The Manna January 2012 by Maranatha, Inc.

the Manna | January 2012

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the Manna | January 2012

Columns

14 | Sin Scale

07 | Signals 09 | On the Air

17 | Snooze

Features 10 | Chronic Condition Does God want us to feel guilty?

12 | The End of Guilt Are you working hard to earn Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favor?.

Stay in Touch

Some sins are worse than others...right?

The battle to muster motivation.

18 | Feeling Free at Last Freedom is a choice.

20 | Who is Laertes? Coming to grips with who we really are.

22 | Ordinary Day Blues The cure for a post-holiday funk.

24 | The Right Timing Learning to wait for the reward.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | January 2012

the Manna | A Publication of Maranatha, Inc. Editor-In-Chief: Debbie Byrd Creative Director: Joe Willey Contributing Writers: Phil Bohaker, Keyanna Butts, Josh Millwood, Brittney Switala, Brent Timmons and Karen Tull Media Client Liaisons: Janet Beckett, Randall Stapleton

Frequently Asked Questions Who We Are The Manna is published by Maranatha, Inc., a Christcentered ministry called to proclaim the Good News of faith and life in Jesus Christ through various forms of media, as God directs, until He returns. “Maranatha” (mer-a-nath´-a) is an Aramaic word found in I Corinthians 16:22. It is translated, “Our Lord, come!” Joy! 102.5 WOLC is also part of Maranatha, Inc. Its call letters stand for “Watch, Our Lord Cometh.” Maranatha!

Disclaimer Non-ministry advertisers are not required to subscribe to the “Statement of Faith” printed at right; nor are their businesses and products necessarily endorsed by the Manna, Joy! 102.5 WOLC, or Maranatha, Inc., whose viewpoints are not necessarily represented by the opinions or statements of persons interviewed in this magazine; nor are the viewpoints of its advertisers.

Statement of Faith We Believe… that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept; that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the only hope for man is to believe in Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind, and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Savior and Lord, man is redeemed by His blood; that Jesus Christ in person will return to Earth in power and glory; that the Holy Spirit indwells those who have received Christ, for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and godly lives; and that the Church is the Body of Christ and is comprised of all those who, through belief in Christ, have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The twin mission of the Church is worldwide evangelization, and nurture and discipline of Christians.

Manna and Joy! 102.5 WOLC P. O. Box 130, Princess Anne, MD 21853 Voice: 410-543-9652 Fax: 410-651-9652 Manna e-mail: manna@wolc.org Joy! 102.5 e-mail: wolc@wolc.org ©2012 Maranatha, Inc. May not be reproduced without written consent of Maranatha, Inc. Photos: iStockphoto and Big Stock Photo

Maranatha Media | Home of Joy! 102.5 and the Manna

Signals Guilt Guilt is experienced in a lot of ways. In simple terms, though, there’s true guilt and false guilt (appropriate guilt and inappropriate guilt). True guilt makes a person feel remorse for a wrong they have done, from breaking a minor law to some dreadful deed. False guilt occurs when you let something eat you up that wasn’t within your control to begin with. But the bottom line is what we do about it when we experience true guilt. We say we’re sorry...but what do we do? How many times do we hear a person (or ourselves) say they are sorry for the same old thing over and over and over. I’m sorry I was late. I’m sorry I spoke harshly. I’m sorry I forgot. I’m sorry I drank again. I’m sorry I hit you. But nothing changes. A week later, the same words are spoken— and the week after that. From a Christian perspective, with true sorrow comes true repentance. True sorrow, constructive sorrow, leads to a true desire to change. Sin is confessed before the Lord and the behavior pattern stops—maybe not overnight, but there is a sincere desire to change and work is put into the effort to assure that change. When we approach God with a sincerely sorrowful heart and a prayer to change, He forgives and allows the change to begin to take place in us. The Holy Spirit begins a work in us. God isn’t looking for perfection in us— we can find perfection only in Him. But He does want us to seek Him. In Him, we are

