Question of the Week: Who are the 'Dead in Christ'?

"Don't be afraid that your life will end;
be afraid that it will never begin."

~ Unknown

Artist of unnamed work: David Morin

Who is 'the dead in Christ'? How can we have eternal life and die, period? (I know some believe that when they die they go into the ground until Christ's return.)
~ Anonymous

These questions refer to the following Scripture concerning the rapture of Christians, from the post "Left Behind":

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV)

Although Christians whose bodies have died are called "dead in Christ," Jesus said that when we are spiritually "born again" by faith—before the death of our physical bodies—we receive eternal life:

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life ..."
~ John 3:36 (NKJV)

: : :

The remainder of my answer appears at Bullets & Butterflies.

Next week: What happens to the soul after the body dies?

What questions do you have about Christianity or the Bible? You're invited to leave them in the comments below (anonymous questions welcome), or email buildingHisbody [plus] @ gmail.com.

© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Time to See Jesus

Image source: healthreformwatch.com

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
~ Matthew 25:31-32 (NKJV)

We await the day when we look upon Jesus in His glory, seated as King upon His throne. The choice we make now between Light and Darkness determines whether we find ourselves on His right hand or His left.

We prove that choice with the actions of faith.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
~ Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)

Some of us will be called to take a stand for Christ's righteousness, which will require us to lay down our lives so that others might see Jesus in us.

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand,
'Come, you blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you ...
for I was hungry and you gave Me food;
I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you visited Me;
I was in prison and you came to Me...
Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it
to one of the least of these My brethren,
you did it to Me.' "
Matthew 25:34-40 (NKJV)

But all of us can simply see Jesus in those around us.

Lord Jesus, until the day our eyes look upon Your glory, please give us the courage to make You seen, and to see others with sufficient love to recognize You.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Separation and Divorce

This world is enamored with shades of gray, intercourse of yin and yang, tolerance of everything but absolutes.

What communion has light with darkness? ... Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
~ 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke of sharp distinctions which require a choice:
Truth or lies
Rock or sand
Narrow or wide gate
Trust in God or trust in material wealth
Righteousness or sin
Light or darkness
Life or death

Jesus likewise described people as:
For Him or against Him
Seeing or blind
Wise or foolish
Children of God or children of the devil
Producing good fruit or bad fruit
Profitable or unprofitable servants
Sheep or goats
Wheat or tares

" 'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "
(From Matthew 13:24-30, NKJV)

Christians go through unusual trials these days. In my conversation with another respected Christian about wheat and tares, he notes seeing a time of unprecedented separation and divorce among churched people.

If we are faithful to make the distinctions Jesus did, perhaps we should expect conflict—the Great Separation of this age's last hours before Divorce becomes final.

Lord, amid this week's thoughts on the return of Your Son, please lead us to consider how it might affect the way we live.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Signs of Jesus' Coming

This week: thoughts on the return of Christ.

Image source: denisetompkins.net

The disciples came to [Jesus] privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
~ Matthew 24:3

When they asked this question, the disciples surely believed they'd see fulfillment within their lifetime. The date of Jesus' coming is revealed to neither them nor us. I wonder if that's why Christians instead contend about whether the rapture occurs before or during the Great Tribulation.

Since most prophecy is not presented in chronological order, I can wish for "before." But I more strongly suspect "during." In Matthew 24, Jesus uses the word "then" (Greek tóte) nine times, and "immediately after" is used once. (Though "then" is used often in Revelation, it there refers to the order in which John saw events, not the strict timeline in which they unfold.)

One might infer that Jesus presents events in the order they actually occur.

Without further interpretation, here is a summary of Jesus' prophecy:

"Beginning of birth pains" (verses 5-8)
• false christs deceive people
• wars and rumors of wars, between nations and alliances
• famines, plagues and diseases, earthquakes in various places

"Then" general tribulation (verses 9-14)
• persecution and hatred "by all nations" of those named Christian
• among believers: offense, betrayal, hatred, false prophets
• Gospel preached and witnessed to all nations

"Then" the end (verses 18-28)
• "abomination of desolation" at Jerusalem, accompanying flight of Jews
• Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22)
• great signs and wonders by false christs and false prophets

"Then" the coming of the Son of Man (verses 29-42)
• sun and moon darkened, stars fall from heaven (v. 29)
• all peoples see Jesus "coming on the clouds of heaven" (v. 30)
• great sound of a trumpet, "angels ... gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31; 37-41)

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!"
~ Matthew 24:32-33

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Left Behind

This week: thoughts on the return of Christ.

