Eavesdropping

 

Go ahead and admit it. We all do it. Listen in on the conversations around us. I'm not talking about the hide-behind-the-door-like-a-sneak-so-you-can-hear-the-conversation-between-your-parents kind of eavesdropping. I'm talking about just listening in on conversations that happen around you, the conversations that you aren't really a part of. In the restaurant. In the doctor's office. At church. In the mall.

When you listen to those conversations, what do you hear?  

Here's what I've heard a lot of lately: complaining, whining, grumbling, negativity. It's too hot. It's too cold. It rains too much. It doesn't rain enough. The coffee is too hot. The coffee is cold. The coffee is too strong. The coffee is weak. The tables are too close together. It's too crowded. I don't like that song. The music is too loud. Why don't we sing my favorite song? Why are the chairs arranged this way? The chairs are too close together. The chairs are too far apart. On and on it goes.

There's a recurring theme. What I like. What I don't like. Me. I. My.

Even among those of us who call ourselves Christian, there's an awful lot of complaining and grumbling and selfishness. Maybe especially among those of us who call ourselves Christian. As though life is all and only about us and our own personal preferences.  

That's sad, isn't it? Because the truth of the matter is, it's not about you. Or me.

Is this how we are displaying Jesus to the world?

I challenge you to pay attention to your conversation today. Really listen to yourself. Eavesdrop on your own conversation, not just the conversations around you. What's the dominant theme?

Certainly we live in challenging times. A never ending virus. The economy. Self-serving politicians. The list could be very long.

But our joy isn't based on circumstances, is it? Our joy is in the Lord Jesus. And shouldn't that joy should be reflected in our conversation?

Something to think about today.

"Finally, brothers [and sisters], 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 ESV)

"From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers [and sisters], these things ought not to be so."  (James 3:10 ESV)

"Through him [Jesus], let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."  (Hebrews 13:15 ESV)

"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude jesting, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."  (Ephesians 5:4 ESV)

"Do all things without grumbling."  (Philippans 2:14 ESV)

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."  (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

You’re Composing!

When I was a college student, one of the most dreaded hours of the week was Tuesday morning’s Sightsinging Class. Sometimes we sang as a group, but most often we were called on individually. Each of us was given a line from the the textbook and a pitch, and then we were to sing the line correctly. A capella, of course. I can still hear Dr. Will saying, “Miss Austin, you are composing.”

Composing would have been fine in composition class, of course. But not acceptable in sightsinging class. This memory came to mind on Wednesday night in choir practice as we were struggling a bit over a section of music for our Christmas program. I joked about it being “creative license”. After all, that sounds better than “mistake”. And I could hear Dr. Will’s voice in my head. “You’re composing.”

Soloists often take some creative liberties with the music. (If you have ever heard a pop artist sing the National Anthem, you know what I mean.) But a choir, singing a passage in unison, has no such liberties. 

Neither do we when it comes to the scriptures.

But this morning, I am wondering how many of us are doing exactly that. Taking “creative license” with the Word of God. 

We do that every time we pick and choose the parts we like, and ignore the rest. Every time we quote it out of context. Every time we make it about us. Every time we mis-apply it. 

How that must grieve the heart of God. 

In order to avoid “composing”, we must read the Word. Study it. Read all of it. Not just the favorite parts. And read the Bible itself, not just books about the Bible. Not just devotional books. The Book itself. The whole Book.

Let’s stop composing. Let’s honor God by honoring His Word.

“Be diligent to present yourself to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB)

Tinted Moisturizer and Mascara

Despite what you may have thought when you read the title, this is not a post about makeup. Even so, thinking about makeup helps to illustrate the point.

Makeup is a fact of life for many women. Truth be told, most women past 25 or 30 just look better with judicious use of some cosmetics. In the words of a pastor friend of ours from years gone by, a little paint never hurt an old barn!

In spite of that, the older I get, the less I want to be bothered with all that. I need it more, but I want to deal with it less. As a result, on most days, if I'm not planning to go out of the house, I don't go through the whole makeup routine. Those are pretty much tinted moisturizer and mascara days. Maybe a little lip gloss. But not much more. Just enough to get by. Just enough not to scare anybody!

