pamela – Page 13 – The Welcome Home

In Three Hours

teapotcupdrawing The beauty of a plan is the presence of accompanying grace. I think this is true with most any plan. Well, except for plans with deadlines, specific time frames, appointments, etc.

So it is, with the Trim Healthy Mama “plan” for health and optimal weight or finding your trim. With grace.

Grace doesn’t mean carelessness, though. And it doesn’t mean neglect. I know that.
Now.

The result of neglecting the plan is sort of like how money evaporates in California. Or how the reaching of an optimal weight goal is erased by consuming bags of sea salt & dark-chocolate covered almonds from Costco. Or the only safe hot french bread and butter is a picture of hot french bread & butter.

So, I’m back on the plan — and, actually, I can’t tell you how vulnerable I’m feeling even saying it. I’m like: omygoodness, what if I fail? Again. Suddenly, it feels confining – like no grace at all. But, then I bring truth to mind: In three hours. There’s the grace. If I fail: in three hours (or any time!!) I have the opportunity to make a better choice/a right choice/a healthy choice. In three hours, I can get “back on the plan” and go on from there. In three hours. No starting all over again, just pressing on. I resolve to press on and prepare for my better choice.

The grace of a better choice in three hours is not license to excuse myself for overindulging or to eat whatever I want, whenever I want.

It’s amazing to me to see the parallels of grace regarding self will & food and obedience & faith.

Just like God’s merciful grace in our lives is not license to sin! God’s grace doesn’t absolve me from obedience to His known commands or the prompting of the Holy Spirit — it actually gives me more motivation to love and pursue God and to not do whatever I want, whenever I want. I know it’s by the grace and faith of the Lord Jesus that I can know Him, seek Him, walk with Him and trust Him to complete His work in me (and that includes the dying to self regarding food & over indulging).

God’s grace and the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit gives me strong desire and reason to seek Him, to love Him, and to obey Him. For I know I haven’t done, or can do nothing in and of myself to earn or merit His favour — it’s all His, it’s all grace. Not just in three hours, but minute by minute, day by day.

THM or A Plan On The Shelf

THMbookshelf October 17, 2013 I received my book… and I wrote about the THM journey here with additional entries following. I wasn’t so much seeking to be a trim healthy mama as much as I was determined to be a healthy mama who happened to figure out how to be and remain disciplined and trim.

I had such determination and such confidence. And success, too.
Life happened. And failure.

This morning I’m cleaning up from a few different events in the last several days and all I see around me are large bowls, serving platters, large carafes, stacks of other dishes, paper products… all the aftermath of food. Lots of food. My scale showed me that, too.

In the early days, I was trying to figure out how THM was going to fit in with my life. This bookshelf in my kitchen sort of represents my life. But, I’m telling you, it took no time to figure out that that was the wrong question – the wrong premise on which to embark on the THM journey. I couldn’t even reword that premise to be: how can my lifestyle fit into THM? Though, I did learn to adjust right away, feeble as it was, it wasn’t at all bcz the THM plan fit into anything and not even bcz I fit into the THM plan. It was simple determination to deny self and walk on in faith that I could be free from the grip of undisciplined consumption and THM plan was the path to that freedom.

Somewhere along the way, small compromises deterred me from wholeheartedly walking on that freedom path. Small and then absent minded great compromises dull the sharp resolve of discipline. Somewhere along the way I lost sight of the plan, of my resolve to be self-controlled and resolute regarding food (read: sugar). And nothing cements repeated failure more than repeated lack of determination. I typed and then removed a sentence here — it went something like “…lack of a plan.” But I had a plan. I had a very good plan. And when I stuck to the plan, it worked very, very well. It’s a good plan. But a plan on the shelf is not the same as a plan in the mind, a plan in the hand, and a plan in the will and a plan in action. A plan is worthless when not accompanied by resolute determination to carry it out.

Excuses? Loads. Loads of ’em. Reasons? Many. Many valid reasons if reason excuses failure. And then there’s the worst of all: Compromise. I look at where I am today compared with where I was seven months ago and I reason that where I am is surely not where I was seventeen months ago. I reason, I’ve only gained 5 or 6 pounds in the last seven months… that’s not too bad, really. I mean, considering, I already lost 35 pounds, so only gaining 5 or 6 pounds is not that bad. Not that bad is one the greatest enemies I have. Compromise is an enemy when it’s not used very carefully and in the right situations. Rarely is that the case.