Image source: Dance Your Shoes Off

Yesterday's post featured a video of the Resurrection Sunday Dance celebration of Christians in Budapest, Hungary. The Second Baptist Church (Houston) has posted a similar video, which ends with the above scene: a park filled with brand new shoes, left behind by dancers for donation to the needy.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV)

Some depictions of the rapture show suddenly empty vehicles and airplanes careening out of control when their occupants vanish. It had not occurred to me until I saw the above scene that we will also leave behind our clothes in the moment we leave this world and are clothed from on high.

For many years I have contemplated that our departure will leave the world without our prayers of intercession. What else do you see that our rapture will mean to the world we leave behind?

Dear God, amid the pressures and needs of today, please show us how You might have us prepare our souls for That Day.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Resurrection Dance

"That day will be remembered as the greatest day in history. The fate of the world changed in one glorious moment when life triumphed on Resurrection Sunday."
~ From Budapest Resurrection Sunday Dance

Since this is the third video I've offered this week, I promise not to post any more anytime soon. But I could not resist sharing an incredible Resurrection celebration, and also asking a question:

No matter your age or physical condition, regardless of your denomination or race or gender, if the resurrection of Jesus Christ has not affected you this way yet, what obstacle hinders you?



[And if you, like me, just can't get enough of this kind of Resurrection Celebration, here's the remix version.]

Here's the words.

Resurrection Sunday Dance

The hope of the people searching for life, the day will be brighter
The message of freedom rings in the sky, spreading the fire
The flag of a nation ready to fly, taking them higher
The heart of a land that's ready to fight, full of desire

When nothing is as you want it to be, look up to heaven
Freedom was paid for on Calvary, the chain is broken
Making the way right to destiny, borders are open
And Jesus has granted the victory, that Sunday morning

Joy in this lifetime utterly free
More than the world gives beyond what you see
For nations it's time to rise their hope is in Jesus Christ.
If the giants come just hold on
The advantage is now on your side
Jesus will take the final fight!

The Light dawned that Sunday morning
It broke through the boundaries of time
Hearts start shining calling to all mankind
Let's celebrate eternal life!

(RAP)
When something in you says you're not through
Something whispers you need to go too
You say that things just can't stay this way
Your heart is calling Mayday Mayday!
World is just trouble get out of your muddle
Jump now's the time take your chance on the double.
Leave it behind you'll see you won't mind
Once you meet Jesus the answer you'll find
Don't Google your noodle or consult your poodle
Just follow your heart and it will be super
Wake up see the Light find new life in His life,
With Him in sight He'll take you to new heights
The rescues begun now Someone's come
Be looking to the sky but not for Air Force One
The way out is up up up and away
With Jesus today is Independence Day.

(Song)
Shining, calling to all mankind,
Let's celebrate eternal life!

The Light dawned that Sunday morning
It broke through the boundaries of time
Hearts start shining calling to all mankind
Let's celebrate eternal life

Author and copyright info on lyrics is unavailable.

At the Cross: Mary, Mother of Jesus

Our church hosted Good Friday service for four local churches last night. We prayed that people attending might look upon our Savior's sacrifice afresh through our music, message, and drama presentations.

The character I presented is Mary. I pray you might consider yet again the price paid by our Lord Jesus and by His Father for our redemption.



Video content © 2011 Anne Lang Bundy and Scott Young, all rights reserved.

A Kiss—Grace This

For Good Friday, I offer a repeat post in lieu of Q&A.

Photo credit: Kelly Sauer

A Kiss—Grace This

Kiss of Creator
breath of life
dust made man
divine image reflected
all senses perceive
gifts in abundance—
Grace this.

Kiss of Word
Almighty called Friend
righteousness by faith
promises of hope
covenants for eternity
everlasting love known—
Grace this.

Kiss of mother
infant fist curls
glory’s cloak shed
exchanged for flesh
divinity treads earth
Heaven’s angels wonder—
Grace this.

Kiss of betrayer
smites one cheek
other cheek torn
denials pierce ears
brethren’s scorns assault
sin’s curse crowns
hands of healing
stretched between spikes
heart of love
broken and pierced
Beloved yet forsaken
spikenard still clings—
Grace this.

Kiss of Sonlight
empty crypt mine
death safely entombed
guilt’s shame too
raised from perdition
to resurrection life—
Grace this.

