A verse for the strong

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” —Romans 15:1

The book of Romans is a tough read, a comprehensive study, and quite possibly the most important book of theology in the New Testament. Paul wrote this book to help the churches serve the gospel with strength from the Holy Spirit, uphold holy standards for the Christian faith, and find the joy and hope of God’s blessings. If Christians lived according to the book of Romans, we would change the world. 

Chapter 15 sums it all up

Chapter 16 is Paul’s thank-you list. Chapter 15 is the summation of his book of theology. The chapter begins with his message to the Christians who are strong in their faith, and his words should probably hang over the door of every church. Sadly, many Christians wouldn’t understand or even agree with Paul’s message.

Paul was a Pharisee. In fact, Paul described himself as a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees” (Acts 23:6). Paul’s pedigree as a Pharisee was well known, and yet, he dedicated his life to sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Paul knew there was no decision in life more important than surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

The apostle knew how important it was to obey God’s laws. Paul also knew how completely impossible it was to achieve a right relationship with God through our own abilities and works. Paul had fanatically tried to kill Christianity in the beginning, using self-motivated, unrighteous indignation as his strength. He lived the rest of his life with the weight and consequences of his sin. No one teaches more about the value of God’s grace through Christ than the former Pharisee.

Paul wrote the words in Romans 15 to sum up a long list of theological truths he had been inspired to record carefully. He begins with the words, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1).

How might that one verse change our churches and our Christians today?

Who are the strong?

If we made a list of the strongest Christians we know, how many modern-day Pharisees would be named? Human nature still tends to measure works when defining spiritual strength. That tendency isn’t completely wrong. The book of James almost didn’t make it into our Bibles because it says, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:17). A strong Christian displays their faith through their obedience to God’s Word. If a person’s life doesn’t preach the gospel, their mouth probably won’t preach it well. That said, we won’t preach it well unless . . .

Paul said, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak.” Why are strong Christians obligated to bear with the mistakes and failures of the weak?

The answer: Because apart from the strength of God’s Holy Spirit, we are weak too. The fact that we can consider ourselves strong is equivalent to considering ourselves extremely and gratefully blessed. Paul is telling the strong Christians how incredibly lucky they are to have been filled with Christ. Paul is reminding his readers that our knowledge of Christ’s sacrificial gift of grace for our own sin obligates us to bear with those who have not yet gained the strength that could be theirs as well.

What if the “weak” who entered our churches were overwhelmed by the love and acceptance of those inside? What if they felt nothing other than welcomed and included by God and his people? What if we determined that next Sunday, we are obligated by God’s Word to bear with someone’s mistake or failure? Who would leave the building thinking, “I want to come back here next Sunday!”

The tension: How do we “bear with” sin without offering “acceptance” for the sin?

This is the tension of living as a strong Christian without, as Paul put it, the choice of “not living to please ourselves.” This is the other behavior that Paul would say we are obligated to embrace.

We all need a little bit of Pharisee in our witness. The Pharisees were respected because they were so eager and careful to obey God’s laws. We “fight the Pharisee within” because we want that same respect from others. Paul, the Pharisee of Pharisees, told us we are obligated to bear with the sins of others “not to please ourselves.” In other words, we don’t offer grace for the weaknesses of others to make us look better or feel better than we truly are. We aren’t better; just more fortunate.

How do we address sin with grace? First, we admit we understand the inclination for sin. Our sins might be different, but they still separate us from God. Second, God wants better for our lives. There are consequences for every sin. God will either bless and reward or discipline our lives. Grace does not mean God doesn’t respond to our sins. Grace doesn’t usually remove the consequences of our sins either, just the eternal punishment we would deserve without his grace.

Sometimes the best way to obligate ourselves to bear with the failings of others is to obligate ourselves to sharing his message of truth. We can speak to someone who is living with spiritual weakness and failures, look them in the eyes and say with compassion, “God wants so much better for you than this. God wants to be able to pour his blessings into your life, but he can’t bless disobedience to his words of truth.” Our convictions are a gift of encouragement and grace from God if we will speak them with his love for others. 

Romans 15:1 is a verse for the strong

If we want to follow Paul’s teaching, we should memorize Romans 15:1 and allow the Holy Spirit to use it as a check to our human natures. The Holy Spirit of Jesus has to contend for our motivations just like he had to contend with a Pharisee named “Saul of Tarsus.” That Pharisee had to be completely changed by his salvation down to his very name. Paul battled the Pharisee within every day of his life, and we will have a similar battle. 

We are obligated to treat people with grace because that is how Jesus treated us. We are obligated to serve others, not to please our own sense of self, but to please Jesus. Jesus is and always will be our model of selfless service. We are obligated to serve others as Jesus would have served them.

It probably won’t take long for the Lord to test your obedience to Romans 15:1. Who will you see today and realize you have an obligation to selflessly serve? I hope we will all prayerfully welcome the opportunity.

At the end of chapter 15, Paul wrote, “May the God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Romans 15:33). I think he would pray the same thing for all the “strong Christians” today.

This Independence Day, choose dependence on Christ

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” —2 Corinthians 5:14–15

I had never heard of the term semiquincentennial before this year. America will celebrate 250 years of Independence this year, our Semiquincentennial. There are many big celebrations, and I pray that Americans will be protected from those who may seek to harm or discourage our people and our values.

I’m looking forward to the day and all that it will bring. That said, I’m looking back as well, and those thoughts give a powerful perspective.

July 4, 1976

1976 was a big year for me. I graduated from high school in June of that year with more than seven hundred fellow seniors. The graduation ceremony was outdoors with red, white, and blue balloons. We were told to wear red, white, and blue clothing. The music represented our class and our country. When Steve Zerta crossed the stage, a huge roar went up from the crowd. He was a popular guy, but he was cheered for being the last name of the 700-plus students!

After graduation, we boarded buses to Disneyland’s “Grad Night” celebration. We stayed up all night at Disney and celebrated with other graduates from other California high schools. Mickey, Minnie, and the other characters were all wearing red, white, and blue costumes, and Winnie the Pooh sported a mortarboard. We drove home at daybreak, exhausted, excited, and thinking ahead. Every graduate knew that Grad Night was probably the last thing we would do as a group before we headed to various universities, jobs, and branches of the service.

