Summer solstice! Today is longest day of the year and in the Northern Hemisphere that means the sun is at its farthest northern position. But what that really means to my husband and me is that grilling season is underway. We love to grill out, especially hamburgers. Aren't we original?
Think about the best hamburger you've ever eaten. Not too well done but not rare either. Juicy but not bleeding. Maybe a third pound of lean ground beef. Maybe even Laura's brand. Or maybe your ground beef is simply generic. Then add a thinly sliced Vidalia onion or two, a fresh vine-grown tomato, and lots of dill pickles. A dab of Hellman's mayonnaise and VOILA! Truly a summer solstice treat. But hey, I'm not Paula Dean nor is this a cooking blog.
Instead our focus is primarily on one of the most prolific biblical writers --the apostle Paul. His letters comprise almost half of the New Testament. Strangely their structure reminds me of hamburgers. The meat is always in the middle, often with some juice oozing out. The letter to the church at Colosse, better known as Colossians, begins with a "top bun"layer--a simple greeting followed by appreciation and prayer. Then the first bite exalts Christ's supremacy while the middle digests how our freedom in Christ carries responsibilities for holy living. Because Paul began very personally in this letter, he ends that same way with specific names and instructions, hence the bottom bun.
Structure works for hamburgers as well as good writing. Paul may be grimacing right now at my analogy, but he'd like the taste of communication that is both personal and widely applicable.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Athens or Bust!
Greece, Rome, and even the Republic of Macedonia entice me more than any Caribbean beach. To walk where the apostle Paul greeted fellow Christians and taught Gentiles would be an honor. In my imagination I would see the crowds listening, enthralled with Paul's knowledge, convicted by his passion.
Paul always knew his audience, a vital component of writing and speaking. In fact, I was taught the first rule of solid communication is to know your audience and then define your purpose. Clearly as writers, we need to understand our readers--what they already know and what they need to know. In the secular, we create and market the brand. As Christian writers, we deliver God's message.
Follow me to Acts 17. There in Athens, Greece, Paul observed well. He saw the idols. He couldn't miss them because archaeologists' estimates hover around 30,000. He knew the Jews who lived there. He knew the God-fearing Greeks (17:17). He read their literature. He listened to their discussions. He addressed them with personal knowledge, leading to a personal connection, and ultimately their personal conviction.
"Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you" Acts 17:22-23, NIV.
Paul observed. He studied. He connected. And most importantly he communicated the Gospel of Jesus Christ to an audience who was ready to listen. As Christians, let's do the same.
Joyce
Please visit this site to see photos of ancient Athens.
Ancient Athens
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Following a Scooter
I saw the strangest thing this week. For about three miles, I drove behind a man on a scooter who was balancing two 2" by 4" twelve foot pieces of lumber, creating a huge V. Each time he turned a corner, I expected him to topple over. Staying a safe distance behind, I kept praying he would keep his balance so I would not run over him. At the first stop sign, I desperately wanted to jump out of my car and scold him for his lack of common sense. Once a mother, always a mother!
Yet what a metaphor for our lives! If we can maintain our balance, we can live in the V, the victory. Storms, sharp turns, and our own weaknesses attack our spiritual equilibrium. The apostle Paul anticipated such a ride for his brothers and sisters in Christ, because his letters offer both exhortation and encouragement. Note his balanced approach when writing to the Corinthians.
"He [Jesus] will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."
1 Cor. 1:8-10, NIV.
In this passage Paul prefaced his "criticism" with a victory declaration. He had no doubt they would overcome in Jesus Christ. His intent was to remind them who provides the balance and the victory, which is also ours in Christ. Let's live in peace, unity, and strength, perfectly balanced in our journey.
By the time the man on the scooter turned his last corner, I had traveled from criticism into awe. Let's show the world the same kind of balance.
Yet what a metaphor for our lives! If we can maintain our balance, we can live in the V, the victory. Storms, sharp turns, and our own weaknesses attack our spiritual equilibrium. The apostle Paul anticipated such a ride for his brothers and sisters in Christ, because his letters offer both exhortation and encouragement. Note his balanced approach when writing to the Corinthians.