able to find forgiveness for those guilts that plague us and, in Him, we are freed from the behaviors and mindsets that cause us problems to begin with. But there’s a third concept that is an important factor: obedience. We can’t seek Him and then disobey His leading. He will lead us to the change if we let Him—if we are obedient. But it’s insincere to approach Him with sorrow and then not commit to the work (of obedience) needed in achieving that change. To be sincere in our sorrow is to be without deceit, pretense, or hypocrisy. And God knows whether we approach Him in sincerity or insincerity. Perhaps this new year will be the time when we don’t give lip service to “I’m sorry” and we approach our God humbly and sincerely—with a desire to change and grow in Him. Debbie Byrd is General Manager of Maranatha, Inc., a ministry that includes Joy! 102.5 and the Manna.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | January 2012

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On the Air Epic Worship We take a moment to check in with Randy Phillips of Phillips, Craig & Dean who talks about their amazing new song: Q: You guys have been putting the finishing touches on a brand new album. Can you tell us about the first single “When The Stars Burn Down?” A: “Revelation Song” touched the heart of the world and ushered people into the presence of Jesus Christ in the most dramatic way. Worship cascaded from recording studio to the heart of the listener, surprising and astounding us. The powerful presence of Jesus high and lifted up! There’s no way we could have imagined what impact that song would have on so many. Now from the heart of the same writer comes “When The Stars Burn Down (Blessing and Honor)”—yet another epic worship song that will propel you into the throne room. Are you ready? When we sang this song in the studio it was hard to breathe. The glory of God was

so strong in that vocal chamber that we struggled to maintain composure. We want this song to wash over you in waves of worship. Get ready to have your soul expanded musically where the anointing dances from note to note and melody to melody. Every one of us has imagined what it’s like to finally see Him in all His glory, to actually behold our King—the One we’ve prayed to, the One we’ve loved, and the One we’ve believed in. Get ready to imagine this scene in high definition! Phillips, Craig & Dean are proud to present “When The Stars Burn Down (Blessing and Honor),” which begins airing this month on Joy! 102.5. Listen for this new song along with chances to win their CD on the air and online! Rodney Baylous is Program Director of Joy! 102.5. Visit www.wolc.org.

Listen Now! Check out our Program Guide at wolc.org

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | January 2012

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Chronic Condition By Karen Tull

he couldn’t escape the voice inside her head. If people only knew the things you’ve done, they would reject you. You’ll never be one of them, so stop fooling yourself. I know what you’re really like. I saw what you did at those parties. I saw you get drunk time and time again. I saw you with each of those guys. How could anyone, especially God, love you after all of that? Just face it—you’ll never be good enough. Though she had accepted Christ a couple years before, the weight of her past sins was eating her alive. She was haunted by internal accusations that constantly reminded her of the life she used to live. Yet, in her mind, it was all part of being a Christian. Yes, God had forgiven her for sinning, but she was not to stop feeling guilty. She knew she had done wrong and therefore believed she had to abide with it daily. And so she did, though not for long. Eventually, after declaring, “I just can’t do this anymore,” she threw her guilty mindset in the trash—along with her faith. My friend from college reached her breaking point. Who could blame her? Most of us would buckle under that heavy a load. But it’s not that her sin record was any worse than ours. In fact, we are all equally fallen in the eyes of God. The problem is the false belief that we have to live our lives paralyzed by guilt and shame. God never intended for our pasts to defeat us. That is why He sent His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to bear that burden for us—paying not only for our sins, but also wiping away our guilt. This, however, is not to be confused with conviction from sin as brought about in us by the Holy Spirit. That temporary, “healthy” guilt helps lead us to repentance and restoration. Chronic guilt from previous failures, on the other hand, only keeps us in bondage. As believers, how can we effectively serve the Lord and help others in their walk if we are constantly belaboring our own mistakes? We can’t. That’s just it. Guilt renders us useless for the Kingdom—just as Satan would have us to be.

