Insights

Written May 11, 2007

A picture is worth a thousand words, it is said. But which thousand words? The most fascinating pieces of art in history are those that defy the observer to find a clear meaning. In a way, that delights the art historian – a challenge, daring him to unravel the mysteries surrounding a canvas. The less involved museum-visitor is less enthralled: why can’t they just tell me what it means and have done with it? Rarely can a painting be completely deciphered, and the likelihood for the artist to leave a record of what his intentions were in a masterpiece’s creation is even sparer. What, for example, might Johannes Vermeer have had to say about his painting Woman Holding a Balance, a work that has furnished material for many theories and debates? The following is purely speculation, but like any story or fiction, it may have some roots in the truth.

27 March 1663. I have completed the commission for van Ruijven. His love for beautiful women playing instruments seems insatiable. Perhaps this last lute-playing maiden[1] will satisfy his need for such paintings. I hope for a grand assignment soon, a work that is equal to my Art of Painting.

4 April 1663. No commissions. But I have an idea for a composition. So many of my pictures’ themes are admonitions against a vice. If I could paint an encouragement rather than a sermon – that would be a challenge. The Last Judgment has been weighing on my mind. To use it in a painting would require a setting that could match its strong content.

18 June 1663. Catherina is with child again. I pray she will not lose this one.

1 August 1663. I will paint Catherina. She has begged me to do so for years, and I think she will be the perfect model for my next work. Like many of my other pieces, it will appear straightforward, but have a deeper meaning. A young woman is holding a small set of scales, preparing to weigh something; what, yet, I have not decided. Light coming through the window will illuminate her work, and the painting behind her, The Last Judgment. It is a severe painting. It shows Christ as Judge; the gentle Shepherd is transformed into a stern King.
Some may wonder why I chose to place such a mundane household scene in the foreground with such a spiritually troubling reminder on the wall. Do we not all live in constant knowledge of that coming day? Do we not all fear it? No matter what our daily activities are, we cannot completely ignore the future day of truth.

4 August 1663. Pearls and gold – those will be her task. Even when faced with the idea of judgment, a woman can be perfectly focused on the transient effects of vanity. Of course, humans in general are prey to such distractions and must beware the future consequences.

7 August 1663. I must change something. Even in sketch form, Catia’s expression is too intense. The whole picture is harsh, which is not what I originally wanted. This should be an encouragement – but how can I encourage with such a solemn subject?

8 August 1663. The Virgin Mary may be a solution. As a central figure, Catia’s model of Mary would diffuse some of the severity. If I emphasize her and her grace and intercession on behalf of devout Christians, that would soften the painting. I will bathe Catia in light, giving her a holy presence; her white cap surrounds her face like a halo. She is standing in front of the picture, obscuring nearly half of the souls portrayed in torment. So it may be that Mary, Mother of God, will have a hand in saving those who call on Her and Her Son, keeping many from the agonies of the Pit. Holding the scales is an excellent symbol for Her. Like Her Son, she is judging the merits of Her supplicants, but with a tenderness and mercy that can only come from our Blessed Virgin.

10 August 1663. Catia and I argued over the way I have her standing in the picture. She does not understand the necessity of keeping her hand still, particularly the one that is holding the scales. It must be in a specific place, or the composition is all wrong. I told her that it was a shame Holland has the same laws as New Amsterdam, forbidding the sale of wives.[2] She told me I had too high an opinion of my skills as an artist!

12 August 1663. I fear Catherina’s Catholic doctrines have influenced me too much. How could I have forgotten so much of my early faith as to place such trust in a woman who is not glorified or praised in Scriptures? It is her Son who is the Intercessor, not herself.
Is my distinction between light and shadow, the way I use it to separate the canvas in half, too obvious? Or does it aid the idea of there being two sides of life, the right and the wrong? I hope my critics do not view the way I have the scales placed, bridging the division, as a desperate attempt at meaning. Of course, Christ did close the gap between humanity and divinity, and through Him we can leave the dark and enter the light.

3 September 1663. Since I decided to abandon the Virgin Mary concept, I have not been able to paint a stroke. No alternative subtext has arisen. And I have too much blue. The picture is excessively dark, and costly. That ultramarine blue comes dear nowadays. The table-covering has to go.

26 September 1663. I have heard writers say that sometimes they feel as though the story was writing itself, that they were merely the ones holding the pen, not the one composing the words. I wonder if it that can apply to painting? This work seems to have taken on a life of its own – as though I was not the one directing the brush strokes, but rather another master’s hand…
After letting the picture sit untouched for more than two weeks, I gave my imagination another chance. As I wrote in an earlier entry, I wanted to remove the damask, in order to lighten the scene. Once I pulled the tablecloth to one side, the story began to fall into place. The Last Judgment is about truth revealed, the day when all actions and thoughts will come to light. Like fabric covering a table, pretence is stripped away, discovering reality. Who would not tremble at that prospect? I decided to retain the tablecloth in the picture; its new arrangement illustrates my point, and I always did like ultramarine blue, despite the fact that lapis is blasted expensive.
Catia looked radiant that morning. Expectation of motherhood suits her. As she stood at the window, patiently holding the scales while I painted her hand, an expression of utter tranquility and peace spread across her countenance. I don’t know what she was thinking, but her face opened my eyes. At that moment, I knew that what I saw was the answer to my dilemma.
The Judgment is an awful prospect to those who have no hope. Many live in fear of retribution, lacking any assurance that their souls are safe. Indeed, it may seem to be a universal terror, but there are those who can await that day with peace: those who claim Christ as their Savior.
A believer is someone who has placed his faith and trust in God and His Holy Son. That faith gives us the ability to face the future without fear. As St. James states, though, faith without works is dead.[3] I must admit that Catherina’s Catholic sensibilities have served her well there; she is a better Christian than I.
The scales, then, are my representation for a good life. A life that is in communion with the spiritual will be guided in the natural. To completely reject God and seek only worldly satisfaction throws the “scales” off balance. Likewise, a life that shuns all physical enjoyment is just as unsteady, for it discards the wondrous Creation God made for us. The person who relies on the Father, who constantly seeks His will, and is not afraid of the truth, has no reason to dread the coming day of Revelation. He, or she, can face the prospect with a blessed assurance, the knowledge that they have done well by submitting to God.

