fat v. fit and the Christian

I came across an article entitled "Pastor, You're Probably Fat: 6 Things to Do About It" over on The Resurgence website today. The idea of obesity as a spiritual problem is something that is hard for me to accept. When I go into the local Christian bookstore and see a whole section on health, I cringe. I can't help but think "how does my weight have anything to do with my walk with God?"

However, the article made a few good points (six actually...ha ha). The point that really hit home was this: "The very evidence of fat in a person’s life demonstrates that there are some spiritual areas that need attention regarding compulsions and lazy behaviors." My eating habits really do show my overall lack of discipline in my life. Most of the time when I eat out it's not because its a special occasion or a social gathering, but because I'm just too plain lazy, either to cook or to shop to get groceries. Also, I have a hard time telling my body no. I use excuses such as "I'm stressed" or "it's that time" to justify cramming my face with all sorts of unhealthy foods. Not that I feel I need to or should give up everything I like, but there comes a time for some moderation.

I still don't know if 1 Corinthians 6:19-20* really is a good Scriptural reference for dieting. I'm not buying into those "Biblical" diets out there (like the Eden diet). But I do want to have more discipline in my life, and controlling what I eat will be a major challenge. I've been toying with the idea of checking out the First Place 4 Health books, and this article may just have given me the motivation to try it.

* "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (ESV)

remember to check your gauge

Crochet patterns usually come with instructions on how to make a gauge swatch: a small sample of fabric that you can check your work against to make sure the pattern will turn out right. Typically, I ignore the gauge swatches. I haven't made a good many clothes and most of the blankets have been for babies, so I've always decided the gauge wasn't that important. But I'm trying a new pattern now, one for a vest, and I want to do my best. So last night I sat down to make my first gauge swatch. I figured I would stitch it up as directed, get it right on the first go, and move on.

I was wrong.

I stitched the swatch twice with the recommended hook. Both times the gauge was off. Then I hit a dilemma. Instructions usually advise a hook size, but then add "or size to obtain gauge". It looked like I was going to have to go up a hook size.

I'm not going to super-spiritualize what is really just a trivial moment. But I did have to battle my own stubbornness to pick up the larger hook size. And yes, the third swatch matched the dimensions that the pattern said it should. It makes me wonder how teachable I am on larger, more spiritual matters, if I resist following the instructions on simple crochet pattern.

"I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God's creational intentions." John Wesley

Good Friday

Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins-that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.

Isaiah 53, NLT

holiday, holy day

Easter is almost here. Walking into Wal-Mart, chocolate bunnies and brightly colored basket-grass abound. While I don't have children myself, I get to listen to my coworkers talk about all the goodies they're getting for their children. I miss those long gone days of spring break and waking up to a basket of candy.

I miss Easter being a holiday.

But has it ever really been a holy day to me?

I didn't grow up in a church-going family. We didn't even go to church on Christmas or Easter. So the idea of a holy day, a day set apart for God, is a little foreign to me, even after a decade of being a believer. I've been trying to let the holiness of the seasons of Easter and Christmas sink in deeper. My husband and I celebrated Advent last year, and this year we've been following a more traditional Lenten fast of abstaining from meat.

But it's hard. I've found that just doing stuff (of not doing stuff in the case of Lent), hasn't really seemed to touch me deep down. Yes, it's been a challenge, but more often than not I find myself lamenting my cheeseburger-less state rather than dwelling on deeper, more spiritual things. I've been left wondering which is better: to practice the traditional holy days, etc. or to live "free" from such things. I like what Romans has to say:

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:5, 6 ESV

I have no real conclusion as to what's best. And maybe one isn't better than the others; it's all about our attitude as we either eat or abstain, celebrate a certain day or spend it just like any other. That's the beautiful thing though: we are each so individual and God reaches out to us in completely unique ways. He doesn't use a set formula to reach Megan plus every other Christian on earth. He relates to me in a completely different way than He relates to anyone else. It makes me feel loved.

feel-good faith

This week is the third week of Lent, a season of fasting and contemplation. I've looked forward to these forty days leading up to the celebration of Easter. I had determined that it would be a time of prayer and spiritual growth. I had expected days of reflection and experiencing that floaty, abstract feeling of being close to God. God, on the other hand, seems to have other plans for my spiritual growth. Instead of the feel-good emotions that so many of us attribute to spirituality, it's been one hard situation after another. I've been left feeling drained and disappointed.

But I'm learning more about God this way.

It hit me this afternoon, as I was agonizing over yet another stressful situation, that this was my chance to become more Christ-like. I won't grow in my faith by experiencing nothing but feel-good spiritual highs. It's in facing the tough days that I realize that I can't do it on my own strength (something that I really need to be reminded of every day). I'm forced to rely either on my own, flawed strength to get me through or to cling to Christ. Each difficult moment is a chance to follow Christ in how I react to the situation. Do I show grace to others or do I sulk and feel sorry for myself? Do I serve others regardless of how I'm feeling? After all, it's easy to serve others when we're in a good mood or when everyone is getting along. But Christ doesn't excuse us from serving others just because we're having a bad day or because others aren't "playing nice".

Jesus stated "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." (Luke 6:32-35, ESV)

Expecting nothing in return.

Too often I serve others expecting some reward or praise. But Christ calls us to serve when there are no returns, when there's no point to the good things we're doing. It's not a matter of being blessed for our good deeds, but of being obedient to our call as Christ's followers.

"Christianity promises to make men free; it never promises to make them independent." William Ralph Inge

A good quote to think on....