But it’s even weightier than that. Succumbing to a life characterized by guilt is tantamount to declaring that the blood of Jesus didn’t quite do enough, that somehow it missed the mark in clearing every single sin we ever committed—and that is a dangerous way of thinking. The truth is, Christ died once and for all, with nothing needed to be added—in this case, our guilt—to His complete and perfect sacrifice. Scripture says that God has removed our sins from us as far as the East is from the West (Ps 103:12). If God has chosen to forget our sins, surely we can move on in the security of that assurance. So, then, how do we live guilt-free? First of all, when we sin, we confess it immediately and ask the Lord for forgiveness. And, if we know we’ve been needlessly carrying around guilt from past sins, we can ask Him to lift it from us. The Bible explains that King David, when convicted of his sins of adultery and murder, acknowledged before God that he was totally to blame, had sinned only against God Himself, and asked to be freed from the heaviness crushing his spirit: “Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, You who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness” (Psalm 51:14). Furthermore, we must continually renew our minds (Rom 12:2) by being in the Word, which will help us remember that we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Plus, we will be more equipped to come against taunts from Satan when he reminds us of our past. Being built up in Truth will enable us to say back to him, “Yes, I have done all of those things, but the blood of Jesus Christ is enough for me.” I don’t know what paths my college friend has taken since the last time we were together, but my prayer for her is that the Lord, who began a good work in her (Phil 1:6), will reveal in His timing that His blood has liberated her from sin—and guilt. And as we all begin a new year, my prayer is that He will reveal the same to you.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | January 2012

The End of Guilt

ÂŠiStockphoto.com/DOConnell

By Phil Bohaker

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he film Atonement, set in 1930s England, features Briony Tallis, the 13-year old daughter of an aristocrat. Briony is infatuated with the housekeeper’s son, 23-year-old Robbie, but when she discovers that her crush is in love with her older sister, Cecilia, she is devastated. Immature jealousy breeds grave consequences when Briony falsely accuses Robbie of a heinous crime, leading to his imprisonment. Though Cecilia and Robbie eventually marry, Briony is forever estranged from them. She devotes the rest of her life to making atonement for her lie, serving in World War II as a nurse for the Red Cross and later writing a book about her story in hopes of inspiring others to devote their lives to good deeds. While this story may embody all the cheap theatrics of a soap opera, it nevertheless strikes to the heart of our common fallen nature. In the face of our guilt for the wrongs we have committed, there seems to be in us all an innate impulse to make right what we have wronged. That is, we yearn for atonement. So, we live out our days trying to tip the scales of justice in our favor by virtue of our “rights” outnumbering our “wrongs.” Now the Christian, of course, will stop me at this point to declare that he is “under grace, not under the law.” He will proceed to remind me that God’s glorious standard is perfection. We all fall short of that standard, and only Christ can remove the guilt of our sin. No mountain of good deeds can substitute for what Christ has done. Indeed. But how tempting it is, even as a Christian, to return to the old manner of thinking, to live as if we can build that tower of Babel, which reaches up to God. This temptation strikes the man working long hours, who attempts to buy back the favor of his wife and children with gifts out of the guilt he feels for being away from home so much. It drives the woman who never says “No” to serving at a church function. Convinced that she owes it to God to be involved with every program, she cannot bring herself to embrace God’s unconditional acceptance. It plagues the church member, who struggles under the burden of her perceived duty, to give back to God a certain percentage of her income. She,