Just enough to get by. There's a lot of that going around. Most days, I have just enough cosmetic products on my face to get by. I hear teachers complaining about students who are capable of so much, but do just enough to get by. In the workplace, many are doing just enough to get by without losing their jobs.  

And, sadly, many who call themselves Christian are doing just enough to get by. Certainly becoming a Christian is not about what we do. The Scripture tells us that we must "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 16:31). That's it. It's not about what we do, but about what Jesus has done that is the issue in salvation.

But what about living out our salvation? What about living the Christ-life?  

Spend some time in the New Testament book of Acts. That book has a lot to say that can help us understand how we are to live the Christ-life as we draw nearer and nearer to the return of Christ to this earth. How do we live the Christ-life in a culture that rejects Him? How do we live the Christ-life in this 11th hour?  

The early church, as described in Acts 2:42-47, has much to teach us about how we should be living in these days. This group of believers was not satisfied to just get by, and that makes them very different from many believers today, certainly here in the United States.

If you think about it, we here in the United States have much in common with the early church. We are in the minority in our culture, as were they. The early church faced persecution because of their faith, and more and more we are seeing that in our culture as well, as the Christian faith is ever more marginalized in our society. The early church believed that Jesus would return to earth very soon, within their lifetime. While many years have passed since Jesus left this earth and we don't know exactly when He will return, we do know with certainty that He will return because that is what He said He would do. And we also know with certainty that we are closer now than we have ever been to that time. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed."  Romans 13:11b NASB).

That's what we have in common with the early church. Sadly, for many modern-day Christians, that's where the similarities end and the tinted moisturizer and mascara comparisons begin. The early Christians were much more than just enough to get by church members.

Here's what we know about them: "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42 NASB)

Continually. Devoting. Those are very descriptive words. They describe a lifestyle, not an every now and then, just enough to get by, attitude. These early believers were devoted to the apostles' teaching.  They listened. They learned. They applied. And what were the apostles teaching? They were teaching what Jesus had taught them! So to bring this into the 21st century, what should we who call ourselves Christian be doing? We should be, as they were, devoted to, as a habit of life, the study of the Scriptures! Not just to occasionally reading some Scripture. Not to occasionally, when it's convenient and it's not raining and there's no ball game that has our attention, showing up for Bible study and worship on Sunday morning. But as a habit of life, if we are following their example, we should be devoted to the study of the Scripture.

They were continually devoting themselves to fellowship and the breaking of bread and to prayer. In other words, they were doing life together. As a habit of life, they were spending time together. Eating meals together. Celebrating what we now refer to as the Lord's Supper. Together. Praying. Together. They routinely spent time together doing these things. As a habit of life. Not just enough to get by. Not just enough that their name wasn't removed from the class roll. Not just occasionally. Not just when it was convenient and they didn't have anything better to do. This was the better!

That's the model we have from the early church of how to "do" church. How to live as a believer in the 11th hour. (Remember that they thought they were in the 11th hour, too!) This is the model the Scripture gives us of believers living in community with one another.  

The Gaithers wrote a song some years ago titled The Church Triumphant. The song begins with this line: Let the church be the church.

These early believers in Acts 2 show us how the church is to be the church. They show us what it means to be a community of believers. Not just tinted moisturizer and mascara believers, but believers who, as a habit of life, live as a community.

This is not to say that they lived out in some holy huddle, or commune, on the side of a hill somewhere singing Kum Ba Yah all day. Not at all. They still had life to live and families to raise.  They had to make a living and go fishing for the day's meal. But through all that, they lived in community with one another. They did life together. They spent time together. They studied together. They fellowshipped together. They prayed together.

Continually devoting themselves to. As a habit of life. As a priority of life.

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."  (Acts 2:42 NASB, emphasis mine)

They were not tinted moisturizer and mascara believers. Neither should we be!

What was the result of that kind devotion?  

"Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe, and many wonders and signs were taking place."  (Acts 2:43 NASB)

"And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."
(Acts 2:47b NASB)

If we're missing the sense of awe, perhaps it's because we're also missing that kind of devotion.

That's really the question for us as believers here in 21st century America, isn't it?  What are we devoted to?

How would you describe yourself? What would those who know you best say about you? What about those who just see you occasionally? Are you known more as a continually devoted kind of believer? Or are you better described as tinted moisturizer and mascara?

Something to think about.

A Song of Thanksgiving

 

"Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving

To God the Creator triumphantly raise,

Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,

Who guideth us on to the end of our days.

His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,

A pillar of fire shining forth in the night,

'Til shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,

As forward we travel from light into light.

His law He enforces, the stars in their courses,

The sun in His orbit, obediently shine.

The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,

The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him Divine.

We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing,

With glad adoration a song let us raise, 

'Til all things now living unite in thanksgiving 

To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!

                                                                              -Katherine K. Davis

No, I’m not confused about which month we are in! Those are the words to a hymn titled "Let All Things Now Living", written by Katherine K. Davis and typically sung to a traditional Welsh melody. It's one of those hymns we don't sing in church any more, but it's still one of my favorites.

 

I was thinking about this song this morning. Not because we have sung it recently; we haven't. We sing some wonderful music in our church. New songs, old songs, the great hymns of our faith. But we haven't sung this particular hymn recently; in fact, I can't even remember the last time I sang this hymn in a church setting! Rather, this morning it has been called up from deep in the recesses of my memory. It's a catchy tune, but this morning the text has my attention.

 

Perhaps it's because I'm not as young as I used to be! Or perhaps there is some other reason. In any event, I am becoming more and more aware of how much I take for granted. How often I forget to say "thank you". It's not that I'm ungrateful. Forgetful, yes. A little scatter-brained sometimes. Distracted. But not ungrateful. 

 

I have so many reasons for thanksgiving this morning. I woke up! I have been granted another day of life. We are moving into my favorites season. I love this season of the year with its brilliant reds and golds. With its spectacular sunsets and breathtaking morning skies. It's such a beautiful season of the year, and even though we are just beginning to get a hint of the colors to come, I am so thankful as I anticipated what lies ahead.

 

 

There are so many reasons for thanksgiving this morning beyond just the beauty of the season. I'm thankful for my husband and my family. For dear friends. For my church family. For my pastor. For my health. 

 

I'm thankful for the privilege of prayer. I'm thankful that God hears and answers. I'm thankful for those times when I utter a prayer with a very specific request, and within just a few minutes I have my answer! And I'm equally thankful for those times when the answer is a long time in coming. The times when I'm learning how to wait and how to trust. I'm thankful for all that those times are teaching me about God and about faith.

 

I am so very grateful for a Sovereign Lord. One who knows me best and loves me most. One who has all things under control. One who knows exactly how this craziness in our world will turn out, and exactly why it will turn out that way. One who has a purpose for all things. One who has it all under control.
 

This morning I am so very grateful. For another day of life. And for the privilege of living it for Jesus! 

So very grateful. 

It's a good day for a song of thanksgiving!

"My heart overflows with a good theme."  (Psalm 45:1 NASB)

 

Joy Unspeakable

Once again I have a song lyric running through my head. It actually happens to me pretty often, but in this case it's a little baffling. I haven't heard this song for years, and I can't even remember when, if ever, it was actually sung in a church service I was part of. Yet I can't get it out of my head! Joy unspeakable and full of glory, the half has never yet been told.

It was a little foggy here yesterday. Mot the completely-fogged-in fog we experienced while living in the mountains of western North Carolina. But a gray, gloomy morning. Thankfully it didn’t last all day. That’s what often happens, isn’t it? Gray mornings leading to glorious sunshine later in the day. And thinking about that is what triggered the song memory.