July 4 was an important day for me spiritually as well. I grew up an “interdenominational” Christian. I’ve been Methodist, Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, and then Baptist. I’ve been “sprinkled” once and “immersed” twice, which makes me the most-often baptized Christian I know.

The baptism I count as my own took place on Sunday, July 4, 1976. That was the day I stepped into the baptistry to tell God and others that I was a Christian. I remember it because of the day, but also because that was the day my baptism was between my Lord and me. I was baptized because I wanted to obey Jesus when he said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16).

In many ways, my personal commitment to Jesus as my Lord began on July 4, 1976. I had already accepted Jesus as Savior, but I chose to be baptized that day because I knew I wanted to live in obedience to Christ as my Lord. For me, those two choices were separate and unique in my life. In many ways, I felt called to give up my independence that day in order to depend on Jesus as my King.

Later, when I wanted to join the Baptist church, the pastor told me I needed to be re-baptized. I told my parents that I didn’t want to do that, so the pastor asked me to come see him. I agreed to the meeting, and he explained that I had been baptized under a different theology and therefore needed to be rebaptized to join the church. We politely “argued,” and I finally agreed to be baptized with the understanding that my real baptism was July 4, 1976. My bicentennial baptism was a spiritual commitment for me. I just got wet that day in my second immersion.

When did you give up your independence?

It has been fifty years since I was baptized as a commitment to Jesus as my Lord. When did you choose to make Jesus your King? It’s easier to choose Jesus as Savior than Jesus as Lord. If we ask Jesus to be our King, we don’t get to sit on the throne of our lives. His Word is no longer a book of suggested guidelines or good ideas. The Bible becomes a manual of required values and behaviors. None of us will ever follow it perfectly, but if Jesus is King, we will try to place his control over our lives above our own independence. 

Can you remember a time when you asked Jesus to be your King? 

Fifty years later

I have thought a lot about this July 4, but for different reasons than most. How might my life have been different if I hadn’t stood in the baptistry that day and truly meant the words, “Jesus is my Lord”?

My dad came home a year later and said, “I’m accepting a job in Houston, TX.” I was nineteen years old and DID NOT want to move to Houston. But I did, and my entire future changed.

There have been a lot of major decisions in the past fifty years, and when I included Jesus in those choices, he was able to redirect, control, guide, and bless those days. I was a child of the seventies when independence often meant an escape from traditional values, traditional music, traditional haircuts, and traditional religion. Fifty years later, I see some of the long-term consequences of my generation’s choices.

We elevated independence at the expense of our submission to Christ as Lord. I wonder what our country would look like today if the value changes in the seventies had not occurred. California was a hot spot in the seventies, and I still remember the communes at the beaches and campgrounds that harbored drug users and “free-love” thinkers. My generation introduced much of the thinking that shapes today’s culture.

A semiquincentennial commitment

Will America have a tricentennial? Jesus could return in the next fifty years. I, and probably most of my readers, will not be here to find out. We will celebrate that July 4 in heaven, where time is not measured, and the things of this earth have “passed away.”

This year, I will remember July 4, 1976, and the commitment I made in church that day. I want to recommit my life to have the same passion for Jesus as my Lord that I felt that day. This Independence Day, I want to once again make the choice to sacrifice my independence for the sake of my dependence on Christ as my King.

Revelation 19:15–16 describes our King today: “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Can you remember the day you gave up your independence and chose to make Jesus your King? If not, join me in making this July 4 a day you will remember for every day to come. Simply pray, “Jesus, thank you for being my Savior. Today, I choose to make you Lord of each moment to come.”

Happy “dependence” day!

Photo by Tuong Nguyen on Unsplash

Should women preach?

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slavenor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” —Galatians 3:28

I am usually proud to be a Baptist, in spite of the recent news from the SBC Convention. I’m not directly involved in the SBC and consider myself a Texas Baptist now. I didn’t grow up a Baptist, but spiritually, I credit joining a Baptist church and attending a Baptist university for leading me into a deeper walk with the Lord. I was thinking I would keep my mouth shut on the whole “women in the pulpit” issue because I don’t want to give the controversy attention. That said, my mind kept writing this article, and I felt my thoughts were worth expressing. 

I was a young preacher’s wife during the big Baptist blow-up over biblical inerrancy. My husband has a well-known paper on the eight different definitions of inerrancy, if you would like to read it. I knew people on both sides of the vote who I respected as leaders, teachers, and preachers. I realized as I lived through the 1980’s controversy, there were ungodly behaviors on both sides of the issue. I’m sad to see similar rhetoric about the recent SBC vote. The denomination I truly love took major hits to its institutions and witness in the 1980’s that Baptists have still not recovered from. Sadly, I expect the same will be true with this controversy. 

On the one hand, I’m proud to be part of a denomination that Satan attacks with nuclear strength. If Baptists weren’t messing with Satan’s agenda, he probably wouldn’t be messing with Baptists. You can go into almost any Baptist church on any given Sunday and hear a sermon based on biblical truth, preached through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Baptist congregations have been taught and encouraged to make sure those who visit feel welcome and find a place to belong. I’m proud to be a Baptist. 

After the Convention news, there are some who won’t be proud of me.

If you haven’t heard . . .

Christianity Today has an article that describes the controversy, if you want to read about it. My Facebook page was covered with posts and comments from both sides of the vote. It’s easy to see the controversy and notice Satan at work, much like in the 1980’s. Many of us don’t see the issue of women pastors as a theological one. Rather, it is more of an individual church decision. 

Are women pastors a biblical issue of theology?

First, you are allowed to choose your answer. There is really good theology on both sides. All of us should listen to sermons and lessons each week that are preached or taught by someone we believe is Spirit-led and biblically accurate. The first criterion for anyone bringing a message from God is whether or not the Lord is speaking through that person.

Second, has that person been called of God? If someone has been called by God and chooses to obey that call, they can count on God to equip them for that call.

Third, has this person taken the advice Paul gave his protégé Timothy? Paul wrote, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). A pastor or teacher should work hard to study God’s word and rightly present God’s truth.

