Beauty from the Heart

"Birth of Freedom"

2008-07-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

The Birth of Freedom is ColdWater Media's new production with a fairly self-explanatory title and an intriguing trailer. The preview alone makes me thankful for the freedoms I live with and take for granted every day.

(If ColdWater Media sounds familiar to you, you might've heard of it's Drive Thru History series, a clip of which can be seen below. The ending is especially interesting.)

The Past Few Days...

2008-07-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Friends from The Rebelution host team, The Rebelution forum, and Forthright Fixation.

The Rebelution conference was a blessing. It was lovely meeting up with old and new friends! We were hoping to have more pictures, but our camera batteries died at an inopportune moment. Really, it seems we're cursed in this area. Lucky we're not photographers!

Following my arrival here, Hannah discovered that I had never eaten real Southern chicken and dumplings. She considered this a tragedy, and set out to remedy the problem.

Here is the incredibly delectable biscuit recipe she uses, which also doubles as a recipe for dumplings.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup oil
1/3 buttermilk
1 teaspoon butter (melted)

Combine the dry ingredients. Add oil and buttermilk. Last, but not least, mix in the butter. Roll into doughballs or cut with biscuit cutter and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until the outside of biscuits are crispy.

Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot.

We're also excited to be taking part in an upcoming blog tour for Jim Spiegel's new book, Gum, Geckos and God. (We didn't know what a blog tour was before this either. Basically, we'll be asking Mr. Spiegel a question regarding his book--which discusses the theological conversations he's shared with his children--and he will answer our question here.) Stay tuned!

Well, that's life in Texas right now! I'm staying with Hannah's family until July 30th, so I may start to use words like "ya'll", "fellers", "fixin' to" and "she done done it" in my posts. We're having a wonderful time.

Remembering this Bleeding World

2008-06-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

“Would you please pass the potatoes?”

Your friend complies, staring hungrily as the bowl of creamy potatoes leaves his hands.

From his chair across the table, he watches you eat. First the mashed potatoes. Then the croissant. Then the delicately marinated steak. Finally, he watches, puzzled, as you scrape the green beans around on your plate. Closing your eyes and holding your nose, you manage to stuff a couple of the green beans down.

It’s not that your friend isn’t hungry. He wants to eat. Only, he can’t, because he is without food.

About 24,000 people die of hunger-related problems each day. The problem feels distant, perhaps because of the thousands of miles stretching between our dinner tables and the slums of Haiti or the tsunami swept villages of Myanmar, but the problem is no less for the distance.

Today is the date of the fast, initiated by Compassion International, to bring attention to the global food crisis. The fast is meant to also be an encouragement to those Christians suffering from the food crisis, letting them know that their siblings in America are lifting them up in prayer. Reading about this fast, I am struck by two realizations:

One, as an American Christian, I’m so disconnected from the daily difficulties my brothers and sisters in Christ face across the world. While my parents have always tried to make us kids understand that picky eating is a form of selfishness, I do have the luxury of choosing what I want for lunch from a full kitchen cabinet. I’m inconvenienced if I’m craving tuna salad and can’t find any in the kitchen. Others count themselves blessed to have a bowl of rice. Even beyond food, I don’t understand other very real threats—such as persecution and imprisonment for my faith. Those things are incomprehensible.

Two, I realize how little I do to help. E-mail newsletters arrive in my inbox nearly every day, keeping me up to date on Gospel work in India, needs in Myanmar, and a note from a friend reminds me of world hunger. But what do I do?

Of course, if one of those starving people were sitting at my dinner table, I’d remember to feed them, right? I couldn’t just let them miserably watch me eat, could I? Of course, I’d pass them a plate and pile the mashed potatoes high.

If so, why do I allow a few longitude lines on a map stop me from helping them now? Because unless a starving person is sitting across the table from me, I am prone to forget starvation exists.

Hebrews 13:3 says “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” That verse was written for people like me, saying, “Remember! Don’t forget those people, even if you don’t see them on a daily basis. Remember their problems. Share in their sufferings!”

I’m reminded of what Rich Mullins once wrote: “…[T]he other side of the world is not so far away. The distance just dissolves into the love.” So let us remember. Prayer is meaningful and donations can provide aid, when compassion bridges the distance for us to remember to love.

Feeling Funky?

2008-06-23T08:46:00.001-07:00

My mom likes calling it a "funk." I'm not sure what to call it, except an emotional roller coaster that seems to speed nowhere but down. You know what I mean: Bad Days.

How to escape the funk?

Common sense says proper sleep, exercise, eating right, and getting out in the sun for a while can get those endorphins pumping and brighten your day. But I'm learning that a great deal of my Bad Days can be traced to spiritual issues. Things like doubt, fears, and self-trust can billow up when I'm experiencing the blues.

Here's a list of questions and scriptures I've compiled to help fight the funk:

Am I reminding myself of God's truth?

"My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings....for they are life to those who find them and health to all their body." -Proverbs 4:20-22

Am I regarding sin in my heart?

"If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear." -Psalm 66:18

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." -Psalm 51:17

Am I continuing doing what is right, in spite of my emotions?

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not grow weary." -Galatians 6:9

Am I feeling all alone?

"For such is our God, forever and ever; He will guide us until death." -Psalm 49:14

Am I feeling like the first of God's people to ever be depressed?

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." -1 Corinthians 10:18

Are my emotions based off circumstances or God's enduring faithfulness?

"Rejoice in the Lord always." -Philippians 4:4

"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." - Psalm 62:8

'He Loves Thee Too Little...'

2008-06-19T15:58:00.000-07:00

"This is the mind-set of the psalmist Asaph when he prays these radically God-exalting words: 'You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever' (Ps. 73:24-26).

....That must mean, first, that if every other good thing were lost, Asaph would still rejoice in God. And it must mean, second, that in and through all the other good things on earth and in heaven, Asaph sees God and loves Him. Everything is desired for what it shows of God. Augustine put it like this: 'He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee which He loves not for Thy sake.'"