Life is a lot like that, isn't it? We spend much of our life "in a fog", at least spiritually speaking. Even when we have trusted Jesus early in life, we don't really comprehend all that means. Our understanding grows as we do, in the physical sense, but also in the spiritual sense. And as we grow, the fog begins to lift and we see things more clearly. Continuing to grow in our faith means we see more and more clearly. Now we see things as through a mirror, dimly, as the Apostle Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 13. Eventually we shall see clearly, shall see Jesus face to face. And that will indeed be "joy unspeakable and full of glory"!

But we don't have to wait until then to experience that kind of joy! We can live that kind of joy every day in the here and now. That kind of joy comes when we know that our eternity is secure, but also comes because we live every moment of every day in confident assurance that our God is in control.  When we see everything that comes our way as coming from His hand for our good and for His glory. When we live with grateful hearts for all the gifts He gives, both large and small. When we know that we know that we know that we belong to Him. That knowledge, that settled certainty, that no matter what comes my way, I belong to Him.......that brings a life of joy!

Yes, tough times come. We have all been expecting that in these last couple of years. And perhaps that's another reason the old hymn has come to mind. It's a reminder from God not to give up. That He is in control. A reminder not to let the tough times rob my joy! Yet another reminder came to me in my quiet time this morning as I read these words: "[Jesus prayed], But now I am coming to you and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."  (John 17:13 ESV)

Joy unspeakable. Not because of circumstances. Often in spite of circumstances. But isn't that what joy is, really? Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Joy comes from a relationship with Jesus. Joy is not an external thing; it is internal. Happy times, grace gifts, tangible blessings......those are just a bonus! Joy is in the relationship. And it is joy unspeakable and full of glory!


"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy he caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuiness of your faith - more precious than gold that is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  (1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV, emphasis mine)


And just in case you aren't familiar with the old hymn I mentioned at the outset, here it is. This hymn was written by Barney Warren way back in 1900.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KskwIKSHqzk

Throwback Thursday

Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, for my Jewish friend. Thinking about that has led me on a “throwback” journey, remembering our pilgrimages to Israel.

This morning I'm particularly remembering previous "last days" in Jerusalem. The last day of our trip typically begins with prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. We walk through the Kidron Valley and go to the House of Caiphas. We walk the Via Dolorosa and we end the day at the Garden Tomb.

Those are precious memories indeed!  I came across this photo this morning.  Al snapped it near the Garden Tomb on our last trip.

I remember that day well. I was tired. My feet hurt. It was the first day of what would end up as a very serious cold/sinus infection/ear infection. At the time, I was feeling pretty miserable. Even so, I would do it all again! There is something so special and so precious about being there. About walking where Jesus walked. About celebrating the Lord's Supper there in the Garden near the empty tomb.

Those are wonderful memories. The kind of memories that last a lifetime. I'm so glad we had this opportunity, not just once, but several times.

Memories are wonderful things. I'm so thankful that God has given us the gift of remembering. And for photographs that capture the memories!

On this "Throwback Thursday", here are a few of my favorites:

 

 

Your Password Is Incorrect

How many times a day are you asked for your password? We live in a world that requires a password for everything. Access to your smart-phone. Or to Facebook. Or to Twitter. Or to online banking. Or online shopping. Or to retrieve your voice mail. There's a password for everything.

Have you ever forgotten a password? Oh, the frustration! And if you forgot the password and you also forgot the answers to the security questions that would help you retrieve and reset the password........

It's a nightmare!

All that frustration reminds me once again how thankful I am that, when it comes time for me to enter Heaven, I won't need some combination of letters and numbers and special characters.

Because Jesus paid it all, and because I am in a personal relationship with Him, there is no other password needed. I will enter Heaven, as the old gospel hymn said, in the merits of Jesus who for sinners bled and died.  

No other password needed. Thank You, Lord!

"Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."
(1 Peter 3:18 NASB)

Pay Attention!

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."  

So begins the second chapter of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament.  

It is interesting that the writer begins the chapter with a term of conclusion. You may have heard your pastor or a Bible teacher point to this word therefore as a very important word; when you see the therefore, they may have said, you need to determine what it's there for.

