The End is not the End

As most of you know by now, we will be closing our store at 12 Goose Lane at the end of the month. It has been a wonderful experience, meeting so many of God's kids from around the area.
I would not trade my experience for anything. If I had it to do over, I would!
But seasons change, and the season is changing for us. I am moving to a more corporate position, with my husband Charlie in his managment consulting firm, Creative Leaders.
If you're reading this blog before Dec. 31st, please stop by and grab up some bargains....just about everything is on sale!
I will be closing this blog, but you can find me on Facebook (Chris Cruise Fields)
This is not the end, but a new beginning, which I face with joy and expectation.

A Common Gaze

I'm old enough to remember the revolutionary "Ecumenical Movement" of the 60's. I applaud all those who broke through the status quo to extend the hand of fellowship to people who didn't worship in the same building with them on a Sunday morning.
I remember my mother taking us to the Congregational Church, just down the street from our Roman Catholic parish. I was a little nervous, never having been in anything but Catholic churches. But I remember that night, it felt special, like Christmas. It felt holy, and important. Could my eight year old little heart have sensed the Father's pleasure over His children coming together?
It was an attempt. I've heard criticisms of the movement over the years. It wasn't perfect, but I believe it was born out of something in God's heart. Imperfect though it may have been, it was an attempt.
I don't present any answers here. Just a question: what would happen if, for just one month, or one week, all across the globe, the people who love and believe Jesus is the Son of God, that He died and rose and is coming again, what if for one week, we didn't focus on our differences. I'm not saying we let go of our traditions, or doctrines. But what if we entered into a short time of a common gaze, a lifting our eyes as the chosen race that we are?
What would the impact of all of us experiencing His intentional loving gaze at the same time do to this old, still dark world?

Ninja vs Spartan

Being outnumbered 2 to 1 by males at home, I sometimes watch programs that are not on Lifetime or HGTV. The guys were watching a program that was scientifically trying to determine if an expert Ninja warrior battled a Spartan soldier who would win. Not being very familiar with either fighting style, and noticing that the program wasn't particulary bloody I watched with fascination.
The Spartan carried a large round shield and a spear, and the Ninja carried a chain with a metal ball on one end and a scythe kind of blade on the other. What fascinated me the most was the Spartan's powerful use of his shield. The scientific data listed the impact velocity of the shield on his opponent to be greater than an explosion or head on collision. I put my money on the Spartan. I had never read about using the shield as an offensive weapon.

Shield picture and purchasing info can be found at ApexRG

Of course my mind went to the Ephesians 6 scriptures on the armor of God. I had often heard that the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" was the only offensive weapon. Now I'm wondering if the Romans used their shields the same way as the Spartans - to bash, to pound, even almost guillotine their opponents.
So, if the shield of spiritual armor is faith, how can I use it offensively? Like the ancient warrior, I must exercise faith that opposes the enemy, halts him, cuts off his head, and defeats his plans. Faith that is bold, agressive, and decisive will win the day.
Want to know who won? The Spartan! He was given a 65% projection to defeat the Ninja. At the end of the program, the narrator concluded:
The Ninja could injure and make the Spartan bloody, but the Spartan could kill the Ninja!
Take up your shields of faith, mighty army! This is a good day for war.

Summer time and the living is......

I love these gorgeous warm days, and the cool New England nights. We haven't really needed the ac this year, which definitely helps the electric bill, and the planet too!
The other side of the gorgeous warm days is that people aren't really interested in bookstores so much. It more a beach-ice-cream-parlor-cold-soda kind of shopping sprees. And, of course, folks are much more deliberate about spending. I'm defintely cool with that. Even if it means my cash register bell's not ringing too often. I hope the readjustments many of us have made will prove to be long term. Maybe it was the only way some of us were ever going to change our spending habits.

Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

Business is slow. People are getting laid off. Stocks continue to drop, and if reports are accurate, taxes are going up.

It makes for a very troubling atmosphere. And yet, as followers of Jesus, we are commanded to "...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Could this season of economic hardship be an opportunity for the advancing of His kingdom like no other? I believe it is.

First of all, it is causing me to face the strongholds of fear in my own heart. Romans 14:23 in The Message says "...If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong." Ouch! I say I trust God, but there is so much fear vying for my allegiance.

So here I am sorting through my inconsistencies, and asking God to help me be free from fear. That will advance His kingdom in my heart.

