attempted to fall asleep, I mused upon a certain section of the story: when Bree and Shasta are at the beginning of their journey to "Narnia and the North". After a hard night's ride, Bree desires to take a roll in the grass before donning the saddle once more. The conversation goes like this:

When Shasta had finished his breakfast..., Bree said, "I think I'll have a nice roll before we put on that saddle again." And he proceeded to do so. "That's good, That's very good," he said, rubbing his back on the turf and waving all four legs in the air. "You ought to have one too, Shasta," he snorted. "It's most refreshing."

But Shasta burst out laughing and said, "You do look funny when you're on
your back!"

"I look nothing of the sort," said Bree. But then suddenly he rolled round
on his side, raised his head and looked hard at Shasta, blowing a little.

"Does it really look funny?" he asked in an anxious voice.

"Yes, it does," replied Shasta. "But what does it matter?"

"You don't think, do you," said Bree, "That it might be a thing talking
horses never do -- a silly, clownish trick I've learned from the dumb ones? It
would be dreadful to find, when I get back to Narnia, that I've picked up a lot
of low, bad habits. What do you think, Shasta? Honestly, now. Don't spare my
feelings. Do you think the real, free horses -- the talking kind -- roll?"

Now, Bree had an honest, legitimate fear. What if he can't do something like rolling which brings him great delight in Narnia? What if real horses don't roll?

Translate that to the Christian life. In many ways, Christians believe that doing certain things shouldn't be done by "real" Christians? At times We can be a bit like the town folks in the film Babette's Feast who fear enjoying the feast because if they enjoy it, they may fall into sin.

As Bree forgot that though he is a Narnian horse, he is a horse, we forget that we are human beings as well as Christians. We were made, created to enjoy the world around us, even more so than those who are not believers. Christians should find delight in everything from a well, crafted dessert to a beautiful sunset, a stunning painting to a fragile butterfly. There is no shame in reveling in the good gifts God has given us, "for everything God created is good" (1 Timothy 4:4) and he has "richly provided us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17).

So by all means Bree, roll!

Blasphemy

Over the past couple of months I have watched the Bourne trilogy. Though well crafted with excellent directing and storyline, they are intense to watch. The first two movies were rated PG-13 for intense sequences, language, and action violence. The last one, I noticed, was rated the same but did not mention language.

Good, I thought. I don't like language and it isn't necessary. So I settle down to watch the final installment. Shortly into the film, I am rudely jarred by the unremorseful taking of God's name in vain. I thought to myself, they said no language on the rating. Then I remembered, blasphemy isn't considered language in our culture.

Truth be told, movies can take God's name in vain in one breath and then thank Him in the next. The "thank Gods" of cinema are almost as blasphemous as the actual blasphemes: the 'thank yous' mean absolutely nothing since the characters obviously are not grateful to God.

I often remember Exodus 20:7 when I hear such irreverence: "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." As a young child, I realized the gravity of those words. I had heard God's name misused in the movies and could only think what would happen if those souls did not repent. Even now, I send up a prayer similar to Jesus: Forgive them, they don't know what they are doing.

Blasphemy isn't language; it is much, much worse. If only they would label the movies "PG-13 for action violence, thematic elements, and blasphemy," it would make my movie selections easier.

--HM

Sleep

Over the past week and a half, I have had difficulty sleeping. My symptoms would include not being tired, feelings of anxiety, rapid pulse, feeling pulse in my neck, and adrenaline rushes. None of these are conducive to sound sleeping.

It hasn't been easy to deal with the symptoms; but, I realized after my second short night that I had before me an opportunity to trust that God was in control of even my sleeping patterns. And even in my sleeplessness, I could give Him glory.

Perhaps I was more acutely aware of this because the week before my brother's appendix burst, the closest any of us have come to facing death. Yet in the situation, all of us were cognizant of the fact that God had everything in control, was working it for our good, and was bringing glory to Himself.