What is it there for? What is the conclusion the writer of Hebrews is drawing as he begins this chapter? Remembering, of course, that the writer of Hebrews didn't actually write in chapters and verses; those were added later.

Therefore, he says, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard. And what had the recipients of the letter, these Hebrews, heard?  Chapter One gives us the answer to that question. Long ago, the writer says, God spoke through prophets. But, he says, in these last days He has spoken to us by his Son. (Hebrews 1:2a ESV).

Then he goes on to tell them, and us, exactly who Jesus is:

• heir of all things
• the One through whom God created the world
• the radiance of God's glory
• the exact imprint of God's nature
• the One who upholds the universe by the word of His power.
• the One who made purification for sins
• the One who is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God

God has spoken to us through this One. Through Jesus. And because of who Jesus is, we need to pay attention. And not just pay attention, but pay much closer attention! The implication is, what Jesus has to say is important. Because Jesus is the radiance of God's glory. Because Jesus is the exact imprint of God's nature. Because God has spoken through Jesus.

And if we don't pay attention, what will happen?  We will be in danger of drifting away.

There's another danger as well. Verse 2 reminds us that throughout recorded history, there were consequences for those who didn't pay attention, who didn't heed the message of God. The conclusion is, since that is true, what makes us think we will be any different? How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? (Hebrews 2:3)

In a devotional reading titled "Drifting from the Word", Dr. Charles Stanley writes: "Drifting begins subtly and usually includes compromising the principles found in God's Word. No one is immune from drifting. All of us have felt the temptation to let our devotion slide so as not to become too serious. However, Jesus gave up everything to come to earth and die in our place. We have eternal life because He took the principles of His father seriously. By His grace we are saved and set free from sin. Once realized, this should be enough to curb any notion of drifting. Anchor your life in the Word of God and you will not drift."

That's what the writer of Hebrews is saying to us. Pay attention to what [you] have heard. God has given us His Word. He has spoken to us through Jesus. We have that message contained in the Scriptures. We need to pay attention!  

Because God has spoken.

Because He has spoken in Jesus.

Pay attention.

One Gracious Blessing After Another

 

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one gracious blessing after another." 

(John 1:16 NLT)

I've been thinking about grace this morning, and this verse has grabbed my attention. I've come across it in several different contexts already today, so it must be something I need to pay attention to!

Depending on which translation of the Bible you read, the verse might be rendered a little differently. Grace upon grace. Blessing upon blessing. One gracious blessing after another. I especially like that last one, from the New Living Translation. One gracious blessing after another.

That's so true, isn't it? We are showered daily with blessings from God. One gracious blessing after another.

Too often we fix our attention on the less-than-we-would-like-them-to-be situations in our lives. On the bills we're having trouble paying or the pounds we can't seem to lose or the illness or the frustration. That list could go on and on, because we all have "stuff" in life that fits the less-than-we-would-like category. Each of us faces challenges in our lives. Not all of us face the same challenges, but there are challenges for each of us.

Equally true, we are all showered daily with one gracious blessing after another, if we only took the time to notice.

Friendship. Family. Laughter. Sunshine. Rain. The smell of freshly mown grass. The companionship of a pet. Coffee. Good books. Good conversation. Good food. Good neighbors. Time spent with a special friend. The list could go on and on.

One gracious blessing after another.

How about you? Where are you focusing your attention today? On the less-than-you-would-like-it-to-be situations in your life, or on all those gracious blessings?

Something to think about.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."  (Psalm 103:1-2)

Remembering September 11, 2001

Twenty years have passed since that awful day. Every September 11 we remember. And tomorrow is that day again. The day that still makes my heart ache. That makes me almost ill. The day our world changed.

For those of us who were alive on that day, those events are burned into our memories. Where were you on that awful day? I remember it vividly. On that Tuesday morning, as on every Tuesday morning, I was heading to church. Tuesday was the day for Ladies Bible Study in the morning and staff meeting in the afternoon. We were planning to begin a new study on that morning, and as I had been preparing the introductory session, my thoughts had been focused on Psalm 62, specifically on verses 7-8: "On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." As the day progressed, I found myself holding on to those verses.

