Traveling Mercies

Everyday before my husband leaves for work we have a time of family prayer, culminating in the Lord’s Prayer. Often the particulars of the day’s events are prayed for and we go to our various activities. Yesterday’s prayer asked for traveling mercies since my daughter and I were driving to the Monterey Bay area so she could practice for an upcoming golf tournament.

Despite the cold and rain, we were blessed by a pleasant day together and were on our way home when a bad judgment call on my part resulted in me backing into another car. So, exactly where were those traveling mercies? Very nearby, as you will see.

I got out of the car, as did the driver I backed into. He had a look of dread on his face, which was surprising since I was clearly at fault. I apologized and let him know that I was taking full responsibility for the fender bender. I asked what he wanted to do, since we were on a public road. Quite sheepishly, he said, “I think we need to call the police.” Since he didn’t have a cell phone, I did the honors and informed the Highway Patrol operator that I had just backed into another car and we needed the police to come. She assured me one would be there soon.

Both Jimmy (my new friend) and I were standing in the rain waiting for the police to arrive. He kept saying, “I don’t see what’s taking them so long. The station is right around the corner.” I suggested that we move our cars to the side of the road, but he wanted no part of that. Because he looked quite vulnerable, I accommodated his request. I soon discovered the reason for his skittishness. It seems that two years prior, someone had backed into his car, but reported that Jimmy had caused the accident. Jimmy was not about to have that happen to him again. I assured him that despite the fact that the only other witness was my daughter, I was taking responsibility for the accident. I told him, “Don’t worry, we may have no other witnesses, but I have to answer to Jesus Christ.”

We continued to wait and I suggested that we exchange information. The only paper that he had in his car was one that said, “Sermon Notes.” I knew that I had backed into a church-going man. I said, “Jimmy, I see you go to church; I do too.” He was not overly impressed with my confession of faith and proceeded to write down my info. Before too long an officer from the nearby state university arrived to let us know that the “real” police were on their way. They suggested we exchange information, checked our licenses and registration, and told us we could wait or we could leave since there was no contest as to how the accident took place.

Jimmy still wasn’t so sure. The campus police, after hearing what had occurred, informed us that I could possibly be cited with a vehicle code infraction if a police report was filled out. I kept silent, and Jimmy perked up, “No, we’re good.” He told me he was fine if we let our insurance companies handle it.

I went home, contacted my insurance company, and did all that was necessary to obtain a claim number. In order to put my new friend’s mind at ease, I called and told him that I could give him the claim number if he wanted. He was astounded. He refused saying that he trusted me. He then apologized profusely for all that happened and told me how sorry he was that this was going to cost me money. He then reminded me what had happened to him two years prior. I let him know that God had been looking out for both of us. We both were the recipients of His traveling mercies that evening, since we both were dealing with a member of the family of God.

In looking back at my day, I see how faithful God was – we had indeed been granted traveling mercies. In addition, I witnessed the effects of years of teaching and discipling my daughter. On the way home, I told her what had happened outside the car during the forty-five minutes we were detained. When I told her about his concerns of blame shifting, she said conclusively, “He doesn’t need to worry. He’s dealing with you.” What a great vote of confidence from a daughter who has experienced through her growing years parents who hold her responsible for her actions – both good and bad.

Be Prepared

It is a shame that we often do not learn how to do something until we need to know how to do it. Putting out a kitchen fire isn’t best dealt with using Google while flames and smoke engulf your home. Wouldn’t it be great if you could be prepared in advance to handle difficult situations? People used to be prepared for many circumstances when mothers and fathers passed their wisdom on to their children. That was before the advent of “experts.” Everyday people knew how to deal with common household annoyances such as ant infestations, emergencies like fires, and not as common medical issues like shortness of breath. Many laypersons were able to assist women in labor precisely because there often were not “professionals” to contact in a timely fashion. Yet, today we are conditioned to believe that in times of need there will always be an expert available to rescue us. Sadly, this is not often the case, as disasters like Katrina have taught us.

