In Paul's second book to Timothy, the pastor of the church at Epheses, he says, "For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:3-5)
Even though Christianity was still relatively young at that time, the danger already existed of those who resisted true doctine. There were people who wanted teachers/preachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear and to make them feel good. They wanted to avoid being challenged to acknowledge their own sin and submit themselves fully to Jesus Christ.
This danger continues to be as real today as it was back in Paul's time. The advantage we have now over the young believers back then is that we have easy access to God's Word and can quickly search the Scriptures ourselves to test what is being said to ensure its biblical accuracy. Paul commended the Bereans for doing just that about what he taught (Acts 17:11).
It really is not all that difficult today to find teachers and preachers who stand under the umbrella of Christianity who talk a good talk but in reality are just far enough off the truth that they can easily lead the unsuspecting astray.
The hot topic these days is Rob Bell and his "Love Wins" book that recently came out. While on the surface, one could surmise that this would be an incredibly positive book, one that points people towards God and reveals God as loving and compassionate. And that's not a bad thing, because I want people to know what a loving God our Creator is...how each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made, precious in His thoughts (Psalm 139). God's love extends to the fact that He knew we would need a Savior - even from the beginning of time. God loves us because God is love.
However, God's love is not something that we can mold and shape to fit into our own little box of "comfortable-ness." God's love is sweet - just ask the new believer experiencing freedom from the penalty of sin for the first time, or the mature believer who is once again brought to his feet after strumbling. But God's love also extends to justice and rightousness.
Now I will admit that I have not read Mr. Bell's book, but I have read the FAQ page on the Mars Hill website about this book and I've heard other people talk about this book - both for and against. My husband spoke with one young man who was reading Mr. Bell's book and he said that he could barely get through the first chapter without already filling ill at ease about the theology being taught.
In reading the FAQ page about the book, I felt I could agree with many of the theological points Mr. Bell addressed, however, when it came to addressing what happens in the afterlife, I felt my spirit within grow greatly distressed. Quoting from that page, "Rob isn't suggesting Universalism...He is proposing that God's love is so big that the invitation to God's grace may extend into the next life so that all could be saved."
And then there is the quote from Chad Holtz, the pastor who lost his job for supporting Rob Bell: "So long as we believe there is a dividing point in eternity, we're going to think in terms of us and them. But when you believe that God has saved everyone, the point is you're saved. Live like it."
First, my comment about the statement by Mr. Holtz is that God has NOT saved everyone. But God has provided a way for everyone to be saved - and that is through Jesus Christ alone. Yes, John 3:16 says that God so love the WORLD, but it also says that what we must make the decision to believe in Jesus Christ in order to have eternal life. It's not a given that every person will go to heaven. It's not a situation where everyone is saved, and you have the option to "opt out" if you choose NOT to believe in Jesus Christ (as someone once told me their belief was). Yes, God loves us, but He is not going to force those who chose not to believe to live in eternity with Him.
Second, I want to share my comments about Mr. Bell's statement regarding the opportunity for salvation after death. I want to start off by stating emphatically that I am not a great biblical scholar...I don't know all there is to know about every doctrine the Bible teaches. But I do study God's Word on a regular basis, and I do feel relatively confident to speak what God has laid on my heart regarding this issue. I believe that every person is given a clear and fair opportunity to make a decision about who God is and how they will honor Him. I believe that God is a rightous and merciful God who does not punish anyone unjustly. I also believe that we have barely begun to scratch the surface of understanding exactly Who God truly is. We have what the Bible has told us, and I think that if God had disclosed any more of His infinite self to His finite creation, we would not have been able to stand it.
God clearly outlines within His word how a person can be reconciled to Him -- and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. I believe that once death on this earth occurs, then the spirit goes to the place God has prepared for it based upon the decision made on earth regarding Jesus. Nowhere in the Bible (that I am aware of) does it say that after death there is another opportunity to make that decsion. In Hebrews 9:12 we are told that we are destined to die and after death comes judgment. Jesus' brutal but voluntary death on the cross was in payment of our sins. If, in life, we do not accept that payment, then eternal death and separation from God is our penalty (Romans 6:23). There is no second chance after that.
Let me approach this another way...What if there was a second chance for salvation after death? Why bother making a decision for Christ now? Why not just live life the way I want to ("eat, drink and be merry"), and then when I die, find out what's going to happen? If what Rob Bell says is correct, and I don't like being in hell, then I can simply say that I believe in Jesus and end up in heaven after all. Is that really a risk work taking? Not for me. But, unfortunately, there are going to be many who do decide to go that route, choose not to live for Christ and die to eternal damnation.
Jesus promised life abundant if we live for Him here on earth and after that an eternity with Him in heaven. That's the promise I want to hang my hat on.
If you are someone who thinks that this theology that Rob Bell is promoting in his book is correct, please be a Berean and check it against God's word. Do your own study... seek God's wisdom in this. Don't take my word for it, don't take anyone else's word for it. Take God's Word for it.
Don't go "according to your own desires, accumulating teachers for yourselves because you have an itch to hear something new." As Paul admonished Timothy..."keep a clear head about everything..." Be a Berean.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Approachable Throne of God
I have made it my goal for this year to concentrate on my prayer life and work towards making it what I think God wants it to be. Towards that end, I've been going through a devotional book entitled Love to Pray by Alvin Vander Griend.
The verse that opened this morning's devotional was Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence (some translations use the word "boldly") so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Even before I got into the author's devotional, some thoughts came to my mind as I read this verse.