Kiss of Spirit
comforts from within
Water softens clay
for stretching, shaping
vessel of beauty
worthy of Light—
Grace this.

Kiss of Fire
cleanses and transforms
clay becomes crystal
pits hold gold
trusted Potter’s touch
cradles His treasure—
Grace this.

: : :

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Bondage

Image source: alphatshirt.wordpress.com

So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve by cruelty. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mire ...
~ Exodus 1:13-14

This cruel world finds ever new definitions of cruel service, bondage, mire.

And the LORD said: "I have seen the misery of My people ... I have heard their cry because of their oppressors. I know their anguish."
~ Exodus 3:7

After 430 years in Egypt, His people might think God had forgotten them.

Yet they cried out to Him.

When the time came for Him to mightily display Himself, He acted.

[We] were in bondage ... But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son ...
~ Galatians 4:3-4 (NKJV)

Having received deliverance from sin's death penalty, should we doubt our God is able and willing to deliver us from sin's lesser bondages?

Who have we in Heaven or Earth but You, Lord? We look to You for new deliverance. Please give us peace in the waiting.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Destiny

The name Jerusalem means "headwaters of peace." In a day of the not-too-distant future, the contested city shall finally be permitted to fulfill her destiny:

... and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple ... And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live... for they will be healed ...
~ Ezekiel 47:1,9 (NKJV)

Jerusalem is also Christ's bride:

"Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he ... showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem ... And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life ... The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
~ Revelation 21:9-10; 22:1-2 (NKJV)

We, our Lord's church and bride, live up to our eternal destiny even now, when the Spirit of Jesus speaks healing through the power of love in our words.

Lord Jesus, please increase our faith that we may love You more, be more yielded to Your Spirit, that Your love and healing might flow through us.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: Unavailable, with apology to photographer

Back to Basics

It appears that some of my ministry endeavors will now involve being comfortable in front of a video camera. What better place to gain experience than here in my own space?

Today I offer my first vlog (I think jumping out of airplanes took less guts than this new adventure), about what you can expect to see in the future on "Building His Body."



: : :

This post is part of a blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. You're invited to visit his site and see what others are saying about today's theme: ADVENTURE.
© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Hour Was Late

Image source: deplicque.net

When I was little, we waited until the hour was late to clean up—until my dad's car pulled into the driveway. We feared him enough to scurry upon sighting him, yet wanted to have our fun until the last possible moment.

Then those who went before and those who went behind cried out, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" ... And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple, and He looked around at all things. But since by this time the hour was late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
~ Mark 11:9,11 (author)

Jesus entered Jerusalem and the temple on Sunday. He had cleansed the temple once before, with a whip, at the beginning of His ministry. (John 2:11-17) His return to the premises as King ought to have filled greedy oppressors with fear. Shouldn't they have known better than to come back and set up shop again after an overnight opportunity to stay away?

Jesus used no whip this time, and His actions were anything but impulsive. No doubt the moneychangers and merchants were furious and were more numerous than the lone figure Who drove them out Monday morning.

But something in the patient wrath of King Jesus disarmed their own wrath.

Surely the wrath of man shall praise You;
With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.
~ Psalms 76:10 (NKJV)

The King has already made an appearance in our lives. How long shall we have our way before the "Hosanna!"* on our lips which asks for a Savior is accompanied by **"Come have Your way among us—we welcome You here, Lord Jesus" which asks from the heart for Him to be Lord of our lives?

The Lord's eyes see all. He is patient.

But the hour grows late.

* Hosanna is translated, "Save us, Lord."
** Quoted lyrics are from the song "Hosanna" by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown
© 2006 Integrity Music
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Greatest Love Story

It is common, as I listen to love songs, to feel the passion of the Greatest Love Story. Usually, I hear my ache for Jesus. Other times, I've felt the ache of Jesus for His bride.

I hadn't heard "Unchained Melody" in years. It was played at a wedding last weekend, and it hasn't left my head and heart all week.

Has Jesus' waiting also seemed like a long time? I've been wondering, as Jesus sits at His Father's right hand, if among his prayers for us might be: "God speed your love to Me."

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
~ Mark 13:32 (NKJV)

UNCHAINED MELODY
Written 1955: Lyrics, Hy Zaret; Music, Alex North



Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
a long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?

I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow to the sea
to the sea
to the open arms of the sea
lonely rivers sigh wait for me
wait for me
I'll be coming home wait for me

Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
a long lonely time
and time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much
are you still mine?