3 October 1663. I overheard my studio assistants arguing over my painting’s interpretation again. Early in its creation I had informed them of some of my “allegories,” but they now know that I have changed many things. They ply me with questions, but I insist they try to discover its meaning themselves. Just as they learnt to see all the hidden colors in a scene, so they must learn to see the hidden story.
I must admit I did not make it easy for them. In my mind, the mirror I hung on the wall stands for truth and the honest reflection of reality, and Catia’s pearls and gold necklaces symbolize the purity of a Christian’s heart. However, my young men know that often mirrors and pearls signify vanity and self-absorption, which causes them much consternation.
They are also puzzled as to why I chose to faithfully include the physical sign of Catherine’s expectancy. Knowing that I originally planned to make her a type of Mary, they suspect that it is to reinforce the image of the Virgin Mother. I cannot help but smile at their lack of imagination.
Do they not see that Catia represents the Believer’s future?[4] We are all expecting, though not in the physical realm. We have all been given the Holy Seed, just as Mary was, and through love and obedience to Him that gave it, we nurture it, waiting for the day that our hopes will come to maturity.[5] Our faith will become sight, we are told. A new life will have come.



Woman Holding a Balance
Johannes Vermeer, c. 1662-1665

[1] Woman with a Lute, c. 1662-1664.
[2] “In 1663: A New Amsterdam court sentences a man to be flogged and to have his right ear cut off for selling his wife.” The Timetables of American History, Laurence Urdang. Page 75.
[3] “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26. New King James Version.
[4] “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27. NKJV.
[5] “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you…” Galatians 4:19. NKJV.

Five Years

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray..."



Four airplanes, three buildings, and a field -
They will forever be engraved in our memories.
The sacrifice of those fallen,
the courage of those left behind.
The fear, the hate, the confusion, and the...
Prayers?

Five years since the tragedy,
Five years since the heroics.
Five years to mourn,
Five years to rebuild,
Five years to...
Forget?

"God bless America" was our cry,
Heard from every corner of our country.
Sworn Atheists and devout Believers
Together sought comfort in that phrase;
But why should He bless...
Us?

Five years have passed.
Five years -
But what has come of it?
"God bless America" -
Should not America bless God...
First?




"...and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, ..then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

In His Presence

A huge auditorium. A band playing its heart out. A mosh pit. Hundreds of youth (and some brave adults) jumping, singing, and screaming at the top of their lungs.

One would think that what I just described is a scene at a rock concert. But, no, it wasn't. You see, the band was actually a worship team. The screaming "audience" was a congregation. The "mosh pit" was full of kids shouting with worship - not for the musicians, but for the One worth worshipping. They weren't rocking out to a new hit, but dancing with the joy of the Lord.

We're gonna be a dancing generation, Dancing because of Your great glory, Lord...
We're gonna be a shouting generation, Shouting because of Your great mercy, Lord...

Dancing for God. Shouting for God. Young people wearing shirts that said "I WOULD DIE TONIGHT FOR MY BELIEFS." Excitement about our faith.

And this all took place at the In His Presence worship conference at Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Anaheim.

Forget about walking on air... I'm dancin'!!

His Sacrifice...

...Our Gain. Just think about it: God the Father gave His Son so that we could know and love Him.

Really, the reason I'm writing anything is because I found this beautiful picture and decided to post it.

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? In essence, I think this one sums up a whole lot. Christ's sacrifice - and His kingship. Our victory through Him. "Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior forever..."

Day of Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You have promised that "if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray..." that You will guide and protect us. Father, we beg that You not forsake our nation, that You reawaken her to Your truth. We have become inundated with relativism and false religions, with an attitude of "anything goes." Strip that away, Lord! Reveal Yourself to the blind; open their ears to Your voice; open their heart to Your love.

May today be a day of unity, when all Christian brethren join together in one voice, with one plea: "Hosannah! Save, Lord!" Pour out Your Spirit amongst us, overwhelm the secular world with the power of Your might. Give Your children the boldness to speak out, and be confident in our faith. Cause a hunger - even a curiosity - to be born in the lost souls of our country. Indeed, of the world! Let the light and salt that Your ministers and witnesses display be unabashed and glorifying to Your name.

God, bless America!

True Love

I've just been watching an excellent movie. "Our Mutual Friend" is a BBC mini-series adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel of the same name. As is common with BBC productions (think back on Pride and Prejudice...), this has been excellent. And, as is common with any Dickens story, the plot is long and twisted, so to try to explain it in a (relatively) short post will be nigh impossible.