The first thought that struck me about this verse was that we don't already have to "clean" or "perfect" in order to approach God's throne in confidence in order to receive His mercy and grace. Yes, we do need to have already been washed in the blood of Christ, but we can approach boldy in order to receive the mercy and grace we need. It is God's work - not our own - that makes it happen. We just need to have the faith and confidence that it will.
My second thought was that we don't approach the throne anonymously. God knows who we are and why we are there. He welcomes us with open arms. This verse is His invitation. He says that He is simply awaiting our attention to Him so that He can lavish upon us - His adopted sons and daughters - all that He has for us. The greatest of these gifts are His mercy and His grace.
We don't have to wait until we are "worthy" enough to approach His throne. He is the One who makes us worthy in His presence.
What freedom and confidence this is for us who believe - to be able to bring our praise, our concerns and wants, and our worship to our awesome heavenly Father!
The verse that opened this morning's devotional was Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence (some translations use the word "boldly") so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Even before I got into the author's devotional, some thoughts came to my mind as I read this verse.
The first thought that struck me about this verse was that we don't already have to "clean" or "perfect" in order to approach God's throne in confidence in order to receive His mercy and grace. Yes, we do need to have already been washed in the blood of Christ, but we can approach boldy in order to receive the mercy and grace we need. It is God's work - not our own - that makes it happen. We just need to have the faith and confidence that it will.
My second thought was that we don't approach the throne anonymously. God knows who we are and why we are there. He welcomes us with open arms. This verse is His invitation. He says that He is simply awaiting our attention to Him so that He can lavish upon us - His adopted sons and daughters - all that He has for us. The greatest of these gifts are His mercy and His grace.
We don't have to wait until we are "worthy" enough to approach His throne. He is the One who makes us worthy in His presence.
What freedom and confidence this is for us who believe - to be able to bring our praise, our concerns and wants, and our worship to our awesome heavenly Father!
Friday, February 12, 2010
I'm Worth HOW Much?
Have you ever heard the saying that something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it? You may have a house that is appraised at $200,000, but if you can’t find someone who is willing to pay that amount for it, is it really worth that much? Or maybe you have a piece of antique furniture that you think is worth $500, but you can’t find someone willing to pay that much for it. Same thing with jewelry, art, etc. An item’s true value is based upon what someone else is willing to pay for it.
Have you ever considered how much you are worth? I’m sure there are some who could put a monetary value to it… they earn so much money a year, they have assets of “X” number of dollars, they have cars, homes, businesses, etc. And that’s all well and good, I guess. But if we go back to my original thought and rephrase the question, what would your response be? What are YOU worth? What would someone be willing to pay for YOU in order for you to belong to them?
Sometimes people who are kidnapped and have a ransom requested for their return can have some sort of idea of what their value might be, but, again, that only reflects what someone else was willing to pay.
So do you have any idea of how much you are worth? How much would someone be willing to pay for you?
I have great news for you! Someone knows your worth, and someone has already paid an extreme cost for you!
In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, we read, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.” (NIV)
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate ransom for each of us – His own life. His payment came in the form of cruel mocking, vicious beating, and merciless crucifixion. He did it for me and He did it for you. He paid the ultimate price for OUR sin – not because He did anything wrong. He did it so that we could be reconciled with God and live with Him forever in eternity.
So what are you worth? You are worth all the love that God has for you (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). You are worth the great price of His own Son.
If you have never acknowledged Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf, take time to think about it. Read the Gospel of John in the New Testament and consider who Jesus is and what it was He did for you.
If you already know Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, are you living your life in a way that is worthy of the great price that was paid for you? Can people look at you and see something different? Something unique that they are drawn to? Or is your life being lived as though your worth is based upon worldly standards?
Take time today to think about it: Is your value based upon the things of this earth which are perishable, or is your value based upon what God was willing to pay for your redemption? If it is the latter, then live like it!
Have you ever considered how much you are worth? I’m sure there are some who could put a monetary value to it… they earn so much money a year, they have assets of “X” number of dollars, they have cars, homes, businesses, etc. And that’s all well and good, I guess. But if we go back to my original thought and rephrase the question, what would your response be? What are YOU worth? What would someone be willing to pay for YOU in order for you to belong to them?
Sometimes people who are kidnapped and have a ransom requested for their return can have some sort of idea of what their value might be, but, again, that only reflects what someone else was willing to pay.
So do you have any idea of how much you are worth? How much would someone be willing to pay for you?
I have great news for you! Someone knows your worth, and someone has already paid an extreme cost for you!
In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, we read, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.” (NIV)
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate ransom for each of us – His own life. His payment came in the form of cruel mocking, vicious beating, and merciless crucifixion. He did it for me and He did it for you. He paid the ultimate price for OUR sin – not because He did anything wrong. He did it so that we could be reconciled with God and live with Him forever in eternity.
So what are you worth? You are worth all the love that God has for you (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). You are worth the great price of His own Son.
If you have never acknowledged Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf, take time to think about it. Read the Gospel of John in the New Testament and consider who Jesus is and what it was He did for you.
If you already know Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, are you living your life in a way that is worthy of the great price that was paid for you? Can people look at you and see something different? Something unique that they are drawn to? Or is your life being lived as though your worth is based upon worldly standards?
Take time today to think about it: Is your value based upon the things of this earth which are perishable, or is your value based upon what God was willing to pay for your redemption? If it is the latter, then live like it!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Remembrance...
