Sep 21
2011

During my senior year in college I did a study program abroad. It was my first time in Europe, and every part of it thrilled me, from the stately art museums and opera houses, down to the charming alleyways and street vendors. In college I enjoyed going to parties, but I wasn’t a “party girl.” Many of my fellow students on the trip, however, used it as an opportunity to party as a hard as possible, as much as possible. At times I felt lonely, hanging on the edges of conversations and get-togethers, distancing myself from the bacchanal while trying to not be standoffish. I tried to conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel.

On the last day of the program we gathered with our local tour guides to thank them for their expertise and hospitality. Needless to say, my fellow students had made a poor impression, and most of the leave taking was stiff and rote. Near the end of the awkward encounter, one of the guides, an older, formal man, singled me out in front of my fellow students. To my surprise, he took my hand and kissed it in the old fashioned way. As he did so, he looked in my eyes and said for everyone to hear, “You are a lady.”

Recently I thought of that incident as I read 2 Peter 3:10-12. In the passage, Peter is talking about the Second Coming of Jesus, how it’s going to surprise most people—we won’t know the day or the hour. In addition, he speaks of the destruction of the present order and the certainty of judgment. He says, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

All Christians experience the pain and awkwardness of living in a corrupt culture. Sometimes it’s hard not to be drawn into it because we want to be accepted, respected, and admired. We are told in no uncertain terms that the way of the world is the norm, and the ways of Christ are a scandal and a source of mockery.

However, we are living for a much higher purpose than to fit in with the rest of humanity, if we belong to Christ. We are here to fulfill His plans for us while serving others and conforming to His very image. If we live in a manner pleasing to Him—worthy of the gospel—we won’t get our hands kissed when He comes again, but we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s happiness.”



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


Sep 9
2011

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in the car on the way to yet another appointment with a fertility doctor, wondering if this would finally be the month I would get pregnant. Although that subject preoccupied my thoughts, the announcer on the classical music station got my full attention when he mentioned “In light of the tragic events in New York and Washington, we’ll keep bringing you updates.” I switched to Philadelphia’s all-news channel and began hearing about the terrorist attacks.

Inside the doctor’s office, patients sat in the waiting room trying to hear the news coming from a small TV in the office, many of them with disbelief on their faces. Just before 10 o’clock it was my turn to get blood drawn, and as I passed the office, I got a good look at the screen. At that moment a reporter started yelling, “It’s coming down!” I gaped as the South Tower collapsed with a massive roar.

As quickly as I could, I headed home and will never forget standing in the family room in front of the TV watching the devastation wrought by those heartless terrorists. I grabbed my Bible, opened it to Psalm 46, and began reading aloud:

God is our refuge and strength,
An ever-present help in trouble,
Therefore we will not fear,
Though the earth give way and the mountains fall
Into the heart of the sea. . . . .

Around 10:45 my mother-in-law called me, reminding me that my husband’s younger brother was scheduled to fly out of Newark that morning. She hadn’t been able to get in touch with him. Shortly afterward, Randy was able to get through to me on his cell phone. His plane was grounded, he had seen the World Trade Center attack, and he was trying to get out of the airport and go home. I phoned his mom to let her know he was okay.

A strange thing had happened the week before. My husband and I were in Williamsburg, Virginia on vacation, a place we’d been to many times, and we were amazed that during our stay, we kept running into the same couple, Rich and Denise, with their little girl. That had never happened to us before. We just kept bumping into them. After our second “chance” meeting on the street, we got into the car, and I had a compelling desire that I mentioned to Scott. “I don’t know why or what for,” I said, “but I have a feeling that we’re supposed to pray for them.” As Scott drove along the quiet roads he said, “Let’s do it.” We prayed in general for their well-being, for their relationship with each other and God, and for their protection.