One of the many threads focuses upon two young people: John, an apparently destitute secretary, and Bella, the proud, mercenary young lady that he loves. Early in their relationship he proposes, and she turns him down flat. He does not press his suit, but still remains attentive to her, showing her his friendship and trustworthiness. They become friends; some of her airs disappear. Through a series of events, some unrelated to him directly, she begins to see his true worth as an honorable man, and becomes disillusioned regarding the appeal of wealth. The real test comes when John's employer - Bella's guardian - becomes aware of the previously refused proposal. He sacks John, accusing him of gold-digging; John insists that there was no ulterior motive, save his growing love for Bella. Bella, having truly altered her attitudes towards wealth and happiness, defends John, and promptly quits her guardian's house, returning to her own impoverished family. When he learns of her brave choice, John proposes again, and is this time accepted by a wiser Bella.

This may seem candy-coated to some, but when I was watching this movie, an interesting thought struck me. There is no "chemistry" between these two. How could that be? All the modern books and movies tell us - persistently - that love starts with an attraction. Generally, a physical attraction. And yet, I am utterly convinced that they are truly in love. It wasn't the secretive glances, or the passionate kisses - there was no kissing until the wedding. It was what they did for each other.

John never crossed the bounds of decency. He kept a polite distance, and rarely engaged her in conversation unless she initiated it. He was respectful, and gentle to her when she first refused him. He did not hold a grudge, or take an attitude of "I'll show her." Nor, did he ever bring up the subject to her, unless she brooked the topic. He was a friend to her, but did not force his friendship upon her. He honored Bella's request to not inform her guardian of his refused offer, because he knew it would embarrass her. When turned from the house, he did not demand that she make a choice between her guardian and prospective fortune, and him; despite the fact that he could see her deepening regard.

Bella, when she began to appreciate his friendship, started to see the trappings of fortune with different eyes. She regretted her attitudes toward him, and apologized. She grew to trust him and respect him for who he was, not what he was. The good sides of her nature, which had been hitherto stifled, blossomed: generosity, friendship, sensitivity. Her ultimate sacrifice came after John's dismissal. She did not leave to follow him; she left because she saw how money had tainted the guardian she had so loved, causing him to suspect everyone close to him of greediness. Because of this attitude, he had wrongly accused John of mercenary intentions towards Bella, and she would not stand for it.

It is my firm opinion that the classic writers - Dickens, Austen, Bronte - understood what love really is. It may begin by a superficial attraction, but it can only last if both parties are willing to work for the good of the other. Lizzie and Darcy eventually sacrificed their opinions; Jane and Mr. Rochester found true happiness after they had both given up something that was precious; David Copperfield won Agnes once he had matured and she had endured years of waiting. The attraction was the first step in a love based on something solid, something that would last much longer than that first "spark."

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13) Christ's words can be taken many ways, whether to mean literal self-sacrifice (as He performed Himself), or a laying down of one's own "life" - interests, pride, faults, desires - for the sake of another. I have come to the conclusion that true love, in part, is the lover's willingness to set himself aside for the sake of the beloved. This operates in two ways: first, the lover lets go of his vices and unnecessary caprices so as to please the beloved. Secondly, he helps his beloved to do the same - in tenderness and kindness and patience. The benefits are obvious: both people end up smoothing out each other's rough edges, making them better people in general: "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." (Proverbs 27:17)

Which brings me to the ultimate question: If Christ is our Bridegroom, shall we not do the same for Him as we are doing for our earthly loves? Shall we not aim at perfection, so as to make us as desirable to Him as possible? Of course we cannot do so on our own, which is why we must rely on His ever-ready aid: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her; that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27)

And so, I pose two questions:
1) Are you loving your beloved?
2) Are you loving your Beloved?

Rather though-provoking, aren't they?

~Chelsea

God of Wonders

This is another paper that I composed for my Great Books class. Frankly, I had a lot of fun writing this one. It was like having my eyes opened to this world for the first time.

Happy Reading!
~Chelsea

------------------------------------------

God of Wonders
Chelsea Nygaard
GBT III, 3rd Paper
Due March 24, 2006

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep…Then God said, ‘Let there be light’…”[1] With that single command came the birth of everything physical and natural: man, beast, and the elements were brought forth from the Voice and Hands of the Omnipotent. From the dawn of time, God has been closely associated with His creation. He is called the Father of all, the Creator of the world, the Author of our lives. Through an even closer association, we say that He is our Rock and our Light. He broods over His children like a mother bird. Jesus Christ is the Spring of Life and the Holy Spirit has been likened to a rushing wind. Why all these metaphors? Why do we draw so many connections between the Creator and the created? Many have endeavored to describe God in physical terms to make Him more understandable to our minds – but is this the only reason? We constantly hear our Lord being given the characteristics of objects: “He is strong like a rock; He shines like the sun.” What if it were turned around? “A rock is strong like God; the sun is bright like Him.” This presents an entirely new way to look at the earth and its God – and the man who presented it was Saint Thomas Aquinas.

In his work The Summa Theologica, Aquinas takes up a question regarding “whether any name can be applied to God substantially.”[2] Within his answer, he makes a declaration: “God prepossesses in Himself all the perfections of creatures…”[3] Taken at first glance, this may not seem to be an extraordinary statement. He quotes Augustine as saying “‘Because He is good, we are,”[4] therefore, because God is the Originator of everything, all the goodness and “perfection” exhibited by nature was His to begin with. However, if examined more closely, it becomes clear that what Aquinas is saying is much more complex.

