In the ninth chapter of John, Jesus spit on the ground, made mud, and applied it to a blind man’s eyes, then told him to wash in a pool. The man was healed.

Why did Jesus use mud?

When reading about Jesus’ miraculous healings, one thing becomes startlingly clear; they were each accomplished quite differently.

In some instances, he simply touched the person. Once, he asked the person to wash in a specific river. Other times, only a word was spoken. Even this wasn’t necessary, as made evident by the occasions he healed while not even in the presence of the person being restored.

I have a suspicion all the varying methods are because of our tendency to create a formula.

It’s reasonable to assume that if people at that time are anything like we are now, when the word spread about the blind man’s healing there ended up being several people making mud with spittle; some to apply to their eyes and various other parts of their body, and others who bottled it to make a buck.

It’s tempting and all too natural to think, oh if I just do it this way, I’ll get that. We want to break things down to a recipe. We demand a system. We think it’s in the technique.

But Jesus didn’t need a formula. He IS the formula.

So, I still don’t know why Jesus used mud. He sure didn’t have to. But that’s not the important part. Perhaps he healed in so many differing ways because he wanted our focus to be on Him alone, and not so much how he healed.

We want the steps to more effective prayer, the keys to a great marriage, the plan for great finances.  We turn Him into a slot machine, pumping our good efforts into him so he’ll spit out the expected blessings.  We come to Him as if he’s a genie, thinking if we just ask the right way, he’ll grant our wishes.

But God doesn’t work that way.

He breaks all the rules, disregards expectations, and completely ignores the box we have for him.  While He certainly blesses and only wants what is best for us, sometimes that comes through persecution, trial, and suffering.  He is faithful to carry us, but we would be wise to not expect that things will happen a certain way.

God is unchanging.  God is good. God is steadfast.

He’s also surprising, creative and transforming.

Tags: Christianity, presuppositions

Do I have a generous heart?

How often do I spend time serving others, especially if it’s in a way that won’t be noticed?

How regularly do I give financially to others?  To my church?  To charities?  Do I even give at all?  If I don’t, am I truly honest about why I don’t?

Am I willing to comfort another even if it means discomfort for me?

Am I willing to offer time, energy, or money towards a need, even if I’m not personally benefiting?

Do I pray just as much for others and their needs as I do for myself?

Do I show interest in others?  Am I willing to reach out?  Do I hide behind excuses like lack of time, not my gift, I’m shy, or I don’t know how?

Tags: questions

Government schools serve the meat that fast food companies won’t use because of “quality considerations”??

You can read the full article here at Why Is Crappy Fast Food Safer Than School Lunches?

Tags: health, meals

I just watched one of those Christian dramas that seem to be quite popular. The general theme is that someone (usually acted out by a female) is lost/taken up/controlled by various sins, they spend most of the short clip getting more entrenched in them and desperate, and then at the tearful ending Christ has victory over everything and saves her.

I love the artistic efforts and there’s something neat about the visual expressions of salvation.

There are, however, a couple problems with the theology.

First of all, most depict Christ as a pleading, powerless bystander. He struggles with the representations of sin, as if Christ and Satan hold equal power. This is completely unbiblical. God is all-powerful and sovereign over ALL, including Satan and his demons. Christ already has victory over darkness and sin, and His sacrifice on the cross means that those who trust in Him already have victory too.

The other aspect that irritates me is what is chosen in the dramas to represent sin and personal struggles.  It is often things like sex and alcohol.  Um, those aren’t sin.

It is just this misrepresentation that perpetuates the idea that sin is all “out there” around us and salvation is mostly a form of behavior modification where we try and try to avoid that “stuff” and choose God instead.

Wrong.  Dead wrong.

There is a Biblical teaching of sin, which is that we are sinful at our very core.  Because of this sin nature, we misuse and abuse things like sex and alcohol and through doing things our own way, end up committing sinful acts like fornication, adultery and drunkenness.

And what about the more “acceptable” sins?  What I mean by “acceptable” are the sins that believers tend to overlook and gloss over, especially in themselves.  Idolatry, pride, gossip, anger, unthankfulness, jealousy, selfishness, legalism, and on and on.

As a side note: If we were to follow the line of thought of most false ideas regarding sin and given the number of overweight people in America, I wonder why they don’t choose to use the word “food”…  Of course, the root problem would be gluttony which may stem from other sins like idolatry and self-worship.

Sugarcoating our own sins, preaching a false gospel of self effort, and then condemning unbelievers for their sin even while they are still lost in it… Insanity.  Pure, destructive, deathly insanity.