On that terrible morning, I remembered that Rich told us he worked at the World Trade Center. I scrambled to find the napkin they’d written their address on one night when had had “gambols” at Chownings Tavern, but there was no phone number. My husband had Rich’s business card, but no e-mails or calls could be made to an office that no longer existed. Nor was their phone number publically listed. I sat down and wrote a brief letter to them, expressing my concern for their safety, choosing my words carefully. I left our phone number and asked them to contact us, letting them know they were in our prayers.

That Saturday as we prepared to attend a wedding, the phone rang. I could see from the caller ID that it was a New York number. I froze. “It’s probably them,” I told Scott. “I can’t answer it. Will you?” We braced ourselves for the news. After he said, “Hello,” I heard Scott exclaim, “Rich!” Hearing that he was alive reduced me to tears of gratitude. As Rich poured out his story, we learned that on the morning of 9/11, he was late getting the bus. Because of that, he was saved, in spite of the harrowing experience he endured watching the towers fall. The question remained, “Why was he late?” This side of eternity we can never know the whole story, but I truly believe that although the terrorists wreaked havoc on our nation, God was still mighty to save. He was, and remains, in control.

Tags: , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


Aug 30
2011

Back to school as a child often meant writing a brief essay on “what I did during summer vacation.” Now such thoughts lead to reflections upon one of my favorite places, Harvey Cedars Bible Conference, on Long Beach Island in New Jersey.

Back in the 90s, my husband took me there for a day trip while he conducted business for Biblical Theological Seminary, where he was the Director of Development. We met Al Oldham, who had directed the conference since the early 1950s, a charming man with inspiring stories of lives that Christ had forever changed through the ministry of HCBC. It was a wonderful day as we toured the sandy campus, and I found myself hoping to return one day.

When our son was born, we decided to begin a summer tradition of attendance at a family-oriented Bible conference, and we chose Harvey Cedars. That was 8 years ago. David was just 2 months old at the time, and it’s been a joy to watch him grow up with the other kids who were babies with him in the nursery that magical summer. We made family history again three years ago when Scott and I renewed our wedding vows on the dock at sunset.

How wonderful it is to wake up each morning there, gazing out on the bay, anticipating the fun and fellowship of a new day as the ocean breezes revive and refresh us. I was really concerned when Hurricane Irene ripped through New Jersey, and the governor ordered people to evacuate beach communities. Thank God, however, LBI was spared, and Harvey Cedars reopened its doors to its last family week for the summer.

HCBC is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Director Jon Oldham, Al’s son, and to wish the conference many more years of God-blessed ministry.

Tags: , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


Aug 2
2011

Words spoken by a former American President 50 years ago have a special poignancy in this time of battles over spending and the nation’s crushing deficit. At his Inaugural in January 1961, John Kennedy said:

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you–
Ask what you can do for your country.”

Serving and giving always reap more satisfaction than grasping at what we can get, and how we can be served. A Quaker woman who lived in Colorado in the late 1800s lived to make life better for others. She was a dressmaker who never made a lot of money, but she felt compelled to use her life savings to provide a scholarship for a Southern black girl to get more than the most basic education; even getting that much learning at that time was terribly hard for the children of former slaves. Because of that woman’s generosity, Mary McLeod was able to attend Scotia Seminary, a secondary school in Concord, North Carolina. Years later, Mary McLeod Bethune, who went on to become a nationally respected educator and advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt, remembered the day she was told of the scholarship that made her success possible:

“Oh, the joy of that glorious morning! I can never forget it. To this day my heart thrills with gratitude at the memory of that day. I was but a little girl, groping for the light, dreaming dreams and seeing visions in the cotton and rice fields, and away off in Denver, Colorado, a poor dressmaker, sewing for her daily bread, heard my call and came to my assistance. Out of her scanty earnings she invested in a life—my life!—And while God gives me strength, I shall strive to pass on to others the opportunities that this noble woman toiled and sacrificed to give me. How many self-denials she must have made! How many little legitimate pleasures she must have foregone, that the little black girl in South Carolina might have a chance.” (Janney, Great Women in American History, pp. 41-42)

Tags: , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


Jul 15
2011

I love examples of people behaving well, of good manners which, as the Victorians knew, were really a way of showing consideration for others. In my reading this week I came across such a story.