Why, then, is there controversy about women as pastors?

The controversy largely stems from a passage in Paul’s letter to Timothy, who was serving the church in Ephesus. 1 Timothy 1:3–7 says, “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.”

Later in chapter 2, Paul says, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control” (1 Timothy 2:8–15).

It seems pretty clear if you look at this passage that women don’t have a place in the pulpit. On the other hand, it seems pretty clear in other passages that women did have the job of preaching and leading in the church (cf. Acts 18:26; 1 Corinthians 11:5). In fact, if we want to be truly in line with Paul’s message to Timothy, women also need to take his advice about personal appearance and modesty. (I haven’t seen any “votes” over gold jewelry, hairstyles, or costly attire yet.)

In theology, it’s very important to study why things were said. We know Timothy was in Ephesus. We know there were some disruptive people in that church who were teaching “different doctrine, myths, and endless genealogies” which promoted “speculations.” The problem with building a theological doctrine from this passage is that it is specific advice for a specific problem in a specific church. The church in Ephesus reached out to minister to the women in that city, many of whom had been rescued from the Temple of Artemis and local brothels. It seems likely that if these women who had come from prostitution were speaking out, they needed to be silenced. Hair and gold jewelry indicated wealth and prestige in Ephesian culture. Did Paul speak to a specific problem or author a theology for every church?

You can study, pray, and then choose what to believe about this 

Paul also praised Priscilla and Aquila, who led in the church in Rome. Priscilla’s name is listed first in Romans 16, which usually meant she was the most highly regarded of the two. In fact, Romans 16 lists several women who were key influencers. But Paul doesn’t say they “preached.”

Conversely, Acts 21:8–9 says, “On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.” Philip’s daughters “preached” to others. There is no other interpretation for “prophesied.” But, maybe they only “preached” to other women? That’s possible, but the Bible doesn’t say that.

The Bible lists many women whom God used to accomplish his kingdom purpose. There is also the passage that contains Paul’s advice to Timothy. What then should we believe about a woman’s ability or permission to preach?

My belief about women in ministry

I have delivered a biblical message to churches on a Sunday. I often teach a Bible lesson to both men and women. I work hard to learn the passage and then pray for the Spirit to deliver the message through me. I will bring God’s word to people when I am called to do that.

My confidence isn’t in anything other than the power of the Holy Spirit. It is his word, and I am just the voice being used to teach it. I believe I received the same Holy Spirit that God gave to men, and I believe that I am called to serve as the Spirit leads. 

I also believe that I am not called to obey a convention vote. I won’t stand before the Father one day and answer to a room of people who defined my role as a teacher of God’s word. I’m accountable to obey God’s Holy Spirit. I do believe the Bible is our perfect truth. I do believe the Bible reveals that both men and women were used by God to share the gospel. All of us were called and gifted by the Spirit of Christ to be his disciples. My theologian husband wrote a great paper on women in ministry, if you want further study.

Al Mohler was speaking at the SBC Convention about the women in ministry vote when he said the issue marked “a great line that divides liberal and biblical evangelicalism.” I believe a line was painted on the ground during the convention. I would just ask all of us to consider this: Who, or what, exactly, do you believe was holding that paintbrush?

Let’s study, pray, and then present our lives and our ministries to God. We need to live as workers whom he can approve of because we rightly handled his word. We will all stand before God one day to answer for that. Personally, I think that is the line Scripture has painted for each of us.

There are those who will say a person is not allowed to preach God’s word. Only God can tell us that we are not able. We are all called to be his disciples. Serve the Lord with all your heart, as the Holy Spirit directs you. You are serving the Lord, not man (Colossians 3:23–24).

Photo by Emotionary App on Unsplash

The whole world in a Father’s hands

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” —Colossians 3:23–24

This Sunday is Father’s Day, a day to celebrate what it means to be a great father and know we have a perfect Father in heaven. As children we sang, He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands and learned to trust that God is in control of this world. As we grew older, we came to realize and accept that our perfect Father also honors the free will of mankind. God will always work to redeem the wrong choices of mankind, but the consequences of those earthly choices usually remain.

I’ve thought a lot about this subject this past week. As I write these words, I am thinking about a family whose son will spend most of his remaining life in jail. I’m also thinking about the family whose son will never come home again. Both boys were barely old enough to qualify as “adults” when they made choices they cannot take back. Justice was done, but the justice still feels like a tragedy. Many lives were damaged by a few moments of uncontrolled rage.

How does an innocent baby grow up to become a young man who is labeled guilty for the rest of his life? As I watched the news unfold, I thought, “Did this young man have a father in his life?” “Will this young man ever have the chance to know he has a Father in heaven?”

This article goes to thousands of people each week. I know that some are incredibly grateful for their earthly fathers, while others are not. Most of you are Christians and have the hope and joy of knowing your Holy Father in heaven. As I think about the song I sang as a child, I think about our country’s great need to honor God and place the whole world in his hands.

Only God is a perfect Father. Only God can perfectly guide the earthly fathers in the world right now, and he wants to do that. Which father comes to your mind as someone you need to stop and pray for right now? 

Thank God for those who are working hard to parent well

Cooper Alan has a song that will make you smile. He wrote Whole World in his Hands after the birth of his daughter. The video is a peek into the love he feels for his baby girl. His lyrics are a reminder of what it truly means to be a father in this world of confused priorities. No man will ever get it exactly right, but the best dads are those who choose to work hard at the role of “dad.”

There is a life lesson from Colossians for every person and every parent. Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23–24). The apostle Paul would tell every dad today to work hard to parent their children, as if they were serving the Lord’s purpose for their lives. He would also tell them that teaching their children to know the Lord as their Father will be the greatest accomplishment in their role as a dad.

Whenever I speak to groups of parents, I remind them that they can do their very best, but their children were created with a will of their own. No amount of parenting can remove a child’s God-given free will. That fact doesn’t change their role as parents. We don’t ever stop praying, and we don’t ever stop parenting. We continue to parent in different ways, once our children are no longer kids.

I loved the Cooper Alan video because of the joy and love his face revealed as he looked at his baby girl. On this Father’s Day, every parent can take a moment to remember the awe we felt when the doctor or nurse handed our child to us and said, “Here you go, Dad or Mom.” 