"He [Jesus] will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."
1 Cor. 1:8-10, NIV.
In this passage Paul prefaced his "criticism" with a victory declaration. He had no doubt they would overcome in Jesus Christ. His intent was to remind them who provides the balance and the victory, which is also ours in Christ. Let's live in peace, unity, and strength, perfectly balanced in our journey.
By the time the man on the scooter turned his last corner, I had traveled from criticism into awe. Let's show the world the same kind of balance.
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Butler Way
The Butler Way, advocated by Butler University's young but extremely successful basketball coach, preaches its own set of values that have in the past two years captivated the national college sports scene. Religious and values reporter for the Indianapolis Star, Robert King's recently interviewed Stevens about his faith. The article in yesterday's paper [The Indianapolis Sunday Star, May 15, section B, 1-2] reminded me of another coach making a huge difference 2,000 years ago.
How like the apostle Paul is this Stevens' comment: "Don't talk about it. Do it. Be it." When Paul grieved over all of the Corinthian church's misunderstandings and mistakes, he kept reinforcing the same sentiment: "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ. . ." 2 Corinthians 3:2-3b. NIV. This concept reminds me of writing guru Donald Murray's best advice ever: "Show, don't tell." Our actions always speak louder than our words in the Christian walk. As writers, our words have to align with what's written on our hearts and manifested in our lives.
Another life principle Stevens understands is conveyed in his quote: "If you win or if you lose, it's not going to matter as much as the relationships. And the result is not going to matter as much as the lesson." [King 2] That's exactly why Paul writes his letters to the churches. He has a close relationship with them, and he wants them to learn from their mistakes. Lessons from the letters provides us, 2,000 years later, much wisdom and much application to both our lives and our writing. Thanks, Coach!
The Stevens Way -The Indianapolis Star
How like the apostle Paul is this Stevens' comment: "Don't talk about it. Do it. Be it." When Paul grieved over all of the Corinthian church's misunderstandings and mistakes, he kept reinforcing the same sentiment: "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ. . ." 2 Corinthians 3:2-3b. NIV. This concept reminds me of writing guru Donald Murray's best advice ever: "Show, don't tell." Our actions always speak louder than our words in the Christian walk. As writers, our words have to align with what's written on our hearts and manifested in our lives.
Another life principle Stevens understands is conveyed in his quote: "If you win or if you lose, it's not going to matter as much as the relationships. And the result is not going to matter as much as the lesson." [King 2] That's exactly why Paul writes his letters to the churches. He has a close relationship with them, and he wants them to learn from their mistakes. Lessons from the letters provides us, 2,000 years later, much wisdom and much application to both our lives and our writing. Thanks, Coach!
The Stevens Way -The Indianapolis Star
Monday, May 9, 2011
An Amateur Tries Poetry
Two hours of prayer. Two hours of listening to God speak. Unfortunately that doesn't happen very often in my life, but recently my husband, daughter, and I were privileged to have that consecrated time in the prayer room at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.
Quiet time leads to inspiration. God gave me a poem, a creativity that rarely travels my way. So this one is for all of you poets out there. Try not to laugh, OK?
"Go!" the Holy One of Heaven,
looking at His son, said.
Messiah King nodded,
descending in both joy and dread.
Thunder roared. Lightening raged.
Angelic host applauded.
A star glowed over Bethlehem,
highlighting the newborn's straw bed.
Wondering why a king seemed so frail,
shepherds and wise men followed where led.
Growing up a carpenter's son,
but in God's Word, Jesus continually read.
Crowds gathered in dire need.
The blind saw, the hungry were fed.
Focused on the cross,
Jesus to Jerusalem was headed.
Stretched out, crying out,
the Christ to Abba Father plead.
"Let this cup pass from me!
Not my will, but yours instead."
Between two thieves,
he hung in death and bled.
Buried in a rich man's cave,
he soon left the linens and fled.
"Go! Make disciples. Baptize them.
teaching them to obey everything I've commanded."