Is the 5 or 6 pound gain the problem or the failure? No. Taking my eyes off the plan (could be any plan by the way — not stuck to the THM-only-no-other-will-do notion) is what’s disconcerting to me. Failing to be, and remain, determined is what I mean.

I want to be, to become, and to remain: Determined. I don’t want my plans to be on the shelf…

The irony of this thought was not lost on me this morning as I was reading my Bible — reflecting on the content and cross references. I thought, why do I ever get away from doing this? Why is this hunger for the Word so diminished sometimes? So prone to wander… Why are these precious insights so dimmed on one day and not another. Determination.

So many areas of our lives are so inextricably linked. Isn’t the Lord so merciful to let us see these connections, fall and get up, by His grace, taking His hand? Isn’t it gracious of Him to bring to remembrance different parables to keep our eyes on Truth?

Seeing Beyond What You See

anniversarysunset So much of the time we just see what we see and go on. We hear what we hear and move on. How are you? Fine, thank you, how are you? Fine. That’s nice.

But that’s not really what’s going on. Or, that’s not all that’s going on. It never is.

A friend of ours had been battling the ravages of cancer for many months and was ushered into glory a few days ago. I learned so much from him… the way he lived and the way he died was so instructive. He’s now seen the glorious morning beyond the sunset.

He had ties all over the world. Those ties were connections, connections he made because he listened and he saw beyond what he saw. He invested in people. O, not monetarily, although, I’ve no doubt that that happened, it was an investment of listening, an investment of teaching, an investment of personalized, specific prayer, an investment of remembering. He saw beyond what he saw and he remembered. He totally got it that his stories were not just his own but were about the people he was with — the people in his story — that their experience was as, or more, important as his own. He totally got that. And he remembered to give credit… decades later, he remembered.

As days pass, I realize over and over just how invaluable life is and that the influence of even one life is profound. I thought that again today as I was talking with a woman who’d experienced a separation from her husband and the painful loss of what was and what could’ve/should’ve been. As she recounted a few events, I could see behind the pain in her voice and the tears in her eyes, there was the unmistakable grace, mercy and joy of the Lord. In the midst her pain she knew that joy.

I’m glad for these encounters — no, I don’t specifically mean death, loss, separation, grief — I mean, these encounters with reality — the reality of each life and what each life represents. Because each life is not just about experiences, achievements and miles traveled — life’s about all the in-between’s. Life’s about the people in our story. Life’s about seeing beyond what we see.

And seeing beyond what we see is a life of faith — if we know Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, it’s really about eternal life beyond the sunset.

If you do not have this assurance, if you do not know the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, please write to me, I’d love to share with you the Truth of the gospel and gift of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only way, the only Truth, the only Life.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4.12

Standing in the Son

April06geraniumsun

Though I use it most every day, it’s only every now and then that I take note of the verse imprinted on the cover of the notebook I’m currently using: “May the Lord bless you and keep you, and give you peace.” from Numbers 6.24-26

I have dozens of such books since I began note-taking & journaling many years ago. I’ve made a concerted effort to revisit the books from time to time — not only to see where I’ve been compared to where I am today, but to see what the Lord was showing me in Scripture, sermons, notes, plans, etc., etc., and take note now of how the Lord answered those questions, situations, needs, prayers — to see what became of what I thought was important enough to record… notes I wrote, articles I clipped, ideas I gathered and plans I made.

As I’ve been writing notes, gathering ideas and making plans lately, I see I’ve been hurried and unsettled; the future seems hard and the way seems dark sometimes. And I have to wonder: where’s the Lord in all these thoughts? Knowing that He is the God of all comfort, the God of all peace, the God who heals, supplies, redeems, I have to admit, He’s not at the center (or the author) of those doubtful thoughts—He’s not at the center (or the author) of dark thoughts.

So, then, I have to deduce that those thoughts are not of Him and, in faith, I need to replace them with Truth—what does God say? —where is God in all this? Instantly I think of Philippians 4.19: “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

When I read through old journals and notebooks, the common thread that I see in all the books is the thread of faith in Jesus — His truth, presence, provision and protection. It’s been Jesus. All day every day. That’s what I wanted then. That’s what I want now. Actually, now more than ever. I want to be seeing Him and I want Him to be seen in me.