too, is motivated by guilt, rather than by the joy of Spirit-led participation in God’s marvelous works. An unspoken but common theme in Christian circles is the notion that we are saved when we believe the gospel, but then we move on to doing good works for God. This lays a foundation for guilt as a motivation for doing good. But trusting Jesus for salvation is not a single event in the life of the believer. There is, of course, a starting point for believing in Jesus. But it is just that, a starting point. It is the beginning of a life forever changed by God’s amazing grace. The life that has been touched by the saving grace of Christ has no need for atoning works because God has “set aside” the sins of the believer (Heb 9:26). This is not to say that works are meaningless in the Christian life. Rather, works are essential in the life of the believer. Being born again means, in part, being created for good works (Eph 2:10). But these works have no bearing on a believer’s standing before God. In sacrificing Himself, Jesus made a “once for all” sacrifice to remove our guilt. Guilt gives way to grace. This is where it gets dicey. The problem is that motives are often obscure. If I buy my wife flowers, an observer may think to himself, “What a thoughtful, loving husband.” But little does he know that I bought the flowers as a peace offering for the argument we had the night before. What gives the appearance of an act of love is really a guilt-driven attempt at atonement. Have you ever tried to “buy flowers” for God? I certainly have. God knows well my vows of “I’ll try harder next time” and “I’ll put more in the offering plate” and “I won’t skip church at all the rest of the year.” The season of guilt is upon us. Waistlines have expanded from a full month of holiday feasting. Credit card bills are a mile long. New Years’ resolutions will soon begin falling by the wayside. Many are looking back on another year of unfulfilled hopes and unmet goals. What better opportunity than now for the Body of Christ to show the world that there is another way. There is an end to the life of guilt-ridden fear that we won’t measure up, and His name is Jesus.

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mph (speed limit 25). 60mph (speed limit 40). 75mph (speed limit 55). These are the numbers I see on my daily commute. I’m a speeder. It’s not something I try to hide. I’ll openly confess that I speed to anyone who asks. Except to the police... Being guilty of speeding doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Everyone has done it at some point or another. Right? Be honest. But what if the above scenario had said that I’m a thief or fornicator? Naturally, I would weigh stealing and fornication as more shameful than speeding. However, as Christians, we know that our wrongdoings are not measured on a scale from one to ten. There is no “big” sin and “little” sin— sin is sin. We often try to make the term “sin” this grotesque and immoral act. In actuality, any time we do things that we know in our spirit we should not do, we exhibit our sinful nature. So, every time I intentionally accelerate on the gas, exceeding the lawgiven speed limit, I’m committing a sin—

just like the thief and the fornicator. Wow, that sounds harsh...but it’s true. Now we’re all on the same playing field. For most of us, it’s easy to identify that thing we do—that we know we shouldn’t do—but do anyway. The hard part is stopping those bad habits. Research has shown that it takes 21 days to break a habit or form a new one. So, if I make a conscious effort to drive the speed limit for 21 days, will I be cured of my “speed demon”? Maybe, maybe not. In actuality, the true remedy to changing our ways isn’t about repetition; it’s about self-control. Whether it’s the ability to lighten our foot on the gas pedal, control our anger, or not eat a second slice of Smith Island Cake, we all lack self-control in some area of life. It is always apparent around this time of year when we re-initiate the New Year’s resolutions we failed to accomplish the previous year. Spiritually-speaking, self-control is the ability to crucify our flesh. This enables us

©iStockphoto.com/Henrik5000

“I don’t want to make the wrong decision for the one person who always made the right ones.”

to do the right thing. The Bible explains that our flesh is the reason we constantly struggle to do the things we ought to do: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:16-17). Paul expressed it this way: “…For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18-19). Many of us can attest to this. Indeed, it’s my desire to obey the laws of the road, but I end up speeding. It’s my desire to handle my emotion in a sensible and peaceable manner, but I end up getting angry. It’s my desire to stick to my weight-loss plan, but how can I resist Smith Island Cake? How frustrating! The realization that it is impossible to carry out good deeds through our flesh emphasizes the need to bring it under subjection. Exhibiting self-control is absolutely imperative if we

desire to be like Christ. I love how the Bible uses the word “crucify” when explaining how to control our flesh. Not only does this symbolize that we must die to our flesh, it also insinuates that it is a painful, grievous, and difficult process for us. But the outcome is freedom. There are many biblical applications to acquire self-control and die to our flesh, such as prayer and fasting. A lot of times, we just need to listen to the voice inside of us. Listen to the voice that says, “Slow down.” Listen to the voice that says, “Calm down.” Listen to the voice that says, “Don’t eat another slice.” This “voice” is the Holy Spirit helping to lead us in the right direction. When we become obedient to the voice of God and listen to His Spirit who dwells within us, our flesh is crucified. And we live—rightly. “…for if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).

