Praying for John Austin

This is my nephew, Sweet John Austin. He has been in the hospital now for 7 days with pneumonia and a respiratory infection (not RSV). His infections have improved with antibiotics, but there is there some congestion still there that needs to be completely cleared up. Jay and Joy are hoping that getting him completely clear of any congestion might help him move his oxygen better. He is still oxygen dependent. He cannot go home until he is totally independent in his breathing. Please pray with us for this sweet boy and his parents. They are exhausted.

My absolutely favorite picture taken all weekend is the one in the middle of my brother, Jay, holding his sweet boy. Jay loves this sweet kid that he never anticipated having and so longs to protect and care for him to the best of his ability. Just watching him holding him that day, you could see his prayerful heart and love for John Austin, as well as his concern.

Book Review.......Kind Of

I am reading my next book in "the pile" right now, but I think I am about to lay it down. It is quickly becoming a waste of my time because I don't agree with the author. The title of the book is: "How Women Help Men Find God" by David Murrow. A friend and I were searching through the $1 shelves at Mardel and just thought for a buck we could try this one out. I'm so glad I only paid a dollar. Here are some of the quotes that I find that I totally disagree with:

"I'm convinced that in many cases, men's resistance to Christianity is not entirely their fault. This is because, ever so slowly over the centuries, the church has forgotten how to stir the hearts of average guys. Little by little, we've abandoned the male magnetic methods of Jesus; therefore men have withdrawn..........There are certain men who do well in church. Men who grew up religious know the system. Men who are skilled teachers or musicians easily find a place to use their gifts. Men who are sensitive or highly verbal gravitate toward churches. So do studious men who like to read books and debate theology.......but for your typical off-the-shelf guy doing church as it's done today. It's a poor fit for him. So he stays away-----or falls asleep." (pp. 6-7)

"The church has a long history of marginalizing men and masculinity." (p. 17). He then goes on for eight and a half pages to tell how churches cater to women and not men.

Finally, in a chapter entitled "How the Grinch Stole Youth Group" he tells how youth group used to be based on the three Gs: games, goofiness, and God. And it was fun! He says it kept him in church.

But "the three Gs model of youth group has been getting a bad rap lately. It's been relentlessly criticized for being too focused on entertainment. There's not enough Bible study or spiritual growth. The gurus tell us that today's kids are seeking a passionate, intimate relationship with Jesus.

"In order to foster this passionate, intimate relationship, today's youth meetings feature long periods of singing.........once the singing is done, they listen to a message from God's Word presented by the youth leader.

"Big churches around the country are doing this. Smaller churches wish they could. This is the new wave of youth ministry. Singing and a sermon. I call it church lite.......the result has been diastrous for our boys." (pp 61-62)

I began this book and disagreed with this guy from chapter one, but knowing that sometimes there are nuggets to be gleaned, I continued on, trying to overlook the obvious things I disagreed with. However, I am six chapters into this 20 chapter book and I do not think I will finish. There are better books that are worth my time. There are just too many things I disagree with and hardly enough good things to take from it.

The thing that most stood out to me in this book is that Mr. Murrow has taken God out of the whole equation of men and church. Men who "do church" (whatever that means) are men that God has changed and transformed from the inside out. Being a woman, if God had not changed me from the inside out, I probably wouldn't be in church either OR I would be going for the kids, but hating every moment of it.

The church has been established to build up the saints. Yes, part of our mission is outreach and we certainly want to reach out and share the gospel with our kids. First of all, this should be happening at home. But secondly, what better way to share the gospel than with THE TRUTH. They will not find Jesus Christ in a game. Nor will they find Jesus Christ in goofiness. BUT there is hope for them to hear the message of the GOSPEL presented by our faithful, teaching youth leaders and respond to it.

Do I think that we need to build relationships with these kids (and adult men need to build relationships with adult men) to reach them for the gospel? You bet! A relationship is more what is needed to witness than games or fun. Catering to our flesh will not lead us to Christ. It is not how my son came to Christ. It was through seeing his own sinfulness when faced with the truth of God's Word.

I thank God that I happen to be in a church that does "church lite." There is nothing "lite" about it and I see our students growing spiritually by leaps and bounds. Yes, some are falling away, but not just because of youth group. Their hearts have not been touched or turned by the Holy Spirit to desire such things. No youth group will reach them.......no church will reach an adult man (or woman) until God so chooses to open their blind eyes to see the truth of who they are and Who He is.

Men who do not like church because they have not been changed from the inside out. As I read in "Why We Love the Church" by DeYoung and Kluck, you can't love God and not love His people. Isn't that what I John 4:20-21 says: "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hate his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

Who gives us this love for others? God. When He draws us unto Himself, He changes us to love the body of Christ. I believe that with all my heart. It doesn't mean I naturally like everyone I am with. But I do love being with the body of Christ.

When God changes men, when they come to faith in Christ, I believe He changes them in their desires. We have two pastors who are "manly men" as we would say around our house. They played sports growing up and still love them. Yet they love God and His people more. It doesn't mean they have lost their masculinity. God has added to who they are; He has given them a love for Him and a love for His people.

