FOURTH RETREAT CHALLENGE

 

 

Good morning, Ladies. This morning I am celebrating "normal." With that big ol' honkin' novel for adults finally sent in, my life is finally starting to look like what passes for normal around here.

I have clean clothes that I don't have to climb into the dryer to find. 

The dirty dishes are in the kitchen rather than covering every horizontal plane in my office.

I'm not still in my pajamas at 4 in the afternoon.

I' ve stopped thinking in dialogue. Things like, "Honey?" he asked. "What were thinking about for dinner?" 

Those of you who are thinking of making your living as writers, just be careful what you wish for!

Speaking of young writers, I think by now most of you have checked out the new website and discovered the writing tips. I hadn't officially announced the new site because two more things are going to be added to it -- the Writing Showcase, where you can display some of your work, and the Teen of the Month. Still, you now have a page and that's a start. There is so very much I want to do to help you in your journey, and at times I find myself looking more at where I'm falling short in that, rather than at the things I AM able to provide for you. 

Thank you all SO much for your understanding about last weekend's live blog retreat. That decision and your support for it means a far better event the first weekend in March. Any time we're all together godly things happen  (what's that verse about two or three being gathered together?) but why not provide even more fertile ground for that to happen?

Listen to me, all talking about soil and planting, when flowers die within the hour of coming into my home! But we really are preparing the soil for our retreat with these challenges, so let's move on to the fourth one, yes?

We've established our theme as sharing the Bread of Life without using words. As shown in the latest picture of Baby Maeryn above, we are given that bread -- in her case symbolized by this very cool container that she can get the Cheerios out of, but she can't dump them on the floor (which is her M.O.) She could enjoy them alone and we would all think it was adorable (but, then, we think everything she does is adorable). But she sees that there is someone else who could benefit from the Bread . . . .

 

 

So far you've worked on three ways to share:

        (1) What you need to leave behind in order to offer the bread

        (2)  How you can be a light in your own home without quoting Scripture or dropping to your knees in prayer in the middle of the family room. (Nothing wrong with either of those, but they aren't always the most effective means of opening the door)

        (3)  What you need to reconcile with someone so that Jesus is apparent without his name even being mentioned

I have loved your responses and I think we would all love to continue hearing about the above. And again, let's take a look at a fourth challenge.   

"You have heard that it was said . . . 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, 'Do not swear at all.'" (Matthew 5:33-34)

Now there's an easy one, right? Bear witness by not swearing. Done. Maybe the occasional expletive crosses your mind or slips out of your mouth when your computer swallows the term paper you've been working on for a week. But as for taking the Lord's name in vain? You're golden, right?

Maybe not cussing sets you apart from the mass of teens who use profanity as everything but a co-ordinating conjunction, and it definitely keeps your thoughts more pure. But (a) omitting cuss words doesn't say , "I have some good news that I want to share with you," and (b) that isn't even what this passage (or the commandment) is about.

Just to be clear, I'm all for not talking trash. It's one of the many ways we honor God with our speech. Refraining from spewing out epithets when just about everybody else is bluing the air with it is a valuable spiritual discipline. So what I'm about to say is not an attempt to make cussing biblically okay!

The point of "do not swear at all," is that you don't have to "swear by" anything.  You may not have heard this expression because it's an old one (Melody just told me yesterday that nobody says "flake" anymore and I'm kind of sad about that . . ) but people used to say, "He swears by Chevrolet. He'd never buy another make of car." Or "She swears by everything he (boyfriend, doctor, mayor, etc. )says.  Knowing that, you can see where Jesus is going when he says don't swear by anything because the truth of God is yours. Here's what that looks like:

        * Don't say anything you don't mean. For example, as Eugene Peterson says in The Message, don't say, "I'll pray for you" and never do it. Sounding "pious" doesn't do anything to share the Bread.

        * Don't get caught up in "hero worship." That contemporary Christian artist may have recorded songs that really speak to you. That author might have written a book that makes things so clear. It might feel like that youth pastor is your spiritual guru. Those are all good things that can help you on your journey, but the path belongs to God and you.

        *  Look to the true foundation of the Christian faith, rather than to what's trendy. For instance, a successful evangelist with a charismatic personality may say that you deserve all the material wealth the world has to offer because you're faithful to God, but Jesus never said that (in fact, he said quite the opposite). Remember those WWJD bracelets everybody used to wear (okay, maybe you dont) or the crosses made from nails? Those kinds of things can work well as reminders, but they should only point to the real thing, not replace it.

    * Making your speech sound more religious doesn't make it more true. In fact sometimes it waters it down, even turns people off. Have you ever heard someone ask another person, "HaveyouacceptedJesusChristasyourLordandsavior?" Do Christians you know toss around phrases among nonChristians like, "God just put it on my heart," and "You need to ask Jesus into your heart," and "You just need to give that to God"? People with no God-experience don't know what the Sam Hill you're talking about. Half the time, I don't think the Christians who just automatically use the jargon do either. Again, those phrases do have meaning, but not when they become rote responses, and especially when our hearts aren't really in it. 

    * To quote Peterson again: "When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong."  We can all make ourselves sound better than we are. When I talk about my Academy for Spiritual Formation experience, it's really tempting to say, "I just immerse myself in God fro the five days I'm there," when in reality I sometimes find my mind wandering in chapel, or sneak in an email check during quiet time or mentally critique the presenter's outfit.