What follows are journal entries written approximately three years ago. These entries have helped me go through the grieving process and recall precious memories.
January 10, 2007
My dad will die some time this week. He has come to the decision to discontinue his dialysis. He has accepted that he is dying and is ready to go Home. The family spent several hours with him the night before last after Mom called us over. (Aside: It was late at night, and Mom had called my brothers Chuck and Bob and their wives and David and me to come over to their apartment. We spent time talking, in prayer and singing together.) It was very difficult but very special. God was truly present, offering His peace and comfort.
The unsurity of the next few days is unsettling. Hospice is on call and readily available to assist Mom and Dad in any way they can.
God's words of comfort - songs and scripture - swirl around in my mind. I know that God is here and in this situation. I know He will comfort and meet our needs. I know that in the midst of God's comfort and peace there will be sadness and grief. I just pray that in it all and through it all God's will and purpose are being worked out and that He receives the honor and glory.
January 11, 2007
Life is becoming surreal right now. We visit Dad and he is coherent, able to carry on a conversation, eat meals - and yet we know within a matter of days he'll be gone. We talk to Dad about funeral plans and he tells us what he would like. But God's peace and grace continue to surround and overwhelm us.
I think I am going to go ahead and call my brothers (Bill and Jim) and tell them to just come. The weather this weekend is supposted to get bad, and they just need to be here with the rest of the family.
January 18, 2007
Dad passed away Saturday morning, January 13, 2007, at approximately 6 AM. Bill and Jim arrived during the night and were there Friday with Dad all day. I took Friday off and spent it over at Mom and Dad's as well. Willard and Arlene were visiting but headed back home Friday afternoon. Dad went to bed after lunch on Friday and never got back up.
The hospice nurse, Terri, came by and gave Mom some medications for Dad to help keep him comfortable. Bob and Chuck were there as well, so we were all able to hear what she had to say. We all had dinner together that evening in the "mail room" down the hall from the apartment. As Dad would have wanted, we shared stories and laughed and enjoyed being together as a family.
David and I went home somewhat early that evening, but then we did get the phone call the next morning that Dad had gone to be with the Lord. Dad had gone downhill so much on Friday, I think we were all praying that God would be merciful and take him home, so I honestly don't think we were surprised or even regretful when we got the news.
Debbie (Chuck's wife) had spent the night with Mom and Dad, and she was helping to make sure that Dad was getting his medication. Bill was staying in one of the apartments in the Community Center across the parking lot. Mom said that they had checked on Dad several times during the night, and while his breathing was getting labored, he was still alive. They checked on him at 4 AM, and he was breathing, but when Mom checked on him at 6, he was gone.
He did not suffer. He did not struggle. He passed from this life into eternity quietly and peacefully as we all prayed he would.
Mom called hospice and the funeral home right away. Of course, she called all of us as well. Dad was laying on his side, so still and quiet. He looked so tired and weak. His poor body was so spent in trying to keep him alive. Barney (Mom and Dad's dog) was snuggled up tight next to Dad, and he never left his side until the funeral home came and picked up the body.
I remember sobbing over Dad's body for a while and yet in my heart rejoicing knowing that Dad was now with Jesus.
The funeral home in Orange City had an arrangement with a local funeral home here in Des Moines to come and pick up Dad's body. They came approximately 8 AM to get Dad. All of my brothers except Bob had gotten there by the time the funeral home came. Bob arrived shortly after and was able to spend a few minutes with Dad. We all stood together hugging and praying and crying. Then they took Dad's body away.
The next few hours were a blur of phone calls and making plans. Pastor Gary Clark (our pastor from Olivet Baptist Church) came over on his way to conduct another funeral at church and offered us some comfort and prayer.
David decided to stay in Des Moines until after church on Sunday. Mom, Bill and I decided to go ahead and head on up to Orange City, and we left about 11:30. The rest of the boys and grandkids were coming up on Sunday also. There was a forecast of bad weather so we were all a little anxious for those who were going to be traveling on Sunday.
Mom, Bill and I dropped Barney off at Willard and Arlene's (in Sanborn, Iowa) and finally got to the hotel (in Orange City, Iowa) around 5:30 PM. We went and got some dinner and then headed back to the hotel.
Everyone began arriving around noon. We had an appointment to meet with the undertaker at 1 PM that day. We went over details of Dad's life and the funeral service. We picked out a casket and vault.
We then all headed over to Sioux Center where Lena's girls (Lena was our aunt. She went to be with the Lord not long after Dad did.) had prepared a meal for us. Most of the grandkids had arrived. The weather was pretty bad - lots of snow - so it was good to be able to get back to the hotel safely.
Monday morning, Mom met with her financial planner and got a lot of her legal documentation taken care of. My brothers and I went over to the funeral home to rehearse the songs we were going to sing at the funeral. David came along so we could finalize the service plan (Dad had asked David to officiate the funeral).
The immediate family viewing was at 2 and the grandkids then came at 2:30. The visitation then ran from 3 until 6. I felt like once I got through the inital viewing I was going to be able to handle things pretty well. I helped greet people as they approached Dad's casket. Dad looked so good. He didn't look exactly like himself, but he didn't have that gray, gaunt appearance either. He looked almost healthy again. There were many people who didn't know Dad had been so ill. It really was a celebration of Dad's life.