Every positive quality that exists in a natural object or animal existed in God first. As stated earlier, we often say that “God is strong like a rock,” but it could be that we have it backwards. First, why do we use this image? A boulder is sturdy, immovable, firm, and can be either foundational or crushing. The connection begins to clarify: God is steady and unwavering, never changing, while Christ is connected with the stone that either supports a building or acts as a stumbling block.[5] Therefore, we are justified in using this metaphor. On the other hand, would it not be closer to reverse the order of the words? Where did these characteristics originate – in the stone or in its Mason? Only One of the two was around before the foundations of the earth were laid. “Hence every creature represents Him, and is like Him so far as it possesses some perfection…”[6] God does not have the attributes of that boulder; that boulder has the attributes of God. He projected a few facets of His personality – steadfastness, strength, and permanence - onto that piece of His creation, so that His people might never forget that He is Who He is.

In Romans, Paul states quite clearly, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…”[7] How might God’s attributes reveal themselves in the natural world? It could be accomplished through several methods, some more comprehensive than others. A modern scientist could go into incredible detail while searching for parallels; but there may be a simpler method. To the ancients, all matter was composed of only four elements: Wind, Earth, Fire, and Water. Describing each and their characteristics should shed light onto how they can illustrate their Designer.

When God made Adam, He breathed air – life – into his nostrils. In its most general form, “Wind” can include more than merely the breezes and gales that sweep the land. Air and the atmosphere, and breath itself, can all fall into the same category. Without air, without something to breathe, all life would perish. Wind in the sails of a ship powers it forward, towards an anticipated destination. The layers of air and gasses that envelop the planet protect it from deadly light and unfriendly space. Most amazing of all, it is invisible and has no form, so we cannot detect it through our senses.

“Earth” is a misleadingly simple word. When taken in its entirety, it encompasses soil, rock, and gem. It may be the dirt that nourishes an orchard; it may be what that house is built with. Boulders can either support immense weight or crush a man to death. The gem, particularly the diamond, is one of the most treasured items in the world. Radiance and permanence combined.

Without light, we could not see anything surrounding us. Illumination emanates from the sun, candles, light bulbs, and bonfires. Fire not only provides light, it also warms the cold traveler on a winter’s night. In a metalworker’s forge, it burns impurities out of the iron or gold, so as to produce a perfect item. It can be destructive, charring homes and taking lives. At the same time, in a controlled setting, a forest fire can clear the way for new and healthier growth to appear.

Water is a contradictory element. It can cool or scald, depending on its temperature. Sprinklers and drinking fountains provide essential sustenance, while a tidal wave can level an entire coastline. Snow, clouds, rain, ice, steam, or dew: it has many forms, and is not restricted to any one of them. It cleans like no other agent, having the ability to make the dirtiest clothing or person spotless.

A very clear portrait of our Sovereign begins to emerge through these components of nature. Nevertheless, an essential factor has not been addressed. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost – He is Three in One. Is this reflected anywhere in Creation? Yes, it is. “Then God said ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…’”[8] There has been much debate as to whether or not man has three parts to his personality. In defense of this argument is the fact that the New Testament employs three words to signify life: spiritual life, mental life or the soul, and physical life.[9] If an opinion in favor of this view is to be accepted, then the human person is made with a spirit, soul, and body. Aside from literally making humans tri-dimensional beings, God infuses them with creativity, strength (whether physical or mental), reason, and wisdom. Once again, this illustrates His powers in a diminished way: He, the Creator of all, possesses the greatest Creative Mind in existence; His Power knows no equal; His Thoughts and Speech are unparalleled for their Infallibility; He knows all things and understands all things with perfect Comprehension. He truly did make man in His image.

By investigating the evidence, it has been made apparent that our Father infused His character into the entire world around us. So much so, that it seems complete. His gentleness and power, His simplicity and complexity, His splendor and invisibility: all sides of Him are made clear. Would it not be accurate to say that by studying nature we come to know Him? When viewed in this light, the Scriptures seem almost superfluous. Let the physical world be our Bible, our guide to God’s Personality. If He is in nature, what else do we need?

On the other hand, there was the time when Elijah stayed on Mount Horeb, and the Lord came to speak with him. God sent a windstorm, an earthquake, and a fire, but He was not in any of those. It was only after Elijah heard a “still small voice” that he responded and went to converse with God.[10] Why? Later in his article, Aquinas explains that “creatures are the representations of God, although in an imperfect manner…”[11] . If you take a piece of metal, and hold it so the sun strikes it, the metal shines. But its brightness is trifling when compared to what illuminates it. So is it with this world compared to God. We and the nature around us reflect Him, yet His glory exponentially surpasses all earthly radiance.

In the Garden of Eden, when the world was “very good,” even then it was not a sufficient representation of God. He did not rely on the trees or animals or gemstones to explain Himself to mankind. He spoke with Adam and Eve directly and spent time with them; He knew them and they knew Him personally. The significance of this lies in the fact that God does not inhabit His creation. He uses it for His purposes, but He does not communicate directly with His children through it. Instead, He speaks to us in person, primarily through His Word: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”[12] If nature was all that was needed, why then did the Son of Man – the Incarnate Word – come to the earth?

As amazing as the physical universe is, it is nothing compared to the One who designed it. As Aquinas wrote, creation receives and projects His Character “not in its full degree, but in a measure that falls short…”[13] The only way that we can know Him – not just know about Him – is through personal relationship. Glorious though it is, creation cannot express His Love; only through words and songs and conversation can we understand His heart for us. Nature express What He is, while only through His Word can He tell us Who He is.

