The Invitation - version 1.0

THE INVITATION

Ruth quietly drew in her new sketchpad while sitting at her desk in Mrs. Moran's class.  Ruth loved to draw, especially animals, and Mrs. Moran always let her students have quiet time on Monday mornings.

A "knock, knock, knock," at the classroom door woke Ruth from her daydream.  Ruth's latest drawing, a beautiful spider web, was coming together nicely.  Mrs. Moran went to the door, smiled, and brought a girl into the classroom.  Ruth followed the visitor and noticed that she looked uncomfortable and kept her eyes focused at the floor.  The new girl quietly introduced herself as Kara.  Kara and her family were new in town.  They just moved to the city from a small town in Ohio.

Ruth was very curious about Kara.  At lunch, Ruth asked Kara to sit with her.  Kara sat down, but spent the entire lunchtime eating and only looking at the food in front of her.  Ruth also noticed that the other children made fun of "the new girl" and called her names and talked behind her back.  It hurt Ruth that her classmates behaved this way.

That afternoon, Ruth was talking to her Grammy about her day.  Ruth mentioned Kara and that she had hoped things had gone better.  Grammy suggested that they pray and ask for God's presence and peace.  After praying, Grammy reminded Ruth of scripture in the Bible dealing with friendship and the power of sharing the good news with others.

As Ruth was leaving Grammy's house, it finally came to her, "I can make Kara an invitation to come to church with her family on Sunday!"

That evening after homework, Ruth made a beautiful invitation to worship at her church.  Ruth had drawn a lovely picture.  In the middle the invitation said:

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY at 10am.

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

387 MAIN STREET

YOUR NEW FRIEND, RUTH

The following morning, Ruth smiled and gave Kara the card.  She thought Kara would stay silent, but then she said, "What a beautiful card.  Did you draw this?"  "Yes, " Ruth answered, "I love Jesus, I love to draw, and I love my church.  Do you think you might like to come?"  "I'll have to ask my parents, but I really hope they say, yes!" exclaimed Kara.

Ruth was so glad she had turned to God for help, because she had made a new friend: Kara.

1) Do you identify with Ruth and/or Kara?  

2) Are Ruth, Kara, and Grammy likable characters?

3) Does this story seem like it could happen?

4) What would you change, if anything?

5) Would you recommend it to your friends to read?

Admiration of Biblical Proportions

At our last meeting, Bonnie, Lori and I spent a bit of time discussing Job.  I find Job fascinating.  I suppose I compare his trials with our world today, but even trying to imagine half of what he experienced is inconceivable.

Between Joseph and Moses, Job was the only righteous man that Jehovah could find.  So in walks Satan and proceeds to tell Jehovah "you know people only worship you for the stuff you give them."  What a despicable thing to tell Jehovah.  Satan was slanderous in his statement, and Jehovah told him to test this argument on Job.  Before I studied with Bonnie, I always thought God was so awful to subject Job to the trials of Satan.  Job lost his children, his livestock, his money, and was ridden with sores covering his entire body.  Yet this man still praised God's name.

In fact, Jehovah had to prove Satan wrong.  And he knew that Job's heart was pure and obedient.  I think yesterday was the first time I saw that Jehovah knew exactly what he was doing when Satan was testing Job.  My favorite line from the scripture is Job 27:5.  "Until I expire I shall not take away my integrity!"  What a powerful and admirable statement.  Even with people questioning Job's devotion...and Satan destroying his existence, Job would die before he ruined his integrity.  That, my friends, is a remarkable man.

I know I'll never be as righteous as Job, but I want to have integrity that I would die before destroying.

Having an Independent Spirit

Up until last Wednesday, I never thought being independent as a bad thing.  In fact, I have lived a life rich in independent decision-making and life choices.  Was I being told this wasn't right in Jehovah's eyes?  Am I as rebellious as those in Genesis?

Bonnie brought Brother Erickson last Wednesday to our Bible study.  He was a charismatic man, and full of thoughts and answers to my questions.  I told him that I always felt that free-will = independence.  To be truly able to make the choices necessary in life.  Each choice that one makes places him/her down a path of further choices.  I also believe choosing "right" has a lot to do with it.  However, according to Brother Erickson, once the new system comes there will be no evil.  There will be no sin.  So I asked, "Without evil what is the purpose of having free will?"