We also need to remember that parenting is something we work at with all of our hearts, as our service to the Lord. We are called to serve our families as if we are serving the Lord, because we are serving Jesus.

Pray and serve those who don’t have a dad

According to AI, “25 percent (about 1 in 4) of U.S. children under the age of 18 live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home. This rate has roughly tripled since 1960, giving the United States one of the highest rates of father-absent households globally.”

Every Christian in America needs to let that number sink in. My readers were probably kids in the 1960’s. The vast majority of us had a dad in our home. I’m grateful every day that I had a dad who loved me, disciplined me, and taught me to be a hard-working parent. But the number of kids who don’t have a dad like that has tripled since I was in elementary school.

As Christians, we can’t ignore the facts, and we shouldn’t ignore the need. Children need parents who will invest in their character, their futures, and their faith. Children today need that more than ever. AI also says, “While exact numbers fluctuate, various advocacy groups and studies estimate that between 70 to 85 percent of incarcerated youths and adults grew up in father-absent homes.” The stats say it all.

The good news of the gospel message

Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again. We are used to that phrase and often substitute “saved” for the words “born again.” Saved isn’t a wrong definition, but it might be an incomplete definition.

If you grew up in church and naturally came to a salvation experience, then you probably remember a day when you chose Jesus as your Lord. Later, you were baptized to affirm and witness to that choice. But when you woke up the next morning, your life probably didn’t seem much different than the day before. That wasn’t true for those early Christians in the first century. Their faith in Christ changed almost everything. It was a new beginning to their lives, their families, and their faith.

Our lives were dramatically changed by our salvation experience, whether we were aware of it or not. That is the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke of in Acts 1:8. 

Who do you know that needs to become a member of our eternal, heavenly family? Some are sitting in prison. Many are sitting in our schools. Many go to work every day, wondering whether work will really make them happy. 

There are a lot of people who need a family, a complete family to embrace them. The good news of the gospel message is that through Christ, everyone can be “born again.” Who will you share that good news with for Father’s Day? Everyone can have a perfect Father if God’s children make the introductions. I pray that the young man who is spending his first Father’s Day in prison will be given that opportunity. 

God’s “got the whole world in his hands,” but he will also honor our free wills. We need to place our lives in his hands and submit to him as our Lord today. Imagine what would happen if we made that important choice each day! The world can be a better place if God’s children will work at it, with all of our hearts, knowing it truly is the Lord Jesus we are serving.

Photo by Jennifer Kalenberg on Unsplash

Kids, grandkids, and family

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” —Ephesians 2:19–21

Beyond Words is a book of devotionals by Frederick Buechner. My husband forwarded me an entry that was simply titled “Grandchildren.” We happened to be taking care of two of our grandkids that day, so Buechner’s words were especially meaningful. Even if you don’t have children or grandchildren, his thoughts give a powerful perspective for every relationship we invest time in this side of heaven.

The older I get, the more I define the word family as the souls that I will spend my eternity with. I adore my earthly family, and they are truly the most special people I know, but my heart also knows and loves others in this world as brothers and sisters. 

Frederick Buechner’s website describes him as “an American writer and theologian. The author of thirty-nine published books, he has been and continues to be an important source of inspiration and learning for many readers, writers, preachers, and theologians.” I’ve quoted him quite often over the years because he is simply, profoundly brilliant. I think that is why his words about grandchildren were so meaningful. I wanted to share his thoughts with you. It’s a long quote, and it’s worth every minute it takes you to read and think about his words. He titled this entry: Grandchildren.

TO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN is not only to be given something but to be given something back.

You are given back something of your children’s childhood all those years ago. You are given back something of what it was like to be a young parent. You are given back something of your own childhood even, as on creaking knees you get down on the floor to play tiddlywinks, or sing about Old MacDonald and his farm, or watch Saturday morning cartoons till you’re cross-eyed.

It is not only your own genes that are part of your grandchildren but the genes of all sorts of people they never knew but who, through them, will play some part in times and places they never dreamed of. And of course along with your genes, they will also carry their memories of you into those times and places too—the afternoon you lay in the hammock with them watching the breezes blow, the face you made when one of them stuck out a tongue dyed Popsicle blue at you, the time you got a splinter out for one of them with the tweezers of your Swiss army knife. On some distant day they will hold grandchildren of their own with the same hands you once held them by as you searched the beach at low tide for Spanish gold. 

In the meantime, they are the freshest and fairest you have. After you’re gone, it is mainly because of them that the earth will not be as if you never walked on it.

Our genetic family and our spiritual family

I loved Buechner’s concept of the unique genetic combination God has used to wire us into a certain family. If you are like me, your family history is a wide-ranging, eclectic group of traits, abilities, and characteristics. A doctor once told us that we should do everything we can to be strong and healthy, but, in the end, it is mostly about three things: genetics, genetics, and genetics.

According to our Bibles, each of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). The rest of that verse says, “Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Our lives are the product of generations of genetics combined to make each of us the unique individuals we are today.

We can thank, or not thank, a grandparent for our noses. We can be grateful or not so grateful for our hair color, our height, or our tendency to tan or burn in the sun. We are born with behavioral tendencies, too. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and all of us were made to know God as our Father, if we will just listen to the deep thoughts of our souls.

Our genetic family is actually a good example for our spiritual family as well. We have a family tree that can be traced, but we also have a spiritual genealogy. Both genealogies will be filled with a variety of people from diverse circumstances. 

And God has carefully designed and planned both.

How did your life change earth?

I loved Buechner’s closing words: “After you’re gone, it is mainly because of them that the earth will not be as if you never walked on it.”

Who is your “them”? Who are the family members and the people that God brought into your life that will each change the world just a bit? Maybe you have invested in people who changed the world a LOT! I smile as I think about the two men who ran the bus ministry at College Park Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. The church is very different now than it was in the seventies, but my husband’s life was changed forever because the church bus picked him up at his apartment complex, and he and his brother rode it to church.