-John Piper, God is the Gospel

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

2008-06-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't always appreciated the story of Isaac and Rebekah. As a young woman of the 21st century, I'm more likely to know of someone who has thirty-eight tattoos than someone who had an arranged marriage. Yet there's something about the story that is intriguing.

The tale begins with a servant being given the job of picking out a wife for his boss's son, Isaac. Not a low pressure task. While I suspect the servant was a little nerve-wracked by the responsibility on his shoulders, Abraham, his boss, says to trust God. The servant then travels to Mesopotamia, picks the first girl he meets (literally), and returns home with the new bride.

One would think that this sort of marriage tactic was a recipe for ruin. For all this servant-turned-Tevye knew, the bride could be a brat. She could have had a not-so-respectable-reputation. She could be any number of things considered undesirable in the ancient world.

But the bride isn't some selfish, Mesopotamian teenager. Even though the servant didn't know the girl from Adam, she ended up being quite a catch. She was even from a good family; a relative of Abraham.

Her name was Rebekah.

We don't know much of her character, but first impressions speak volumes. Upon meeting the servant, Rebekah willingly gives him the water she just drew from the well. Then, she offers to water his camels. "So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw...." Not only did the girl show hospitality to a complete stranger, but she added extra work to her day in order to serve him.

What does this say of Rebekah? She had character. She was committed to doing the right thing, even if the only person watching was a dusty, thirsty servant. She was a stellar girl. Isaac couldn't have asked for more in a wife.

I'm not sure what the odds are for successful arranged marriages, but this one was so perfectly coordinated, one would almost suspect that God was behind it. And He was.

There are dozens of unexplainable "coincidences" in this story: How did the servant chance to meet a relative of his master in a foreign country? How did it happen that Rebekah was not only of a good family--but demonstrated an amazing servant's heart and a willingness to do anything that needed to be done? And in a broader sense, isn't it amazing that God could match a young man and a young woman who lived hundreds of miles away from each other?

Then, of course there are a myriad of "what-if's" this story brings to mind. What if Rebekah had tripped that morning on the way to the well, and the servant had bumped into another young lady? What if the servant had ridden his camel a little slower and arrived at the well after Rebekah left? What if Rebekah decided she wasn't in the mood to serve others? What if--

One of those little, everyday instances could've changed the Isaac and Rebekah's story drastically.

Robert Frost demonstrated this idea in his famous poem, "The Road Not Taken," when he wrote of finding two pathways in the forest. Both looked inviting, yet he was forced to choose one. Knowing the nature of destiny, and how one single decision can impact the future, he mused:

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

In the love story of Isaac and Rebekah, God didn't leave those details to chance. He made the servant's timing perfect and Rebekah didn't miss a beat.

Paul wrote: "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! ....For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things." (Romans 12:33,36)

This is the same God who calls us to trust Him with our own lives.

This is where the main theme of Isaac and Rebekah's story comes to the surface: Trust God. The story is not a formula to follow for a happily ever after, but it is a real-life example of what God can do and has, in fact, done. It's a testimony to God's graciousness that's as real as any modern day newspaper clipping. It's a story showing that picking our pathways may feel risky, but God ordains our steps; and that makes all the difference.

Back from Birmingham

2008-06-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Birmingham, Alabama is beautiful. Just beautiful. But unfortunately, you'll have to take our word for it, since it seems we've travelled 6,200 miles (combined) without taking any decent photos of the scenery. We did, however, get to meet and visit with new and old friends.

R-L: Lindsey, Me (Hannah) & Amanda (a friend)

We hope to post more soon, once we thoroughly recover from the trip. Until then, we're glad to announce the winner of our book giveaway:

Josiah R. of Teen Fellowship Group will be receiving Living the Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing in the mail from Monergism.com. Again, if you haven't yet read Living the Cross Centered Life, we encourage you to get your hands on a copy.

Keep your eyes open for more giveaways in the near future!

Book Giveaway

2008-06-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

For this next entire week, Lindsey and I will be in Alabama for a speech tournament. We're excited. Not only will we be seeing each other again, but speech tournaments tend to give us lots of opportunities to talk, which is the other thing (besides writing) that we just love to do. (What can we say? We're girls.)

But let's get to the punch line. I'm sure you're wondering about the title of this post, and if I were you, I'd have already skipped through all the above fluff to reach this paragraph. A book giveaway? What's that about?

At the end of this coming week, Lindsey and I will be giving away a copy of one of the books that has been pivotal in our lives. Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney has been read over and over, with quotes underlined, highlighted and pages dog-eared. Don't worry. The contest winner won't be receiving our well-worn editions.

The winner of this contest will be receiving a brand new copy. Free.

So how do you enter? Simply email us (contact.bfth[Remove_SPAM]@gmail.com) your name and the email address at which we can reach you. Then you'll be entered into a drawing, which will decide the book giveaway winner.

Note: Contest only open to U.S. residents. Contestants are welcome to enter once per day. The contest winner will be requested via email to send us their shipping address. If contest winner does not comply, contest winner does not receive foresaid prize. 'Tis the nature of the postal system.

Presumptuous Prayers?

2008-06-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Practice of Godliness, by Jerry Bridges, is by far the most
deeply provoking and convicting book that I've read in a long time. In this short passage on fearing God, Bridges provides some solid food for thought about prayer.

"One of the more serious sins of Christians today may well be the almost flippant familiarity with which we often address God in prayer. None of the godly men of the Bible ever adopted this casual manner we often do. They always addressed God with reverence. The same writer who tells us that we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place, the throne room of God, also tells us that we should worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, "for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 10:19 and 12:28-29).

There is a healthy tension in the godly person's heart between the reverential awe of God in his glory and the childlike confidence in God as heavenly Father. Without this tension, a Christian's filial confidence can easily degenerate into presumption.