I walked into the family room just minutes after the first plane had hit. Our son Brian, who had just gotten home from his job at UPS, was watching TV before heading upstairs to bed. We both stared at the TV in disbelief. And then we watched as the second plane hit. On my way to the church, I heard the news about the Pentagon on the car radio.  

Our Bible Study that morning turned into a brief time of prayer, after which I sent the ladies back home. Our staff meeting was cancelled. The pastor and I met briefly to talk through preliminary plans for the following Sunday worship service, and then he sent me home.

Life as we knew it changed forever on that day. I remember well the shock and the grief and the numbness that followed for so many days. For many those feelings are repeated each year as we mark another anniversary and as we see those horrible events replayed over and over and over on television.

Life changed on that day. We've grown accustomed to taking our shoes off at the airport and to having our purses and backpacks inspected. Sadly, we're no longer surprised by acts of violence. 

But not everything has changed. It is still true that "my refuge is in God." I still grieve with and for those families who lost so much on that day just because their family member went to work that morning.

I still grieve for the families of first responders and military personnel who, on that day and in the years that have followed, paid the ultimate sacrifice. I am still grateful for men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

Even more, as I reflect on the ways that life has changed, I cling to this unchanging truth:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear." (Psalm 46:1-2)

A Few of My Favorites

I have loved books for as long as I can remember. From being read to by my parents, to the bookmobile on the corner of our street, to learning to read for myself and making countless trips to the library….books have been a big part of my life.

When I had my stroke almost five years ago, I thought my relationship with books had ended. Even after months of therapy which helped me learn to read and write again, reading just wasn’t the same. Reading had become stressful rather than pleasurable. Thankfully, that has changed over time. My therapist said it would, although I didn’t believe her. But she was right and I was wrong. And in the last year reading has once again become a source of great pleasure. 

As a result, I did a lot of reading over the summer. This morning I’m sharing a few of my favorites. I couldn’t decide how many to share, but I finally decided to give you the top 5. Here they are, in no particular order.

One of the books I read at the beginning of summer was Hope Between the Pages by Pepper D. Basham. Pepper has become one of my favorite authors, as you will see. The opening line of the book had me hooked: Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent read. And it was! This is a dual timeline story set in and around the Biltmore Estate. It’s a delightful part history, part romance with Christian elements woven throughout.

Another favorite, also from Pepper Basham (I told you she’s a favorite!) is The Mistletoe Countess. This is  an exquisite love story full of history and humor, with strong themes of hope and redemption. The characters are some of my favorites, especially Grace with her joy and enthusiasm and love of books. She even has red hair, so she will remind you a lot of Anne of Green Gables.

Bridge of Secrets by Kimberly Woodhouse was another favorite read this summer. This is another dual time line story set around the Golden Gate Bridge, at its construction and in the modern day, during a renovation. Both time lines are equally complex and compelling. This one is filled with mystery and intrigue.

Next on the list of favorites is The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander. This is part of a series of novels celebrating heroines of World War II. Based on an actual FBI investigation, this one has cryptographer Eloise Marshall working with the FBI to uncover a Japanese spy ring. 

Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills is one I just finished a couple of weeks ago (right before Covid brought my life to a standstill!). I loved it! It was unputdownable! (I’m not sure that’s an actual word!) It’s a different style from the others I have mentioned. It starts with a bang and moves nonstop to it’s very unexpected ending. It’s fast paced with lots of twists and turns, with very interesting characters. This is Christian romantic suspense at its finest!

Because I had a hard time limiting myself to the self-imposed 5 favorites, I’m giving you a list of “honorable mentions”. They are worth checking out as well. To keep up with what I’m reading, you can follow me on Goodreads, or keep checking here, as I often post book reviews on this page.