"I am with you always, to the very end of the age"
the risen Savior said.
For More Christian Poetry. . .
Quiet time leads to inspiration. God gave me a poem, a creativity that rarely travels my way. So this one is for all of you poets out there. Try not to laugh, OK?
"Go!" the Holy One of Heaven,
looking at His son, said.
Messiah King nodded,
descending in both joy and dread.
Thunder roared. Lightening raged.
Angelic host applauded.
A star glowed over Bethlehem,
highlighting the newborn's straw bed.
Wondering why a king seemed so frail,
shepherds and wise men followed where led.
Growing up a carpenter's son,
but in God's Word, Jesus continually read.
Crowds gathered in dire need.
The blind saw, the hungry were fed.
Focused on the cross,
Jesus to Jerusalem was headed.
Stretched out, crying out,
the Christ to Abba Father plead.
"Let this cup pass from me!
Not my will, but yours instead."
Between two thieves,
he hung in death and bled.
Buried in a rich man's cave,
he soon left the linens and fled.
"Go! Make disciples. Baptize them.
teaching them to obey everything I've commanded."
"I am with you always, to the very end of the age"
the risen Savior said.
For More Christian Poetry. . .
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Chained to a Computer
Being lonely and being alone aren't the same. I often like being alone, but being lonely--not so much. Writing takes me both places. Sometimes when I write, the inner dialogue and thought process rejuvenates me. Other times it isolates me. Like Joanna in Grit for the Oyster, I often ask myself: "Why on earth am I chaining myself to a computer when it all seems so futile?" [p. 97] My answer: "I love to write. I can't write. I need to write."
My next big project involves finishing a book started in the fall of 2005 originally written in 30-45 segments focusing on John 3:16. When Max Lucado released Numbers That Count the following summer, I was deflated. That was my idea. But Max's readership and platform exceeds mine by about one trillion. So I did what any discouraged writer does. I quit.
But God has a way of shaking us up even when we'd rather sulk. A few years later during a day of solitude arranged by our church staff, I decided to read Paul's letters to the churches. Then Ephesians 5:1-2 re-stoked the writing flame.
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." NAS
A new book was born. Walk in Love will be finished this fall barring no unforeseen disruptions and with lots of encouragement and suggestions from my friends. I need that. I don't write well lonely.
My next big project involves finishing a book started in the fall of 2005 originally written in 30-45 segments focusing on John 3:16. When Max Lucado released Numbers That Count the following summer, I was deflated. That was my idea. But Max's readership and platform exceeds mine by about one trillion. So I did what any discouraged writer does. I quit.
But God has a way of shaking us up even when we'd rather sulk. A few years later during a day of solitude arranged by our church staff, I decided to read Paul's letters to the churches. Then Ephesians 5:1-2 re-stoked the writing flame.
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." NAS
A new book was born. Walk in Love will be finished this fall barring no unforeseen disruptions and with lots of encouragement and suggestions from my friends. I need that. I don't write well lonely.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Test of Time
September 1972 six freshmen from all over the state unloaded TVs, popcorn poppers, and laundry baskets full of posters, bell bottom jeans, bandannas, and Cover-Girl make-up at the curb of Brady Hall, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. This past weekend we met again--this time at Pokagon State Park, two hours north of our alma mater on I-69 Our swivel-roller bags included scrapbooks and iTunes from the 70's along with Grandma brag books.
True friendship endures--as does the written word.
When the apostle Paul wrote letters to his friends at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colosse, he didn't realize 2,000 years later we could still hear his heart for each group--lessons that span centuries.
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16
"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
1 Corinthians 1:9
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Philippians 4:8
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
If God is in it, friendship, truth, and great writing survives the test of time.
Joyce
True friendship endures--as does the written word.
When the apostle Paul wrote letters to his friends at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colosse, he didn't realize 2,000 years later we could still hear his heart for each group--lessons that span centuries.
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16
"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
1 Corinthians 1:9
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Philippians 4:8
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
If God is in it, friendship, truth, and great writing survives the test of time.
Joyce
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