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”[14] One day, we shall see why God is more beautiful than diamonds, why He satisfies thirst more completely than any spring, and why the fire of His Love is more intense than any physical flame. One day, we shall meet this God of Wonders, and understand Him: He who is the One Who “prepossesses in Himself all the perfections of creatures, being Himself simply and universally perfect.” [15]


[1] Genesis 1:2-3. The Holy Bible, New King James Version
[2] St. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologica, First Part, Question 13, Article 2
[3] Ibid. “I answer that”, 4th paragraph
[4] Ibid. “I answer that”, 4th paragraph
[5] I Peter 2:7,8
[6] Summa, Pt 1, Q13, A2, “I answer that”, 4th paragraph (Italics added)
[7] Romans 1:20
[8] Genesis 1:26
[9] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Greek entries. #2222: zoe or #4151 pneuma (spirit); #5590: psuche (soul); #979 bios (body)
[10] “And behold, the Lord passed by, and  a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;  and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
[11] Summa, Pt 1, Q13, A2, “Reply to Objection 2”, 1st paragraph (Italics added)
[12] Ps 119:105
[13] Summa, Pt 1, Q13, A5, “I answer that”, 1st paragraph
[14] I Corinthians 13:12
[15] Summa, Pt 1, Q13, A2, “I answer that”, 4th paragraph

GAPDay

No, I'm not talking about the store. This stands for "Global AIDS Prevention Day", and the idea was originated by a pastor from Uganda, Martin Ssempa (yes, that's with two S's).

How would someone honor GAPDay? The scheme is just getting off the ground, but it will resemble something like this: Throughout the month of October, people - particularly college students - will wear red-and-black ribbons (AIDS awareness colors), and try to bring the AIDS crisis to the awareness of as many people as possible.

There is a major difference between this rally and all the others however. Note the word "Prevention." How would we help prevent AIDS? No, not by administering drugs or condoms. Advocate ABSTINENCE. Yep, that's it! "Excuse me; in case you don't know, this month is Global AIDS Prevention month. Would you be interested in participating? Yes? Great - here's what you would do. Would you join me and thousands (maybe millions) of other [unmarried] young people in participating in a month of sexual abstinence?" You know why? Because abstinence WORKS!!! Fancy that.

Then, on the last day, we'll hold rallies and marches...Pastor Ssempa said it the best:

We (Christians and abstinence-promoters) suffer from an abstinence stigma. It's time to shake off that stigma. What would you call the opposite of Abstinence Stigma? Abstinence Pride!

Couldn't you just see this fly in the face of Gay-pride celebrations? I'm not gloating, or rejoicing over the opportunity to "get back" at anyone...it's just so exciting to see someone shouting out a rallying cry.

So, keep the month of October in mind. GAPDay. Abstinence Pride. "True Love Waits."

Oh, by the way. Uganda is the only country in which the AIDS percentage has actually dropped. From 30% in the 1980s to 6.5% a couple years ago. Why the change? Uganda is the only country to take the idea of abstinence seriously.

Just a little bee to stick in your bonnet...

It's time to reclaim our generation for purity!

~Chelsea

Turning the heat on

I don't have the time to write about all that I have on my mind. I just read an article about an Afghani man who has been "found out." Yes, he has committed the most heinous of crimes: he became a Christian.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060322/ap_on_re_as/afghan_christian_convert

And, if the trial goes the way that most trials like this go, he will be executed for it. So much for human rights. But, there is hope! He can be declared mentally unfit to undergo a trial, and the case may be dropped. Of course - he must be insane, because no Muslim in his right mind could possibly forsake the "true religion."

Oy. Things are certainly shaking up down here, aren't they? Wars, rumours of wars, natural disasters, political corruptions, and a spike in persecution.

Come, Lord, come quickly!

~Chelsea

Strength from the Pain

My Heavenly Father,

You know my life, inside and out, from beginning to end.
You see what my purpose will be, and what my failings are now.
You understand my joys and griefs.
Thank You for Your comforting presence in this time of heartache.

My pain was sharp; my sorrow overwhelmed me.
The enemy of my soul came, tempting me to despair and to blame.
I did not know how I was going to survive this separation.
But You whispered to me in my agony.

When I fell to my knees, sobbing, I cried out to You.
I called for light in my darkness.
I begged for forgiveness - for placing another above You.
You, in Your everlasting Love, comforted me.
You let me know that Your desire for me will never fade; Your affection is eternal.
You held me in Your arms, and told me I was Yours.

Thank You, My God, for opening my eyes to You again.
My pain remains, but You transfigure it into a yearning for Your Will.
Whatever my future is, You know.
You hold my heart in Your hands.
I trust my life to You, once again.

I love You!

Hail!

Light of the Stable

By Elizabeth & Steve Rhymer (Performed by Selah)

Hail, hail to the newborn King,
Let our voices sing Him our praises!
Hail, hail, to the guiding Light,
That brought us tonight to our Savior!

Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!

Come, now, there it shines so bright
To the knowing light of the stable
Kneel close to the Child so dear!
Cast aside your fear and be thankful!

Hail, hail to the newborn King,
Let our voices sing Him our praises!
Hail, hail, to the guiding Light,
That brought us tonight to our Savior!

Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!

Hail, hail to the newborn King,
Let our voices sing Him our praises!
Hail, hail, to the guiding Light,
That brought us tonight to our Savior!

Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!
Alle-Alleluia!

Meddling

Christmas was wonderful this year. We spent it up in Oakland, with my Mom's family; it was cold and raining (not quite a "White" Christmas, but it was serviceable). On Christmas Eve, after our traditional waffle dinner and present-opening (we open stockings Christmas Day), we packed into Aunt and Uncle's car and headed to their church for a Candlelight carol service.

Something must be stated first: My Aunt and Uncle are Unitarian-Universalists (yes, that's the name of the denomination). This particular church is very welcoming to everyone - that's a good thing. But the main problem is the fact that their philosophy is one of "all roads lead to Rome." In otherwords, be you Buddhist, Satanist, Protestant, New-age, or whatever, you're just fine, and you're going to heaven anyway (or is it Nirvana?)