As believers, we would do well to recognize and live our lives within the reality that we need a Savior to save us not only from the grip of Satan, but from ourselves.

AND…

Jesus isn’t a weak observer on the sidelines, desiring desperately to be allowed into our lives, begging for us to choose him.  Oh, no.

We are ridiculous, pathetic, useless specks, stubbornly bent on remaining in our evil rebelliousness, and Jesus Christ… HE is our gentle and loving yet mighty and formidable Savior who, for reasons unfathomable, chooses to rescue and redeem His people for His glory.

Get that picture of a simpering weakling out of your head.  Cuz you better believe, He is returning someday with eyes of fire, a voice thundering like waves of the sea and a sword coming from his mouth, riding on a white horse as well as followed by an army on white horses, wearing clothing dipped in blood and KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS tattooed on his thigh.

Tags: Christianity, spirituality

It was the day of my weekly date with one of my children, and on this particularly week it was Spence’s turn.

As we waited in line for our snack, Spence (age 4) entertained me with stories of his latest Lego creation.  I lovingly remarked, “You’re so funny, Spence!”

He smirked his little half smile and said in his darling halting speech, “Chase said… last night… that I am funny.”

“Because you are!” I laughed.

He turned to me, his smile suddenly replaced with a serious expression.  “Carmen… says… I am not so funny.”

—————————————————–

Spence and Carmen are sharing an electric mixer beater covered in muffin batter, taking turns eating from it.

Carmen:  I hate germs.  Ew, I hate germs.

Spence (teasingly):  I looooove Carmen’s germs.  I just love them.

Carmen:  Well, I hate your germs.  They’re always covered in spit.

Tags: children

On most days, lots of stuff happens that is worthy of complaint.

Take this morning, for instance.  A broken dish that culminated in someone getting glass in their foot, a toddler with diarrhea resulting in runny poop all over him (legs, hands, back), his bike and random places on the floor, a clogged sink disposal, a child falling, smashing their face, and ending up with a swollen bloody lip and nose… and that’s just including the stuff before lunch.

Most of the time, these things occur without much fanfare from me.  I just deal with them one at a time, and the majority of them are handled without anyone even knowing about it.  Actually, it’s not really honest to say that “I” deal with them.  Jesus does, in the sense that he gives me the patience to endure and the willingness to continue joyfully as I walk in a thankful, prayerful attitude.

God also has blessed me with friendships.  There are those days, those weeks, that seem to call for an understanding friend.  Amazing what an online or phone chat can do to help me regain perspective!  Most times, I can again find humor in the circumstances, or if not that, at least part of the load has been eased through a sympathetic ear and knowing there’s a caring friend.

As much as I appreciate someone listening, I still apologize afterward.  It just doesn’t seem right to gripe.  Especially when I know that sometimes at the heart of complaining, there are some things I need to change or work on.  I wrote this silly poem for a friend last week, poking fun at complaining.

Tags: homelife, worldview

I know these aren’t easy questions, but your views, (on one, some, or all of the questions) would be of great help to me with something I am working on.

You can leave your answers in the comments, or send me an email… tamra dot klaty at grandscapes dot com.

1. How would you describe real, lasting love?
2. What makes a marriage work?
3. Do you view marriage as more of a contract or a covenant?
4. How do you know if someone is the ‘right’ one to marry?
5. What if you fall out of love with your spouse?
6. What is (are) your guideline(s) for solving disagreements?
7. What is (are) your guideline(s) for defining roles?
8. What are your expectations of marriage?
9. If you are married, have those expectations been met?

Anonymous commenters are welcome!

This song has been running through my mind ever since I heard it for the first time last week. I don’t know if it’s new or not, since I rarely listen to country music, but it’s new to me.

It’s about a guy talking to his friend who is basically giving up because he feels like he can’t deal with his life. His buddy complains about stuff like a car breaking down, a broken washing machine, and too many bills. He replies in the chorus,

Sounds like life to me it ain’t no fantasy
It’s just a common case of everyday reality
Man I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me

It’s a funny thing…  Without the proper perspective, I can view the bumps of everyday life as overwhelming tribulations instead of minor annoyances that force me to slow down and perhaps learn from.

I’ll be freaking out over, oh, everything and then my dear husband reminds me that life is never without problems, mishaps and even calamity. He’s right.

That’s not discouraging. That’s just life.

It makes the good things even sweeter.

Tags: homelife, worldview

This is Spence attending his Life Skills class here at the Klaty Real World Institute.

Tags: children, homeschool, toys