Is the Bible clear that God is not pleased with homosexuality? Yes. The Bible is equally clear that God is not pleased with a host of things, things like ignoring poor people and doing good deeds so people will recognize us and not forgiving those who hate us.

Tim Keller, a pastor in New York City, said these helpful things about homosexuality:

Acknowledge that often when this topic comes up the rhetoric gets heated – and those who represent the Christian position are not always respectful of those who disagree, nor do they have sound reasons for their position. Christians have no more or less of a right to tell other people how to live their lives than anyone else. But we all have ways we think the world should be; and we all have the right to try to contend for these views respectfully. The gospel – that we are saved only by sheer grace – should help Christians to do this without self-righteousness.

Homosexuality is not God’s original design for sexuality – sex is designed for marriage between a man and a woman. But that belief should have no impact on a church’s or a Christian’s desire to love and serve the needs and interests of all their neighbors, including gay people, people of other faiths, and so on.

Note that there is not widespread division over what the Bible says about homosexuality. All three branches of Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant) agree – on at least four things: one, that every mention of homosexual practice in the Bible says that it is wrong; two, that it is specifically prohibited in both the Old and New Testaments; three, that it did not just reflect the prejudices of the day – it cut against the views of ancient cultures; and four, that the whole arc of the Bible begins with a heterosexual marriage (Adam and Eve) and ends with the vision of one – the wedding feast in the book of Revelation.

[from The Reason for God Discussion Guide]

Also, a video entitled “Tim Keller on how to treat homosexuals”

Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message)

I think this phrasing from the Gospel of Matthew is really helpful for people like me who are trying to work hard, be productive, and please God. Jesus invites us to a restful relationship with Him. Even though Jesus lived a life of suffering and service, He was never overwhelmed because of the relationship He had with the Father in Heaven.

A good question to check the health of your relationship with Jesus: Jesus promises that His burden is light; is your burden light right now? If not, what might you be carrying that God doesn’t intend for you to carry? Or how might you be carrying things in a manner that doesn’t fit the way God has designed you?

Is my life marked by peace and gratitude, or am I waiting for this next frustration, difficulty, or time of pain to leave before I can have the light and easy load Jesus has promised me? I’ve learned this weekend that “blessings” are not the root of a thankful, carefree heart. Delighting in God and having peace that He really is satisfied with me because of Jesus- that is is how I can live with gratitude.

Recommended resource: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun

Cora enjoying a donut on her birthday

Our little lady turned three years old on Saturday during a very busy weekend. We spent Friday night grilling in our front yard with both sets of grandparents and most of her aunts & uncles. Everyone had a fun time getting reacquainted. On Saturday we had donuts in the morning and then left for a canoe trip. She loved riding in the canoe and dipping her hand in the river; but her favorite part was when we stopped and let her “swim” in the cold, cold water.

Cora didn’t want to buy a cake this year. She wanted to decorate her own cake. So, she did.

It turned out beautifully; she was very pleased.

We are so thankful for her. She keeps us on our toes as we parent her, but she also makes us smile a lot.

Her favorite things are pink and purple, babies (real or dolls), cooking, helping, playing outside, and copying Malaki. We’re looking forward to many more years, and learning many new favorites with Cora.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart – we love you so much!

(Many thanks to the talented Karolyn for taking the cake-decorating pictures!)

created by David Wimbish and The Collection

You can find more of their music at http://www.facebook.com/davidwimbishandthecollection

TOMS Shoes have turned lots of teenagers and college students into wannabe activists (which could be a good thing) just by choosing to purchase one brand of shoes instead of another.

The latest cause is the KONY2012 campaign from the folks at Invisible Children. They’ve taken heat from some and responded in turn. I’m not here to add much to that conversation, frankly because I don’t really know what I think yet.

Sometimes these causes get questioned, whether it’s how TOMS might adversely impact the local economy (Who’s gonna by local shoes when the Americans will bring us shoes for free?) or how Invisible Children spends its money. Apologists are quick to reply with, “Well, I like their way of doing it imperfectly better than your way of not doing anything.” Point taken, but that logic is a tad leaky.

Sometimes waiting to do something, and doing it well, is better than re-tweeting and “liking” the first human interest story that comes across our screen. It cuts bother ways. Folks will critique the humanitarian agency/company de jour. Those same folks might feel justified in doing nothing. Other people watch a compelling Youtube video and now all their friends and family are bombarded with their latest cause. Both of these approaches lack wisdom and compassion.

The first party- the guys who doesn’t do anything- he cannot let the fallibility of a strategy exempt him from doing his part to right a wrong. Maybe it’s not his life’s new calling, but he is now responsible for what he knows. This is directed at Christians. To whom much is given, much is required. If you know the right thing and neglect to do it, for you, that is sin. Find a better way. Fast from a meal and pray. Write an article or explore an internship. Do something.

