Up the Sunbeam

-- "Without fail." Quietly, fiercely, almost to himself, he answered her question. It was only two words, just one soft-spoken answer delivered by Denzell Washington's character in the movie  The Book of Eli , but it has echoed in my heart ever since. A young woman, who knew nothing of such things, had asked him whether he read the book every day . . .  the book he treasured above all else, including his life. [Spoiler Alert] I don't want to give too much away if you haven't seen the movie, but this very special book was none other than the last remaining copy of the Bible in a post-apocalyptic world. This scene, and maybe the whole movie, put a fine point on thoughts my Father had been laying before me all week. First, last Sunday when our pastor spoke of using his phone and a Bible app to listen to the Bible being read out loud, and how important it is to personally eat this daily bread even for pastors who study it as their vocation. That made me th...

-- I don't ever remember not believing in Jesus. I always knew the stories in my storybook Bible were different than stories in other storybooks--these stories were really true. I knew that Jesus was real and Santa was . . . well . . . real in a different way, and that Santa loved Jesus too. There was no "wink, wink, this is a fun game we're playing" expression when we talked about Jesus. I knew that God created everything in six days . . . six evening-and-morning days . . . and on the seventh day He rested. I knew that when the Bible said that God saved Noah and his family and the animals from the flood, protecting them in Noah's ark, it was really true that the whole earth was flooded. Story after story came alive for me, and I really did know the difference between fairy tales and the truth.  I was abundantly blessed with parents who faithfully read these stories to me, explained them with love and reverence, and lived the truth of them every day in...

-- I've been doing a lot of thinking  . . . about thinking. My thinking pours out my doing. The funny thing is, not all my thoughts are right out in the open and intentional.  Some of them play in the background like some kind of freakish and unwelcome elevator music--you know, the kind where you spend the rest of the day trying to get some dopey song like "Feelings" out of your head (my apologies if there is anyone out there who still likes that song).  I can't quite figure out why it is that the thoughts I purposely think, the beliefs I actively WANT to come to fruition in my life too often fall flat, and this junk under the radar effortlessly becomes my reality.  Paul knew my frustration,when he lamented, "18b For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.    19a For what I do is not the good I want to do;" Romans 7:18-19 NIV It always seems like the unintentional thoughts have more power over what I do than t...

 -- "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) "Stories are able to help us to become more whole, to become Named. And Naming is one of the impulses behind all art; to give a name to the cosmos we see despite all the chaos." Madeleine L'Engle , Walking On Water   What does it mean to be Named?  Have you ever thought about what your Name is?  I don't necessarily mean the one your parents gave you, but the Name that is you? I've been thinking about it a lot. God loves names.  He has always set great importance on names, from teaching us how to revere His Name, to the curious way He has of changing a name to reflect His transformation of the person who wears it.  We are told that at the Name of Jesus Christ, one day, every knee will bow to His authority--that's a powerful Name!  God graciously reveals His personality and c...

-- Love letters are the stuff of story books, fairy tales, movies and songs. Kept and treasured for years, worn with frequent handling, love letters are more precious to the loved one than gold or jewels or riches. Read and reread, pored over and memorized, love letters pour love from one heart to another. I find love letters from God all the time! He has this endearing habit of designing hearts into His creation, and then He waits and watches to see if I'll find them . . . and notice. Here are a couple of the recent love letters I've found: There is another love letter that is my favorite one of all. This one is filled with so much love it is sixty-six books long, detailing a love like no other, and written just for me . . . and you . . . and anyone willing to be loved. This love letter is the passionate expression of a completely sacrificial, nothing-held-back, all or nothing, utterly incomprehensible love to outshine all loves! This letter lays bare th...