Sure, it doesn't make sense to me why an appendix needed to burst or that I should have trouble sleeping. During my wakefulness, I was confident that God could still my being and cause me to sleep just fine if he so wanted. But my restlessness continued.

As my mom reminded me, God is in charge of our sleep. "For he grants sleep to those he loves" (Psalm 127:2). I know that my emotions are a huge part of the stress I personally deal with. Sometimes it is self-inflicted: getting worked up over situations that don't require that kind of response; ruminating about problems as if dwelling on them further will solve them.

The other night I was very stressed and anxious about the prospect of another uncomfortable rest. I was tired of feeling this way. In that struggle, I prayed aloud that God would grant me peace, having mercy on me; and that I would give him the glory. I calmed down and had a better night of sleep. The next night, I slept normally. To God be the glory!

A good nights sleep is relative. Children need 10 to 12 hours. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours. Some people have the remarkable ability to be rested after only 5 hours of sleep. God knows exactly how much sleep I need and for purposes only He knows right now, that is less than what I think I need.

A dear friend of ours reminded my mom during my mom's episodes of insomnia, "It's just sleep." How true! Another great saying also puts sleep in its proper perspective: as one of the chipmunks from Alvin and the Chipmunks tells Dave, "You can sleep when you're dead!"

--HM

Be Bacon

Commitment is a funny thing.

It is one of the most desirous aspects of a relationship. Yet at the same time all of us shy away from the requirements of commitment because we must give up something of ourselves to someone else.

Marriage is a commitment with vows spoken before witnesses; a covenant of dedication between one man and one women to be faithful to each other until death. Each has to give up their own desires for the other's well being. Give and take.

Currently, people shirk the duty of a solid marriage commitment for the comforts of "Styrofoam cup" relationships. All the emotions, responsibilities, and lifestyles of a married couple are thrown out for just "couple"; or more politically correct, "partner". Like a Styrofoam cup, the relationship can be tossed out whenever it suits us; whenever we have had our fill. Like a Styrofoam cup which is non-biodegradable, the consequences of such relationships won't go away.

Though this isn't an endorsement of Pope John Paul II, I believe he was accurate in his assessment of commitment--less relationships, "The fear of making permanent commitments can change the mutual love of husband and wife into two loves of self - two loves existing side by side, until they end in separation."

In the same vain, Scripture tells us, "You can not serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). Christians are called on to be committed only to Christ. Even if one is single, they are married to Christ as His Bride. We are to be wholly dedicated to the Truth of Scripture and the glory of our Father in Heaven.

Everyday I struggle with my own self-centeredness, to be committed to Christ's agenda or my own. My mother reminds me, "It's not about you"; it's about God.

Dr. Kistler told a joke a few Sundays ago:

"If you have eggs and bacon for breakfast, then you see different levels of
dedication. The chicken only made a donation; the pig made a commitment."

Let us, then, in our Christian walk be bacon.

What If...

"What if...". Placing those two little words at the front of a question turns it into speculation. Hypothetical, conjectural, theoretical. This past week, my family and I have had to face many "what if's".

My brother had a burst appendix which is a nasty business. His body had created an enclosure around the poison so that none of it had spread prior to surgery. The surgeon felt he cleaned up the area very well. However, we were told if it had been 24 hours later, the problem could have been much, much worse.

As you can imagine, our imaginations began to speculate of what could have happened. What if we hadn't gotten him to the hospital on time? What if urgent care had properly diagnosed him the night before? What if the poison had spread? What if he had died?

The leader of an adult Bible study at church, reminded the class one Sunday that we as Christians do not deal with "What if's"; we deal with as the Apostle Paul says "whatsoever is true" (Philippians 4:8).

Thus, our imaginations were restrained. This is the truth: we got to the hospital on time, urgent care didn't diagnose properly, the appendix poison hadn't spread and he didn't die but is on the road to recovery.