These two men just knew how to keep an old school bus up and running. They found their ministry, and they helped Jim find his. That same church helped me find Jim. We will soon celebrate our forty-sixth wedding anniversary. We have two sons who married two wonderful women. Our sons and their wives brought us a granddaughter and three grandsons. If the Lord tarries, we might someday hold the hands of their children. Some of the genetics of our great-grandparents will be seen in those children as well. Hopefully, some of our spiritual genetics will be passed on as well. A lot of amazing Christians have invested in our lives over the years.

All of our lives will impact the world in ways we will never see, especially through the people we call family. Those two men who drove the bus that day are an important part of our family forever. The people who have prayed for, loved, and encouraged us have a much greater influence in our lives than we probably know.

Whose lives are different today because you held their hands at some point? I want to spend as much time as possible with those people now so that I can spend all of eternity with them later. May Frederick Buechner’s wisdom cause all of us to view the people in our lives with God’s perspective. When Jesus instructed us to go and make disciples, he gave us our most important task on earth. 

Whose life will you touch today?

Photo by Howard Walsh on Unsplash

Embracing life in sensible shoes

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” —2 Timothy 4:2

There comes a time in life when style can’t compete with comfort. I’m 67 years old, and according to AI, I’ve likely taken 183,534,375 steps in my lifetime. It is time I reward my feet for carrying me through life by providing them with arch support and a firm connection to the ground beneath me. I still enjoy looking at ads for pretty shoes, but when it’s time to buy a new pair, I check the box marked “comfort shoes.” This season of sensible shoes is also the season of enjoying the common-sense wisdom that 67 years has provided.

I am older, but I have never known this level of peace, quiet, and joy in my life. I want to embrace this season of life and enjoy my sensible shoes.

Celebrating 46 years of marriage this week

Jim and I were married two weeks after we graduated from college. We had a three-day honeymoon in San Antonio, came home, packed our meager possessions in a small U-Haul, and drove to our duplex in Arlington, TX. The next seven years were spent living close to the seminary so Jim could get his PhD and I could get my PhT…(Putting husband THROUGH!). During that time, we pastored one church, had our two boys, and then moved to Midland, Texas, to pastor there. 

We have lived a BUSY, full life for these forty-six years, and now we are enjoying our less busy, peaceful season of life in Tyler, Texas. People sometimes ask us when we plan to retire, and our only answer is, “When Jesus tells us to!” We love our life, our ministry, and we still love each other. Life together as husband and wife continues to be my greatest blessing on earth. 

Happy Anniversary, Jim! As the song lyric says, “You’re Still the One.”

Adapting to the changes

In each church we pastored, I’ve been blessed to know, appreciate, and grow to love people who were older and wiser. We were able to attend church functions that were designed for our “senior adults.” In every church I noticed and can still name the senior adults who made me think, “I want to be them when I get older.” 

I still remember the Sunday morning that Jim and I looked at the announcements and then at each other because we realized the announcement was for US! It’s strange to realize we are safely in the final quarter of our lives, our marriage, and our journey to heaven. It isn’t sad or scary because we both know where we are going. Heaven is mostly an unknown, but we know it is going to be eternal joy, peace, safety, happiness, and reward. I can’t wait to give Jesus my praise and gratitude face-to-face. 

I love the song I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. When I consider the chorus of that song, I realize that I will likely dance with joy the day I get to see my Lord and Savior face-to-face. Until then, I pray that Jim and I can adapt to each change life brings with the same joy we will feel when we see Jesus that day. I hope we DANCE our way to the gates of heaven, together! I hope my mansion in glory has a wide array of beautiful shoes in the closet, none of which bother my feet at all. Who knows, maybe we will walk those streets of gold in bare feet, never needing shoes again.

We will need to adapt to the changes this earthly life brings until our earthly lives are done. But I bet if you read my article each week, you will dance your way into heaven too. Life with Jesus is the only way to live this season of sensible shoes.

Words from a saint who grew old

The New Testament doesn’t have many quotes from the elderly. John was the only apostle we think died a natural death. I love the book of Revelation for many reasons. It’s the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing to those who will read it. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

That verse has troubled Christians who focus on the phrase, “for the time is near.” It’s been more than two thousand years since John wrote down those words Jesus spoke to him. It is Scripture, therefore it has to be pure, complete truth! I read that passage differently now that I am older. We know that with God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. (2 Peter 3:8) 

There is a phrase that most senior adults have said about their lifetimes, with a sense of wonder in their voice. Almost all have said, “Wow…how did we get here so fast!” Jesus told an elderly John, “The time is near.” John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos, not knowing what the next day would bring. When Jesus told him the time was near, those were words of encouragement intended to bring his beloved apostle joy.

There is another reason why the verse above is one of my favorites. Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words,” and “blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it.” How long has it been since you sat and read aloud the words of Revelation? We need to read those words, especially as we age, and share them aloud with others. Don’t worry about the passages you don’t understand. Do focus on and share the verses that you DO understand. Those words were encouragement to the apostle John, who was elderly and living a very difficult season of his life on Patmos. Jesus encouraged his friend, and his words can encourage us! In fact, his words promise to bless those who will read and share them with others.

But we also need to “keep what is written” in the book of Revelation. Revelation is the book designed for the fourth quarter of life. We don’t need to know when Jesus will return for the final time, but we do need to take notice of the people around us who don’t have the hope of heaven that Revelation has promised to Christians. We need to share that hope “out loud” and often with people, and live now with the hope and joy we look forward to. 

Shout joy to those around you

I have a wonderful life, and I’m living it with a wonderful man who is “still the one!” I feel like a blessed person almost every day of my life. It is a joy and a blessing to grow older and hopefully wiser. Senior adults have the opportunity to be the people, the married couple, the mature witnesses for those who are younger. We should look for opportunities to share the hope and truth of the Revelation with others. 

When Jim and I were on our honeymoon in San Antonio, we saw an older couple holding hands while walking on the Riverwalk. Forty-six years ago, I said to Jim, “That’s who I want us to be when we get older.” I’m smiling now and realizing we are likely older than that couple was in 1980!

I often think of June as the beginning of the summer season. How long has it been since you read the Revelation? The NIV study notes are the best help for the parts you don’t understand. The Holy Spirit is your best teacher as you read. Most importantly, this book has promised to bless us for reading its words, sharing its lessons, and obeying them with joy.