In our day we must begin to recover a sense of awe and profound reverence for God. We must begin to view him once again in the infinite majesty that alone belongs to him who is the Creator and Supreme Ruler of the entire universe. There is an infinite gap in worth and dignity between God the Creator and man the creature, even though man has been created in the image of God. The fear of God is a heartfelt recognition of this gap-- not a put-down of man, but an exaltation of God."

(The Practice of Godliness, Jerry Bridges, page 27)

What is Laminin?

2008-05-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

While I don't think Laminin's existence should necessarily be used as "proof of Christianity," I think it's worth sharing as a reminder of the infinite care God takes to make His glory known.

The Emperor of San Francisco and Other Great Delusions

2008-05-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

“At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of S. F., Cal., declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these U. S…”

With that notice printed in various local newspapers, in September of 1859, Joshua Norton declared himself “Emperor of the U.S.” and later, “Protector of Mexico.” Parading around town with a saber and plumed hat, “Emperor Norton” became the darling of San Francisco city, which played along with his farce. (Even the U.S. Census listed Norton’s official occupation as “Emperor.”) Upper class restaurants granted him free meals. Businesses honored his fake currency. Police officers saluted him as he passed. Mark Twain wrote an epitaph for the Emperor Norton's....dog.

All this for a man who was probably very insane.

Reading through the story of Emperor Norton, it causes me to wonder how much we delude ourselves that we are “alright,” when in fact, we’re not. How many of us parade through life like Emperor Norton, pretending that we're without problems and sweeping reality under the carpet? How many of us have friends who we encourage to live in delusion by ignoring the existence of their problems?

For instance, I have wondered about the nature of eating disorders. The media has been ablaze for years, blasting the fashion industry for using anorexic models. But I don’t think that runway models in New York City are the sole explanation for a girl in Kansas City who purges in order to remain thin.

I also read in a magazine that some research is underway for a brain implant that will eradicate depression—which is also tied in with eating disorders. Again, I think there is a deeper solution needed here than a brain chip, because the problem itself goes deeper than hormones and psychology. While doctors parade with pills to cure depression, they're ignoring the root issue behind eating disorders.

__________

Eating Disorder Facts:

Over seven million Americans suffer from anorexia, a disorder where sufferers become emaciated, but refuse to eat for fear of gaining weight.
There is a 6% death rate for anorexics. Half of those deaths are due to suicide.
Bulimia is a disorder where sufferers vacillate between eating too much and then purging.
Binge Eating is when a person eats almost uncontrollably.
Eating Disorder not Otherwise Specified is a type of eating disorder that is fairly self explanatory. Those who fanatically diet, fast, and purge but are not technically at an unhealthy weight may fall into this category.

__________

It is commonly assumed that eating disorders are mental problems. But could it be that this is an oversimplification of a complex issue? Could it be that eating disorders are not just hormone related, but related to the spiritual condition of the individual as well? Could it be that eating disorders are…sin?

No, don’t write a scathing comment yet. Please, hear me out.

When a girl stops eating altogether, neglecting her body so that she can find the approval of others, she isn’t placing obedience to God as her first priority. She’s not thinking, “I’m going to starve myself until I lose weight because I love God and want to honor Him first in my actions.” An anorexic who damages her body through self-inflicted starvation isn’t fasting for spiritual reasons. It’s a fast for the sake of reaching a self-set goal. For body image purposes. For selfish purposes. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Interestingly enough, the same goes for someone who is a binge eater, or a glutton. When approaching the kitchen cupboard for a food raid, her first thought isn’t “I’m eating this food because I’m hungry and food was given by God to provide nutrients for my body.” No. The idea here is to induce momentary pleasure by overeating and endangering the body’s long-term health with too much food. (Numbers 11:31-33, Proverbs 23:1-3)

These are both tragic conditions to be in. As someone who has struggled with both under-eating and over-eating, I’m not saying this lightly.

But I believe it would be a disservice to perpetuate the idea that eating disorders are solely a matter of the brain. I could not look an anorexic girl in the eye and only say, “Take some antidepressants." Maybe she should—I don’t know. But first, let me give her a hug and say, “God made you, loves you, and hates what you’re doing.” Don’t let that truth be swept under the carpet.

Because in a flurry of psychiatric advice and dietary regulations, I don’t want this truth to be lost: there is a Healer who opened blind eyes and raised one little girl from the dead, and the realm of eating disorders is not beyond His jurisdiction. He's a God who still heals souls darkened by despair and self-focus. He is a God who is there.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

If you are struggling with an eating disorder—whether binge eating, anorexia, purging, excessive dieting, you name it—please, please let your parents and/or a godly mentor know. Also, if we can be praying for you in this area, please email us.

2008-05-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

A friend emailed us this article from Christianity Today. Whether or not you agree that modesty is important, it's a good read and a good reminder.
Also, please remember to keep the Chapman family in your prayers. Agent Tim has written on their family tragedy here.

Good Gracious!

2008-05-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

“I hope I’ll make it to heaven. I really do. But… I need to keep living a good life,” a relative told me. His eyes were misty. “I just hope it's good enough.”

“But it's impossible to earn God’s favor. That’s why we need the Cross so desperately! Ephesians 2:7-8 says that we’re saved by grace, through faith—not from ourselves, because it’s a gift of God, and not by works, so that we have no ground for boasting. Our acceptance with God isn’t dependant upon our good deeds. If it were, we would have no hope, because we’re all guilty!”

The words ran off my tongue easily. When it comes to talking about sin, forgiveness, and grace, the ground is natural and familiar.

And yet, it’s strangely ironic. When I articulated the gospel to my relative, he wasn’t the only one within earshot who needed to hear it. There was one other person in the immediate vicinity who needed to hear the same message. Me.