I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: Why War from God?

"Most of God's people are content to be saved from the hell without;
they are not so anxious to be saved from the hell within."
~Robert M. McCheyne

Image source: Battles of the Bible
by Chaim Herzog & Mordechai Gichon
Fall River Press ©1978, 1997

"How can Christians say that God is loving if He ordered war ... and even the killing of children?"~ Anonymous

There's no single or simple answer, but at least one basic principle applies.

God sees the end from the beginning. Where evil has taken root, He does not need to allow it to grow to maturity before He knows what kind of fruit will come of it.

The remainder of my answer appears at Bullets & Butterflies.

Necessary Tension

A trivial fascination of mine is the simplicity and necessity of springs. Some pull, some push. They continually surprise me in the discovery of how microscopic or mammoth they can be—of how critical they are to the function of everything from door latch to DVD player.

Their purpose is to provide necessary tension. If constantly at tension, they cease to be functional. If never at tension, they fail to serve their purpose.

For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
~ Psalms 66:10-12 (NKJV)

Though God's refinement and washing bring new opportunities for rich fulfillment, they also bring the necessary tension of being stretched and pressed.

If we're constantly at tension, we flirt with dysfunction. But if never at tension, we've little opportunity to fulfill our purpose:

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
~ Psalms 66:16 (NKJV)

Lord, how thankful I am that Your wisdom rather than our comfort decides when and how necessary tension enters our lives. Please make us faithful to fulfill our purpose. Please open our souls to receive refinement and washing, and to realize true fulfillment.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

No Off Switch

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
~ Psalms 62:8 (NKJV)

If you're reading these words, you likely 'trust in Him' with some measure—you are not ignorant of faith in God. If you're reading these words, you also remain an inhabitant of Earth, and your faith is not yet perfected.

We dwell in this place between faith and fear, between Heaven and Hell, between Light and Darkness. At any given moment, either side may confront us and command our attention.

Trust in Him at all times ...

We cannot afford to trust in Him at some times—
▲ not just when life is smooth and we find time to think on Him;
▼ not just when life is rough and we call Him for help;
◄ not just when we think to share Him with others;
► not just when places and people of God draw our attention to Him.

Though we remain inhabitants of Earth and it fills our senses, God is the refuge where our minds and hearts must dwell at all times.

There is no off switch for the faith which trusts in the unseen.

Lord, we are all ADD down here. There are so many distractions. Please help us! Please call out to us, and help us look to You, trust in You, and dwell in You—at all times.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

All the Way to the End

He likes meat and potatoes with plenty of plain butter.
I like ethnic food with plenty of kick.

He searches out still waters good for fishing.
I tend to stir up waters in search of adventure.

He's the firearms and ammo expert sought out for advice.
I brandish the Sword of the Lord to flash its Light.

He'd be a golden retriever, steady and faithful.
I'd be an eagle, soaring and plunging.

We would not be the same without each other, this Polish-French-Canadian and his German-Irish-Hispanic-Native American bride. We need each other to be who God means us to be.

I lied to him about why I took our son to Grandma's, robbed him of the cell phone his office rings at all hours, and compelled him to drive the kidnaper's getaway car. All was not as it seemed for his birthday celebration.

In between the perfect dinner at a lodge and romance at a bed and breakfast, we walked along the break wall on Lake Huron. Winter ice still spills over it, and we reached a point all but blocked.

He eyed icy waters 15 (20?) feet below and my high-heeled boots. Far enough? he asked. I said let's keep going. I deftly stepped along the edge. He climbed across ice I didn't want to touch.

And then we walked all the way to the end.

The end of a thing is better than its beginning.
~ Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NKJV)

He is holy and clothed in majesty.
We are sinful and clothed in dust.

His is all manner of love and mercy.
We are all manner of apathy and judgment.

He is purest truth, as solid as a rock.
We walk in a world where no ground is sure.

He shows favor and grace in every way to defy explanation.
We struggle to even receive it, let alone pass it on.

He'd never be the same without us, for we are His masterpiece through which His every attribute is displayed. We need each other, this God and the bride He is sculpting, for we can only be all we are meant to be if we are together.

All is not as it seems. He sees the end from the beginning, and reveals only as much as we need to know until He unveils His surprises.

And He walks us all the way to the end.

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven ...
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also He has put eternity in their hearts,
except that no one can find out
the work that God does from beginning to end.
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 (NKJV)

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: How Long Does Temptation Knock?

