Creation's Birth Pains

Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste,
Distorts its surface
And scatters abroad its inhabitants...
The earth is violently broken,
The earth is split open,
The earth is shaken exceedingly.
~ Isaiah 24:1,19 (NKJV)

I read Isaiah. I read the headlines. I see Christians and non-Christians alike experiencing unrivaled hardship.

I emerge from the valley of death's shadow and feel darkness licking at my heels. It still wants me.

Was life always this difficult and I never saw it? Or are we nearing the end?

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars ...
There will be famines and earthquakes ...
All these are the beginning of birth pains...
At that time many will turn away from the faith ...
many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."
~ Jesus describing signs of the end (Matthew 24:6-12 NIV)

Is it just me, or do I also observe unrivaled apathy? Have we, as a people, heard about so many disasters and diseases—have our eyes seen too many violent acts and victims—that we have found ways to desensitize ourselves to the pain and thereby also desensitized our love?

Must the Lord then allow the pain to become more intense, lest we either accept the brokenness of our world or believe that we are capable to fix it ourselves?

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
~ Romans 8:22-23 (NKJV)

I've birthed five children. I tried an epidural for the first one, but it didn't work correctly and caused far more pain than it relieved, so I didn't try to numb the pain again. I learned to pray through it, taking hold of necessary strength from God.

These are characteristics of birth pains: they get horrifically worse, you don't get out of them except by going through them, and they do end—with the most intense exhilaration life offers.

God's Word says the same of the birth pangs we share with creation. Efforts to mitigate suffering ultimately prove futile. We emerge not by running away, but by pushing through to promised joy and peace.

You will keep in perfect peace, The one fixed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength
[Rock of Ages].
~ Isaiah 26:3-4

Lord, whatever lies ahead, in our world or in our lives, we know we can persevere with the strength You supply. We trust You not to leave us. We look to You to preserve us in peace.

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This is the "rest of the story" connected to my testimony of gratitude posted at Everyday Testimonies.

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.
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Bible Nerd

(My Bible—click to enlarge)
Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
~ Psalms 119:97 (NKJV)

Do you ever have a situation sneak up on you slowly and you don't realize how intense it's become until it's too extreme to change?

I'm not sure why this was the week that it hit me. I've known for a long time that I'm sort of fanatical about the Bible. Sort of. I freely admit falling in love with it long ago and never recovering. I suddenly realized what a severe case I still have the other night after I stayed up til nearly 2 am, obsessively sorting out a maze of genealogies from the book of Chronicles like it was a Sudoku puzzle.

Our family reads the Bible every night before bedtime prayers—either a Psalm or a chapter of Proverbs. We also do Bible study most days as part of homeschooling (presently Ezekiel), incorporating studies of history, math, science or language as those topics become relevant. For the last year or so, we also spend a few moments a day working on memorizing Psalm 119 as part of the kids' memory work.

I get up early with my husband on the days he works and read Bible to him while he gets dressed (Exodus). I decided to go through the whole Bible in a year for myself again (haven't done it in a decade) and am also doing that in the mornings (Isaiah). I'm doing some work on Hebrew names of God at the request of a Christian art small business (more study which includes lots of dictionary work). After the house is asleep, I write biblical fiction most nights. And once a week I do study for Question of the Week.

How on earth did I wind up so immersed in the Bible? How did I wind up simultaneously reading out of seven different parts of the Old Testament, when I also read the New Testament plenty? (Besides my random study, John's Gospel is presently Sunday a.m. church, Mark's Sunday p.m.)

How do I not tire of it? I still find every bit of Scripture marvelously fascinating, utterly beautiful, and surprisingly powerful.

I think my husband and kids have seen this for a long time and are so used to it that they just accept it. I'm so grateful that they still love me the way I am.

But most of all, I'm amazed that the Lord would put such an intense love in my heart for His Word.

Why me, Lord? What did I do to deserve this blessing? I thank You for it.