C.S. Lewis delves into this concept in The Chronicles of Narnia. In Prince Caspian, Lucy is the only one who sees Aslan who wants them to follow him. Instead of listening to Lucy, the group wanders lost and is even ambushed. Eventually, Lucy speaks to Aslan in the woods. She comes to realize that she should have pushed for the others to follow or have followed Aslan alone. She asks:

" 'But what would have been the good?'
Aslan said nothing.
'You mean,' said Lucy rather faintly, 'that it would have turned out all right -- somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?'
'To know what would have happened, child?' said Aslan. 'No. Nobody is ever told that.'
'Oh dear,' said Lucy.
'But anyone can find out what will happen,' said Aslan."

Trying to wrap our minds around what would have happened, is a waste of time. The emotional energy, good or bad, isn't worth the effort. We don't deal with "what if's"; we deal with "whatsoever is true", and that is a great comfort.

--HM

Who is Man?

PARADE Magazine ran an article in this Sunday's issue called "For the Love of Hubble". The Hubble Telescope, I learned from the article, was shot into space in 1990 and is going to receive a tune-up in October of this year (http://www.nasa.gov/). Though what truly grabbed my attention was a section my brother read to me:

"It [the Hubble Telescope] has taught us so much -- including that the universe is 14 billion years old."

I couldn't help but asking, "What end of the telescope were they looking through?!" My dad drolly replied, "The wrong end."

Truth be told, the stars should point us not to the age of the universe but to the creator of the heavenly beings. The article in PARADE goes on in praise of this telescope:

"Among Hubble's highlights is settling the decades-old debate about the age of the universe. Previously, the data were so bad that astrophysicists could not
agree. Some thought 10 billion years. Other, 20 billion. Yes, it was embarrassing. But Hubble enabled us to measure accurately how the brightness varies in a particular type of star that resides in a distant cluster of galaxies. That information, when plugged into a simple formula, tells us their distance from Earth. And because the entire universe is expanding at a known rate, we can then turn back the clock to determine how long ago everything was in the same place. The answer? The universe was born 14 billion years ago".

What? The greatest accomplishment is that it helped us determine whether the universe is 10 BILLION or 20 BILLION years old?! It's ludicrous! Should not the greatest triumph of space exploration in general be what David declared in Psalm 8: "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor" (v. 3-5)?

I had the opportunity to look through a telescope, one my grandpa set up in my cousins' big field on their property which sits up on a hill. It was dark and the stars were out in droves. Looking through the eyepiece, I beheld Saturn and it's rings! If that wasn't awe inspiring, I don't know what is! "Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands" (Psalm 102:25).

"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible" (Hebrews 11:3). When we behold the stars, we gaze upon the the heavenly lights that God spoke into existence. Take a stroll around the block or if you are fortunate, a walk in a field, and turn your gaze upward, pondering who we are, that God of the universe is mindful of us. "You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you" (Nehemiah 9:6).

Batman Probe

I held off seeing Batman Begins until it reached Blockbuster's shelves. My friends had raved about it; critics seemed to like it; so when the right opportunity came along, my brother, dad, and I watched it. My initial reaction was that the movie was well-made, the acting superb, and the plot excellent (albeit the film in its entirety is dark).

My brother ended up purchasing the film and we watched it again. And this time I walked away feeling unsure of whether I could root for Bruce Wayne/Batman. Meaning I questioned if Batman was truly a "good guy".

I mentioned this to a friend the other night and the shock on his face told me my views weren't readily shared. Nevertheless, I hope I can explain this belief. I will begin with an interview I read with Christian Bale (aka Batman) before the film's theatrical release. Surprisingly, Bale mentioned that he wanted an R-rated version which could delve into the character of Bruce Wayne. In fact, he described Wayne as a guy you wouldn't want to be left alone in a room with. Interesting.

In another interview, Christian Bale said, "I mean, he’s the really on-the-edge one [superhero] because he’s the guy that, okay, he’s doing good but he’s the Dark Knight. I mean, a knight is meant to be in shining armor and he’s the Dark Knight. He could do good things but man, he could just as easily flip over and become like the ultimate villain" (1.).