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By Josh Millwood

he alarm softly goes off. It’s a Christian radio station, but is turned down to a level that won’t jar me out of my dreams, only invite my consciousness to join the day. Both my wife and I pretend to be asleep, hoping the other one will have to get up first. Groggy and bleary-eyed, I stumble across the room and smack the snooze button. Brrr! I then stumble over to the thermostat to jack up the heat. Quickly I dive back under the sheet and grab the three or four covers that my wife has stolen. Now, back to sleep... And then the alarm goes off again. I growl. I moved the alarm away from the bedside table to encourage myself to go hit the treadmill in the mornings. I have my exercise clothes laid out, ready to be put to task, but for a couple of months now they haven’t seen much regular action. There’s the occasional “I’m Gonna Do It For Real Monday” and sometimes the “I Shouldn’t Have Had That Ice Cream Last Night Thursday,” but as far as actual discipline goes... Nada. Zilch. Zero. I know I should go downstairs and put in a mile or two. I know that I’ll feel better if I exercise. I know I’ll lose weight if I exercise. I know I’ll inspire my whole family to be healthier if I just put on those loose old shorts and baggy, ripped t-shirt and walk for a little while each morning! But I don’t do it. I want to, but I don’t. I’m not going to say that being less than disciplined when it comes to exercise is a sin. But in my case, it totally is. I just turned 30 and I am overweight. I’ve met with my doctor, a dietician, tried medicine, and over the past couple of years discovered my path toward healthy living. It’s a simple path of limited calories and focused exercise.

But I neglect that path whenever possible. As I told my doctor through tears just a year ago, I have a wonderful young daughter and I need to be healthy for her. I want to play games with her, run with her, and show her that I treat my body as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. And yet, I stumble in my charge toward health. Stumbling occasionally isn’t wrong—but giving up is. I know in my heart that when I hit that snooze button the fourth or fifth time, I’m letting myself, my family, and my God down. It’s a weighty guilt. For me, I’m facing off against the sin of being slothful rather than disciplined like Christ calls me to be. The story of David and Bathsheba is all about this same sin. The first sin in the story is not David’s lust, but his laziness. 2 Samuel 11:1-2 says, “In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.” David was not where he was supposed to be. Instead of leading his army, he was taking afternoon naps at his palace. It was a small thing for such an illustrious leader to take some time off from war, but that small concession led to a downward spiral of adultery, murder, and ultimately the death of a son. It’s that small thing that I fight each morning when I should get up and exercise but choose to stay in bed. Fortunately, God’s grace covers my sin. Hopefully, I’ll get another chance tomorrow morning to rise to the occasion.

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ason” is an old college friend. I went to school about three-and-a-half hours away from home and it was a blessing to find a student who was from near my hometown—and who had a car.

Score! Jason and I shared rides home on holiday breaks. We had some good conversations on those lengthy trips. Once, I remember him sharing how the Lord had touched his life and he had chosen to change his name (like many in the Bible) to note the significance of that event. Jason was funny, creative, wellliked, and had the lead role in many school dramas. Fast-forward a couple of decades (with the wonderful accessibility afforded through Facebook), I learned Jason had left the church and was raising a daughter with his gay partner. I was saddened to see he had chosen that lifestyle. I admit, I didn’t post to his page very often because I felt at a loss as to what to say. However, one day I could not help myself. Jason shared an article, “Tell Me, Christian, That You Hear this Boy.” It was the story of a young teen boy who had been horrifically bullied and struggled with suicidal thoughts. I eagerly responded that hateful bullying is not Christian, that Christ showed grace and hope to the hurting. Several of our former Christian college classmates also chimed in on the post. Gradually, Jason admitted he didn’t have a problem with Christians labeling homosexuality “sin,” but that the hatred he felt exuding from believers caused him to leave the church. He was at one time suicidal himself and was now in recovery, getting over his anger toward everything “Christian.” I wrote, “Jason, the Lord wants to work in your life. I think He’s speaking to you.” My statement hung as if in midair. No response. In my few attempts to communicate since, Jason has made it clear his only desire is to see “Christians stop being hateful.” He was not open to conversations about the Gospel. At an impasse, we parted ways. I sadly discovered later that he had converted to Buddhism. I was not wicked to Jason and yet I could feel that internal tension. Am I guilty because some of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have been behaving badly and we are connected as a faith family? Is this my guilt to carry? In the same way, what about the fact I am white? Whites once enslaved blacks, so should I continue to feel collective guilt for the sins of my fathers? My friend Mari is a gutsy gal who is both a writer and speaker. The two of us once sat down for a very provocative “ask me anything” chat over lunch. We talked racism in our churches, gang fears, and stereotypes. Before we left, there was one last question I was almost afraid to ask: “As a person of color, do you blame me for slavery?”