We left to have dinner at Pizza Ranch and then went back for the funeral at 7. The service itself was so good. David officiated and he did a tremendous job. He really caught Dad's spirit. My brothers and I sang two songs: "Living by Faith" and "It is Well." God gave us such strength and composure to be able to get through it all. I know it was totally a "God-thing."
Each of us kids then got up and shared about Dad. It was awesome. Each of us had something different to say, but it all worked together awesomely.
The Gideons then had a prayer circle. (Dad had been an active Gideon for most of his adult life.) They presented Mom with a memorial Bible and sang "Blest Be the Tie that Binds." Then the American Legion came and presented Mom with an American flag in honor of Dad's service in the Korean War. We then finished the funeral with the singing of Dad's favorite hymn "Amazing Grace." I know that this service was exactly as Dad would have wanted it.
January 19, 2007
After Dad's funeral, there was a time of fellowship - coffee and cookies - at the funeral home. It seemed like people stayed for quite a while. I honestly don't remember what time it was when we finally left the funeral home to head back to the hotel. Everyone - especially Mom - was pretty tired and relieved that the day was over.
The next morning Mom decided that we should dress for warmth, not style, for the graveside service. It was so bitter cold out, but the sky was bright at clear.
We all met at the funeral home at approximately 9:15 AM and lined our cars up for the processional. David conducted a portion of the graveside service in the chapel. I wept hard as the grandsons carried Dad's casket to the hearse. My cousins Jodi, Heidi and Hope gathered around me to comfort me - they know how it feels to lose their dad.
We followed the hearse to Doon Cemetary. Mom pointed out to David and me Grandpa and Grandma Boscaljon's farm in the distance near Doon.
There was a tent set up as shelter against the cold by the graveside. Dad's grandsons carried the casket to the position over the vault in the grave. David again presented a few words and some scripture and then committed Dad's body to the earth.
We stood around the casket for quite some time - crying, hugging, sharing - in spite of the cold. Dad truly was deeply loved, admired and respectd.
After the graveside service, we drove back to Sioux Center to the Pizza Ranch there and had lunch. After that, everyone headed on home. David and I had to pick up our car at the dealership in Sioux Center because it had broken down when David arrived in Orange City on Sunday. It wasn't anything serious and we were able to head on home.
Tomorrow will mark one week since Dad died. It just seems like so long already. So much has happened that that week's time. We've had to work through so many emotions - grief, sadness, peace, joy, laughter and crying, hope and comfort. And I know there will be some more of that, maybe not as intensely as we felt it this first week, but I know they'll still be there.
My dad's faith in God never waivered all through his illness - at least we never saw any evidence of waivering. He trusted God in every aspect of his life. I'm sure there were times when he wished things were different, that he could have more quality time with his family, but he knew that God was ultimately in control of his life. He rested in God's hands.
January 10, 2007
My dad will die some time this week. He has come to the decision to discontinue his dialysis. He has accepted that he is dying and is ready to go Home. The family spent several hours with him the night before last after Mom called us over. (Aside: It was late at night, and Mom had called my brothers Chuck and Bob and their wives and David and me to come over to their apartment. We spent time talking, in prayer and singing together.) It was very difficult but very special. God was truly present, offering His peace and comfort.
The unsurity of the next few days is unsettling. Hospice is on call and readily available to assist Mom and Dad in any way they can.
God's words of comfort - songs and scripture - swirl around in my mind. I know that God is here and in this situation. I know He will comfort and meet our needs. I know that in the midst of God's comfort and peace there will be sadness and grief. I just pray that in it all and through it all God's will and purpose are being worked out and that He receives the honor and glory.
January 11, 2007
Life is becoming surreal right now. We visit Dad and he is coherent, able to carry on a conversation, eat meals - and yet we know within a matter of days he'll be gone. We talk to Dad about funeral plans and he tells us what he would like. But God's peace and grace continue to surround and overwhelm us.
I think I am going to go ahead and call my brothers (Bill and Jim) and tell them to just come. The weather this weekend is supposted to get bad, and they just need to be here with the rest of the family.
January 18, 2007
Dad passed away Saturday morning, January 13, 2007, at approximately 6 AM. Bill and Jim arrived during the night and were there Friday with Dad all day. I took Friday off and spent it over at Mom and Dad's as well. Willard and Arlene were visiting but headed back home Friday afternoon. Dad went to bed after lunch on Friday and never got back up.
The hospice nurse, Terri, came by and gave Mom some medications for Dad to help keep him comfortable. Bob and Chuck were there as well, so we were all able to hear what she had to say. We all had dinner together that evening in the "mail room" down the hall from the apartment. As Dad would have wanted, we shared stories and laughed and enjoyed being together as a family.
David and I went home somewhat early that evening, but then we did get the phone call the next morning that Dad had gone to be with the Lord. Dad had gone downhill so much on Friday, I think we were all praying that God would be merciful and take him home, so I honestly don't think we were surprised or even regretful when we got the news.
Debbie (Chuck's wife) had spent the night with Mom and Dad, and she was helping to make sure that Dad was getting his medication. Bill was staying in one of the apartments in the Community Center across the parking lot. Mom said that they had checked on Dad several times during the night, and while his breathing was getting labored, he was still alive. They checked on him at 4 AM, and he was breathing, but when Mom checked on him at 6, he was gone.
He did not suffer. He did not struggle. He passed from this life into eternity quietly and peacefully as we all prayed he would.
Mom called hospice and the funeral home right away. Of course, she called all of us as well. Dad was laying on his side, so still and quiet. He looked so tired and weak. His poor body was so spent in trying to keep him alive. Barney (Mom and Dad's dog) was snuggled up tight next to Dad, and he never left his side until the funeral home came and picked up the body.