The film begins with Bruce's terrifying encounter with bats, his continued fear of the winged mammals shown at the opera, and his parent's murder in the theater's back alley. That fear, pain, guilt, anger, resentment, hatred (I'm running out of negative descriptive emotions) is what drives his life. Everything he does is based on his desire to get revenge, to fulfill his "weakness" as a child by facing the bad guys head on.

My friend wanted to make the point that it's not revenge, it's avenge. However, if you look at the etymology of word "avenge", along with the words "revenge" and "vengeance", the word from which they are all derived is "vengier". In Old French this means "take revenge" (2).

"It is mine to revenge; I will repay." (Deut. 32:35)

Moreover, compared to Spiderman or Superman, Batman is not there to truly save the people of his city, he is there to get the criminals. It is protection of the innocent vs. destruction of the guilty.

I think what sealed it for me was the moment in the film where Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) is on a tram flying toward the city's main water tower. Batman defeats him and Ghul mocks him because he couldn't kill before. Batman replies, "I won't kill you; but I don't have to save you." In light of other superheroes, it seems pretty cold. Spiderman tried to save the Green Goblin, he successfully saved Doc Oc (though Oc dies in order to save the city), and he attempted to save Venom. Even Superman did not exact vengeance on Lex Luther.

Batman is the reality and Bruce Wayne is the mask. Can we really cheer for this kind of character? Channeling anger and hate can work for a while but at some point or another you have to decide if you want them to be the driving force of your life. Ra's Al Ghul/Henri Drucard reminds Bruce of this, saying, "Your anger gives you great power. But if you let it, it will destroy you. As it almost did me." Wayne inquires to what halted it. One word is all Drucard uses: "Vengeance." To inflict pain on those who have wronged you isn't any less destructive than anger. A choice is given. It appears Wayne has made his decision.

--HM

1. http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batman022005_2.htm
2. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=avenge&searchmode=none

Transformers and Eye Candy

Last Saturday I popped in Transformers and settled back for a fluff movie (doesn't have a whole lot of depth to plot, message, etc.). My brothers had previously viewed it and so I knew from them that it was a decent film with funny banter between the machines.

The special effects were quite fantastic and the Transformers were jaw-dropping realistic. But there was something else that caught my eye which made me wonder about the screenwriters and the actresses. To me, it appeared that the main female character and Sam's interest, Mikaela Banes was created for no other reason than to provide eye candy in an otherwise masculine film. If Mikaela was removed from the screenplay (short skirt, midriff revealing shirts and all) would the movie miss her. Honestly, what great part does she play in saving world? Remove Sam and there is no movie; remove Mikaela and there is less hormones running wild.

Even beyond this character, other women are strategically placed in the film wearing revealing clothes. For example, in the climatic city fight scene, a Transformer hurtles his way down a street. Yet in the foreground, a woman screaming in slow motion is stopped in front of the camera with a blue, low cut dress. I don't know about you but if one of those machines came flying down the street, I would run for cover instead of posing for the camera.

What is the point for filmmakers to throw these things into movies? No one would notice if they weren't there and it would be less of a temptation for men. My other question is, "Why are women taking these roles?" Why put yourself in that position? I could only shake my head as the credits role and hope (but I'm not holding my breath) that Transformers 2 does a better job.

Re-defining Refinement

Our pastor asked yesterday in church why it sometimes seems that the wicked prosper and the righteous perish. He asked this in context of Malachi 2:17. In this verse, Israel was demanding where God's justice was: the pagan nations were rich and powerful while Israel, God's chosen people, were poor and oppressed.

Asaph asks a similar question in Psalm 73. Honestly, he reveals that he "envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (v. 3). Using candid language, Asaph lists the "blessings" of the wicked; they appear problem free, healthy, strong, burdenless, carefree, and wealthy (v. 4, 5, 12). "What's the point then," inquires Asaph, "of following God."

"Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence" (v. 13).

Think of miserable Job; he did not have the same advantage we have of knowing the interaction between God and the accuser (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). All he knew was he, a righteous man, was afflicted by God. Job's good behavior and obedience did not seem to line up with the painful circumstances of his life.

But is not that the problem with the way the Gospel and Christianity is viewed in churches and society today? The Gospel has become the message that "God has a wonderful plan for your life". Truth be told the Christian life is sometimes no where near being hunky dory. Our obedience and the events of life do not always reflect that "wonderful plan" mantra.

Sitting in church, I thought through the difference between us and them, between "the children of God and the children of the devil" (1 John 3:10). Scripture tells us that "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and few find it" (Matthew 7:14). The Greek word for "narrow" in this passage means, "afflict, narrow, suffer tribulation, trouble" (Strong's Concordance). It doesn't sound easy to me. Furthermore, the passage in Malachi goes on to say that the messenger of the covenant is coming and "will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:1-3).

The refining process by a silversmith or a goldsmith is fascinating. One who refines precious metals does so by placing the ore in high heat. The impurities are then separated from the metal. The ore is left in the fire until the refiner can see his reflection in the metal.

What a picture! Christians may be struggling, undergoing hardship, and persecution. But we receive it because we are being made more into the image of Christ. God loves us and so is making us more like Jesus. What happens now in this life will impact the future, eternal one to come. Pagans are not being refined, so why should they suffer now?

Our hope is that though we experience trials and tribulation we are redeemed. Isaiah poignantly transcribed the words of God:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" (Isaiah 44:1d-3b).

As Asaph struggled to reconcile the evildoer's life with life God's children experience, he was reminded:

"Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strenght of my heart
and my portion forever" (Ps. 73:23-26).

--HM

Chosen

(Copyright 2008 by Hannah Miller)

Clarity of understanding is sometimes slow in coming. As on a humid morning it can take time for the fog to evaporate.

Personal clarity, for which I can take no credit, is coming. It started a few Sundays ago when our pastor asked during his sermon why we were here, worshiping in church, believing in Jesus, when in Myanmar (Burma) a storm had wiped out hundreds of thousands of a population that has just a single digit percentage of Christians. Most died as unbelievers yet there I was, alive and saved. Why? Why me? The very fact that I do believe points to the even greater and more significant fact that God loves me, chose me and did so first.

What a thought! What magnitude of love this is! God loved me first? He is pleased with me? Yet I have done nothing.

My fog cleared a little more yesterday while in family devotions we read Romans 9:18: "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." So not only did God choose me, there will be and are those that won't be chosen. It's not easy to grasp. In Calvinism, this is the idea of election. What joy in realizing I'm elected!

Then we read John 6:39: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but will raise them up at the last day." Even greater news: I can not lose my salvation because I do not carry the responsibility of attaining it. I am given to Christ and He has bestowed upon me salvation; it's not mine to lose.

And then today, I was reading through the Psalms and ended up cross-referencing John 6 again. I didn't even realize until just now but it is what we read yesterday. John 6:36 states, "But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe." I thought, "How could the Israelites not get it; how could they not realize that Jesus is God?" Then I realized as I read it again that I wouldn't get it. God could be standing right in front of me, like he did 2000 years ago to the Hebrew crowds, and I still wouldn't get it if he had not lifted my fog.

I would have to agree with Spurgeon who said, " I believe in the doctrine of election, because I am quite sure that if God had not chosen me I would never would have chosen him..."

--HM

Movie Reviews: Prince Caspian

I have missed Narnia.

And I know that I was expecting bit more out of the filmmakers since the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I knew plot changes were added, I knew it would be more intense. I hoped beyond hoped that it would still be the Narnia that I love so dearly. And it was.

The magic of the world Lewis created is ever present in this latest film. I kept thinking during the movie that many of the events could happen "only in Narnia." It was almost a sigh of relief that the film jumped from England to Narnia within the first 10 minutes or so; it was so good to get back.