When I see the Stong’s 2424 number for Jesus, I think: Yes, that’s what I want: the will, the blessing, the keeping, the presence, the joy, the leading, the peace and the love of Jesus, 24/24: all day-all day… every day-every day.

I want to be found standing in the Son.

The Current Truth

Oct05springhetti

I began working on my new This Beautiful Life journal/planner/notebook, and once again I’m stymied by my answers. I see the designated spaces for specific answers and am reticent to write mine down.

My tendency is to be very tentative about what goals I write (thinking if I write it, I’ll be committed to doing it). One day I might only write a few goals — another day I might write down things that would take two lifetimes to accomplish. My abstract sequential / concrete random thinking style seems to prevent me from ever making a definitive list. Have you ever analyzed your thinking style? There are different tests you can take to determine your thinking style — and I’m sincerely not so sure it’s crucial to do it, know what it is, or whatever, but this might help you understand yourself (and particularly your children — and your husband) better, and help you get why you (or they) do things the way you (or they) do them. Just an idea for you.

So, back to my “priority journal” [Chloe’s: This Beautiful Life] and that box: The Current Truth. That box shows up on five pages. There are five sections corresponding to five priorities. It’s hard for me to narrow down five priorities. Would that be hard for you? So, I’m thinking about my priorities: what are they? Why are they important (or, important enough to be in the top five)? As I think on these things, I have to realize that my priorities and the things I prioritize —by how I spend my time— are not the same thing. That’s where that The Current Truth reality box is staring me in the face like a mirror. And I have to say: wow, my current reality is not where I want to be. And, if my current truth or current reality is not what I want it to be, what I’m doing each day is actually pulling me away from, or destroying, what I want or where I want to be. Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. –proverbs 14.1 What I’m doing or how I’m spending my time or money or whatever is quite revealing as to how serious I am about accomplishing my priorities.

You know, there’s another way to get a pretty clear picture of priorities… might be too hard to hear, but ask your husband what he thinks the current truth is regarding a particular priority you have. Or, maybe you have a son or daughter who could give you invaluable feedback. Maybe a trusted friend. Maybe all you need is a pen and paper. Write down your priorities — what they look like at their best and what’s the current truth? Better yet, get Chloe’s book. Honestly, you’ll be so surprised at how life changing, complex and invaluable this simple little book will turn out to be in your life.

So today I’m sitting here, writing things down, looking out over the yard… and, honestly, the way looks stormy and the road looks long. I don’t want to write anything else down and I don’t want to do what I must. I don’t want to commit to anything bcz I so often fail and I’m pretty uncertain about a lot of things – things over which I have little control. And, I don’t want to have another list of stuff I didn’t get to or didn’t do. I relate to the apostle Paul and think of what he says in Romans 7: “…For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not…” — 7.18-19

But if I don’t press on… well, I sure don’t like where that would leave me — that, and I know I don’t want to be that girl. So… I press on. That’s my current truth. And, it’s because of the Truth that I will do this. I will seek Him and I will trust Him. That, and I truly do want this to be a beautiful life.

For it is God which worketh in you
both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
philippians 2.13

What if You knew You were Dying?

AChristianHomeLogo10 Have you ever asked yourself what you’d do if you knew you were dying? Or, how would you live differently if you knew this year was your last year to live?
I was talking with my friend on the phone this morning and as I was recounting different ongoing family situations, I related that even though we had a real “wake-up call” last summer, we haven’t changed things we do or don’t do all that much. As I hung up the phone, it occurred to me that I must not take, or respond to, wake up calls all that seriously. I was disappointed with the reality of my inaction.

A few times a week I receive blog entries written by or about a woman who is graciously dying. I know, right?!? Graciously dying. She knows she’s dying — known it for quite awhile — wrote and published a book that she thought perhaps she’d never see in print, and yet, it has been circulating for a year or more, now. She’s battled cancer and, by her own admission, has sought to live well to the end. This is a relatively new way of describing living: living well. loving well. dying well. caring well for others. being loved well. You get the picture: well. Doing things well. I’m often put off by new lingo–but it reaches me eventually and sometimes even worms its way into my speech. Kinda like the, I know, right?!?! I frequently exclaim. Or, the use of the word, totally. I totally use that word.