I remember sobbing over Dad's body for a while and yet in my heart rejoicing knowing that Dad was now with Jesus.
The funeral home in Orange City had an arrangement with a local funeral home here in Des Moines to come and pick up Dad's body. They came approximately 8 AM to get Dad. All of my brothers except Bob had gotten there by the time the funeral home came. Bob arrived shortly after and was able to spend a few minutes with Dad. We all stood together hugging and praying and crying. Then they took Dad's body away.
The next few hours were a blur of phone calls and making plans. Pastor Gary Clark (our pastor from Olivet Baptist Church) came over on his way to conduct another funeral at church and offered us some comfort and prayer.
David decided to stay in Des Moines until after church on Sunday. Mom, Bill and I decided to go ahead and head on up to Orange City, and we left about 11:30. The rest of the boys and grandkids were coming up on Sunday also. There was a forecast of bad weather so we were all a little anxious for those who were going to be traveling on Sunday.
Mom, Bill and I dropped Barney off at Willard and Arlene's (in Sanborn, Iowa) and finally got to the hotel (in Orange City, Iowa) around 5:30 PM. We went and got some dinner and then headed back to the hotel.
Everyone began arriving around noon. We had an appointment to meet with the undertaker at 1 PM that day. We went over details of Dad's life and the funeral service. We picked out a casket and vault.
We then all headed over to Sioux Center where Lena's girls (Lena was our aunt. She went to be with the Lord not long after Dad did.) had prepared a meal for us. Most of the grandkids had arrived. The weather was pretty bad - lots of snow - so it was good to be able to get back to the hotel safely.
Monday morning, Mom met with her financial planner and got a lot of her legal documentation taken care of. My brothers and I went over to the funeral home to rehearse the songs we were going to sing at the funeral. David came along so we could finalize the service plan (Dad had asked David to officiate the funeral).
The immediate family viewing was at 2 and the grandkids then came at 2:30. The visitation then ran from 3 until 6. I felt like once I got through the inital viewing I was going to be able to handle things pretty well. I helped greet people as they approached Dad's casket. Dad looked so good. He didn't look exactly like himself, but he didn't have that gray, gaunt appearance either. He looked almost healthy again. There were many people who didn't know Dad had been so ill. It really was a celebration of Dad's life.
We left to have dinner at Pizza Ranch and then went back for the funeral at 7. The service itself was so good. David officiated and he did a tremendous job. He really caught Dad's spirit. My brothers and I sang two songs: "Living by Faith" and "It is Well." God gave us such strength and composure to be able to get through it all. I know it was totally a "God-thing."
Each of us kids then got up and shared about Dad. It was awesome. Each of us had something different to say, but it all worked together awesomely.
The Gideons then had a prayer circle. (Dad had been an active Gideon for most of his adult life.) They presented Mom with a memorial Bible and sang "Blest Be the Tie that Binds." Then the American Legion came and presented Mom with an American flag in honor of Dad's service in the Korean War. We then finished the funeral with the singing of Dad's favorite hymn "Amazing Grace." I know that this service was exactly as Dad would have wanted it.
January 19, 2007
After Dad's funeral, there was a time of fellowship - coffee and cookies - at the funeral home. It seemed like people stayed for quite a while. I honestly don't remember what time it was when we finally left the funeral home to head back to the hotel. Everyone - especially Mom - was pretty tired and relieved that the day was over.
The next morning Mom decided that we should dress for warmth, not style, for the graveside service. It was so bitter cold out, but the sky was bright at clear.
We all met at the funeral home at approximately 9:15 AM and lined our cars up for the processional. David conducted a portion of the graveside service in the chapel. I wept hard as the grandsons carried Dad's casket to the hearse. My cousins Jodi, Heidi and Hope gathered around me to comfort me - they know how it feels to lose their dad.
We followed the hearse to Doon Cemetary. Mom pointed out to David and me Grandpa and Grandma Boscaljon's farm in the distance near Doon.
There was a tent set up as shelter against the cold by the graveside. Dad's grandsons carried the casket to the position over the vault in the grave. David again presented a few words and some scripture and then committed Dad's body to the earth.
We stood around the casket for quite some time - crying, hugging, sharing - in spite of the cold. Dad truly was deeply loved, admired and respectd.
After the graveside service, we drove back to Sioux Center to the Pizza Ranch there and had lunch. After that, everyone headed on home. David and I had to pick up our car at the dealership in Sioux Center because it had broken down when David arrived in Orange City on Sunday. It wasn't anything serious and we were able to head on home.
Tomorrow will mark one week since Dad died. It just seems like so long already. So much has happened that that week's time. We've had to work through so many emotions - grief, sadness, peace, joy, laughter and crying, hope and comfort. And I know there will be some more of that, maybe not as intensely as we felt it this first week, but I know they'll still be there.
My dad's faith in God never waivered all through his illness - at least we never saw any evidence of waivering. He trusted God in every aspect of his life. I'm sure there were times when he wished things were different, that he could have more quality time with his family, but he knew that God was ultimately in control of his life. He rested in God's hands.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Reflections on Christmas - Emmanuel: God With Us
This morning as I read through my quiet time devotional and reflected on the season, I began to think about that moment in time over 2,000 years ago when a single Baby was born in that stable. He was a unique Baby - definitely one of a kind. There was never anyone like Him before then and there will never be anyone like Him again. He was Emmanuel - God with us.