Unfortunately, this infiltrated the Carols we sang. Oh, they were traditional, all right: Angels we have heard on high, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, etc. HOWEVER, more than once, I noticed that the lyrics had been altered. So, instead of "Good Christian men, rejoice!" it was "Good people, all rejoice!" I suppose that isn't all that objectional, but when they messed with the lyrics so as to diminish the divinity of Christ - now that got to me. Excuse me, but I have a problem with saying: "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let love the people bring! Let every heart prepare IT room..." That made me twitch. Or "Silent Night, holy night, CHILD of God..." Whenever there was the word "King" or "Son" or "Savior", it was almost always replaced with a more "gender-friendly", non-spiritually-threatening alternative. Now, I did notice that they left "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" intact. As with "Away in a Manger" (of course, we only sang the first verse of that one).

It was a beautiful service. The candles gave an enchanting glow to the room. And I was relieved that they stuck with real carols, rather than inserting hymns to the celtic sun god or something. But that may have at least been more honest. In slightly changing the words to these beautiful songs, they strip them of their power. Throughout the service, the ministers told the Christmas story...but left out the part about Christ being the only Son of God who came, not just as a child to deliver messages of hope and peace and love, but as a King calling His people to Salvation from eternal darkness. Without that, what is the point of this celebration? One may as well be singing praises to Ghandi. Take away the Reason for His coming, and you strip the day of its Reason for celebrating.

Songs of Joy

Hmm. I have neglected this for a few weeks. As Finals week and the holidays approach, I will attempt to restrict my posts to smaller topics.

For now, here are the lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas songs. Not a "carol", per se, because it's not been around very long - although, "Love is Come" is sung to the tune of "Bring a Torch Jeannete, Isabella."

Love is Come/Come and Behold Him medley

Love is born, come share in the wonder;
Love is God now asleep in the hay.
See the glow in the eyes of His mother,
What is the name her heart is saying?
Love, love - love is the name she whispers,
Love, Love - Jesus, Emmanuel!

------------

Come and behold Him, come see His glory;
Come with an honest heart to see all He is.
We will discover all of His beauty,
His Light will burn away all the darkness we've known.

Come and behold Him! Come and behold Him -
Come with an honest heart to see all He is.
Come and behold Him! Lay down before Him;
Come with an honest heart to see all He is!

------------

Love is come, a light in the darkness;
Love explodes in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all Heaven has come to proclaim it,
Hear how their song of Joy arises -
"Love, Love, Born unto you a Savior!
Love, Love, Glory to God on High!"

Come and behold Him! Glory to God!


Ah. Beautiful lyrics, describing a beautiful message.
I may post again during Christmas, I may not. Until next time...

God bless us, everyone!
~Chelsea

Paper, pt2

Here it is, as promised! Please, PLEASE read the first half first!!!

...

Psalms and Proverbs are highly vocal regarding this subject. David cries out in anguish over his spiritual state, declaring that his body is also suffering from his iniquity: “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.” In the second portion of Deuteronomy 28, God specifies the consequences to His People when they did “not obey the voice of the Lord [their] God.” The curses of Egypt (including plague, boils, tumors, and rashes) are named, along with fevers, blindness, insanity, general frailty, and hallucinations. His declaration illustrates Augustine’s point: the body is open to disease’s effects when the soul is out of line.

Might one take this a step further, and suggest that the source of the illnesses is none other than the “corrupting influences of the most vicious demons”? For, considering God’s promises, when else can a believer be subject to sickness other than when he is out from under the Lord’s Divine protection? From the time Satan was cast out of heaven, he and his minions have been waiting for opportunities to attack God’s children. There is only one barrier between them and us: God. In the Garden, Satan could only tempt Eve; he had no power of force. As long as Adam and Eve remained faithful to God, He preserved them from the effects of rebellion – effects Satan knew all too well. Satan cannot undergo physical death, having no body, but his separation from the Lord is a type of death. He has eternal existence, but that hardly constitutes life in the sense of John 17:3. Therefore, he attempts to deprive as much of humanity as he can of the blessings associated with obedience to God.

“Have you considered My servant Job…a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Often, Job is used as an example of the righteous man who undergoes seemingly arbitrary testing, with God’s consent, just to prove his allegiance to Him. However, one detail is often overlooked. After disaster befell him, Job lamented “…the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” Faith is defined in Hebrews as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Fear, on the other hand, is associated with terror, worry, and “what-ifs.” It may be said that fear is the substance of things not hoped for, the evidence of things seen. This type of fear is not from God.

We are commanded to trust God. Job was “upright,” yet he feared – he did not trust God to maintain him and his family. He dreaded God’s judgment on his children, and his wealth was no doubt a source of worry. By fearing, Job sinned, thus opening the door for Satan to attack. Job’s soul refused to release its burden to his Father; therefore, not only was his own person vulnerable, but his entire household was at risk. As the spiritual head, he had power to allow the rest of his “body” to be subject to demonic antics. For the greater part of the book, Job insists he did nothing wrong. Yet in chapters 38 through 41, when God reveals His omnipotence to Job, one could hear Him saying, “I created and control the entire universe, but you didn’t trust Me to handle your problems.” To which Job replies: “I know that You can do everything…” and repents for his lack of understanding and lack of confidence. Only after Job realigns himself with God’s order is he restored to wholeness. Once again, Augustine’s theory rings true.