The second party- the guy who jumps onto the latest cause bandwagon with ease- he needs to love people with his emotions and his mind. Chill the accusatory tone and haughty attitude towards those who want to test the waters before jumping in. There might be limestone 3 feet under the surface of the water. It’s good and right to investigate the implications of the charities before we throw our support behind them.

And this gung-ho activist needs to check himself, too. Is he really doing anything that helps? Perhaps spreading the word on social media really does help, but it’s about the laziest and lowest level of help imaginable. Same goes for buying a wristband or a t-shirt. I wonder how many of my generation will give up on the American dream and actually do something with their lives to make a difference.

Buying TOMS shoes is one thing, but going to medical school and living in the jungles or slums of South America to fight disease is another. Or how about devoting your life to counseling orphans in war-torn countries, helping them to cope with the hell they have lived through and aiding healing so they aren’t as susceptible to being the victim or perpetrator of crimes like Kony?  Nobody is going to be making Youtube videos about you then; you might be mostly forgotten. Will it still be a good cause?

On the last class day, we had to choose a stone and write on it a few things that we had learned that had been important for our family.  (Anyone reading this who went to training with us knows that we stole our stone…) We chose a big stone, and we filled it up.

When we got home it was much harder for me to remember my joys. I stopped making a list, and even stopped thinking about it after a while. I know that is dangerous, but I let the busyness of life and the overwhelming craziness of getting ready for an overseas move, plus the passing of my great-grandmother cloud out all the little blessings along the way.

So I re-started my list. I just wrote something that had given me joy in my planner and circled it. Nothing fancy. Not even too deeply “spiritual.”

Here are some of my joys from the past 2 weeks:

• That Mimi is whole again.
• Family that we actually like.
• Good friends and home base.
• Safe trip home.
• Kids – who make sadness more real and more comforting. (On the day of Mimi’s funeral)
• Spring sunshine on the back of our necks.
• A husband who really loves me.
• Seeing a bright red cardinal.
• All three kids laughing together.
• The Jesus Storybook Bible curriculum and audio. (Thank you Emily!)
• Time with the Lord.
• Naps.
• Time to Read.
• Quiet naptimes.
• Partially frozen Coke.
• Good music.
• Chocolate.
• Pizza instead of cooking.
• A nice dentist office.
• That we need to prepare to go – ASAP!
• Caffeine.
• Trip to Chicago & that our visas are ready!

One of the reasons I want to be mindful of my joys is that remembering my joys can ward off discouragement. These are the little things that God has sent into my life that make me smile on a daily basis, and I don’t want to forget them.

What would your joys for today be?

Paradox = Pair of Ducks = Yay Duck, Yuck Duck.
Malaki’s class had a page of their notebooks for each day where they could draw a Yay Duck picture, and a Yuck Duck picture. Sometimes his pictures were funny.  For example, one day he colored this scene: Yay = Malaki playing outside. Yuck = Going inside for a time-out.

But there were other days when he flat out told us he didn’t want to move. He didn’t want to leave his grandparents, his bunk-bed, or his toys. I think our training was really helpful to teach us that it is okay for him to feel that way, and we shouldn’t minimize the pain and difficulty of taking him away from everything familiar. (For the record though, he changed his mind later that day when we talked about all the fresh fruit we could find when we move.)

One important thing I learned from our time there was that life, especially life for us right at this moment, is just one big paradox. On one hand, we are very excited to go. On the other hand we mourn the things (and mostly the people) we leave behind. And those feelings don’t disagree. They are just different sides of the same story.

It’s hard right now. But it’s good. Sometimes growing is painful, but it’s better than staying who we are right now.

One thing we know: that even as we leave everything that is familiar, HE is leading us, and going with us hand in hand.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Isaiah 41:10,13

I don’t think we could be more excited.

I hear the accuser roar,
Of ills that I have done;
I know them well, and thousands more;
Jehovah findeth none.

Sin, Satan, Death, press near,
To harass and to appall;
Let but my risen Lord appear,
Backward they go and fall.

Before, behind, around,
They set their fierce array,
To fight and force me from my ground
Along Immanuel’s way.

I meet them face to face,
Through Jesus’ conquest blest;
March in the triumph of His grace,
Right onward to my rest.

There, in His book I bear
A more than conq’ror’s name,
A soldier, son, and fellow-heir,
Who fought and overcame.

His be the Victor’s name
Who fought our fight alone;
Triumphant saints no honor claim,
Their conquest was His own.

By weakness and defeat
He won the meed and crown
Trod all our foes beneath His feet,
By being trodden down.

He hell in hell laid low;
Made sin, he sin o’erthrew;
Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so,
And death, by dying, slew.

Bless, bless the Conq’ror slain!
Slain in His victory!
Who lived, who died, who lives again,
For thee, His Church, for Thee!