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Here’s what she said: “I do not blame you for slavery. I think everyone has to examine their own tendencies toward racism and deal with them. I don’t believe blaming all white Americans for a few people’s crimes is right. It would be like blaming all black people for all the crime in the world because last night on the news, three stories had black suspects. I think our energy is best spent praying for those who are still blinded by racism and bigotry to have their eyes opened by the love of Jesus. That’s a worthwhile use of our time and efforts.” I can’t tell you the relief I felt from that candid conversation with Mari. My guilt, false as it may have been, was relieved. Both of us from different church backgrounds and life experiences were united in Christ. Mari had been wronged by Christians and non-Christians alike because of her color, but she could see beyond it to the Truth of Jesus Christ. Let’s be honest, the church has its issues and Christians can be our faith’s worst enemy. We have been divided from the Acts 2 church into denominations and fragments within those denominations because we can’t see eye to eye. Within our walls we look at one another warily. Some look down their noses at others because of their dress, others because they don’t speak in tongues. All the while the pews are filled with guiltridden people who feel helpless to measure up to man-made standards, and at the same time we waffle on issues of clear Biblical sin because of fear of being considered “intolerant.” The Church may have “guilt” because it is made up of sinful people, but that does not change the Truth of the Gospel message: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith” (Romans 3:23-25). When we are hurt by others in the Church, we have two options: to reject the Truth the Church stands for, or acknowledge that people are sinful and that bad behavior is not of Christ. And I have a choice as a believer to let go of false guilt. I do not need to carry guilt from past generations of my race nor the guilt of other Church members who have acted hatefully. I am responsible for my actions. External guilt feels like a heaviness and general displeasure that cannot be confessed. And believe me, I have enough of my own sin to confess! Personal confession challenges my soul. I have to dig and prod and remember sins that I might prefer to forget. Yet, as I share with the Lord my pride, sinful attitudes, and impatience, I have this overwhelming feeling of internal cleansing and appreciation for Christ’s consuming love for me. More than anything, I wish my friend Jason would once again feel that release in his own heart.

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Who is Laertes? By Jill Carratini

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hakespeare’s Hamlet is in a predicament most of us will never face. His uncle has killed his father and then married his mother to become the king. The main conflict of the play is found within Hamlet’s long monologues debating whether or not he should murder his uncle and avenge his father’s death. It’s not a life story most can fully identify with. But for a group of prisoners at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center, Hamlet, both the man and the play, hit disruptively home. Over the course of six months, a prison performing arts program gave a handful of criminals, who are living out the consequences of their violent crimes, the chance to delve into a story about a man pondering a violent crime and its consequences. The result was a startling encounter for both the players, most of whom were new to Shakespeare, and the instructors, who long thought they knew every angle to Shakespeare’s tale, but came to see how much they had missed. One man, in order to play the character Laertes, found himself reckoning with the temptation to manipulate as a means of getting what you want, only to realize a kind of cowardice in such actions. In a moment of clarity through the life of another, he admits, “I can identify with that [struggle] and I can play that role very well—because I’ve been playing that role my whole life....To put a gun in somebody’s face—that’s an unfair advantage. That’s a cowardly act. And that’s what criminals are; we’re cowards.” He then admits with striking transparency, “I am Laertes. I am.” I was at a writers’ conference once that reminded an audience of aspiring artists of faith that in moments of moral crisis we do not pause to ask what Jane Eyre would do. And yet there are inarguably characters and stories that become of immense moral significance, pulling us into worlds