Well, back to the wake up call. You know, when my husband had a heart attack this past summer – or three attacks, to be more realistic — it was hard to fathom the grave nature of what had happened. And I’m not sure if it’s his personality, his activity level or my own ignorance, but it’s like, Okay, so that happened, and we’ve moved on. Kinda like we moved on in 2007 when he had his first heart attack. But when I read about another woman dealing with a similar scenario, I’m moved with compassion and want to offer her comfort and encouragement; I pray for her and all that’s happening to her and what she’ll face in the midst of the trial: her wake up call. But mine? I don’t know why it doesn’t yet strike me the same way.

Well, as I talked with my friend, I realized I haven’t dared to just look at things for what they are and realize I need to take them more seriously. I’m not meaning I need to fall apart, cry it out or whatever, I mean that I need to recognize that real life’s happening and it is going to end. We are all, in fact, dying. At one rate or another, we’re all facing death. I wonder how quickly I’d make changes were I to be in Kara’s place – Kara of The Hardest Peace, Kara of Mundane Faithfulness – that Kara.

I keep reading Kara… and every day I learn something new about life, the Lord, peace and love. And as I work through my prayer/priority/goal-setting/evaluation Journal, This Beautiful Life, I learn more about what He has for me and what I ought to/might do about it all. I’ve decided to add to my thoughts as I’m writing in each section, the thought: would I value this more (or less) if I knew I was dying?

Because, I really am. I just have no idea when… and I want to live today in light of that fact.

Each Day is Like Heaven

April06treeringsmall Over the years, standing at the sink many times each day, I’ve seen the most remarkable sights… all the changes each season brings. Through the years, I’ve become aware of what changes will come about in each of the different months. I look for what each new season brings–eagerly anticipating the blooms that will soon appear all over the yard… the tiny new, elegant leaves of the giant old weeping willow tree, the daffodils that will soon dance around the base of that old tree.

Today was no different, the familiar sights were there… the earth pounding with the shoots and buds of springtime… the flitting hummingbirds taking sips from any one of the many feeders around the house. I found myself wandering back in time when little ones played in the yard—little feet stretching out, reaching to the heavens with each pump of the swings, splashing in the pool, volleyballs flying back and forth over the net, buckets and shovels in the sandbox, doll strollers, matchbox cars, tonka trucks and scooters, bicycles and basket balls in the driveway, roller skates down the lane, rubber boots jumping in puddles, snow angels on the lawn. Days gone by. So many days gone by so fast. Sweeter days. But they really weren’t sweeter than these. Just like those days… these are the good old days.

As I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, I was singing as I often do… and I stopped, mid-verse, and thought: do I really live this? Is each day ♪ really like heaven to me? does my heart really ♪ overflow? does He really grow sweeter to me the longer ♪ I serve Him? I was stopped in my melancholy-baby tracks. I had to say: No. No, each day is not like heaven—-at least not like the heaven I’ve imagined the Lord preparing for us. No, I thought, my heart’s not overflowing with that sweetness today. My heart was full of anxious thoughts, discouragement, disappointment and even frustration at different situations over which I have no control and cannot see good as an outcome to some of them.

I worked along… and there I was singing again; ♪ every need He is supplying, plenteous grace He bestows, every day my way gets ♪ brighter, the longer I serve ♪ Him, the sweeter He grows… ♪ Wait… here comes that chorus again. I thought: I’ve gotta get my mind straight, if I’m going to sing this, I’m going to mean it and if I’m going to mean it, then I’ve got to live it, and if I’m going to live it, then I’ve got to turn some things around–or, rather, turn some things over to the Lord that I absolutely cannot take care of, handle, understand… or carry.

housebasket Are you there with me? Are you needing to hand Him your basket? If you are, I totally understand. And, in order that you’ll be able to press on, I’d really implore you to join me in just handing over that stuff… there’s nothing we can do about it all anyway, so handing it all over is really quite freeing. I came across a verse yesterday that says, “And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” — Isaiah 65.24 Truly the Lord is our Jehovah Shammah — He is the Lord who hears — the Lord who is there.

I’m humbled again by the God who is already there… the God who hears me.