As shown in Psalm 103, it is God “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction…” He is our Father, our Hiding Place, our All in All. He created mankind to have relationship with Him. When we reject that relationship, even as Christians, we are subject to devastating consequences. It is only when we repent, renew our minds by the washing of the water of the Word, and return to His protection, that the hierarchy in ourselves can be restored: God is over the soul, the soul is over the body, and the body is kept in perfect health. It is then that we can appropriate His promise: “I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

God calls us to be His servants. This is not the order of a cruel taskmaster, but an honor bestowed by the Lord Most High. He wants us; we bless Him when we seek His will and obey it out of love for Him. He loves us, and desires to give us abundant Life. Our souls form the link between God and our bodies; maintaining that connection is important, and, as Augustine suggests, could be the very difference between life and death.

Paper, pt 1

Below is the first half of a paper I'm writing for my Great Books class. I'll post the second half as soon as it's complete...

Connections: Augustine and the Believer's Health

“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”[1] Indeed. We, as human beings, are an amazing creation. Made in the image of God, we have intelligence, strength, and the opportunity for spiritual life. Yet, despite these blessings, life often goes terribly wrong, particularly where health is concerned. Why does sickness so plague the human race? Christians know that we lost our immortality when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden; but how does that apply to our bodies in general? Could it be that there is a direct link between sin and disease? St. Augustine, in his work The City of God, argues that when a man’s soul rebels against God, he loses authority over his body, leaving the flesh open to decay.

In Augustine’s mind, anything that God created – angels, men, the natural world – is good by nature.[2] In Genesis, He looked at His handiwork and “saw that it was good”[3] because all was in its natural order, serving His purpose. Man, being a reflection of God’s Personality, was the pinnacle of His creatures: he had a body like animals, to link him to the physical world, but was also given a soul, to link him with the Divine. God ruled the soul, and the soul ruled the body: it was as it should have been. As long as Adam and Eve remained obedient to God’s single command, they retained their eternal life and perfect health.

Connected with this blessing was a warning. If they disregarded His word, and ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would “surely die.”[4] From the very beginning of Scripture, God time and again equates sin with death and destruction. In Deuteronomy,[5] He promises His obedient Children health, prosperity, and joy; to the rebellious ones, He guarantees sickness, failure, and anguish, with their lives ultimately ending in either foreign captivity or painful death.

“…if the soul and reason do not themselves obey God…they have no proper authority over the body…”[6] When a person sins, it is his soul which rebels against God, for the soul contains a man’s will. Augustine would argue that, once a soul has rejected the authority of the Creator, it loses control over its physical abode. At this point, the body is exposed to the decaying effects of un-repented sin. A great deal of research done by various Christian ministries (Pleasant Valley Church and Wellspring Ministries, among others) has revealed that most “incurable” diseases are physical consequences of spiritual sin.

What is sin? Most people have a rather narrow understanding of the word, imagining it to be the breaking of a Commandment or of Levitical Law. It is interesting to note that Vine’s defines sin, or “lawlessness,”[8] much more broadly: “This definition of sin sets forth its essential character as the rejection of the law, or will, of God and the substitution of the will of self.”[9] Sin therefore, is anything contrary to God’s will. Holding resentment against a friend is a sin, since we are told to forgive one another. [10] Fear and anxiety are sins, for how often does God tell us to “fear not”[11]and “be anxious for nothing”?[12] Following this line of reasoning, might one also say that a man could be sinning, though doing nothing explicitly bad? Jesus, the Perfect Man, only performed “the will of the Father who sent [Him].” As Christians, should we not strive to do the same? Feeding the poor is noble, but if it is not God’s purpose for that particular man to do so, he is in sin. He is substituting his own will for that of the Father’s.

That brings us to the crux of the argument: how, exactly, does the rebellion of the soul cause disease of the body? “For the corruption of the body…is not the cause but the punishment of the first sin…”[13] When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately suffered the consequences of their actions. They had been told that if they ate of the forbidden Tree, they would surely die. Though the physical death God promised to them was delayed, their souls were immediately severed from that hither-to constant connection with their Father. In a sense, they died right then. Christ defines eternal life in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Our first parents certainly knew “the only true God”; their direct spiritual connection and relationship with Him would have equaled life eternal in His eyes. Under that definition, then, they lost their lives when they disobeyed Him, because they gave up their relationship (their “knowing” Him) for having their own way.

This is not to say that they suffered only one death at the Fall. Rather, when their souls died, the life of their immortality died. As soon as they rejected the connection with God, they forfeited their physical lives as well. “…the sinful soul…made the flesh corruptible." [14]The sin of the soul was the cause for the death of the body. “Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”[15] Throughout Scripture, God links obedience to His Word with bodily, not just spiritual, health.

Evil and sickness

"If God is so good, why is there so much evil and death and hardship in the world?"

How many times have we heard that question? The answers are varied, depending on where they come from. Non-believers assume that either God isn't as powerful as we say He is, or He has a capricious, malevolent side to His nature. Believers' answers are even more diverse. God sends trials to test us or perfect us. We bring them on ourselves. It is fore-ordained that we endure hardship, for some reason. What Satan sends to torment us, God often uses for good, so He doesn't stop Satan's "pranks."

Huh.

Frankly, those answers never satisfied me.

So, I kept searching...and have been slowly piecing the following thoughts together. They were summed up on Sunday by the sermon that evening.

Like I said before, God is a God of Love. He desires relationship with us, and wants to bestow all possible blessings on us. IF He withholds something desired, it is for that person's protection, not because He doesn't feel like being generous. If he got that promotion, he would get more money, sure, but he'd also lose important time with his family...and may even get seduced into a corporate crime. It may not be that obvious, but the point is: IT'S FOR OUR OWN GOOD. I'm talking about keeping something back here, not punishing.