Here’s the Honorable Mention List:

    Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham

    The Chase by Lisa Harris

    Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard

In summer, I primarily read fiction, and save the “heavier” reading for the winter months. However, there is one nonfiction work I want to recommend to you. Even though I haven’t finished it yet, this is a powerful read. Voddie T. Baucham Jr is the author of fault lines, The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe. As a Christian and a pastor who also happens to be a black man, Baucham offers a powerful perspective on the social issues we are facing. 

So there you have it….my summer reading favorites. And as usual, I have a pretty long “to be read” list! A never ending list!

What are some of your favorite reads? I would love to hear from you. 

Happy Reading!

Wasting Time

It may seem a bit counterintuitive to write a post about wasting time on a holiday when most of us likely will spend much of our day doing exactly that. Does it strike you as a bit odd that we celebrate work by not working? In any event, for most of us, on the last official holiday of the summer season, this is a day for doing not very much.

As we wind up this holiday weekend, it's time to be turning our thoughts toward fall. In some parts of the country, this is back to school week, although here in the South, we've been at that for almost a month now. No matter. Labor Day signals a shift toward fall. Away from the slower pace of summer and back toward regular routines. In theory at least, that would mean less time-wasting and more productive activity, which causes my mind to turn toward all the ways I waste time.

I'm certain I'm not the only one. We all manage to do some time wasting in one form or another. Watching too much television. Playing too many games. For me, that would mean too much time playing Words With Friends, a game I enjoy very much. It challenges me, and I've reached the age where mental stimulation is a good thing. Need to keep those brain cells working! Even when I'm in the midst of a terrible losing slump as I have been lately. Even when the game makes me feel really stupid. Even then it's still a good challenge. But I've been spending way too much time playing and not enough time doing other things I need to be doing, so I need to do a better job of limiting my time in the game.

Your time-wasting habits may be different than mine. Maybe you spend too much time in front of the television. Maybe you're spending too much time doing things you want to do instead of the things you need to do, or the things you are responsible to do. I'm fairly confident that each of us is doing [more than] our share of time wasting. And how sad that is!

We are given a limited number of hours in each day. A limited life-span on this earth. These times are gifts from a gracious God. How said that we so carelessly value the time we are given.  That is not to say that we shouldn't have time for relaxing; we should. But we must be careful not to let the relaxation time overshadow the other important things we should be doing. Sometimes relaxation is the most important thing. But not always!

I don't want to be a time-waster. I want to value and use wisely the time I have been given. That's what's on my mind this morning as we turn the corner from summer into fall.

"Teach us realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." (Psalm 90:12 NLT) 

Already?

How is it possible that we are already in September? Summer has two bookends - Memorial Day and Labor Day - and here we are. Heading into the Labor Day weekend when it seems summer just started yesterday! 

In spite of it passing so quickly and ending so abruptly with our bout with Covid, we enjoyed a pleasant summer. Time with friends, a family vacation, a birthday, and lots of good books. I’ll share some of my favorites in another post. Today I’m thinking about how quickly time passes!

Today is already the 3rd day of September. The crape myrtles that line my street are losing their blooms. The apple orchards are open. We're beginning to see pumpkin everything - Cheerios, Peeps, and coffee creamer, to name a few - everywhere we turn. And it's time for some football! Go, Gamecocks!

I love September. There's a subtle change in the temperatures, which around here means mostly upper 80s instead of upper 90s. But hey, we'll take what we can get! And gradually we will move to lower humidity, a welcome change for us all.

All these signs point to one thing. It's time for fall, y'all!

I know fall doesn't officially make an appearance for about three more weeks. But turning the calendar page to September means it's that time again. Add in the fact that we're coming up on the Labor Day weekend, and it's as good as official.  

Fall has arrived. The signs are everywhere. You can't help but notice.

There are other signs that are obvious as well.

"But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power."       (2 Timothy 3:1-6a NASB)

I'm certain you have noticed some of these things in our culture. They are just as obvious as the cooler air and the football season.

We can look at the calendar and know when fall arrives. We don't know exactly when Jesus will return, but as we look at these signs around us, we can't help but be aware the day is closer now than it has ever been.

Are you ready?