that call for attention, compassion, and consideration. As evidenced at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center, literature affords the unique and disarming possibility of placing oneself in another’s shoes, showing us sides of an individual we might otherwise miss, and depths of ourselves we might otherwise fail to consider. It is far harder to murder someone whose perspectives we have considered as imaginatively as our own. It is difficult to persist in self-deception when we find ourselves so jarringly laid out on the page. Such characters offer vessels of possibility beyond what is familiar, normal, and accepted—and often beyond what is even seen. It is not accidental that Jesus used story as a vehicle to speak the truth in a way that was both disarming and inescapable. “Simon, I have something to say to you,” Jesus said to a Pharisee who had invited him to dinner. “Teacher,” he replied; “Speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors,” Jesus said; “one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning towards the woman Simon had just flippantly dismissed as sinful and offensive, he said to Simon: “Do you see this woman?” Simon had obviously seen her long before Jesus paused to tell him a story. With disgust, he had watched her enter his house, kneel at the feet of his guest, and proceed to weep so much that she could actually bathe his feet with her tears. Simon looked on as she dried his feet with her hair, kissing his feet incessantly, and anointing them with ointment. Seeing all of this clearly, he then questioned the sight of his guest. “If this man were a prophet,” Simon said to himself, “he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Like Hamlet to a hardened criminal, the simple story into which Simon willingly entered forced him to take another look at one he willed not to see. We are not told what he saw the second time around, but his own words undoubtedly probed his hardened heart: The one who sees that she has had a great debt cancelled loves more. In a story of two debtors, Simon is invited to reconsider a sinful woman, his righteous self, and the one who forgives. Jesus places us beside images of a kingdom that turns things around, stories that shock and offend us, metaphors that wake us to the presence of a surprising God, to the mindsets and pieties that block us from seeing this God, and to the abundance of divine grace that beckons us to look again and again. Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia Who is Laertes? by Jill Carattini, A Slice of Infinity, No. 2457, orignally printed May 9, 2011 (www.rzim.org). Used by permission of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | January 2012

Ordinary Day Blues by Karen Tull

hristmas is over. New Year’s, too. The artificial tree is stripped and awaiting its usual corner in the attic. Strings of lights are now stuffed into boxes. All the fudge has been eaten. Presents need to be returned at the mall. No more Burl Ives singing or television specials to watch. You’re back to the grind at work thinking, “How long until Memorial Day?” Right about now, maybe you’re feeling as deflated as the blow-up Rudolph in your neighbor’s yard. If this describes you, I think it’s safe to say that you have the blues (cue the B.B. King guitar lick). It’s okay, though— you’re not alone. Most of us have gone through the postholiday doldrums at some point. All the celebrations are over and we’re left looking down the barrel of a long, cold winter and wondering how we’re going to make it through day after ordinary day.

Well, there is good news. Believe it or not, regular days can be filled with as much hope and wonder as the Christmas season. How? Because our traditions may come and go, but the Lord never changes, His promises are forever, and His attention is never away from those who belong to Him through Jesus Christ. In fact, He is always watching you with keen interest, as if it were just the two of you and no one else. You’re that important. In Scripture, the psalmist writes, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge

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is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (Psalm 139:1-6). If you wanted to personalize it, perhaps it could go something like this: O Lord, you see me when I hit the snooze button. You watch me as I eat my cereal. You’re with me as I’m putting gas in my car. You know I’m anxious about my staff meeting this morning. You were with me when I bought paper towels at the store. You made me cross paths with that person today. You know I love singing to that song. You understand what I worried about before falling asleep. No matter how seemingly trivial our daily movements and tasks may be, the fact that they matter to God and have already been planned out by Him is what brings meaning to the mundane. It’s the knowledge that the possibilities are endless when we consider that He is always working behind the scenes