Photo credit: Preston Bezant

How long were Adam and Eve in the garden before she took that fatal bite? Was the serpent whispering in her ear a long time?
~ Lori

The key question here, which applies to all of us, is how long might temptation knock?

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
~ James 4:7 (NKJV)

The remainder of my answer appears at Bullets & Butterflies.

: : :

What questions do you have about Christianity or the Bible? You're invited to leave them in the comments below (anonymous questions welcome), or email buildingHisbody [plus] @ gmail.com.

© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Wiped

"Beach Wash"

Photo credit: Darius Goins

Piercing pain to my heart
Darkness that does not depart
How this wound from one who says 'love'?
Why this assault allowed from above?

Offender shall not be called 'foe'
With blessing shall curse be told 'go!'
To malice hands of good open wide
Spite shall bring prayer to on high.

Hope is yet strangled by tears
Where lurks the debt in arrears?
Ponder long—what offering could pay?
There is none—save debt wiped away.

Perfect peace in my heart
Light that shall not depart
How this gift for one flawed in love?
Why this grace to dust from above?

░ ♥ ░

"He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."
~ John 9:15 (NKJV)

░ † ░

Today I achieve my goal to join High Calling's "Random Acts of Poetry." This month's challenge is "Forgiveness."

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Gift of Hunger

If you are a visitor from the Blog Carnival, I ask your forgiveness and indulgence for submitting this second post. I realized that I failed to share the more important truth I've learned about Treasure in recent days: We treasure what we desire more than what we have, and the two don't need to be mutually exclusive. (late edit:) Hunger makes the heart value more highly and yearn for more earnestly that which we treasure.

Image source: crossroadsinitiative.com

When I first met the Word of God in the Bible, I fell head-over-heels in love with the beauty of pure Truth. I hungrily read it at every opportunity in search for more Truth.

For four years I struggled to understand what my new Christian life should look like. When a cross country move and new church removed me from the little teaching I'd been getting, I became hungry for a teacher. No one was there for me. I'd open my Bible and beg God to help me understand it. I didn't recognize the Person of the Holy Spirit when He became my Teacher. I knew only that I hungered after His illumination like I might hunger for air after 60 seconds of holding my breath. I breathed Him in deeply and eagerly.

Seven years elapsed. I'd realized long before that time that I was hungry for discipleship—for mature Christians teaching and modeling Christianity to me. God brought me to a church strong in biblical principles where my eyes were opened to elemental lessons I'd missed by Bible-reading alone. I attended every service and meeting with a soul longing to be fed.

After five years I saw what was missing. Critical and judgmental spirits among legalists cursed and crushed the spirit of praise wherever it appeared without conformity to their standards. For another five years I praised God with exuberance only when away from them. My soul ached for the freedom to exalt Him. He honored my desire and brought our family to our present church, where worship ministry flourishes.

For three and a half years I've feasted on the fellowship of loving saints against a backdrop of solid biblical teaching. Our choir, orchestra, drama team, kids choir, and occasional dancers uplift my God and bring me to tears often.

My hunger has always been the opportunity to share God. The online community of blogging, Twitter, Facebook has satisfied it as never before.

Enough to quell the hunger pangs.

I understand now yet another reason God allowed the intense suffering of the last couple of years. It kept me in fellowship with Him so I might experience hunger for relief and be driven back to Him with new fervor.

And now, as life becomes calm, I once again need the gift of hunger.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
~ Jesus, Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Dust and Rust Belt

If you are a visitor from the Blog Carnival, I ask your forgiveness for re-directing you to the second post I submitted, which is a more important read: The Gift of Hunger.

There's surely rust in Colorado somewhere, though I don't recall where I might have seen its corrosion when I was growing up. Back home, it was common for people to drive cars 20-25 years old. The only time I remember smelling mildew was when we opened a canvass tent that had been rolled up wet some earlier season. I thought a dry climate meant Phoenix, because it was the only out-of-state place I visited.

Life changed when I moved to the Rust Belt in 1990 and became acquainted with a damp climate. Needles in the sewing basket became rusty the first year. The next year, I found mushrooms growing in the carpet due to AC condensation of my well-maintained suburban apartment—on the second floor.

At present, our 12-year-old Caravan runs faithfully despite the visible rust which makes me wonder about invisible rust in the innards. The 2005 Savannah has needed AC repairs to corroded lines 4 out of the 6 years we've had it. I was up at 2 a.m. this morning to deal with a drip from freezing rain which penetrated the 5-year-old chimney flashing (high wind was partly to blame), and I was cutting away carpet and mopping up water which seeped through the basement floor middle (not wall) at 6 a.m.