Isalmic views

This year, the annual World Public Forum on Civilizations and Religions held on the island of Rhodes attracted over 700 participants from more than 70 nations, for more than four days of discussion concerning politics, economics, education, religion, law, culture, migration, the media, and, as a special committee, Chinese civilization.

It was evident at the sessions devoted to religion, that the world holds, at best, a disdain for the U.S.
Unlike the image our American media paints, which tells us the world hates us because we are capitalistic imperialists,
these learned and devout foreign religous leaders addressed another issue: sexual immorality.

The general impression most of the Islamic clerics had at the World Public Forum was that Americans all embrace homosexuality, and that Jerry Springer and Hollywood represent our moral fiber.

The one America Christian leader who had been invited to the meetings was given an opportunity to speak. He began his address with an apology for the filth America's Hollywood has exported to the world. He reported later that the atmosphere in the room changed dramatically.

In Saudi Arabia last month, a pedophile was beheaded and crucified. This is the way Islam deals with sexual immorality.
Girls suspected of having premarital relations have their faces burned with acid. I could go on, but the point is, that as extreme as Islam is regarding sexual immorality (and I absolutely disagree with how they deal with it!)they see us as immoral, and we are fittingly called "The Great Satan".

The purpose for this post is to present a fuller picture than main stream media has presented so far.

And one more sound bite: Islam is NOT the fastest growing religion in the world. An Islamic leader admitted that in Africa, Muslims are converting to Christianity at the rate of over 600 per MINUTE!! And that, at least in Africa,
Islam is on the decline. This statistic was supplied through an interview on Al Jezzera by Muslim leaders.


This is a conversion testimony from a former Iranian Muslim.

What your Muslim neighbor and co-worker do not know is that the true and living God loves them. Alah does not.
What the average Muslim does not have is any assurance of salvation, because their entrance into heaven is based completely on works.
And even if they live a good life, Alah may still reject them.
What good news would it be for them to find out that the promise toAbraham (who is also father to the Arab) or to his descendents
that he would be heir of th world was not through the Law but throught the righteousness of faith! (Rom. 4:13)

Training American Martyrs

"Raise up an army of laid-down lovers" sings Rick Pino on "Martyr's Song" from his latest album "Songs for An Endtime Army".
Many are being convicted of self-sufficiency and putting personal agendas above "Thy will be done."
Videos of 3rd world nations, underground churches and modern day martyrs are stirring up a holy jealousy in Christians in the west.
For centuries, the western church has sent missionaries to foreign lands to preach the gospel. Now, those very nations are praying for us, and some are even sending their missionaries here, to the U.S. to awaken us, to bring us back to passion for the Savior.
It is said the blood of the martyrs has always fueled the fires of the church, and the greater the persecution the more the church seems to grow. Could such be in store for America?
I recently heard a young pastor from L.A. say that the emerging generation is looking for something real in the church, something beyond religious form. They are looking for the authority that comes from suffering for a cause that is greater than we are. They are looking for the "laid-down lovers" Rick Pino sings of, who will live sacrificially in covenant community and love.
Ask yourself, "What is happening in my life right now that is an opportunity for me to die to my agenda, my way, my life?" Can you consider it a grace, can you look at it as the Lord's preparation for the future when He might call you to give your life away for Him?
The worst thing I can imagine is not dying for the sake of Christ. The most horrible fate I can imagine is if faced with the choice to give Him everything, I would say no.
I don't know if anyone wakes up one day and says, OK, today I am ready to be a martyr. I think it's more like waking up every day and saying, What do You want today, Lord? And as each person and situation comes, I am strengthened in the "Thy Will Be Done" deep inside my heart when I am ignored, criticized, corrected, insulted, betrayed, lied to, or blessed, praised, encouraged, promoted - will the love of Jesus overtake this heart? Will I keep His word to the end? Will I love the unlovable for His sake?
For all of us, I pray, we will be ready.

Ambition

This is from Francis FrangipaneIt is part of an article on ambition.

Every advance that I have made spiritually was preceded by an opportunity to die to self. The power in my life comes from where I have died to self and now live unto Christ.

Do you want to advance spiritually? The gateway to resurrection power is crucifixion. God will arrange opportunities for you to die to self. You must discern them. Dying to self and its ambition is the means of reaching true spiritual fulfillment. If you react to the opportunity to die with fleshly anger or resentment, you will fail to reach fulfillment. However, if you can maintain your vision even while your ambition dies, you will succeed.