In my mind's eye, I imagined seeing that small Baby wrapped in those simple cloths, being watched over by Joseph and Mary, His mother. A fully human baby, and yet He was also fully God.
Just imagine! This God who created the earth (Gen. 1) and all the other planets, and numbered and named each of the stars (Psalm 147:4)...this God who is eternal (Isaiah 40:28), who is so far beyond what our limited minds can comprehend...this God chose a small moment in time at an insignificant location with a poor unknown family to come to earth to impact all of mankind for all eternity. Jesus Christ was the full embodiment of the diety of God within the full embodiment of flesh. I don't know about you, but it takes my breath away.
Sometimes it is easy to try to fit my concept of God into a nice, neat little bundle...one that doesn't upset my balance or interfere in my day-to-day activities. But the times that I sit and really contemplate who God is...and who am I to Him...it can become overwhelming. We are so finite in our ability to understand Him. God gives us simple glimpses of Who He is in His Word, and through the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to comprehend limited bits, but what we know now and can comprehend now is but the tiniest fraction of the whole truth of Who God is.
It's like that small moment in time when Emmanuel was born, so small is our understanding of God. But God did give us that small moment in time. He did give us Emmanuel...God with us...so that we could know Him better, more intimately, more uniquely than ever before.
I praise God for that small baby born in Bethlehem...for the God of all eternity to dwell here on earth as a man and then die to pay a penalty we could not pay...it is definitely the greatest gift ever given.
In my mind's eye, I imagined seeing that small Baby wrapped in those simple cloths, being watched over by Joseph and Mary, His mother. A fully human baby, and yet He was also fully God.
Just imagine! This God who created the earth (Gen. 1) and all the other planets, and numbered and named each of the stars (Psalm 147:4)...this God who is eternal (Isaiah 40:28), who is so far beyond what our limited minds can comprehend...this God chose a small moment in time at an insignificant location with a poor unknown family to come to earth to impact all of mankind for all eternity. Jesus Christ was the full embodiment of the diety of God within the full embodiment of flesh. I don't know about you, but it takes my breath away.
Sometimes it is easy to try to fit my concept of God into a nice, neat little bundle...one that doesn't upset my balance or interfere in my day-to-day activities. But the times that I sit and really contemplate who God is...and who am I to Him...it can become overwhelming. We are so finite in our ability to understand Him. God gives us simple glimpses of Who He is in His Word, and through the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to comprehend limited bits, but what we know now and can comprehend now is but the tiniest fraction of the whole truth of Who God is.
It's like that small moment in time when Emmanuel was born, so small is our understanding of God. But God did give us that small moment in time. He did give us Emmanuel...God with us...so that we could know Him better, more intimately, more uniquely than ever before.
I praise God for that small baby born in Bethlehem...for the God of all eternity to dwell here on earth as a man and then die to pay a penalty we could not pay...it is definitely the greatest gift ever given.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
How Things Change...
During this past summer, I began to sense the God was moving within our ministry -- moving towards change. I felt that God was telling me that we needed to become more "mobile," to be more ready to go quickly where He was leading us to go. During that time, we were not sure exactly where it was that God was leading us, but we felt that change was coming.
As you may know from reading some of my previous blog entries, God recently moved us from West Des Moines to the Kansas City area, specifically Raytown, Missiouri. We settled in quickly into our new home, a cozy little house that is full of charm and character.
David thoroughly enjoys his new job as manager of the magic/costume division of US Toy Company. He's able to make use of his experience as a manager, his skills as a salesperson and his talent as a magician every single day. Through some of the contacts he's made with customers, we've actually been able to book a couple of birthday parties and have some potential church events in the works.
We're getting plugged into our new home church, Raytown First Baptist Church, and are enjoying getting to know so many new people (it's going to take a while to remember names and faces, but it's a start). This is a very large church with many opportunties to serve and to be ministered to, so we are looking forward to seeing just where exactly God is going to plug us in.
Since May of this year, we have been looking forward to a short term missions trip to India. We contacted many of our family and friends to ask for prayer support and possibly financial support for this trip. Initially the trip was to have taken place in September, but that was postponed to January of 2010. We had our passports and innoculations all taken care of, and we were beginning to get the ball rolling on our visas. All of the money that had been so generously donated to us for the purpose of this missions trip was carefully set aside until needed for trip related expenses. Even when finances began to get a little tight for our regular ministry and personal needs, we determined not to touch those missions funds until they were needed.
When David had his disastrous encounter with a deer on October 6th as he was driving home from Kansas City (see my blog entry of October 7th), we were put into an extremely difficult place financially. Bookings had slowed down some during the summer, and it was becoming a challenge to meet our monthly expenses. Because we didn't have comprehensive coverage on the van (the value of the van didn't warrant it...we thought) and the van had been totalled as a result of the collision with the deer, we were placed in a position of having to come up with immediate funds in order to be able to purchase another vehicle. The only money immediately available to us was the India fund money. As difficult as the decision was, we felt we had no other option but to use that money to purchase another used vehicle. It was our intention and hope that we would be able to replace that money once we got moved down to Kansas City.
In spite of our heartfelt desires, we were not able to get the additional event bookings to help us replenish those funds. The past several months have been extremely difficult financially, and we are still in the process of trying to work through what debts are still outstanding.