Cold damp air doesn't seem much better for people. My daughter goes to the doctor tomorrow to follow up on her pneumonia. Our whole family has more vigor in sunny Colorado despite the altitude there. It seems that weak or scarce Great Lakes sun means lower physical energy and fewer people exercising. Michigan's population is near the top of the obesity charts, Colorado's near the bottom.

But regardless of where or how a person lives, it's only a matter of time before each of us succumbs to injury, illness, or infirmity and returns to dust—before the things we amass here become corroded.

When it comes right down to it, the entire earth is a Dust and Rust Belt. It's only a matter of location and years.

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal ..."
~ Matthew 6:20 (NKJV)

There are three things I have in this life which I can take with me when I leave this world: my family, my praise for my Lord Jesus, and the Word of God hidden in my heart.

The futile effort to maintain life in this world may try us. No matter—true treasure transcends time and distance, even the distance between eyes and heart.

"... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
~ Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)


: : :

This post is part of a blog carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. You're invited to visit his site and see what others are saying about today's theme: Treasure.
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Other Book

Some of us are inclined to get weepy over a movie or book. There's a book I open nearly every day which can bring on something between moist eyes and a waterfall. The Bible does that for sure. But there's also the other book.

My prayer journal.

At some point, my prayer list got too long too pray through every day and began frustrating me. Then I heard the suggestion of organizing prayer lists by days of the week. Voilà! Intercession became manageable with a small divided binder.

The journal holds an assortment of lists. Who's on them?
• my husband and children
• family (people related by natural blood or Christ's blood)
• martyrs, ministries, missions (both organizations and individuals)
• friends who glorify God through the arts and writing (including online)
• the weak, the unsaved world, widows and orphans
• church and government authorities

(Each one of you is in there. Your name may appear for a specific reason. But I also pray for every person who visits this blog—even those looking for something else online—asking God to draw you closer to Himself through the words here.)

The single page tucked inside the cover is a priority list, where I pencil in a few people at a time with pressing needs. That list changes as situations do. Other lists are altered as prayers are answered, or when I release some situations to God in order to give attention to new ones.

But some people stay in this book ...

We met Rachel years ago when my then-teenage niece visited for a week and asked to bring a friend. I prayed that our home would minister to these two young women, both living vulnerable lives in unstable homes. At week's end, Rachel cried and said she didn't want to leave. She left our home but not my heart. I've been able to learn nothing more of her.

Charles was the soft-spoken police officer who slim-jimmed my locked car back in the 90's when I left the keys inside—something I've done only twice my whole life. I felt moved to ask this departing stranger how I might pray for him (another infrequent occurrence). In a broken voice, he told me his brother just committed suicide. God allowed me to bump into Charles again last spring, shortly before a sudden illness took his life. Only then did I take Charles off the list, with hope we meet again in answer to the many prayers said for him.

I don't know Zechariah's real name, or if he's even still alive. Our paths crossed for only a moment nearly two decades ago at an inner city church. A rough looking woman dragged the preschooler out of the sanctuary for making noise during the service, then threw him against a wall where he crumpled to the floor. I had a baby in my arms and stepped away to collect my husband, that we might intervene. Those few seconds were all it took for her and the tyke to vanish. I pray for him as Zechariah because it means "Remembrance of YHWH."

"As for Me, I am unable to forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on My palms."
~ Isaiah 49:16 (author)

Knowing that God answers prayer keeps me praying.

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Question of the Week: What Motivates God?

"The Kiss"
V-J Day, August 14, 1945, Times Square

photo credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt, Life Magazine

"We measure the worth of a treasure
by what we will gladly give up in order to have it."
~ John Piper

"Why did God create things the way He did, knowing what we'd turn into?"
~ Wendy Paine Miller

This could also be asked as, "Why did God put both Himself and us through all this grief?" Behind the above question, might we even infer The Question:

"Why does a good God allow suffering?"

An answer to that was offered in the post "Why Suffering?" So let's take another angle and answer, "Can we understand what motivates God?"


The remainder of my answer appears at Bullets & Butterflies.

: : :

What questions do you have about Christianity or the Bible? You're invited to leave them in the comments below (anonymous questions welcome), or email buildingHisbody [plus] @ gmail.com.

© 2011 Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.