In 1967 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother traveled to Maine for the dedication of a park in honor of her friend, the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. FDR’s sons planned to escort her through a ceremony and tea, then conduct a tour of the President’s summer cottage at Campobello. That day, however, a heavy fog prevented their arrival. The only Roosevelt family member present when the Queen Mother’s yacht anchored was FDR’s 23 year-old grandson Christopher. The young man felt understandably nervous; he had never met Her Royal Highness, and he wasn’t familiar with his grandparents’ summer home.

Somehow he got through a welcoming speech and took his seat as the Queen Mother addressed the small crowd. Following the park’s dedication and tea with some locals, the time came for Christopher to take his distinguished guest on the dreaded tour. According to Will Swift in his book, The Roosevelts and the Royals, the young man “fell on his sword,” admitting to the Queen Mother, “I have never been to the cottage before. . . I would hardly be an adequate guide.” Her Majesty rose immediately rose to the occasion. “Christopher, isn’t that wonderful: we will be discovering the cottage together for the first time.” Swift says, “With just the right words, she had put him at ease.” (p. 320)

Tags: , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


Jun 29
2011

Today my son and I read about community Fourth of July events on the internet, trying to decide which ones to attend. I mentioned that we celebrate America’s birthday on this day because that’s when the Declaration of Independence was signed, but he’s a Philadelphia boy who knows all about the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. He’s even dined at their favorite tavern. What he didn’t get was how old our country will be this July 4th. When I did the math, I realized with a pleasant start that America will be 235 years old. This brought back memories of the fabulous fireworks, tall ships, and inspiring parades of the Bicentennial year, 1976. My favorite story of America’s 200th birthday, however, comes from my husband.

That summer Scott toured Europe with his school’s award winning band, and on July 4th they performed at an international competition in Vienna, Austria. It was a big deal–Radio Free Europe even broadcast the performance into the former Eastern Bloc countries then under the heel of Soviet Communism. Scott recalls that his fellow American classmates felt a little down that day, though, because they were missing the once-in-a-lifetime revelry back home.

Just as they lifted their instruments to play for the Austrians, their concert hostess politely interrupted Scott’s band leader. She took the microphone and told the surprised man, “Before you play, we have something for you.” Then she motioned to the sizeable audience, they stood, and began singing:

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear America,
Happy birthday to you!

For several moments, no one in Scott’s group moved as the singing reverberated in their ears and settled into their spirits. You know that old saying, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house?” I think it originated there. When the band director finally lifted his baton, it took awhile for his students to pull it back together. Several of them missed the first few measures, but no one seemed to mind.

Tags: , , , , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


Jun 16
2011

I’ve had a nice time of remembering some special dates recently, including my father’s, son’s, and husband’s birthdays. We celebrated David’s big day with a Star Wars party, which included a special visit from several of the movies’ characters (friends from our church in terrific costumes). David rescued Princess Leia, then defeated Darth Vader in a light saber duel, to the delight of his friends.

Elsewhere my venerable hometown, Phillipsburg, New Jersey, observed its 150th anniversary with week-long festivities.

And when I purchased stamps at the post office, I chose a sheet that commemorated the 50th anniversary of America’s first manned space flight, Alan Shepherd’s epic journey in April 1961.

Our nation is in the beginning stages of a four-year observance of the Civil War, which began in April 1861, at the same time that Phillipsburg was incorporated as a town.

It’s important to remember such dates in the middle of our everydayness, to honor those we love, as well as those who have contributed to America’s rich heritage, particularly the ones who gave their lives to defend our freedoms.

I think the most important aspect of remembering, however, is to recall what God has done. The Bible is filled with admonitions to remember, recall, look back, consider—the mighty works of God on behalf of His people.

Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “You shall remember the Lord your God.” In Psalm 42, the writer recalls happier times in his faith journey when God put great joy in his heart. Doing so helped him get through his tough, present experience. As God has been faithful in the past, He will prove faithful in the present, and future. He who does not change is faithfulness itself, and He will guide us now and always. Psalm 105:8 says, “He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded for a thousand generations. . . . “

Tags: , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


May 19
2011

Although I haven’t followed the story closely about predictions that the end of the world will occur this Saturday, it does ring a distant bell for me as a historian. In Who Goes There? A Cultural History of Heaven and Hell, there is a story about another group who thought they knew the day and the hour of Christ’s return:

“On October 11, 1844, a misguided group of Christians dressed in white robes and climbed to the highest point of buildings, houses, and haystacks to await Christ’s second coming and their glorious ascent into heaven. They had quit their jobs and sold homes and businesses at the encouragement of their spiritual leader, a farmer-turned pastor named William Miller. He believed that according to certain “day-year” calculations of biblical prophecies, he could tell approximately when Christ would return to earth. Some of his zealous supporters thought they could determine the exact time and arrived at October 11, 1844. They were sorely disappointed, as well as discredited, when the sun also rose on October 12, but their premillenial proclivities remained a strong force in some Protestant circles for the rest of the century, and well into the new one.”

I don’t put much faith in those who say they know when Jesus will return because Scripture is clear that that isn’t for us to know, that His coming will take us by surprise. I do believe, though, that we are a lot closer to that hour than those people were back in 1844! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.

Tags: ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


May 6
2011

The day after Osama Bin Laden’s death, my neighbor and I discussed the event as we pushed our kids’ on their swings.

“I know it sounds bad,” he said, “but I feel like he didn’t suffer enough.”

“God will take care of him,” I assured him.

While the hope of being in God’s presence in heaven sustains believers in Christ who suffer in this world, hell also serves a purpose. It ensures that justice will be served. Joni Earickson Tada says, “Without hell, the ‘why’ behind so much pain will never be resolved. Without hell, there is ultimately no justice or fairness. For God to be God, for heaven to be heaven, there must be a hell. . . . Unless hell exists, there is no justice in the world.” She points to Hitler and his cohorts, those responsible for the monstrous anguish of millions and how “these people were never paid back remotely in proportion to the pain they caused.” Hell ensures that they will get what they deserve. (Excerpted from Who Goes There? p. 214)

This past week I was honored to be a guest on Debbie Chavez’s radio show, and we discussed some of this. If you’d like to listen in, here’s the link:

http://debbiechavezshow.com/2011/05/02/5-2-2011-how-christians-views-of-heaven-and-hell-have-changed.aspx

Tags: ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


Apr 28
2011

Homeschool leader Barbara Curtis has posted a review of GREAT EVENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY on her website:

“Knowing what happened on noteworthy dates is important because it helps us better understand the world in which we live. We can see God at work in those events individually and corporately because history belongs to the Creator of the Universe, and he has a clear plan and purpose for everything that happens.

“Great Events in American History covers memorable dates of America’s story in two-to-four pages. Using compelling anecdotes, the author puts events that seem merely secular at first glance into the context of God’s activity, sometimes individually, other times nationally.”

“Janney’s choices of events runs the gamut from the expected – Columbus, Jamestown, Declaration of Independence , Wright Brothers, Stock Market Crash – to less obvious events such as the Titanic disaster, Sputnik launch and the Kent State shootings. The most recent event is September 11, 2001.

“The look and feel and format of Great Events in American History is very inviting and reader-friendly. I can see this book on a coffee table for kids to pick up when they have a few minutes. Or on the dinner table for dad to read during the meal for discussion. Or in the car for those moments waiting for someone to get out of baseball. With not a wasted word, Janney gives you a lot to think about – and the book truly does convey the continuity of God throughout events which may seem random.

“Rebecca Janney is offering five copies of Great Events in American History to MommyLife readers. Please leave a comment for a drawing May 1.”

http://mommylife.net/reviews/2011/04/great-events-in-american-history.html#009370

Tags: , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Uncategorized  


« Older Entries

Newer Entries »