April

My daughters and I belong to an organization that fosters growth in philanthropy, leadership and cultural events.  It is a national organization with 180+ chapters with over 50,000 members. Our chapter has 65+ mother/daughter pairs. The first event is a "May Tea" where 6th grade girls are introduced with their mothers and formally launches participation in 7 through 12th grades. it is a commitment that requires hours of dedication.  Six years of involvement culminates in a "Senior Presents", which is a grand-scale event of evening dresses, speeches and recognition for their involvement in the community. 

March marked a large event.  Although neither of my daughters were seniors, noticeably missing were my eldest daughter and her friend. Instead, they were flying to England to visit a third friend and roommate who was very homesick from her "study abroad semester" in Oxford. On a shoestring budget, the two girls were prepared to do whatever it took to support and encourage their third friend.  Planning only one meal a day, hostels and bus rides, they headed on the journey. Lost luggage, re-routed flights and blocked debit cards created an adventure that only early "twenties" something college students could celebrate.  Yes- they were missing the big gala but they were instead celebrating a commitment in friendships.

This started my thinking about friendships this month.  Then two weeks ago, the pastor at church said,  "friends with bold faith have bold friends."  That has been resonating with me into the writing of this post.    

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"Friends with bold faith have bold friends."  In Philippians 4:1-5, Paul writes, "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren...".  My beloved and longed-for brethren!  Paul is writing to the church.  Do you see the depth of compassion in which he writes?  

There is a movie clip starring Rowan Atkinson who plays the character, Mr Bean who tries to sing in church.  His efforts to "fit in" leave the audience sharing his awkward discomfort as he attempts to stand, sit and sing at the same time as the congregation.  He and viewers both have that same uneasy, uncomfortable feeling of being someone on the outside looking in. 

I began to dissect Paul's five simple words: "my" expressing possession, "my beloved" sending sentiments of intimacy and friendship, "longed-for" meaning someone you have hoped for, prayed for, desired their presence for and finally, "brethren" meaning brother or closer than friends.  Five simple words are in direct contrast with "Bean's" awkward attempts to fit in. 

I have family, friends and acquaintances that will likely never walk into a church again - or if they do, it will be for a wedding, funeral, Christmas or Easter service.  They will close their eyes to religion because of their misunderstanding of the relationship. They have turned away from the church because they have met Christians communicating judgement, arrogance and intolerance.  They will never listen to the words because their hearts are closed to the message.    

I had something completely different planned for this post but realized this past Sunday, that during the season of Easter, I will always communicate the message of the cross.  

Hosannah : Hebrew for Save, we pray!

While one pastor two weeks ago said, "people with bold faith have bold friends", a different pastor at a different church this week said "people sign up for the cross hoping for success but instead they just get the cross."  Palm Sunday, last Sunday marks the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. People laid down palm branches and robes to mark his arrival.  They were a people longing for someone to rescue them.  They wanted a victorious king to ride in and make things right.  They wanted someone that fit the mold of victorious: a powerful man of strength and presence -  but instead they got a king riding in on a donkey, humble and meek.  This king did not meet their expectations and instead this King died a horrible death on a cross- more gruesome and cruel than any human could handle. 

What does the Easter story have to do with you?  

Signing up for a relationship with Jesus does not mean you will have more money, more success, more happiness.  You will not be void of sadness, loss or hardship.  Your marriages, relationships, careers and circumstances will not automatically change because you chose Jesus.  You will not find Christians that will "serve" you more, or meet your expectations because they are not put on this earth to please you.  

Instead, you will have peace of mind. 

You will find followers of Jesus willing to pray for you, walk with you, humble themselves to a Savior willing to die for them.  They will point you to pastors, churches and theologians that dedicate their lives to serving the one true King.  You will find people with bold faith and most certainly, they will have bold friends.  Jesus waits for you.  Will you accept the invitation?  

In the bottom of my "video" chapter is a movie clip from the movie, "Les Miserable".  Afterwards, is an invitation for you to accept Jesus.  In it, I have raised the white flag that says, I will follow.  Will you?     

                                                                                                                   Song: Good To Me by Audrey Assad

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"People with bold faith have bold friends." 

This website is dedicated to those people in my life OR to those people who may have stumbled across this site by accident who have turned their backs on a relationship with Jesus.  Know that I pray for you... and like in the words of the disciple, Paul, "My beloved and longed-for brethren", I hope you find more than words on a page but a relationship with the one true king, Jesus. 

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I am not the type of person that will bombard you with my thoughts on faith.  I hope that I live my life so that you  can see faith woven throughout who I am.  I do, however, have bold friends that throw their hearts and lives (and their families' lives) into their faith, living and trusting with all that they are.  If at Easter, I cannot do the same in the words expressed in my website, then what is the point of my writing?  During this Easter season, as we recall  Jesus' procession, death on a cross and resurrection into eternal life, I ask my friends who do not know Jesus or have not stepped into a church in many years, to reconsider.  I thank my family and friends that live boldly in their faith because by their example, I am encouraged.  Amen!  Happy Easter!