Are you hoping to have a blessed summer? Jesus and the apostle John would love to help. This season of sensible shoes has a lot to offer us. If we live it well, we will have a lot to offer the generations that will follow. If you are younger, watch for the joyful Christians who pass you wearing sensible shoes. Wisdom is a powerful goal, and most wisdom comes with age. Christians can live with John’s blessings and joy if we read and obey the wisdom in John’s Revelation from Jesus.

Wishing you a summer of blessing as you wear those comfort sandals and walk with joy!

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Love the Author, and you will love his Word

“We love because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

I ran across a quote this week that I wanted to share with all of you. Dr. William Mounce is a well-known theologian who was chosen to serve on the teams for both the NIV and ESV translations of the Bible. Bill Mounce is brilliant in the Greek language and has taught at some of the finest seminaries. His website, BiblicalTraining.org, is an important biblical site. His dad was also a brilliant theologian, and his grandparents were ministers too. God has used his family to teach the Bible as truth for a very long time.

Dr. Mounce was interviewed by Jonathan Peterson at BibleGateway.com, who asked the theologian, “Why do you love the Bible?” His response made me smile, then think. Dr. Mounce answered, “I love the Bible because I love its Author.”

I’ve taught the Bible for many years, but have I taught people what the Bible says and taught them to love the Author? That was food for thought, and I imagine I will think about that often in the days to come.

It’s natural to care about what our loved ones think and say. Maybe the best way to teach people to trust God’s word is to help them learn to love the Author.

Do you love Jesus as God?

My favorite definition of Jesus is that he is God with skin on. I cannot accurately explain or teach the Trinity. There are thousands of volumes of theology on the subject. If there were a perfect explanation of the Trinity, then we would all have memorized it. In fact, the Trinity is one of the reasons the Muslim faith considers Christianity a false religion. We teach that God became a man. To them, that is heresy. 

We shouldn’t be frustrated that we can’t explain the Trinity. If we could define God in human terms, we would have reduced him to less than the supernatural Creator that he is. I wonder if one of the main reasons God became man was to help us truly learn to love him. It’s hard to love what cannot be known or experienced in this world. God so loved everyone that he became Jesus so that it would be easier for the human mind to comprehend and experience his love. If we know Jesus as our Savior, we have only begun to know our eternal God. Human beings cannot fully know God this side of heaven. That’s why Paul wrote, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Jesus taught us how to love God

Our hearts and our souls learn to love God through faith. Love occurs when we place our faith in a person and trust them. We love people even though we know they are imperfect and will, at some point, let us down. How much more should we love God! We can trust him, and all that he allows in our lives, because we know our God is incapable of imperfection. Our faith in God’s perfection is the basis for our trust in his word. 

The Bible is the inspired word of God. When Jesus spoke, he was speaking God’s word, God’s thoughts, to those around him. When others like the apostles and the prophets wrote the books in our Bible, their words were inspired. We often study the people behind the words when what matters most is that their words were given by God’s Holy Spirit to teach us. The words are not their own thoughts; they are God’s. We call the Bible “God’s Word” for a reason.

Jesus taught that the most important commandment was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Then Jesus said, “This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:38–40).

Jesus taught you to love the Lord your God “with all your mind.” Dr. Mounce said, “I love the Bible because I love its Author.” Do we echo those words in our own hearts and lives? 

The next time you pick up your Bible, take a moment to love the One who wrote it to you. Our first and most important “commandment” is to love our God. It is that love that enables us to love others as we should.

Our legacy of faith and love

I’ve often hoped that when people remember me at my funeral someday, they will say, “She taught me to love the Bible.” Now I have another hope. I also want them to say, “She taught me to love God more deeply.”

I want to close this blog post with Dr. William Mounce’s words. Dr. Mounce’s father lived to be ninety-seven and was a brilliant theologian, like his son. Bill Mounce wrote a blog post after his father died that is simply profound. I hope you will take a minute to read the entire message. Dr. Mounce closed his post saying, “As my grandma used to quote, ‘Only one life will soon be past, and only what’s done for Jesus will last.’ If my legacy is a family and group of friends who love Jesus more because I was in their life, then that is enough.”

I doubt many of us will achieve Dr. Mounce’s level of theological expertise and cultural impact. Each of us will create a unique legacy for others. We all have an individual calling and gifting, and we are accountable only to God for our obedience to what he assigns us. As Mounce wrote, if our legacy is a group of people who love Jesus more because of us, that is enough. We need to love the Author, and we need to love his Word. That is our daily witness to others.

Who will know and love God more because they knew you? If that is the purpose of this day and each day that follows, we will have spent our lives well.

Photo by Pham Duc Tri on Unsplash

Your supernatural normal

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” —Ephesians 2:10

When is the last time a stranger asked, “Are you a Christian?” How often does someone say, “I could tell you were a believer before we even spoke”? 

I’ve always enjoyed observing others. Discernment is one of my spiritual gifts, and I often notice someone and think, “I’ll bet he or she is a Christian.” There are a lot of people who can speak like a Christian when asked or interviewed, but I’m always more interested in hearing from those who exhibit the character of Christ in random, unplanned situations. Those moments often reveal the power of Christ’s Spirit at work.

A supernatural normal

I’ve always been an average, normal person. I am average height, average IQ, and average in my lifestyle choices. I’ve often said I am a “one-person marketing opportunity.” If I really like something, chances are most others will, too. I was watching Shark Tank the night when Lori Grenier bought the Scrub Daddy sponge and said, “That thing is going to sell!” According to a recent Fortune article, the little sponge company is now a $220 million empire. 

The Scrub Daddy began as a sponge with one shape, one color, and one purpose. Now, there is a wide variety of products that share a similar purpose. Scrub Daddy sponges exist to make things cleaner. 

You could say that about the wide variety of God’s children as well. 

Christians are uniquely unique in this world. We don’t look like any one region of the globe. We have different customs, foods, languages, gifts, and abilities. There really isn’t such a thing as an “average Christian.” How could there be? Each of us has been filled with a holy Spirit, who is the presence of the supernatural God in our lives. And each of us exists to use our witness to make our world “a little cleaner.”