So, what about 9-11? How about all the cancers, AIDS, and other diseases? What about the fatal accidents we hear reported every day? Why do they happen?

There is a formula (not perfectly mathematical, but close enough) that God laid out for us; simple to understand, but very hard to follow:

If you love Me, you will obey Me. If you obey Me, I will bestow untold blessings on you and protect you from harm, because I love you.
If you disobey Me, you step out of My protection. You tie My hands; I will not bless your disobedience, and I can not protect you from Satan's attacks.

When I say "can not," I'm not saying that God is impotent. Rather, since He gave us a free will, He lets us decide if we will choose Him (life) or Satan (death). Even as Christians (and most dangerously so), we can rebell against Him. He will not interfere with our decisions, and once we have stepped out from under His protection, we are fair game to the Enemy. We have, intentionally or not, declared: "God, I agree with Satan, and don't want Your rulership or protection, so I'm going to obey him, and give my allegience to him."

Christ said we can't serve two masters: if we're not God's, we're Satan's. If we are God's, He gives us the gifts of His Kingdom: Life, Love, Liberty in Him. If we are Satan's, we receive the gifts of his kingdom: death, hate, slavery to darkness.

Hmm.

That does seem to explain quite a bit, doesn't it? Take a look at Deuteronomy 28. Very illuminating.

More on this later. Until then!

~Chelsea

Under Cover

Authority and submission. Those concepts aren't too popular in the American culture. We are, after all, the people whose country was founded on the words: "Give me liberty or give me death!"

In our democratic nation, we often neglect the part of Christianity called "Lordship." Jesus Christ is, after all, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, is he not? We gladly accept His gift of salvation, but when it comes to obeying His commands...well, we need to talk about this, God. Did God really say...? Dangerous words, considering where they first came from (think Genesis, chapter 3).

You see, I've recently heard someone say that most Christians don't OBEY God; they just AGREE with Him. The test to knowing whether I am truly obedient to His Word is when He tells me to do something I don't want to do.

It is hard, because we can't get through our minds that technically, God's realm is a dictatorship. In the sense that He reigns supreme, and we can't vote on anything. It is called the Kingdom of Heaven, after all - not the Heavenly Republic. Now, the good thing is that, in His eyes, we are still created equal: in His image, with a sin-nature, and all in need of redemption.

So, anyway. What I've been learning is this: Submitting to authority, whether I like it or not (often, even if the authority is ungodly) will bring God's blessings. Since He is the author of all authority, and sets up all rulers, I am expected to obey. Obey Him and everyone else that is over me. Bummer! Well, not really, since He has promised such wonderful blessings to those who are obedient and remain under the covering of His authority and rulership: prosperity, peace, protection, honor, salvation...Ok, I'd say it's worth it.

That's why this post is titled "Under Cover." It's the name of a book I've been reading, which deals with obeying God (and all God-ordained rulers), and staying under the cover of His protection.

He is a God of giving and love; if He withholds something, it's not because He's being mean, but because He's protecting me from something. Sometimes, the answer is "no." And no amount of pleading or pouting on my part will change it. Accept it and move on, trusting God's ability to know what's best for me.

That's what I know in my head, at least. Now, getting it integrated into my behavior and attitudes will be the real challenge...

~Chelsea

Prayer for Students

Yes, my last couple posts have been shorter, and this one shall be so too. I hope that sentence was constructed correctly.

Some friends of mine at our Community college campus are trying to get a club started (Students for the Advancement of Light, Life and Truth - S.A.L.L.T. for short). The main focuses (foci?) are to fellowship and support one another, then every so often form teams to go out and witness. The Jordan (another Christian club) just started too, but their mission is a bit different than ours.

The process of starting a club is long and involved. Nicco is valiantly trying to carry this forth single-handedly, but I can tell he's getting discouraged. Please, pray for him and all of us who are trying to get this accomplished.

Thank you!
~Chelsea

A couple links

Since I have not yet been able to figure out how to add a "links" section to the side-bar, I'm including links to two sites I consider important. First, is a brother blogger's site (http://arevolutionofhope.blogspot.com) ; second, is the site for my church (http://www.sabrespringsfoursquare.com/).

Blessings!
~Chelsea

Mysterious ways

Who says miracles aren't still occuring?

Three days ago, on Saturday, the son of one of our elders got married. The ceremony took place at Spreckles Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. It's outside. Those of you who live here in San Diego area know that for the past week it has been raining sporadically.

The wedding ceremony took place at 5:30. We arrived at 2:30 to get everything set up. To say it was "damp" would be an understatement. Not quite rain, but more than just mist, and a somewhat stiff breeze - not your ideal wedding weather.

Pastor Wayne and Chris (his wife) arrived around 4. Chris had done all the flowers, so she came early to get all the floral decoration done. The four of them - my parents, Wayne, and Chris - seeing the inclement conditions, prayed. I don't quite know what they prayed, because I was scurrying around somewhere else.

Whatever it was, it worked. From 4:30 until 7 (when the ceremony was over, and all were travelling to the *indoor* reception), the weather was perfect. A little cold for those in sleeveless dresses, but the dampness just disappeared, and there was no wind worth speaking of. While we were tearing everything down afterwards the dampness returned.

Wow!!

Call it coincidence, if you wish. Personally, I believe it was the hand of a loving Dad fixing things for His kids.

Who says miracles don't happen?

~Chelsea