Because the mission money would have had to been replenished at least by mid-month this month (so that reasonably priced airline tickets could be purchased), we just do not see that as being a realistic possibility. While we know that with God ALL things are possible, and it is certainly within God's ability to be able to provide us with the money we still need in order to replenish our India fund and go on this short term missions trip, we do not feel that it is fair to Campus Crusade to keep them hanging on until the last minute.
So it is with sadness we made the decision to back out of the India missions trip.
We know that there are several people who generously gave money to us specifically for this missions trip, and we will be in contact soon with them in order to work out the details of how to best reconcile those donations.
We aren't sure why God would have opened this door, prompted so many to give from their hearts in support of this missions trip, got us this close to going, and then have that door close. I suppose it might be possible that God knew that David would be having an unexpected encounter with a deer in October and that we would need to have those funds in reserve so that we would not be stranded without a vehicle. We just don't know. We can't begin to know or understand the mind of God or how it is that He accomplishes His purpose. All that we can know is that He is in control, and when our desire is to serve Him, we have to trust Him to open and shut the doors as He ordains.
We would still love to go on an international missions trip someday. I think it would be an awesome experience. But until God opens that door again for us, we will be joyful in serving Him here in our own Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.
Your continued prayers on our behalf for the ministry of Williamson Productions is greatly appreciated. Without God, we are nothing, and without the prayer support of our precious friends and family, we are weak and vulnerable.
May God bless you and your family during this incredible holiday season. Remember that Jesus Christ is the ONLY reason for this season. And without Christmas, there would be no Easter. And without Easter there would be no hope. Praise God for that Baby born in a manger.
As you may know from reading some of my previous blog entries, God recently moved us from West Des Moines to the Kansas City area, specifically Raytown, Missiouri. We settled in quickly into our new home, a cozy little house that is full of charm and character.
David thoroughly enjoys his new job as manager of the magic/costume division of US Toy Company. He's able to make use of his experience as a manager, his skills as a salesperson and his talent as a magician every single day. Through some of the contacts he's made with customers, we've actually been able to book a couple of birthday parties and have some potential church events in the works.
We're getting plugged into our new home church, Raytown First Baptist Church, and are enjoying getting to know so many new people (it's going to take a while to remember names and faces, but it's a start). This is a very large church with many opportunties to serve and to be ministered to, so we are looking forward to seeing just where exactly God is going to plug us in.
Since May of this year, we have been looking forward to a short term missions trip to India. We contacted many of our family and friends to ask for prayer support and possibly financial support for this trip. Initially the trip was to have taken place in September, but that was postponed to January of 2010. We had our passports and innoculations all taken care of, and we were beginning to get the ball rolling on our visas. All of the money that had been so generously donated to us for the purpose of this missions trip was carefully set aside until needed for trip related expenses. Even when finances began to get a little tight for our regular ministry and personal needs, we determined not to touch those missions funds until they were needed.
When David had his disastrous encounter with a deer on October 6th as he was driving home from Kansas City (see my blog entry of October 7th), we were put into an extremely difficult place financially. Bookings had slowed down some during the summer, and it was becoming a challenge to meet our monthly expenses. Because we didn't have comprehensive coverage on the van (the value of the van didn't warrant it...we thought) and the van had been totalled as a result of the collision with the deer, we were placed in a position of having to come up with immediate funds in order to be able to purchase another vehicle. The only money immediately available to us was the India fund money. As difficult as the decision was, we felt we had no other option but to use that money to purchase another used vehicle. It was our intention and hope that we would be able to replace that money once we got moved down to Kansas City.
In spite of our heartfelt desires, we were not able to get the additional event bookings to help us replenish those funds. The past several months have been extremely difficult financially, and we are still in the process of trying to work through what debts are still outstanding.
Because the mission money would have had to been replenished at least by mid-month this month (so that reasonably priced airline tickets could be purchased), we just do not see that as being a realistic possibility. While we know that with God ALL things are possible, and it is certainly within God's ability to be able to provide us with the money we still need in order to replenish our India fund and go on this short term missions trip, we do not feel that it is fair to Campus Crusade to keep them hanging on until the last minute.
So it is with sadness we made the decision to back out of the India missions trip.
We know that there are several people who generously gave money to us specifically for this missions trip, and we will be in contact soon with them in order to work out the details of how to best reconcile those donations.
We aren't sure why God would have opened this door, prompted so many to give from their hearts in support of this missions trip, got us this close to going, and then have that door close. I suppose it might be possible that God knew that David would be having an unexpected encounter with a deer in October and that we would need to have those funds in reserve so that we would not be stranded without a vehicle. We just don't know. We can't begin to know or understand the mind of God or how it is that He accomplishes His purpose. All that we can know is that He is in control, and when our desire is to serve Him, we have to trust Him to open and shut the doors as He ordains.
We would still love to go on an international missions trip someday. I think it would be an awesome experience. But until God opens that door again for us, we will be joyful in serving Him here in our own Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.
Your continued prayers on our behalf for the ministry of Williamson Productions is greatly appreciated. Without God, we are nothing, and without the prayer support of our precious friends and family, we are weak and vulnerable.
May God bless you and your family during this incredible holiday season. Remember that Jesus Christ is the ONLY reason for this season. And without Christmas, there would be no Easter. And without Easter there would be no hope. Praise God for that Baby born in a manger.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Portrait of Christ
There is a part of the opening routine David and I do during a performance where a silk scarf with a drawing of Jesus on it is produced and displayed for our audience. The drawing of Jesus on the silk scarf shows him with very fair skin and blue eyes - two physical traits that we serious doubt Jesus had, being of Jewish descent in the Middle East. David will usually say something to the effect of "This is just a drawing of Jesus. We don't know what He really looked like. It is simply to remind us of Jesus."