When my mother-in-law had intense periods of shortness of breath due to congestive heart failure, I called her medical group for some advice and all they would say was to call 911. I knew she needed assistance, but I knew 911 was not the answer. I was interested in getting some counsel how to make her more comfortable and less anxious, and I knew a trip to the ER was not necessary. Thankfully, my dad (a retired physician) was at home 3000 miles away. He told me to get her into a rocking chair, as that position would lessen her struggle.

Recently I was visiting a friend who was on her deathbed. I wanted to see if I could do anything to help her husband, who was shouldering most of the work in caring for her. I was impressed by his precision in handling her oxygen, changing her bedding, and dealing with a myriad of other tasks. I joked that before long he would be able to get his nursing degree. He smiled and told me how glad he was for his military training as a medical corpsman. Routine tasks like changing the linens of a bedridden patient were tucked away in his mind.

Too few people have the training to handle such assignments. What if church congregations, homeschooling families, or Bible study groups gave opportunities for members to share their expertise with each other so that when service opportunities arose, many were able to lend a helping hand. There would be less reliance on experts and we would be able to bear each other's burdens in a personal, God-honoring way.

So, here’s my idea: begin to educate your family and friends how to deal with illness and make patients more comfortable. If you don’t know how, find those who do. Surely, there are nurses and doctors in most congregations who would be happy to give instruction. More importantly, if you possess these skills, have regular teaching times where you can demonstrate them to others. As medical care becomes more and more bureaucratic, our care for our brothers and sisters will provide an opportunity for those outside the faith to note, “See how they love one another.”

Working Together

Since my conversion almost twenty-eight years ago, I have had the privilege of producing Christmas programs in a variety of churches. It is always a challenge to my creativity to bring out the message of Christ’s incarnation while utilizing the talents and gifts of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

It is not always easy to get people to volunteer their time and efforts. However, I have discovered over the years that the best people to recruit are those who are quite busy. They are usually quick to give a “yes” to a request that matches their skills and appeals to something within themselves. The challenge of being the producer is to mine these traits and recognize that at each person’s core is a desire to participate in community.

There is a drawback to interaction like this. Inevitably, I step on toes or make a decision or selection that upsets someone. As I have often told my children, “The only perfect people are the ones you don’t know very well.” I tell those who work with me on productions that if I have not offended them yet, just wait, because sooner or later the fact that I am not fully sanctified will become obvious.

Since upsets and disagreements are likely to occur, what is the remedy when feelings are hurt or someone feels slighted? The short answer is the law of God. The developed answer involves knowing the practical application of the Ten Commandments through the case laws that are contained in the Pentateuch. Additionally, the Book of Proverbs is an excellent commentary on these laws and offers insight into the consequences of disobedience. The Gospels and Epistles further expound the way brothers and sisters in the Lord are to relate to each other. Learning to ask for forgiveness and learning to give it paves the way for a strong community of believers.

I have rarely gotten to know someone well until I have worked with him or her on a meaningful project. This is where lasting relationships develop. As I tell longtime friends, “You know me and still love me. That’s the amazing part!”

All people are made in God’s image and likeness. All believers are additionally members of an eternal family. By making it a priority to work together to further God’s Kingdom we grow in our sanctification more than we could on our own.

Giving COMFORT to the Enemy

Ray Comfort is a man who is passionate about his faith in Jesus Christ. He is smart, personable, and bold as a lion. His latest venture into the world of evangelism involves the republication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species in its entirety. Since the book is in the public domain he was free to do so. However, Ray included a 54-page introduction challenging Darwin's views. If that wasn't bold enough, his evangelistic team of 1200 volunteers distributed 170,000 books at 100 universities. His actions aroused opponents to suggest book burnings at these schools, among other counter measures against this "threat."

Living Waters plans to continue its printing and distribution endeavors across college campuses, although has no plans to give these bastions of atheism any warning as to where and when. Comfort comments:

"Atheists will be trying to find out what universities we're going to visit and when we're going to visit them, but they have more chance of flossing the teeth of a lion at the L.A. zoo at feeding time than they have of getting that information."