Each Christian life has been gifted and filled with a supernatural normal to fulfill a divine calling.

Created to be uniquely unique

If someone were to ask me what a “normal Christian” looks like, I would have no real answer. We truly are created to be uniquely unique. What do “most Christians” look like? How do most Christians worship? How do most Christians dress, live, work, or enjoy their lives? What is a normal day in the life of a Christian? Where do Christians live?

According to a Wikipedia article, “Christians made up 2.3 billion of the worldwide population of about 8 billion people in 2020 according to a 2025 Pew Research Center study. This represents 28.8% of the world’s population. Christianity is the largest religion in the world.” If you have time, glance at the article and notice how many countries are listed as having Christians in their population. What will the citizens of heaven look like? The only answer is “the whole world.”

The only true similarity amongst Christians is the Holy Spirit within. Christians are uniquely unique in that we are the children of the Creator God, whom we call our Father. Most moms I know have said something like: “I raised my kids in the same house, taught them the same lessons, yet each of my kids is very different in their own ways.” God would say that about his adopted children as well. 

We aren’t supposed to be “cookie-cutter Christians.” Human beings are created in the image of God, and what does God look like? Sound like? Act like? No wonder we are “uniquely unique!”

The potential of our supernatural normal

I enjoy picking out Christians in a crowded airport. These people come from every country and speak every language. How then can I pick them out in the crowd? 

  • The fruit of the Spirit – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23). None of us gets this completely right, 100 percent of the time. But it’s surprising how often we overflow with God’s fruit just because we spent time with him that day.
  • The ability to endure hardships with peaceful, unshakeable faith and joy. “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4). Why does God allow his children to suffer the same difficulties as everyone else? Because it is likely our suffering will provide our greatest rewards in heaven. Our sufferings often give us our greatest opportunities to share God with others as well.
  • “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). A Spirit-led Christian thinks differently about so many things in this world. Our Christian perspective is often a powerful witness to others. When we think like God, we are likely to act like God’s child.

The potential of our supernatural normal can change our lives and the lives of those around us. There is a reason that Christianity exists in almost every country in our world. Jesus told his disciples, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). How close are we to the fulfillment of Jesus’ words?

Live as a unique, supernatural, normal child of God

Jesus promised his return someday. The internet has enabled God’s word to travel throughout the world, and people are now coming to know God in great numbers. AI is also an interesting addition to the spread of God’s word throughout the world. 

Who do you know that still needs to know Jesus?

How often does someone say, “I could tell you were a believer before we even spoke?” If you don’t hear that very often, ask God to help you turn up the volume of your witness. In the end, living your normal life with your unique, supernatural witness will be what adds the most value to your eternal life. 

Who will see you today and think, “I’ll bet he or she is a Christian”? You will rarely know when that happens this side of heaven. Once we are in heaven, though, we will get to meet those we helped to know Jesus.

I hope you will enjoy a supernatural, normal day today!

Photo by NATHAN MULLET on Unsplash

What did American Idol teach God’s children?

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatthey may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 5:14–16

The Lord gave his children a powerful message through American Idol this year. My husband and I tape the show so that we can watch it each week. (To be honest, we often fast-forward the parts we don’t want to see.) This year’s finale was remarkable, and I had to write about it. Jim also wrote about it this morning as well. You can read that article here.

All three finalists this year were talented singers, but, more importantly, they were evangelical Christians. What does that say about America and our values? Is evangelical faith making a comeback? What lessons should all of us be reminded of for our own lives? Are Christians being called to publicly stand for Jesus with fearless faith, unconcerned with consequences?

Keyla, Jordan, and Hannah

American Idol actually had an episode this year titled Songs of Faith. Not all the songs sung that night were Christian songs, but the three finalists all sang for the Lord and, notably, sang to the Lord.

Keyla sang Jirah. Jordan sang I Can Only Imagine. Hannah sang At the Cross (Love Ran Red). 

My point today is not to lift up these three talented people, though each of them was fully deserving of the trophy at the end. Each of these people lived for the bigger trophy they had already been promised through Christ. 

Keyla and Hannah have sons who sang the words of these songs with their moms. Jesus wasn’t just lifted up in their homes for an episode of faith music. Jesus was obviously part of their homes and their daily lives. All three contestants sang to the audience, but it was obvious throughout the competition that they were also singing for a higher purpose.

In the finale, each of these contestants sang their faith as their song of choice. Keyla sang I Love the Lord. Jordan sang, Goodness of God. Hannah sang an original song she wrote titled Married Into the Town. Her song was about living a life rich in faith and love, without much material wealth. She wrote the song and sang the song with heartfelt joy. All three of these people could have won. I believe Jordan had the greatest vocal talent. Performance-wise, Keyla had the greatest talent. Heart-wise, people were drawn to Hannah’s story, and she was the winner of the season finale. 

From my perspective, all of them lifted up their Lord, and all of them will receive their greatest blessings in heaven.

What should American Idol teach all of us?

There have been 24 seasons of American Idol, and I have often quit watching mid-season. Some of the finalists were not appealing to me. This year, I didn’t miss an episode because I was fascinated by what I saw on stage and in the culture because of the show.

As I’ve said before, God has given me discernment, and I often watched the show for what was happening in the background rather than the performances. When these three contestants worked with the various artists the show brought on as coaches, I saw these three minister to these famous musicians as they sang. Several times, one of them would say, “You took me to church!” 

I was also drawn to the face of Luke Bryan, one of the Idol judges. I found myself praying for him several times this year. Carrie Underwood has a deep faith in the Lord, and she often sang along with the songs that were sung. I would catch Luke Bryan watching her. He didn’t know the words of the faith songs, and from his face, I don’t think he truly knows Jesus. Luke’s face said something like, “I really like what I see, but I don’t really get it.” 

That is the lesson we need to learn from American Idol this year. 

Our most important witness doesn’t have words

Jesus told his disciples, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). Jesus was talking about his death on the cross; the crucial sacrifice God accepted and gave for the sins of all mankind. Jesus gave everything to bring people into a saved, restored relationship with God. 