I’m a Christian. I’m a staunch proponent of “saved by grace, through faith, not by works”. I don’t doubt the authenticity of my salvation. And yet, my need for the gospel is still genuinely desperate on a daily basis—not because I'm afraid of losing my salvation, but because Christians must always remember.

I needed to dwell on the fact that God’s favor can’t be earned. I needed to linger on the unchanging truth that my acceptance with God—not only my salvation, but my day-to-day acceptance—is not contingent upon what I do, but upon what Christ has already accomplished on the Cross for me.

As I talked with my relative, the greatness of the gospel pierced my own heart once again.

Sola Gratia

“This, not of yourselves, but the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Sola gratia is a Latin term from a by-gone age, but don't discard it as irrelevant; the words mean "grace alone". The Reformed doctrine teaches that we are rescued from eternal damnation only by God's free gift, not personal merit.

Sola gratia is the heartbeat of Christianity. Its indispensable importance is not restricted to the unsaved; the doctrine of sola gratia is a message of equally indispensable importance for every believer, on a day-to-day, moment-by-moment basis.

Why? Because I’ve observed that human beings tend to have the spiritual memory span of goldfish with Alzheimer’s. We readily forget to live out the very truths we claim to hold the closest.

Combine that fact with this one, and we have a serious conundrum on our hands: The cry of sola gratia happens to be a message that revolts against every fiber of our sinful nature.

On the other hand, it’s as easy as breathing to pursue good works with self-righteous alacrity. Do you see the potentials for legalism beginning to spring up?

I do, because my struggle with the issue runs deep. Remove my heart but a short distance from Calvary, and before you can say “legalism”, that’s exactly where I am.

With clock-like infallibility, my motive for holiness makes an immediate, dangerous switch when the Cross ceases to be my sole focus. I start to look down my nose at people who hold to less stringent standards than I do. I compare my spirituality to that of my fellow believers’. I frown inwardly at the Christians who don’t share all my convictions on guy-girl relationships. In short, I'm fully capable of effectually reducing the glory of the gospel to an uppity, me-centered religion.

Even within the secure bounds of theological accuracy, our natural inclination is to behave as though we can gain God’s approval through top-notch, sparkling performances. We’re quick to fall back on ourselves, but slow to fall on grace.

C. J. Mahaney clarifies and cautions,

"A lot of us wrongly stereotype a legalistic person as one who doesn’t go to the movies, or who thinks that any music with a beat is evil. Legalism is much more subtle and serious than that. At its heart legalism is self-atonement for the purpose of self-glorification and ultimately self-worship."

Rather than flinging ourselves completely upon God’s grace, legalism belittles the Cross and diminishes God’s glory. It shifts the focal point from God to man.

Mahaney goes on:

"I can assure you that in the next 24 hours you and I will face the temptation of legalism — we will once again be challenged and confronted by the legalist within. In order to combat this sinful tendency in our own hearts, it's critical for us to stay planted in the good of the gospel — to continue in the message we began with."

Legalism is in direct opposition to the very heart of the gospel. And as Mahaney aptly put it: "We each have a legalist lurking within."

Good Works… For The Praise of His—Sorry, My Glory

Hinduism, Confucianism, Mormonism, Islam, Sikhism. They’re all major world religions, and they're apples and oranges from each other. Notably, however, in spite of their many differences, at least one belief is shared in common among them all: Acceptance with God is something to be achieved. So, as with any other achievement, the credit goes to…you.

Christianity promulgates a radically different, mind-bending, life-altering truth: We cannot earn God’s love, forgiveness, or acceptance. Apart from grace, not even our greatest efforts are capable of making Him smile at us in approbation. "Vile and wretched sinners" is no exaggeration; Isaiah 64:6 says that even our best efforts, tainted with our depravity, are like disgusting, putrid rags to God.

Humbling? Definitely. I can’t claim credit for anything of value that I’ve ever done. I can’t even claim an ounce of credit for a single pure, righteous, God-honoring thought that has ever passed through my mind. The only thing that I can honestly take credit for is my sin—and that’s the last thing I like to own up to. No wonder grace runs contrary to our sinful nature; news like sola gratia doesn’t exactly tickle the ear.

And yet, when we live in a constant remembrance of the gospel, good works take on an entirely different hue. Instead of providing a basis for self-exaltation or incrimination, they become yet another platform to extol the riches of God's free, undeserved, mind-boggling gift. He gets all the glory. And that's what it's all about, anyway, isn't it?

1. Mahaney, C. J., The Cross-Centered Life, and Interrogating the Legalist Within

Not A Beach Bum? No Problem.

2008-05-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here in Texas there is rarely a discernible shift between spring and summer; except spring is hot, and summer is hotter. Of course, we natives learned long ago the secret to knowing the seasons: the day the soles of your shoes melt against the asphalt parking lot and your seatbelt can be used as a branding iron, summer is on its way. But with the rise of modern technology, a third method has developed for determining the time of year: the skin tan.

You’ve seen them. Women, friends, sisters, coming out of the woodwork with noticeably darker, more freckled, or orange skin. People who never set foot outdoors suddenly start sporting the “sun kissed” look.

Cancer-causing UV rays aside, I don’t see anything explicitly wrong about going tanning. I’m not making a case against it. However, it does cause me to consider the quirks of human nature. Isn’t it interesting how “the grass is always greener on the other side” applies to skin tone—that women will pay money to bake in a toaster in order to change the way they look?

Tanning also reminds me of how much of what we consider “beautiful” is a cultural thing. Did you know that while we sell sun-tan lotion in North America, China sells white-skin lotion to bleach skin whiter? Or that throughout Africa, heavier women are more esteemed than skinny ones? Or that in not-so-distant history, different ideals of beauty were cherished in even the United States?

All things considered, tanning is just another culturally-specific beauty ideal. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I wonder if it’s worthwhile.

What do you think?

Do you know of any beauty ideals that are different in other cultures?
What do you think about tanning and other beauty treatments?