Brother Erickson's answer was, "We need free will to choose love."  I guess I understand.  We choose who we love.  But the thing is, I still wonder how difficult choices will be if there aren't bad decisions.  I then asked, "what will I be free to choose?"  He stated that you can choose what color to wear, who to love, and where you might go for the day.  Doesn't this seem a bit robotic?  A bit boring? I think so.

If I don't have the knowledge of making a bad choice, how will I truly appreciate when the right choice is made?  Bonnie describes it by painting a picture of poverty.  Just because I've never experienced hunger, that doesn't mean I have to experience it in order to understand it is a state I don't want to be.  However, I believe I would never know how awesome a steak tasted if I had a steak every night.  When Jim and I get our once or twice a year steak from the market, I am thrilled to have such a wonderful taste!

I also worry that if my girls never experience disappointment, how will they understand the beauty in working for what you want?

Brother Erickson illustrated independent spirits by alluding to Adam and Eve.  Satan was influential in suggesting Jehovah God did not have the right to rule over His creation.  He made Eve want to have independence away from Jehovah, to do what SHE wanted and not obeying her God's wishes.  Adam and Eve's independent spirits caused them to desire the ability to rule themselves.  This is what Satan wanted: man to pull away from Jehovah.  Brother Erickson further suggested that Satan doesn't need people to pray to him or build altars to him to achieve his desire.  He pulls people away, daily, from their creator: Jehovah God.  Independent or rebellious spirits are perfect breeding grounds for the rebel, Satan.

I'm not sure how independent I wish to be anymore.  But on the other hand, aren't I independent to choose the Bible study that the Witnesses offer?  I have always had an open heart and mind.

I will continue to pray about independence, due to my previous definition of free will: the ability to choose between right and wrong each and every day.  But keeping in mind the wonderful thoughts that Brother Erickson shared with me last week.

1 John 5:14-15 (New International Version)

¹⁴This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Proverbs 27:11 (New International Version)

 ¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
       then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

I Must, I Must, I Must Reread These Books!

Earlier this month, I was introduced to a great book, Everything I Learned About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume. It was a collection of essays written by woman that were influenced by Judy Blume's anthology.

I grew up reading Judy Blume books.  Books like: Superfudge, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Blubber, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Sheila the Great, Freckle Juice, The Pain and the Great One, Tiger Eyes...Forever...speckle my youth like the freckles received during trips to our cottage up north.

The first essay, "Then. Now. Forever..." written by Megan McCafferty immediately struck a note with me.  Forever was one of Judy's books I'll NEVER forget. But just like McCafferty, I too never actually read the book from cover to cover. I just read the "juicy" parts. So, now at 35 I checked three books out of the library last Tuesday: Forever, Deenie, and Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself.  The last two were books I never read as a pre-teen or teen.  However, they were referenced in the essays so I decided to pick them up as well.

Upon starting Forever, I was reminded of the way I felt as a preteen flipping through the pages trying to find the "dirty" parts.  What I was surprised at was the way I identified with Katherine's friend, Erica.  Obviously at 35, my age is closer to that of Kath's mom.  I was really grateful at the way Kath's mom encouraged Kath to make her own choices, but that ultimately forced Kath into a situation that ended her relationship with Michael: summer camp.  As parents we want our children to become the BEST person they can be, even if that means meddling just a bit.

However, Erica was totally me in high school.  I was the "virgin" girl that heard all about the "other" girls that were going to parties, getting laid, and doing drugs (i.e. smoking and drinking).  But the bigger connection was that I too hoped to "change" a homosexual.  Erica was so sure Artie would show her more attention the more time they spent together.  Poor Erica.  I too went through this more than once.  In fact, I "dated" and had "relationships" with boys/men that later either came out or disappeared to never be heard of again.  I assume they were embarrassed at the time they lied to themselves, or to me...maybe I'm wrong about that, but I surely don't blame them now.

Did I have a first "love"?  Yes.  Dave will always be my first "true" love.  And like Kath and Michael in Forever, our relationship ended a few times in ridiculous, dramatic ways.  Definitely due to our ages, hormones, and maturity.  No regrets from either of us, which is nice to say many years later.  I imagine Kath and Michael met up again at a class reunion with their prospective spouses and enjoyed talking about old times and silly things that they did together.