I am moving on to my next book. I will be getting rid of this one. Sadness........

A New Book Review

THE GREEN LETTERS: PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH by Miles J. Stanford. This book was given to me from a good friend. It is one of her favorites and I can see why. Apparently, this is the first book in a series. The back cover says that there are five books in a series on the Christian life.

This book is all about growing in Christ. The theme of the book is "Not I, but Christ." It is loaded with Scripture. I can't tell you how much Scripture is given on every page to support the material written! There are also quotes from great Christian authors such as Strong, Douty, Trumbull, Murray and Taylor. There were really good quotes from other authors that I have not read, but I will be looking up some of their written material.

The principles that Stanford sets forth so clearly from Scripture were not new, but yet I felt that the call and challenge to grow spiritually was taken to a whole new level. One of my (many) highlighted quotes in this book: "God......doesn't intend to help us live the Christian life. Immaturity considers the Lord Jesus a Helper. Maturity knows Him to be life itself."

Great read! Thanks, Christy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANTMEISTER!

Today my youngest, Thomas Grant Arnold, AKA "Grantmeister", turns 10. I can't believe it was 10 years ago that we had that dramatic drive to the hospital at 3am, got pulled over by police, almost delivered in the truck, doctor didn't make it, Mom "just happened" to be down the hall in Esther's room because she had delivered the day before, our family had 3 babies in 4 days (my brother, my sister and me).......wow, has it really been 10 years since the "2000 triplets" were born?

These 10 years with Grant have brought many laughs! He is one of my funniest kids. He is a typical baby of the family and I guess it is because, as Wade would say, we are tired.

The neatest thing about Grant's birthday is that he was born on my grandfather's birthday. We called him "DanDan" and he was one of my most favorite people. He was the only grandfather I knew and he was at our house everyday while I was growing up.

Grant was not due until late January or early February, but I remember praying that if I went early, could God give this baby DanDan's birthday, especially since DanDan had died in 1993........7 years earlier. I remember waking up with the first contraction at 1:40am and smiling, knowing that God had answered my specific prayer. So every year Grant has a birthday, I also think of DanDan up in heaven. I can't wait to see him again.

My greatest prayer for Grant is that the Lord will draw him unto Himself, set him apart for His service and that Grant will passionately love the Lord God and His Word. I can't wait to see what God does in and through Grant in the next 10 years, if He gives us that many more years with him.

Happy Birthday, Grantmeister! Hope you have a great day with us! I love you!

Thankful for Wade

As I sit here this morning, praying for my hubby, I find myself giving thanks for him. This weekend was not supposed to be about pipes and digging and mud. But in God's providence, it was.

Friday afternoon I came home from having lunch with a friend and found my son walking up the driveway (weird). He informed me that we had a water leak. Of course, all I wanted to know was "Is it in the house?" but that is not what I said. Instead I began with a question that sounded much like "Who's on First?"

ME: "Where?"

LUKE: "Up there!" (pointing kind of toward the house)

ME: "Where?" (looking in the direction of his finger)

LUKE: "Up there!!!" (Hear frustration)

ME: "WHERE?????!!!!! (Hear great frustration!)

LUKE: "UP THERE!!!!"

See me drive off in frustration........

Once in the house, I calmed myself and we decided to communicate like human beings. I asked smarter questions and he gave specific answers which brought comfort to my soul......the leak was outside between the house and the playhouse. The ground was pouring forth water, kind of like a miracle in the Old Testament.

That night, Wade, me, Luke and Leah were supposed to all go to Bowling and Broom Hockey with the youth group. It was Luke's last B&B and Wade's first event with the youth. We were all excited!

Well, Leah got to go.......sadness. Luke did join up with them for broom hockey around 10:00, after helping his dad dig and repair the pipes. When he left, we were waiting for the glue to dry so we could turn the water back on.

Side note: Luke learned a valuable life lesson Friday night. Sometimes you have to give up what you want to do for the greater responsibility of caring for your family. Since he will be the husband/father of a family one day, this was a good lesson. Not to mention that he learned just how to fix busted pipes.

Wade turned the water back on and all seemed okay except there was indication that there was still a small leak somewhere that wouldn't keep us from having water that night, but would run up our bill if not found.

Saturday he spent finding the leak. About the time he found it (and indeed it was small), it began to rain. He decided to wait until the rain stopped to fix it. No big deal.

Sunday he left me after church to go get supplies to fix the small leak that he had found. He and Luke spent some time digging (again), draining the hole, fixing, glueing........then we waited the hour for the glue to dry.

He came in late yesterday afternoon and said, "We have water." So I went to the kitchen sink to wash some really dirty dishes. Alas, no water. I didn't want to go outside to tell him, but I had to.

I found him in the garage and he immediately said, "I just turned on the water in the garage and there was nothing." Okay, so he knew. Off he went to the end of the road again to turn off water and see what was going on.

The newly fixed pipes had burst again! UGH! This time it was almost dark and there were no more supplies to fix it.