Meeting God in a Dark Alley

2008-05-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

“When you are weak, you are strong!” My eyes starting fuzzing out as Charity grabbed my hands and squeezed them. When you are weak, you are strong. The words reverberated in my head as I walked past the judges, smiling at the blurring shape of their faces in my eyes. What did it mean exactly? I was certainly weak. My legs felt bendy like licorice and I couldn’t remember what month it was, let alone formulate a winning impromptu speech. I should’ve worn my glasses, because I could barely see anything. How was it possible for me to be strong at the moment?

It doesn't take a legal adult to experience troubles. I'm seventeen, and I have seen just enough to understand that life isn't always berries and cream. Although the example of my impromptu round is admittedly insignificant compared to other struggles, its a small slice of the kind of obstacles that humble us every day and convince us of our own insufficiency.

I wonder, why does God sometimes lead us through moments where we feel overcome by weakness? As we watch other Christians skip blithely through fields of daisies, facing a life with little or no obstacles, we can feel that God has dumped us in a dark alley. As small as it seems compared to the troubles of others, why does He put me in an impromptu room with blurry vision? It feels so pointless.

Let The Real Sufferers Stand Up

My weakness is insignificant when considered alongside the problems others face. For instance, my friend Stephanie is directing a documentary on the life and ministry of Nick Vujicic. Born without limbs, Nick struggles to complete tasks most of us can finish in an instant. And guess what? His situation will not change in his lifetime. He can't look forward to one day finding a cure to his problems. On the surface, he has no reason for hope.

Elisabeth was also bombarded by weakness. Restrained from marrying the man she loved as he sought direction from God for over a year, she wondered at the indescribable ache in her heart. In her diary she copied down a prayer of Amy Carmichael's, struggling to find perseverance in her journey:

"'If I make much of anything appointed, magnify it secretly to myself or insidiously to others; if I let them think it 'hard,' if I look back longingly upon what used to be, and linger among the byways of memory, so that my power to help is weakened, then I know nothing of Calvary love.'" Then Elisabeth prayed herself, "Dear Lord, Thou alone knowest the inmost workings of my mind and heart. Keep the level of my love in Christ--never lower. Thou hast said, 'Neither are my ways your ways.' Help me to walk in Thine, Lord, in peace." (Elisabeth Elliot, Passion and Purity.)

Some say that because Christ carried our sorrows, we will have no more suffering on earth. Any pain we experience on earth is unexplainable in their theology. But what about Nick’s struggles? How can we ignore the cries of Elisabeth in her time of loneliness and waiting? How can we explain Paul’s vision problems and the unnamed ‘thorn in the side’ that he experienced throughout the course of his life? How can we say that Christ took our sufferings when these Christians have suffered so?

Christ’s death didn’t remove human weakness from the Christian life. Rather, God allows the weakness of His children to be revealed for a purpose. While my impromptu anxiety wasn’t real suffering, it was a wake up call to cry out to the Creator of the Universe for strength. It was a humbling revelation of inadequacy. It was a situation that pulled me from my high horse and caused me to fall on Christ for grace to get through.

And that's exactly the point. The situations when our inadequacy is exposed are meant to lead to further trust: “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” (1 Peter 4:19)

He Is Our ________

Hope. Strength. Joy. Fill the above blank with any of these words and they’ll fit. God doesn't promise us perfect bliss on earth, but He does give us something better. In the face of struggles--whether it's believing God will help in weaving through a traffic jam or entrusting to Him delicate matters of the heart--rest can be found in His unfailing love.

King David said something funny in Psalm 63. After crying out that his life was like a “dry and weary land where there is no water,” he wrote that he'd continue praising God because “because Your lovingkindness is better than life." That's pretty unusual. While David didn't mince words describing his situation, he had found a higher source of joy than just his circumstances. Interestingly enough, the people I have met who are closest to God are the ones who have met Him in the dark alleys of life; because they learned that His lovingkindness, even in darkness, was better than living in daisy covered fields without His Presence.

And yet, those who travel through dark alleys aren't left there forever. Sufferers in the big and the small have a promise: "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong..." (1 Peter 5:10) Will we ever be made strong? Will we be healed? Maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but one day, it's certain we will. And our Healer will be the God who does all things well.

"God in skin"

2008-05-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

I read this quote today on Of First Importance, which struck me as particularly fitting to follow our previous post. Here's an excerpt:

"It’s bad news, death.
Because dead people can’t see. Can’t breathe. Can’t help themselves. Dead people can’t do anything. That is why they call Him Savior. When we were dead and could not touch God, Jesus came down and touched us.
....Divinity rushing into humanity. God in skin marching steadily to the beat of His own love."

-Louie Giglio

Read the full quote here.

Grace is Amazing (Really)

2008-05-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

“I’m afraid I’m not good enough to get into heaven.” The teenage girl twirled a pencil in her hand as she expressed her concern to the entire youth group. Other students nodded, relating to her fear.

The youth pastor cleared his throat. “Oh well, just remember that Jesus loves you.”

That’s it? I was shocked. This girl was afraid she’s going to Hell because she isn’t good enough to earn Heaven, and all she was told was that Jesus loves her? There’s so much more to say!

You should say it, Hannah.

Excuses were ample: “Me? But that’s not in my script. What will I say? I’m here to speak to the youth group, yes, not to give a Gospel presentation...”

Yet what did I have to lose? My voice felt small. “I think it’s important to remember that repentance is hating our sin and turning away from it...and that salvation is placing our faith in Christ...and that we can never be good enough to earn heaven.” I prayed my long, run-on sentence made sense.

The youth pastor stared at me, his eyes glazed over and annoyed. “Uh, thanks."

A week has passed since this conversation and it hasn't yet left my mind. Here’s an interesting observation of my own heart from that youth meeting: I don’t focus on the Gospel. Yes, I try sometimes; but not to the level that I should. I felt perfectly content to give a hip, pre-planned announcement to the teens about something unrelated to the state of their eternal destination. I wasn’t excited about sharing the Gospel.