The Decline of Language

I was skimming through a book on Winston Churchill this morning, published in 1963. The chapter headings were colorful and inviting. So was the text. Juicy bits of memories, on trains, in lecture halls, this author accompanied the giant of Britian and wrote a journal of their experiences.
As I flipped through the pages I began to notice that this 40+ year old book was filled with rich, descriptive language. I didn't even know what some of the words meant! (Was I the only one whose father would never tell you what a word meant, but simply say "Look it up. You'll never forget it!)
I realized that most of what I read today is "lingo-lite", geared for an audience with a junior high reading level. Not to mention the ever increasing dimunintion of words, propgated, no doubt by the use of text messages.
How sad.
I am also in the middle of a translation of Interior Castles by St. Teresa of Avila. A typical paragraph of her writings (16th century Spain)consists of one sentence! And the general syntax would probably not impress a modern high school English teacher. However, ingesting all this inspired woman wrote is a delightful meal, where I linger at the table, taking small portions and savoring each morcel.

This is a challenge to today's writers. Be adventurous in your compositon! Be innovative in your verbiage. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, until your ideas could sail into future centuries captured in the language of kings and poets.

The Original Serenity Prayer

A friend was in the store today, and told me about the original version of what is commonly known as The Serenity Prayer.
I've copied it here.

Full Original Serenity Prayer
by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

You Are Home - An Allegory of the Soul

He came into the lovely home that he had built with his own hands. He stood for a moment in the doorway, and sighed with deep pleasure at the welcome with which the house seemed to embrace him.
Some thought the place too ornate, too extravagant. But he, having unlimited resources, spared no expense in the richness of woods, polished metals, Persian rugs, Austrian crystal and even precious gems. This palace was his sanctuary. He surrounded himself with beauty that reflected the state of his soul.
He gently closed the door behind him, feeling himself relax at the thought of being alone.

He headed straight for the parlor to light a fresh fire. This was his habit, on cold evenings.
The carefully chopped kindling lay ready by the hearth. He bent over the wood pile, gathering up an armful of oak planks and placed them in the fireplace. With skill, he ignited the pile, and smiled as the golden fire light lit the room. The heat kissed his chilled hands and face.

He was content here. No intrusions, no distractions. The gentle ticking of the mantle clock and an occasional crackling of wood from the fire place were the songs the house sang to him.

“Wel-come, wel-come, wel-come”, ticked the old brass clock. And the fire would snap “You’re Home” and make him laugh.

The night was cold, and the sounds of the wind whipping across the roof and gables made the place creak. But like the clock and fire, the familiar sounds were music to him. There was nowhere else he would rather be. This famous man, friend to kings and presidents, was happiest here alone with his home.

As darkness tip toed about, he illuminated each room, some rooms with ancient oil lamps, some with pure bees wax candles. He treasured the old things, though he could easily afford the most modern conveniences. Instead, he surrounded himself with things that time and history had proven faithful. He was not as impressed with technology as he was with reliability.

Now he was ready for a meal. The kitchen was a merger of centuries. Old brick hearth, oak barrels, bone china, steel ovens. Each object had been carefully chosen, not only for its function, but for its beauty as well.

He opened the steel fronted refrigerator looking for the stew he’d made the day before.
Beside the stew pot sat a block of cheese and a ripe avocado. He took all of them out and laid them on the old wooden chopping block that sat in the center of the kitchen.
He put the stew on the stove, the avocado in the sink and the cheese sat alone on the chopping block. He whistled an old love song as he prepared his meal.

In an old maple hutch in the corner of the room sat a collection of bone china cups, plates and bowls. He gazed at them lovingly, choosing a blue Oriental pattern bowl and matching cup for his evening meal. As with everything in the house, one piece of china was from another era, and the very next piece was a modern work of art. Mixed in between was primitive pottery with all its fascinating imperfections. The only thing the collection had in common was he had chosen each piece himself.

Next he filled the copper kettle with water for tea. He would carry the pot of Irish tea to the parlor after dinner, where he would enjoy it throughout the evening as he read a favorite book.

****************************************************************************

Now consider this as you watch this man enjoying his lovely home: your soul is his house. All the lovely things inside are those truths, revelations, learnings that God has placed within you throughout your life. The most important thing about all of this is that there is nowhere else He would rather be than living inside of you.
Years ago there was a popular song called “From a Distance”. Bette Midler sang it. The melody was captivating, but its concept was tragic. The chorus went: God is watching us, God is watching us, from a distance.”
Just the opposite is true. He has found His favorite home, and it is you.