I really don't know if I had read Forever cover to cover at 12 if I would have truly understood what Judy was trying to share with young women.  However, in retrospect it was EXACTLY the way relationships are during teen years.  Forever means SO much!  Since only 17 years have been experienced, forever seems like a possibility to achieve then.  Of course multiply that by two and look back at that time...that's where I'm at now.  The love then was pure, innocent, and real.  That is what Judy was trying to say.  At least that is what I think.

I am enjoying the time I spending with Judy's characters.  Some are VERY far beyond what I experienced as a young girl and some are so close it's scary.  But all in all I realize that a trip down memory lane is really a precious gift that Judy has given me.  So I encourage all my readers to do the same: read some of the books you once loved.  You might be surprised at how timeless the tales can be.

When did sin disappear?

Whether you believe in original sin or not, the fact is: We all sin.

The other day Zoe asked Jim, "Daddy, Jesus died for our sins.  What is a sin?"  He explained to her that anytime we do something that makes God sad we have committed a sin.  She asked, "Daddy, do you sin?" He answered her, "Of course.  Everyone sins."

What I wonder is why most people make exceptions to many sins committed each day.  I am even guilty of sinning and making things less "sinful" by explaining there was a "greater" reason to lie, or cheat, etc.

Catholics go to confession where they ask their priest to absolve them of all sins committed. When I was growing up Lutheran, it was almost suggested that we keep a list in our minds of those sins we've committed throughout the week.  Lutherans (at least in my experience) did a congregational-wide absolution of sins.  I suppose as a young person I really thought that's all it took.  And maybe at that time it did.

We don't "outgrow" sin.  In fact, I think it only gets harder to avoid sin.

What happened to traditional values?  Did they vanish with the burning of the bra?  Maybe they went down with the Titanic.  Regardless, we have become a society that accepts everything.  Don't misinterpret; I'm not suggesting we should be rude to people or exclude others based on race or social status.  What I am questioning is this: should we expose our families to what is "normal" to society?  And does "being nice to others" excuse us from everything?

I spoke with my dear friend, Dana, this morning.  She said that she was so glad that she has a son.  For a daughter would come with social pressures that she was thrilled to be missing.  It's true!  The pressure to dress a certain way has only become worse in the last decade or so.  I reminded her that when we were younger, Madonna was popular with the girls.  In fact, I wore my hair like hers and had the black gel bracelets up my arm.  Vibrant colors and lace...it was everywhere.  And we sung, "Like a Virgin" as if we were singing our swan song.  We were virgins, so we knew exactly what it was like!  Is there anything different with Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana and her behavior/dress?  Not really.  But we were 11 years old when we were dressing like Madonna; not 5 like Zoe's classmates.  See...once again I am "making excuses" for our "sins".

Is it fair to not let our children get exposed to the "world"?  Is it worse to hide them away in a box, or is it better to create morals and values that are Christian and then hope they won't choose the sinful ways?  I am torn.  However, I have chosen to raise my children in a Christian environment.  This includes having them attend a Christian-based school.  However, the school only goes until 8th grade.  At that point, Jim and I will determine what is best for our girls.  Hoping their upbringing will influence their decisions in the world.

We are a society of the "feel good" religion, where no matter what you are accepted.  I was always the kid that accepted everyone and was pained to be teased and see others receiving the same treatment.  But is religion the same thing?  Are there moral standards that society expects others to live by?  I suppose.  But even killing (war), stealing (goods & services), adultery (premarital sex), and baring false witness (lying & dishonesty) is common place in our world today.  Exceptions are made left and right.  And then there is the concept of judging and forgiving.  I have said, "who are we to judge?" more than once!

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

I wonder if because we know everyone sins, it becomes okay to do so.  Telling ourselves, "oh well, everyone sins...it's not like I am different than anyone else."  And that's where I think our society lives - in the place of "but he/she does/has it".  My mom always distinguished lies by colors: white and black.  A white lie was one that wouldn't hurt anyone, but was necessary to use instead of the truth.  For instance, if she decided she didn't want to attend a function she would use a white lie (migraine headache) rather than state that she just wasn't interested.  She continues to do this with family and friends.  I sometimes wonder how often if happens to me.  And yes, I have been known to white lie in my day.  But is a white lie any less dishonest than a black one?  No.

In my opinion sin has not disappeared, rather society has stopped placing concern on sinful acts.  Where does this leave me and my family?  I hope with much greater awareness of sin and sinful acts.  We all sin, but I am sure there are plenty of opportunities in which we can choose not to sin and those are ones I am committed to take.