All this to say, I was disappointed in some aspects of the movie.

Add a Little Here and a Little There...

The Pevensies are older and with age comes change. Yet (and perhaps I am an old stickler for staying true to the story) it doesn't mean the story has to be changed. One of the key alterations were the additudes of the two eldest, Peter and Susan. Peter first.

He is struggling with the fact he is no longer a king. He is a bit tiffed at having to return to the "normal" world. Who can blame him? Pride combines with stubbornness to produce a real mess. Peter wants to prove himself, that he "coulda been (or still is) a contender." In this spirit, a raid on Miraz's castle is formed and ends up costing the lives of many Narnians. I even got a bit choked up when at one point part of the group has escaped and the other part is trapped inside the castle with no way to out.

I sympathize with Peter. As he tells Lucy, he just wants proof that Aslan is real, that he called them, and that he has a plan for them. But don't we all? Lucy comes back with, "Well, maybe we need to prove ourselves to him." Unfortunately, she didn't see the faces of the Narnians who knew they couldn't escape the doom descending upon them in the castle when Peter's attack failed. Attempting to prove our worth or maturity won't work and Peter learned that the hard way. We under no certain terms can ever prove ourselves to God. On the contrary, God proved himself to us, establishing himself as both just and the justifier of our sins (Romans 3:16).

On to Susan. I'll admit, I may be too hard on female characters in movies. Nevertheless, I stand by my conviction that this portrayal of Susan was really off the mark. The actress who plays Susan is pretty and rightly so. Queen Susan was the fairest of all while in Narnia. However, this beauty comes off as too much of Hollywood's babe mentality. Susan catches the eye of Prince Caspian. She says some of those phrases we all know from the romantic movies, such as "You may need to call me sometime." And she even kisses Caspian in the end! There were audible groans and a few forehead slaps after that one in the theater.

Somehow I don't see Lewis's Susan doing any of those things. It was written in one of the books that Susan received at her court the requests of many lords for her hand in marriage yet she was unswayed by all of them. She wasn't easily wooed. Was she a strong woman? Yes, but she didn't need to fight single-handily in the woods against Telmarines to prove it (another addition to the story I didn't quite appreciate).

Now could there be room for creative liberty in Lewis's story for developing typical teenage feelings and attitudes? Perhaps. But as we must remember, these were no ordinary children. These were kings and queens. These were called by Aslan.

Steadfast

Lucy (and Edmund) was very much the same. She was a bit taller and she had grown up but she as a Lewis character was still there.

It was almost as if Lucy was the only character who understood that major changes had been made to the story and she wasn't impressed with them. Peter wants to charge the castle and Caspian wants to hunker down in Aslan's How. Lucy pipes up with, "But you only seem to think there are two options." Anyone for Lewis's idea for the story?

In another scene, Susan bashfully looks down from a horse at Caspian and tells him to keep the horn because he may need to call her again. Lucy repeats the line to Susan later in the story as if to say, "What was that?!" She never got a full explanation.

Finally, when Susan runs back to Caspian for her kiss, Lucy's jaw drops and she says, "I don't think I will understand that until I am a grown up." I didn't understand it so I doubt she ever will.

Even with these major changes, the magic of Narnia was there. The first film had the story but lacked the magic. This one has the magic but lacked the fullness of the story Lewis penned. Maybe the next film will prove itself to combine both elements.

Conclusion

I'll say it again, I have missed Narnia.

Perhaps as much as the four Pevensie children did. However, while they have tasted the sweetness of Aslan's breath and have felt the warmth of his golden mane, I am still waiting for that day. The day when "we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). See the movie if for nothing else to be stirred with the longing to move beyond this world into the next; to move "further up, and further in"; to kneel before the great Lion who isn't a tame lion but loves us and has "called us out of our darkness into his marvelous light," according to his purpose (1 Peter 2:9).

-- HM