There have been many artists throughout the centuries who have tried to guess what Jesus might have looked like through images seen in painting, sculptures, etc. And I am sure that each of us in our own ways have tried to imagine what Jesus might have looked like while He was here on earth. I think we'll all be in for a great surprise when we finally see Him face to face. I don't think He's going to look anything like what we could possibly imagine.
I've been going through a book during my morning devotions called 100 Portraits of Christ by Henry Gariepy. In this book, the author has taken 100 of the many names and titles by which Jesus is referred to in the Bible and written a brief description about each. Some of these names and titles include: Alpha and Omega, Ancient of Days, Only Begotten Son, I Am, and Indescribable Gift. Reading through these has begun to create in my mind an awesome portrait of Jesus. It isn't a physical portrait...rather, it is much more than that. As we begin to see Jesus Christ as He is described in the Bible, we get a clearer and deeper image of who God is. We begin to see how Jesus can be nothing less than God Himself.
A couple of weeks ago, just before we moved to Missouri, I had the opportunity to speak with a couple of young Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) missionaries. They were coming up to our front door just as I was seeing David off on another commute to Kansas City. I had been hoping for quite some time that Mormon missionaries would stop by our house. I've done much studying about Mormonism since having lived in Utah, and I wanted to have a chance to share God's truth with a couple of them.
I invited them in, and we did have quite a nice discussion. I think I might have caught them off guard by how much I knew about their doctrines and was able to discuss it without being argumentative or combative. We talked for about an hour and a half. The conversation ended when they asked me to pray over the Book of Mormon. I politely refused, but I encouraged them to dig deep into the Bible to see what it had to say to them.
One of the things that I noted during our discussion was their inability to see the portrait of who Jesus Christ truly is. Because of the deceptive writings of Joseph Smith and subsequent Mormon prophets, their ability to see and recognize the true Jesus Christ is severly hampered. They do not know Jesus as the Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6) or as the great I Am (John 8:58) or as the Word (Rev. 19:13). Their vision of Jesus is blurred and obscured - enough that they miss out on the reality of Jesus that truly saves us.
My heart breaks for those two young men, and I continue to pray that something I said to them will cause them to question and search for their answers within the Bible alone. May they see a portrait of Christ emerge that is irresistable and life-changing.
A drawing, a painting, a sculpture, even an actor's depiction of Jesus - these things are not true representations of who Jesus is. The Bible gives us all we need to know about who Jesus is.
I do look forward to the day when I get to see Jesus face to face. I love the song, "I Can Only Imagine" because it speaks so much about my own anticipation of what it will be like. The day when imagining becomes reality will be a wonderful day, indeed!!
There have been many artists throughout the centuries who have tried to guess what Jesus might have looked like through images seen in painting, sculptures, etc. And I am sure that each of us in our own ways have tried to imagine what Jesus might have looked like while He was here on earth. I think we'll all be in for a great surprise when we finally see Him face to face. I don't think He's going to look anything like what we could possibly imagine.
I've been going through a book during my morning devotions called 100 Portraits of Christ by Henry Gariepy. In this book, the author has taken 100 of the many names and titles by which Jesus is referred to in the Bible and written a brief description about each. Some of these names and titles include: Alpha and Omega, Ancient of Days, Only Begotten Son, I Am, and Indescribable Gift. Reading through these has begun to create in my mind an awesome portrait of Jesus. It isn't a physical portrait...rather, it is much more than that. As we begin to see Jesus Christ as He is described in the Bible, we get a clearer and deeper image of who God is. We begin to see how Jesus can be nothing less than God Himself.
A couple of weeks ago, just before we moved to Missouri, I had the opportunity to speak with a couple of young Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) missionaries. They were coming up to our front door just as I was seeing David off on another commute to Kansas City. I had been hoping for quite some time that Mormon missionaries would stop by our house. I've done much studying about Mormonism since having lived in Utah, and I wanted to have a chance to share God's truth with a couple of them.
I invited them in, and we did have quite a nice discussion. I think I might have caught them off guard by how much I knew about their doctrines and was able to discuss it without being argumentative or combative. We talked for about an hour and a half. The conversation ended when they asked me to pray over the Book of Mormon. I politely refused, but I encouraged them to dig deep into the Bible to see what it had to say to them.
One of the things that I noted during our discussion was their inability to see the portrait of who Jesus Christ truly is. Because of the deceptive writings of Joseph Smith and subsequent Mormon prophets, their ability to see and recognize the true Jesus Christ is severly hampered. They do not know Jesus as the Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6) or as the great I Am (John 8:58) or as the Word (Rev. 19:13). Their vision of Jesus is blurred and obscured - enough that they miss out on the reality of Jesus that truly saves us.
My heart breaks for those two young men, and I continue to pray that something I said to them will cause them to question and search for their answers within the Bible alone. May they see a portrait of Christ emerge that is irresistable and life-changing.
A drawing, a painting, a sculpture, even an actor's depiction of Jesus - these things are not true representations of who Jesus is. The Bible gives us all we need to know about who Jesus is.
I do look forward to the day when I get to see Jesus face to face. I love the song, "I Can Only Imagine" because it speaks so much about my own anticipation of what it will be like. The day when imagining becomes reality will be a wonderful day, indeed!!
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