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on our behalf. Author Elizabeth George writes, “We must never panic, never fear, never wonder, never doubt, and never question if God is in control or what He is doing. True beauty and strength believes in the complete oversight of God, even over the minutia of life.” So, when routines, errands, schedules, and appointments— even boredom—tempt us into wondering whether any purpose is behind this “same old, same old” day, we have to adjust our attitudes and remember what the psalmist went on to write in Psalm 139:16: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

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The Right Timing By B.A. Timmons

he tooth just wouldn’t come out. “Wiggle it,” his mother told him. She pulled and pulled. “Have your daddy try.” I had pulled enough teeth to know the drill. A tissue was used to dry off the tooth so as to get a firm grasp of it. Then, quick and firm force was applied. Nothing. “The tooth is not ready,” I declared. Finally, one night after dinner, it was apparent that the time had come. I took my son into the bathroom, grabbed a tissue, went through the usual routine, and with just a slight tug, the tooth was free. The problem had been an issue of timing, but once right, the procedure was effortless. I wonder how often problems are accentuated because we become frustrated with the timing of the resolution. We are born with the desire to have our needs met immediately. There doesn’t seem to be a natural instinct in humans to wait. In nature, there are many examples of instinctual waiting, often in the context of hunting for food. My grandmother taught us about things she called “moonies,” which are insects that build an inverted cone in the sand and wait for unsuspecting prey to stumble into the trap. She told us you could coax the “moonie” out by repeating “Here, moonie moonie moonie”

with your mouth, just inches from the hole. Sounds like taking camp kids on a snipe hunt. But even though it looked a little crazy, it actually worked. Humans can be taught to wait if there is a reward that follows. Hunting is a good example. Duck hunters wait in cold blinds, and deer hunters wait in cold tree stands. I prefer waiting while standing in warm sand by the ocean with a fishing pole in hand. Fortunately, our lives do not depend on my actually catching fish. When it comes to the resolution of problems, our sense of timing is usually different from the Lord’s. We want immediate relief; He usually has something for us to learn, which occurs in the period of waiting. While not a hard and fast rule, once the resolution finally comes, it is often quick and effortless. There is no more tugging and no more fruitless effort to work out a solution ourselves—there is just a straight path. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

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I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home): The City Harmonic

The Lost Symbol: Dan Brown Steeped in Brown’s usual approach to symbolism, many may be quick to scoff at the story itself solely because of its link to Masonry, but this book includes fascinating insight into the history of the architecture of our nation’s Capitol—as well as just a good story in a Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark fashion. It would seem that Brown is less than sure about the narrow path that leads to God as described by Christ. One could conclude from his writing that he believes that all religions, all belief systems, lead to the Higher Power that Christians know as God. But then, it’s only a novel. The danger, perhaps, lies in reading it from an uneducated position and allowing its influence. It’s not naïve to know that some people are that easily influenced by stories and movies. But it may be naïve to think that it is an easy task to battle such perspectives without understanding the error; forewarned is forearmed. With a familiar cast of characters from The DaVinci Code which caused clamor among Christian readership a few years ago, The Lost Symbol is actually a story of hope, especially as it relates to God’s Word—and rates as a thriller read if nothing else.

Worship music has become predictable. All in the keys of G or A. All the standard chord progressions, with familiar words of grace, love, and forgiveness. Whether it be Chris Tomlin, Bebo Norman, Matt Redman, or one of the Hillsong bands, there’s a comfortable sense of the familiar to the songs we adopt into our worship services. But then, there is The City Harmonic. Their sophomore album I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home) is undeniably a worship album. It is lyrically potent and easy to sing along to. But musically, it soars to heights we haven’t seen since David Crowder Band’s A Collision album. The piano-driven melodies are both simple and complex—simple enough for a worship team to copy the basics, but layered to the point that you probably won’t ever capture the essence of any of the songs live (unless at a concert with The City Harmonic). The theme of the entire album is unity. It is about sharing the vision of being the Bride of Christ. The music invites you to give in to a sway, to close your eyes and lift your hands. The lyrics move from inducing goosebumps of excitement to tears of repentance, while always leaving you hopeful for perfection to come. These reviews are provided by Maranatha, Inc. staff and contributing writers.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | January 2012

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