Now I know he could have lost his cool like many would have, but he didn't. Instead Luke came in (after asking if he could do anything else to help him) and told me that he just said, "I don't know." "That," I said, "means your dad is frustrated."

Isn't that a kind way of showing frustration? He didn't yell or go in a rage. He just dealt with it. I knew to give him a few minutes outside and then Luke and I would go to see if he needed anything. So after 5-10 minutes, Luke and I went out there to just stand with him (moral support). He was totally fine. He didn't even seem frustrated at that point. He just explained what happened and said, "We won't have water tonight." In the grand scheme of things, especially with Haiti on my mind, that is nothing.

I am thankful for a hubby who holds his tongue and demonstrates self-control when things are not going his way. He is setting a good example for my kids. It would totally affect our whole household and the "temperature" of the house, if he displayed great anger.

Instead.......he dealt with it and then came in to be with us. We laughed about some things (not the water) and ate together. He did not allow the busted water pipes to rob us of a night together as a family, enjoying each other's company.

He is a good man.

For Today........from Becky's Daybook

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW..........cool, dark with my sweet hubby out there somewhere.

I AM THINKING.......about my week ahead.

I AM THANKFUL FOR........the water pipes that burst were outside the house, not inside.

I AM WEARING..........favorite black sweat pants, most favorite pullover Wade gave me about 15 years ago, and my new slippers.

I AM REMEMBERING.......a sweet friend in prayer.

I AM GOING........to be serving my MIL this week because she is having surgery tomorrow.

I AM CURRENTLY READING.......a great book given to me by a good friend....The Green Letters by Stanford, Bible, and our Bible study book entitled With God in the School of Tested Faith by my friend, Susan Heck.

I AM HOPING.........for a productive week in my home this week.......and for answers to long-time prayers prayed.

ON MY MIND..........planning, organizing, 15 minute clean-outs, my to do list for thsi week.

NOTICING THAT.........my rug needs vacuuming......again. Wood chips and more wood chips........but thank God for our fireplace.

PONDERING THESE WORDS..........."You don't 'drift' into godliness. You scrap your way there. But if you do nothing, you WILL 'drift' into worldliness.........In the long term affliction you are most tempted to throw in the towel and become apathetic......How do you hold on and not 'drift'? By meditating on the person of Jesus Christ and remembering the gospel." (Todd Murray in SS today)

FROM THE KITCHEN.........the smell of coffee.....not because I am drinking it this late, but because Luke is working on a graphic design project tonight with coffee beans.

AROUND THE HOUSE..........looking very "lived in" and needs MUCH organizing and decluttering.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.........my sweet hubby and his constant love toward me.

Application, Application, Application........No, Abiding, Abiding, Abiding

There are so many things that the Lord is using in my life right now to teach me and train me. Most of those things are difficulties, but isn't that the way of growth?

I am finding Him so sufficient in the midst of trials and in my heart I am at rest in the midst of conflict and hardship. That can only be His grace because usually I am striving on the inside.

Yet one thing still nags at me. Why is it so hard to apply what I am learning about Him to my own family? These things are so true and so great and obedience to the Word and the Lord are a natural response (or should be according to Christ in the book of John) from a heart overflowing with love for Him.

Is my love for Him so weak? Do I really believe what I say I believe, namely that His way is the best way and works? Why do I turn to the flesh so quickly? Why do my actions reveal a coldness in my heart? Why can't I truly see the wickedness there in my heart? My evaluation of myself is so much better than what my life reveals about it.

Then I was encouraged this morning in a book given to me by my friend, Christy, entitled THE GREEN LETTERS: PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH by Miles J. Stanford. Quoting Norman Douty, he writes:

"If I am to be like Him, then God in His grace must do it, and the sooner I ome to recognize it the sooner I will be delivered from another form of bondage. Throw down every endeavor and say, I cannot do it, the more I try the farther I get from His likeness. What shall I do? Ah, the Holy Spirit says, You cannot do it; just withdraw; come out of it. You have been in the arena, you have been endeavoring, you are a failure, come out and sit down, and as you sit there behold Him, look at Him. Don't try to be like Him, just look at Him. Just be occupied with Him. Forget about trying to be like Him. Instead of letting that fill your mind and heart, let Him fill it. Just behold Him, look upon Him through the Word. Come to the Word for one purpose and that is to meet the Lord. Not to get your mind crammed full of things about the sacred Word, but come to it to meet the Lord. Make it to be a medium, not of Biblical scholarship, but of fellowship with Christ. Behold the Lord." (pg 26)

Lord, make me to sit at Your feet. Help me choose the more important thing like Mary did in this Martha world I live in. Help me to see you for Who You are as I read Your Word. Make me truly, in my heart of hearts, more like You. For out of my heart does my mouth speak and my life live. Whatever is in there needs to be purified greatly. Please cleanse my heart and make me new, clean, set apart. I want to be like You so that my family sees You more clearly. Oh, how I long for heaven when I won't have to fight this mega war with sin.