The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1)

Teaching Opportunities

One of the realities of the homeschool life is that everyday occurrences and situations can be learning opportunities if the homeschooling teacher is prepared to seize them. Years ago prior to terror attacks, when I took my mother-in-law to the airport for her yearly trip to see her niece, I arranged for my son to tour the control tower, even getting an opportunity to wear the headphones the controllers used to do their jobs. Years later when our dog needed an operation, the vet was willing to have my two daughters witness the surgery. I was always on the lookout for openings to give my children tangible examples of people at work. As a result, they had a high regard for those who worked hard to earn a living.

Other situations lend themselves to hands-on instruction. Once when we were buying a car, my husband allowed our two oldest children to participate in the purchase. My son and daughter each contributed about ten dollars of their money. Because of this, my husband invited them to join him in the finance office while the final details of the transaction took place.

Even special occasions can become times of instruction. Family gatherings like weddings, birthdays, and graduations provide the opportunity to teach. Funerals and memorial services do as well.

I witnessed one such teaching opportunity recently at a memorial service. It was a sad day, not only because a death had occurred, but also because the deceased had committed suicide. Seated behind me was a homeschooling family who were friends of the deceased’s brother. The children, all under the age of twelve, listened to various remembrances, reflecting conflicting perspectives regarding the eternal state of the woman who had died. Many of them did not reflect a Christian perspective. This experience gave the parents extensive material from which to discuss the important subjects of life, death, and what happens when we die.

Some would argue that it is cruel to lay such heavy subject matter on children. I wholeheartedly disagree. Who better than parents to discuss such important topics within the context of their Christian faith and a Biblical world and life view? Certainly, there will be varied levels of understanding according to the maturity level of each child. However, precisely because the children witnessed the grief and sorrow of those attending the service the parents were given an excellent opportunity to discuss significant issues of the Christian faith in a real-life context.

The model for home education is one of discipleship, whereby parents discipline their children in the ways of God for the express purpose of furthering His Kingdom. Using the commonplace occurrences of life as the springboard from which to teach makes the homeschooling journey one of endless possibilities.

Heroes and Idols

Parents are always looking for role models for their children. Whether it is a sports figure, musician, political leader, or other public figure, the temptation is to motivate by means pointing to an exemplary life. The problem is that often those lives are not exemplary and much of what is known about them is crafted fiction. In much the same way that portrait photos can be airbrushed to remove flaws and sound recordings can be mixed to enhance the vocal presentation, much of what popular culture shares about public figures is crafted and arranged to communicate commitment, wholesomeness, and integrity. Very often, those “heroes” turn out to be charlatans, impostors, and flagrant sinners.

That is why our standard of excellence and virtue needs to come from the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is our perfect role model and our inspiration for living an exemplary life. In addition, among His beloved children we often find useful examples of people who live righteous lives. These examples are better represented by individuals we know “up close and personal,” rather than ones depicted in the media with only partial or doctored information provided. When lives can be witnessed day in and day out with personal relationships, it is less likely that fabrication will rule the day.

The example of a woman in my church comes to mind. This young mother makes it a point to assist families who are sick or bedridden. She finds time to help them by babysitting, cleaning, or providing transportation. She also directs the choir, participates in organizing church gatherings, and donates her time and effort as she sees a need. She is also extremely fun to be around. Her desire and willingness to put her faith into action makes any association with her a benefit to all who know her. In the process of serving, she becomes an excellent role model for the young women of the church.

The Bible condemns the worshipping of idols (in whatever form them appear) and discourages seeking out heroes. Rather, the designation given to those who put their faith into action is simply -- the saints. I have described one such saint and know that the building of the Kingdom of God will come from just such persons.

Now Parents are Bigots

A judge has attacked parents, suggesting they are bigots for seeking to opt-out their elementary-age children from a mandatory controversial pro-homosexual curriculum, according to a non-profit law firm.

The parents were represented in California's Alameda Superior Court by Pacific Justice Institute. On Dec. 1, Judge Frank Roesch denied a motion to allow them to have their children excused from the lessons.

According to the group, Roesch blasted the parents for seeking enforcement of a provision of the California Education Code that gives parents a right to opt their kids out of health education. (read more)