As the most crucial of all messages, the message of "Christ dying for lost sinners" ought to be shouted from every pew and streetcorner. But here's the problem: how can I expect to shout the Gospel from a streetcorner if I don’t give it a corner of my mind? If I forget what a sinner I am myself, how can I witness to a teen girl at a youth group? This calls for another re-visiting of the Cross.

A Wretch Like Who?

Dad likes to tell the story of the time he stood at a grocery store checkout, toting me in the shopping cart. When a woman passed by, I suddenly pointed my finger and began to call out to her: "Sinner! Sinner!"

I was two years old.

Growing up as a daughter of Christian parents and the granddaughter of Christian missionaries, it's easy to forget how much my sin weighed. Compared to some of the people around me, I've always been the goody-two-shoes type. Still, my attempts at goodness are tainted by my sin nature, and if you scratch more than the surface, you'll see I'm just as guilty as the rest.

Kris Lundgaard had it right when he wrote:

Every night Tom Brokaw tells us about shady politics and business scams. People finding loopholes in the law to use their sweat-earned money to build stately pleasure domes in Zanadu. But the sleaziest back-room Mafia deal can’t equal the deceitfulness in your heart. The heart is 'deceitful above all things.'

Think about it. Do you remember a single moment in which you did something truly good--not motivated by a desire for recognition? Do you remember "serving God" without paying the slightest attention to whether you served as much as the next guy? Do you remember a single time in personal Bible study that your mind has centered totally on Christ, with zero distractions? Yes, there might've been the time you really longed to praise God, but did you? Did you praise Him with completely pure abandon?

Me neither. That alone should draw me to my knees, in awe of God's redeeming love for a wretch like me; only when I remember my sin can I begin to appreciate the amazingness of Christ's grace.

When You’ve Been There Ten Thousand Years, Will You Remember Why?

I love, love, love the declaration of Hebrews 2:14-15: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

What's the moral of the story? That we have no morals, but Christ crammed His beatific Self into a weak body complete with muscle cramps and hunger pangs and every bit of human frailty in order that through dying in our skin, He might destroy the one who has power over us, and free sin-infested people who were enslaved to that worrisome question:"What will happen when I die?"

Now that's something worth singing about, and worth telling lost teenage girls in equally confused youth groups. Only by realizing our sinfulness can she, and I, ever comprehend an inch of this glorious, glorious Gospel.

Coming To a City Near You...

2008-05-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

While we're in the process of shouting out friends and ministries to pray for....

Summer is right around the corner and so is The Rebelution's Dallas conference. If you haven't checked out the promo video of this year's conference tour, please do. Not only will I be attending, but Lindsey is planning on being there as well.

(FYI: The date of the Dallas conference on the promo video is incorrect--it's actually June 28th.)

The Measure of a Man

2008-05-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend, Stephanie, is traveling to California this coming week to film a documentary on the life and ministry of Nick Vujicic. Born without arms or legs, Nick has faced incredible obstacles throughout his life: "I had suicidal thoughts at the age of eight."

Fortunately, much has changed since then. Nick's perspective has refocused from what he can't do to the gifts God has given him. Traveling the world, Nick uses his struggles as a platform for speaking boldly of God's sovereignty and how He should be praised in every circumstance.

We're thrilled about Stephanie's documentary (currently titled "The Measure of a Man") and excited to see more people reached through Nick's testimony. Please be in prayer for Stephanie and her film crew as they fly to California to begin filming in the next few days.

May God be glorified completely!

The Truth About Insecurity

2008-04-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought wryly, as I scrutinized the reflection blinking back at me in the mirror. At least God didn't give me an opportunity to be vain. The features of my face assaulted my eyes painfully. It was all wrong. My hair. My nose. Yes, especially my nose. Oh, was there anything good in that image? Well, Lord, as I was saying... at least I'll never be capable of vanity, like beautiful girls are. That's a blessing. I suppose. Risking another glance in the mirror, I winced. Riiight.

I'm not eloquent. I'm not skilled at communication. I'm a dunce at math. I'm always sticking my foot in my mouth. I'm... it would go on and on.

A few years ago, I was the classic case of insecurity.

It wasn't as though I didn’t receive compliments and encouragement. But while the praise always conjured up a fleeting feeling of pleasure, it was as if every compliment would inevitably smack an invisible brick wall: They were just being nice. They didn't really mean it.

My situation was anything but unique; we all know that "low self-esteem" is rampant, especially among young people. And yet, in spite of all the attention that the subject receives, the real issue is almost always skirted.

Psychologists would have said that my root problem was a battered self-image, and quickly prescribed a system of positive thinking as the antidote. It wouldn't have worked, because the diagnosis would have been dead wrong.

The issue wasn't that I needed more positive support from friends and family. I can't blame the culture, either; my problem wasn't caused by the airbrushed models I compared myself with constantly.

When a man with a brain tumor complains that his head hurts, his doctor doesn’t hand him an aspirin, grin, and cheerfully announce that "it’s all better". The same principle applies here: the cause must be treated for healing to occur, and low self-esteem is nothing but a symptom. All my insecurity was merely the tell-tale sign of a much deeper issue.

First things first

Let's play a definition game. I'll give you a word, and you'll rack your brain for the traits that give away it’s presence. Ready, set, go...

Pride. Quick, what are your very first associations with that word? What traits, thoughts, and actions go along with it? Mull it over for a moment before reading on.

Perhaps, as I usually do, you thought of a cocky "I'm all that and more" attitude. You know—the people who carry their noses in the air, and act like they're a notch above the rest of us. So, I reasoned, if I don't struggle with arrogance—if I'm not a nose-in-the-air kind of person—then I can give myself a high five! I'm off the hook!

Ah, no. Not exactly.