Can we share the Bread of Life by what we DON'T do? In part, yes. I'm going to ask you to fill in the part we NEED to do when it comes to our speech and our promises and our swearing-by. What does this nudge in you? Baby Mae was obviously nudged to take action and share -- without saying a word. (never mind that she can't talk yet!) 

 

Let us hear from you. I always learn so much from your comments.

Blessings,

Nancy Rue

 

Comments

[Kate S]

OOOH you're website is up?! I'll come back to read the post but I NEED to see this!! :D so excited!

[Therese]

The verse is Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." NIV :)

[Emii]

LOVE THE NEW WEBSITE! So excited. :D
And as for this post, love it.

[Paige]

Love the post :) This is something that's really been on my heart lately, and the verse that talks about letting our yes be yes and no be no. I know one of my friends won't say, "I swear I won't do ____" or "I promise ____" She feels that it is essential to have people take you for your word. I think that really makes her stand out and it's an idea I've been trying to incorporate into my life.

[Avery]

Wow, I've been thinking about this these past months!

One of the things I do when I'm around people who tend to spout extracolorful words is I be uber polite so that hopefully they'll feel bad about swearing in front of me. And the people usually do stop when I'm around so I guess it's working a little bit. Also, I send a quick prayer whenever I pass them.

Hope yall have an awesome week! And neat website, Mrs. Rue:)

[Alyson]

There are things I just choose not to say. I don't say I swear and I don't really say I promise. I think that if I say I going to do something, I need to do it whether I promise or not. I choose not to say "Heck""Shut up""Gosh" and other words phrases that are replacement words instead of using God's name in vain, or they tend to tear people down instead of build them up.

[Nicole]

Ah-ha! I'm not the only one who thinks in dialogue! Hurrah! OK, now to read the rest of the blog post... ;)

[Nicole]

Wonderful post, Mrs. Rue! :) It's really encouraging to hear y'all saying that you (or you're trying, or a friend does, etc.) don't say "I swear that...!" or other things, like what Alyson said. :) It's important not to become, y'know, for lack of a better word, "religious" about what you can and cannot say as a Christian - that's just a waste of time. But, for example, I say "geez" a lot, and I just have to be careful to say it clearly when I say it so that it's not mistaken for misusing Jesus' Holy Name. I prefer to say something else or not say it at all around people who might mistake it for something else - kind of like what you were saying, Mrs. Rue, about how we can share the Bread of Life through what we *don't* do.

Anyway, once again, thanks for this! It's discouraging to hear Christians say "I swear that..." when Jesus clearly states not to, because we as humans really can't promise anything! (Please don't take that too literally. :D) So, yes, this was very encouraging. ;)

Love y'all! Sorry for the rambling!! :P God bless!!

[Melody]

Great post! Ok so what we NEED to do to let our light shine...Well I guess what I was just doing would count. A friend called me crying because her grandma's in the hospital. I couldn't do anything besides pray, but we texted back and forth. I tried really hard not to assume anything. Like I hate it when I say like "I'm so scared" and someone says "I know exactly how you feel!" so when I was talking to her I tried not to assume anything like that. I tried to just be really honest (of course the girl I was talking to has like a lie detector or something so you have to be honest) and I said I loved her and was praying for her and that I wished I could do something. So yeah, I guess we should just try to let everything we say be something that we could say to God without being ashamed. I personally try to be really understanding, even if I don't have any advice I like to think I'm a good listener at least.

[♫Lexi♫]

This post is exactly what I needed right now! Especially that about hero worship. I am inspired daily by Chrisstian songs, which is great, but sometimes I think that's enough. Lyrics will speak to me, but I'll sometimes not even spend any time with God because I think that's like my devotion for the day or something. I feel so guilty about that. I am really trying to work on that, because I know God wants to spend time with me each and every day. I do a devotion daily, but I feel like I don't really have a close relationship with Him like I need to. Inspiring Christian music will help me in my journey, but like you said Mrs. Rue, it's just God and me.:)
BTW, I am relieved I'm also not the only one that thinks in dialogue!=D
╬♥Love y'all♥╬

[Term paper Writing]

Hi,
I am very thankful too you for this sharing..It is very useful for my writing project I get enough information for my writing project..

[Melody]

Hey girls. I got my letter today from the trainee company I auditioned for. I didn't get in. I'm disappointed, but not surprised at all. I wasn't expecting to get in and I know God has a plan. I didn't know how I would make a decision if I did get into all the places I'm auditioning, so this just takes away one decision :)

[Avery]

Aaaaaaaawwwwwww Melody!! I'm so sorry!I'm praying for you!!

[God's Girl/Abi]

Girls, I need prayer and quick for my elderly friend. Just now a rescue truck and an ambulance went to her house and went into the house with a stretcher. We hope it was just a fall. Please pray a hard and as long as you can.

[God's Girl/Abi]

Update- She is now off to the hospital. Apparently she took pain medication for teeth that were pulled. Her blood pressure was very low, soon it was stabling but as soon as she stood up, it plummeted. They think it might have been the medication. Please keep praying! Thanks!

[God'sgirl/Abi]

It was the medication she is much better!!!