Jesus still draws people to God today, when Christians lift him up as our Lord and Savior. Those who watched American Idol this year saw these three young people display the power of Christ in their lives. Those who saw their family members and friends in the audience saw the love of Jesus between them. Those who studied the faces of the others on the show who didn’t get it often saw the faces of people who wanted to know Jesus the way these three did.

A final lesson: Those who voted for these three showed America that there are a LOT of people in this country who wanted God’s children to win. We don’t have as public a witness as these three young people on a popular show, but we can have their courage. We can have a public witness as well. These three probably all wanted to win, but none compromised their faith to do so. Their most important witness wasn’t found in their words so much as in their quiet convictions.

What do you sing to the Lord?

When you sing in church this Sunday, will you sing for the Lord and to the Lord?. Does your public worship draw people to want to know Jesus as you do? Do people hear your conversations and wish they knew Jesus as well as you do? Do people see your generosity, your compassion, your patience, and your faith in difficult times, and wish Jesus were at work in their lives like Jesus works in yours?

Our public witness is our song for the Lord when it is our song to the Lord. American Idol drew a crowd of people toward these three young Christians who meant what they sang. We should never underestimate the power of Jesus to draw others to himself if we will just teach them why Jesus chose the cross. People around us need to know how much they are loved by the One who created them.

How will you lift up the cross of Christ today? He told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Let’s run this race, carrying our cross, all the way to the finale. We are all promised a crown when we reach the end.

Photo by Free Walking Tour Salzburg on Unsplash

The music of heaven

“For God alone my soul in silence waits.” Psalm 62:1

Today I am writing this article from a comfortable chair on my back patio. This isn’t my normal spot to work, and right now I’m wondering why not!

I live in Texas and know that May is when temperatures start to climb. Soon, I will need the cool air from the A/C to maintain my concentration. But this morning, the temperature is perfect, the breezes are so pleasant, and the only sounds I hear besides my typing are the many birds who are enjoying this moment as much as I am.

God did not tell us very much about heaven, but I’ve often wondered what eternity will sound like when I arrive. Will I hear familiar voices? Will the angel’s praises fill the air? Will heaven have the joyful sounds of these birds calling to one another? What will heaven sound like? 

According to C.S. Lewis, “In heaven, all that is not music is silence.” That is a quote from Screwtape Letters, his famous novel about the work of Satan in our world. What did C.S. Lewis mean? I enjoyed studying that answer!

What is the “music” of heaven?

Freelance journalist and author Erin Rebar wrote a wonderful article about Screwtape Letters. She explained the C.S. Lewis quote, “In heaven, all that is not music is silence,” in this way:

I love this quote because it feels so applicable to our modern world. The quote comes from a section in the novel where Screwtape is explaining to his nephew the importance of filling the world with Noise. Certainly, noise is everywhere these days, found in the honking of horns, the squealing of tires, the buzz of meaningless conversation, the endless binging of Netflix shows and the hours spent on Facebook. Noise doesn’t have to be merely auditory: in this context noise is whatever distracts us from the most important things in life and draws us away from God.

I had never considered the idea that in heaven, there will be nothing that can distract us from God. According to Rebar, there is no noise in heaven.

Stop and listen to your surroundings for a moment. What might be distracting your ears or your thoughts right now? Are you reading these words in a crowded room filled with voices? Are you reading in the quiet right now? Are you thinking about the rest of the day or reading with the TV on in the background?

Our world is a noisy place, just as Erin Rebar said. A lot of our noise isn’t perceived through our ears as much as it is heard in our thoughts. The sounds in heaven will be very different than the noises of earth.

The silence of heaven

We live in a day of 24/7 programming on our televisions, satellite radio in our cars, and endless podcasts to listen to, many of which can add value to our lives, but often don’t. The decision to be silent is the choice to step away from the noise in order to be alone with God’s thoughts.

Proverbs 17:27–28 (NIV) says, “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent and, discerning if they hold their tongues.” Our culture would greatly improve if we took this wisdom to heart. We have come to value the quantity of new ideas and their popularity rather than their quality.

Will Rogers said, “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” Lewis Carroll, in his famous novel Alice in Wonderland, wrote, “‘Really, now you ask me,’ said Alice, very much confused, ‘I don’t think——’ ‘Then you shouldn’t talk,’ said the Hatter.” And Leonardo DaVinci once said, “Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.”

There are many wonderful quotes from intelligent, creative people about the great value of remaining silent. Why then are we tempted to fill our lives with the sounds and noise of this world?

All that is not music is silence

If we want to find more of heaven on earth, maybe we should heed the wisdom of the biblical proverb. We can use our words with restraint, measuring our wisdom by the moments we remain silent. We can choose to “be still and know” who God is. Or, as Will Rogers said, “Never miss the good chance to shut up.”

There is a lot of power in learning to discern the noise of this world from the voice that God has placed within us through his Holy Spirit. Jesus comforted his disciples with the words in John 14:26 saying, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

If Jesus were sitting next to you right now, he might want to ask you, “How often do you consult the Holy Spirit during your day?” He might remind us that “his thoughts are not our thoughts.” He might want to encourage us by reminding us that we have a Helper.

The noise of earth will fade to silence

I don’t think there are very many things in heaven that will remind us of earth. The sounds, the smells, and the comforts of heaven cannot exist in the imperfections and noise of this world. I began typing this article with only the sounds of the birds as I enjoyed the morning quiet. Now, as I finish my thoughts, I can hear the increased traffic on the road outside. I heard the trashmen come, and I need to bring the can up from the street. My phone has interrupted my work three times since I began. That said, the birds are still singing in the trees. I’m still on my patio, enjoying some time to listen and type for God’s purpose.

I agree with Meister Eckhart, who wrote, “The very best and utmost attainment in this life is to remain still and let God act and speak in thee.” The sun is chasing me off my patio right now, but if I’m smart, I will take the blessed silence of this morning with me throughout this day.

How will you keep the noise of this world at bay today? How will you pursue the music and silence of heaven? For now, silence can draw us into the music of God’s voice. One day, we will know all the sounds of heaven as we live undistracted lives in God’s presence.

And all these birds around me are saying, “Amen to that!”