Arrogance is certainly the most visible manifestation of pride, but I made the mistake of overlooking it's subtler manifestations in my concentration on the obvious. Although we may not usually place self-deprecation and insecurity in the same category alongside vanity and arrogance, in many cases, they belong there just the same.

Sounds contradictory, doesn't it? It's easy to acknowledge that a girl who flaunts her drop-dead-gorgeous looks has a problem in the area of pride, but am I really saying that a girl who thinks she's completely unattractive and untalented may struggle with the very same issue? For me, the answer was an emphatic yes.

Artfully disguised under a false veneer of humility, this form of pride is often difficult to detect. And yet, once I stopped to prayerfully examine my heart, it immediately became plain that my "humility" wasn't the real deal. How? My thoughts were completely absorbed in myself. Did you notice, in my list of complaints about myself, the predominant occurrence of the words "I'm" and "my"? True humility does precisely the opposite: it forgets itself.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote something that glued itself to my mind. (Lewis has a knack at doing that.) He said:

"A really humble man...won't be a sort of person...who's always telling you that, of course, he's nobody. Probably all you'll think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him, it will be because you feel a bit envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He won't be thinking about himself at all. There I must stop. If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you're not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."

Both arrogance and insecurity share a common denominator, and that denominator is self-absorption. Isn't that what pride is, after all—setting ourselves up on the throne that only God deserves? Whenever I'm worried about my appearance and natural abilities, isn’t it always because I crave admiration? If I’m honest, wasn't that the real reason why I cared so deeply about what other people thought of me? Fretting is a dead give-away that my thoughts are turned inward, and inward thoughts are a dead give-away that I’m proud.

The Only Solution

If pride is the underpinning ailment, the gospel is the only cure for it. Pride is forced to wither in the shadow of the cross. If my focus is on Christ—if my soul is riveted by the beauty of His sacrifice, His love, and His unmerited forgiveness—a fixation on how others perceive me is not even a viable option. It is impossible to be absorbed by both ourselves and our Savior at the same time; it must wholly one, or wholly the other.

Our Maker formed us, lovingly and tenderly, so that He might be admired. Whether or not anyone admires us is frankly insignificant; we were created to reflect the glory and beauty of Christ to those around us, not the glory and beauty of Me.

With our eyes on Christ, the whole view changes. In a self-absorbed perspective, the opinions of other people are paramount. From a Christ-centered perspective, the accolades and disdain of others matter little, because His approval makes man’s look like dust. In a self-absorbed perspective, our value is based off of appearance and performance. But when our lives are marked by a deepening understanding of the gospel—when we are transformed every day anew by the truth that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8)—we will be moved to humble rejoicing, knowing that our worth is found in the Father's unmerited, boundless love.

The gospel doesn’t offer us a boost of self-esteem, because a boost of self-esteem isn’t what we need. Instead, it corrects our deepest problem with something infinitely richer and more satisfying: an offer to esteem our Maker first.

A Parable from Spurgeon

2008-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

I ran across this story once told by Spurgeon. This can be applied to so much:

The story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was. The old oak replied that he was sick of life and was determined to die, because he was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree; and so on through the garden.

Coming to a little purple violet, the king found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. 'Well, violet, I'm glad amidst all this discouragement to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.'

'No. I'm really not an important flower, but I believe that if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or a lilac, you would have planted one; but since I know you wanted a violet, I am determined to be the best violet I can be.'

They who are God's without reserve are in every situation content, for they will do only what He wills and desire to do for Him whatever He desires them to do and be. They strip themselves of everything and in this nakedness find all things restored one hundred fold.

-Charles Spurgeon

An Addendum

2008-04-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

By Hannah and Lindsey

The late missionary to Africa, Paris Reidhead, once told the story of a man who held thousands of slaves captive on an island in the Atlantic. The man declared that no preacher would ever approach his slaves with the Gospel. Never would he allow such "Christian nonsense" on his island.

Upon hearing of this, two young men were disturbed. The idea of thousands of people forced to remain on an island all their lives, with no hope of ever hearing the Gospel was enough to stir them to action. Yet what these men chose to do was unique.

They didn't stockpile ammunition for a shoot 'em up raid of the island. They didn't bomb the slaveowner's home. In fact, their course of action required more strength of purpose and sacrifice than that.

What did the men do? They sold themselves. If only slaves were allowed on the island, then slaves they would become. Although the men were only in their twenties, and seemed to have their entire lives ahead of them, they abandoned themselves to the cause of the Gospel.

When at last the men stood aboard the ship that would carry them to slavery, waving goodbye to loved ones on shore, one shouted the last words his family would ever hear from the two men: 'May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!'

The focus of these two men is notable. It certainly wasn't on themselves; this was no mad strategy to gain recognition. Their focus wasn't even on the slaves they would evangelize, although clearly the men cared for the people's fate. No, the primary motive of the two men was glorifying God, no matter the cost.

With the same mindset, Paul wrote to the Philippians: "...It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." (Philippians 1:20)

Sadly, honoring Christ is often a peripheral goal. I talk about "glorifying God" all the time, but if I'm honest, that phrase is often silently twined with an image of someone else's glory. Mine.

But what if... what if I went out and accomplished great things for God, and the only words that fell from people's mouths were words revering, adoring, and worshipping my Father? He ought to be worshipped, of course, but what if I received no part in the recognition whatsoever-- not even a tiny sliver of praise? What if I was invisible-- if the only Person honored by "my" achievements was the One who I claimed to be serving, not the servant?

I need to ask myself: Would I still care? Would I still be motivated to make a difference? And not only motivated, but passionately, obsessively determined? Would a single-hearted desire for His glory, and His alone, be enough to stir me to action? My answers reveal the impurity of my heart. Secretly, I want a little piece of the cake, too.