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: Forgiveness or Reconciliation?

by Anne Lang Bundy

What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation (in the context of being vulnerable to further abuse)?
~ Anonymous

Once again, a question is posed which defies adequate explanation on a lone page. This week, five contrasts from the Bible will be presented. Next week will look at how biblical truth plays out in relationships.

Accountability & Forgiveness:

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more ... if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen ..." (Matthew 18:15-17 NKJV)

"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV)

Holding someone accountable for doing wrong to you, with a goal of reconciliation, is separate from the unrelenting forgiveness of heart that Jesus teaches.

Non-resistance & Escape:

"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Matthew 5:39 NKJV)

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?" ... Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him. (Acts 22:25,29 NKJV; other examples of escape are Acts 5:17-20; 9:23-25;12:7-10)

Jesus both taught and set the example of accepting abuse without retaliation. But we should avoid injury when possible.

Marriage, Separation, Divorce:

A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife... If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And [likewise] a woman ... if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. (1 Corinthians 7:10-15 NKJV)

God hates divorce. If separation is necessary, Christians are instructed to remain unmarried and work for reconciliation. Only if the non-believing spouse divorces is the believer released from the marriage. (An exception is divorce for sexual immorality—see "Can Marital Sex be Sinful?")

Willing Suffering:

But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. (1 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV)

There really are some circumstances when suffering is preferable to quitting a situation or quitting a person. God's will and guidance are necessary for discernment.

Peace With Others & Peace Within:

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:17-18 NKJV)

Reconciliation doesn't always happen after we offer forgiveness. As much as depends on us, we must offer peace—and then be at peace.

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This post originally appeared at Bullets & Butterflies. To see ongoing dialogue in comments posted there click here.

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.
Image source: "Reconciliation in Sri Lanka"

Don't Use Words You Don't Know

On September 12, 2001, America reeled from blows by terrorists the previous day. Among the efforts of our leaders to speak words of encouragement was a floor statement by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle which said this:

"I know that there is only the smallest measure of inspiration that can be taken from this devastation. But there is a passage in the Bible, from Isaiah, that I think speaks to all of us at times like this:
'The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.' "

Mr. Daschle most certainly did not recognize the context of the passage. Isaiah is prophesying that when the Lord allows an enemy attack to destroy because He wishes to humble His people, the wrong response is a defiant resolve to rebuild. The verse looks like this when put in context:

The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.
All the people will know it
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria
who say with pride and arrogance of heart,
"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars."
~ Isaiah 9:8-10 (NIV)

This example is not cited for ridicule or criticism. I've no doubt that on some occasion, I myself have taken Scripture out of context in the effort to use it for good, and failed to apply it as the Lord intended.

Seeing Isaiah's words again, in context, simply seems like a good time to remind ourselves to be careful of how we use God's Word.

Lord, I thank You for allowing me the honor and privilege to host this blog. Please move me to always handle Your sacred Word with fear and trembling, mindful of its power. Please give us all hearts to thoroughly search out what You are saying when we read the Bible.

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: steeljawscribe.com

Back to the Future

"Your past is important,
but it is not nearly as important to your present
as the way you see your future."
~ Tony Campolo

image from the movie "Back to the Future"

© 1985 Universal Pictures

If the dawn of a new day brings dread rather than anticipation, perhaps we are stuck in the past and need to get back to the future of the present.

Among the reasons we get stuck in the past:

◄ guilt, shame, regret
◄ bitterness, unforgiveness, nursing our injuries
◄ nostalgia

But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
~ Luke 9:62 (NKJV)

Looking back has value. We can gain a better perspective of the present as we better understand who and what brought us here. We cannot afford to forget the mistakes of history. Calling to mind foundational principles and goals helps narrow our options of how to move forward.

But there is a difference between looking at the past and living in it.

► If through Christ God has forgiven our sin, we can do no less.
► If we know God's forgiveness, then He asks us to pass it along to others.
► Whatever good the past held, the Lord has plans for even better.

As the past is a place to look and not to live, so is the future.

Now go with God and create an incredible today!

Lord, please show what to do in this very moment to bring us into step with You, and give us strength to do it.

☼ ☼ ☼

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: Future.

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.