I recently read a quote from Thomas Brookes (HT: GirlTalk ) about this human-centered mindset:

“Christ has done great things for His people, and He has suffered great things for His people, and He has purchased great things for His people, and He has prepared great things for His people; yet many of His own dear people are so taken up with their own hearts, and with their own duties and graces, that Christ is little eyed by them or minded by them! This is the great reason why so many Christians, who will certainly go to heaven—do walk in darkness, and lie down in sorrow.”

How can I serve God, and still 'lie down in sorrow'? How can I work constantly and still be without joy? Perhaps because my service isn't really for God after all, and all of my greatest efforts, no matter how successful, are completely fruitless apart from the goal of returning God with every inch of the spotlight.

And yet, it isn't enough to check my motives. I must repent, and ask God to re-align them. Because at the end of the day, God doesn't just want my service; He wants my life. And more than a life spent going through the motions of obedience without real conviction, He wants my love.

Above all, the challenge to myself is to live well, so that my dying breath will mirror His will for me: "'May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!' And may I belong to You, completely."

Part One//Part Two//Questions To Consider//An Addendum

Challenging Questions

2008-04-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

Lindsey and I realize that the challenge we've been discussing--of translating our beliefs into action--is easy to forget. So in order to help in this area, we've formed a list of questions. They're really questions for the heart, and they are meant to be considered prayerfully. We hope they're helpful for you as well.

Do you act out of obedience to Christ and a passion for His glory--or your own?
How do you spend your time?
How much of your time per day is spent chatting with friends (online, on the phone or in person)?
How much of your time per day is spent daily in conversation with family members?
How much of your time is spent daily speaking to God?
How often do you meditate on the Cross? (Once a day? Once a week? Once a year?)
Do you set time aside every day for prayer and Bible study?
Do you try to faithfully obey God in public and at home?
Do you ask God for the grace to help you obey consistently?
What people, books, movies, etc. influence you the most?
Do you read books, watch movies, or listen to music that does not encourage your walk with Christ? Do you think this is wise?
Are your friends fellow Christians who are seeking after godliness? Or do they encourage you in gossip and ungodly thoughts?
If so, do you also join in that gossip and allow those thoughts to dominate your mind?
What are your main spheres of influence?
What steps could you take to become a stronger influence of a Christ-like attitude to friends, siblings, neighbors, relatives, etc.?
Do you actively serve in your community?
When making decisions, do you consider how they affect others?

Do you have any more questions to add?

Part One//Part Two//Questions To Consider//An Addendum

The Challenge: Building Forts with Ribbons

2008-04-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
- James 2:17 (NIV)

When I was about seven years old, my friend Marie and I developed the brilliant plan of building a fort in our backyard. While Mom didn't say "no", she did caution us against placing our hopes too high. It was unrealistic that two little girls could build a fort (that was safe, at least).

As if the odds against us weren't immense enough already, Marie and I were also banned from using hammers and nails without adult supervision. (Thank you, Mom. That was a good rule.) A bit desperate, we finally found the materials for our fort: sticks from around the yard, and ribbon (yes, the kind used for bows on birthday presents.)

Did Marie and I succeed? With pathetic resources and even less experience, our prospects were dim. But in the end, the results weren't too shabby. Our finished product was a shelter that could fit two small people in a crouching position.

While it wasn't exactly Ft. Knox, the "fort" lasted two years until my dad eventually tore it down in order mow the grass growing inside of it. (If you're still not impressed, remember that we built the fort with ribbons. And it lasted two years. Yes, I'm still proud of it.)

Many current endeavors could easily be compared to my fort. When looking at our resources, it seems impossible to make even a dent into the mindsets of others. In the face of our culture, how do we expect our actions to carry weight? Isn't that a bit presumptuous? But if we think instead in terms of the individual, it all makes more sense.

Change starts in renewing our minds daily in Scripture. Change happens when we help our little brothers and sisters understand the Gospel. Change happens when we choose to put Christ on the throne of our lives, tossing out all that stands in the way of His being total Master of our hearts.

Whether or not our choices influence Hollywood is nonessential. What is vital, however, is to convince ourselves and those God placed around us, to derive their joy from Christ, not from Hollywood. "Changing the world" really means changing the world for individuals--helping a single person understand truth. We are called to love people, plain and simple. And if one person comes to see the beauty and glory of Christ more clearly through us, then all the effort is worthwhile.

So what is the challenge exactly? As I said before, it is almost embarrassingly simple; it is a challenge to change the mindsets and hearts of those around us, by first changing ourselves. While it's easy to read and write about inner beauty, the challenge is to apply this to real life. Much, much harder.

But it's comforting here to note that the change doesn't actually come from us. We're not working by ourselves. God is the initiator of everything, and there's no possible way to be faithful to this challenge without His constant grace. (Ephesians 3:2o) I like what Gary Haugen wrote:

"...there are those moments when we sense the call to goodness.... Indeed, it is the very reason for the journey and for our very being. We were created for good works, prepared beforehand... But drawing near the field, the clouds seem dark and the shadows long, and the challenge enormous. We doubt the joy and fear the risks. But wanting the good thing done, we ask, 'Where is God?' We may even turn to Him and say, 'You do it!' And lovingly our Father turns and beckons. 'Come, I'll give you a boost in the saddle. We shall ride together.' ...We have a ride, with work and glory before us--a worthy struggle to engage alongside our Lord. A struggle for which we were made."

(Terrify No More. Italics mine.)

With God's help, transformation doesn't begin with boycotts or ad campaigns. It begins with people who care so much about building forts that they'll use whatever they have, even if it's ribbons and a pile of sticks, to get the job done. Action bears fruit when people faithfully stay at the task until results happen. The challenge is not to change the world. The challenge is to act in obedience to the Savior, spreading the amazing truth He has entrusted to us, each and every day of our lives.

Who's with me?

Part One//Part Two//Questions To Consider//An Addendum

Keep An Eye Open...

2008-04-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Rumor has it that Regenerate Our Culture is coming back this spring. (Actually, I'm not gossiping. The website really does say that.) Be sure to keep an eye on their site for updates.