This Beautiful Life

teapotcupdrawing As I mentioned in my previous post, one evening a month, I have the privilege of sharing a message with a “TitusTwo” group of women. As I wrote out that message on Communication, I was mindful that there was going to be a presentation by another sister at the meeting. My friend mentioned that her friend had written a book and would be sharing about it with the group. Thinking there really might not be time for me to share a message, I still wanted to be prepared — but looking back now, I’m not sure it was necessary for me to share a message that night. Sometimes best things get covered up by good things. I can say that now, especially since I’ve mulled it over many times in the last few days, that that book was the best thing and could’ve/should’ve been the only thing we concentrated on that night.

I’m so glad to be growing older as I see with the passage of time, there’s less urgency to have things go according to my plan and more necessity to be flexible to walk in the Lord’s steps. As He leads, I want to follow. I wish I could’ve just typed: As He leads, I follow. But the reality is, I’m still prone to wander.

You notice, I entitled this blog entry: This Beautiful Life. This is the title of the book. The book is half empty. Right now, the book is filled with power. When it’s full, I believe I will be able to tell you the book is powerful.

the current truth

I thumbed through the pages… those words caught my eye. When I glanced at the priority pages… I saw the spaces for different action points, and began to mentally fill them in. I came to those three words and let them sink in: The current truth. There’s a lot of power behind those words. We all have things we think about ourselves — sometimes deceiving ourselves into thinking we’ve got less to work on than we do or less to improve than we really do. Sometimes we’re duped into believing that we already are pretty much doing the things we’ve planned to do, or that we’re not straying too far from our daily responsibilities. Then there’s the angle of what others think is true about us and what we think is true about ourselves. I instantly think of the Lord talking with His disciples… them talking about other people and Him talking about the disciples themselves: But who do you say that I am? The current truth is a bold reality check. Get the book and you’ll understand this application.

Well, you might be thinking that what I’ve just shared is the last thing you need: another book, person, voice, or whatever, to beat you up for what you’re not doing or for what you oughtta stop doing. No, that’s not at all what this book is designed to do. But daring to amplify on those three words: the current truth, just may be the unlocking of chains that bind you to a problem or a way of reacting or responding.

So, what is this book, anyway? Chloe wrote this book This Beautiful Life (which is a working book! It’s a semi-guided journal, a planner, a calendar, a mirror) to help you.

…help you clarify your own unique gifts and callings,
and move forward in them with joy…
[that the Lord] guide you in the vision He has for your life.
May this help you become a stronger and more confident woman,
secure in your relationship in Christ and your role in the world.
May you have joy as you go about your days with purpose,
living out your own beautiful life.

get it.

the power of communication

newglasses1 Regardless the circumstance, the importance and power of good communication cannot be understated. The impact of either good or bad, clear or muddled, distinct or vague communication is powerful. Think of a time recently when something you said or did was misunderstood by another person; or consider the last time you misunderstood what was communicated to you. How’d that go for you? What were the consequences?

I’m sharing with you part of a talk I gave last night at our monthly TitusTwo meeting. As I go along through the years, I’m so grateful for these opportunities to share (and learn!!!) as the Lord gives me different messages stemming from quiet times, things I’m going through, or from passages I’m reading in the Scriptures.

Colossians 4 is loaded with messages and benefits — especially regarding the many facets of communication. It begins with the Apostle Paul communicating proper ways of treating others, matters concerning prayer, walking in wisdom, redeeming the time. Each verse contains a message, or two, I think. But what really caught my attention, in the section of verses I was reading, is verse 6: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.”

Effective communication is the lifeblood of relationships. And, conversely, poor communication is a destroyer of relationships. I think some things we really must keep in mind regardless the circumstance or conversation are these five points:

What’s directly said
What’s inferred
What’s meant
What’s heard
How what’s heard is interpreted by the hearer

With those basic points as the framework, imagine the benefit and the blessing of speech that’s always grounded in grace or focused on grace or hemmed in grace? And, to be sure, it’s not a matter of the old saying: “It’s not what you say but how you say it.” Don’t get caught in that trap — a manipulative statement or question said sweetly or cleverly is still a manipulative statement or question. And another old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is a lie. Words can hurt. Words can destroy. That’s where that saying, “Loose lips sink ships,” holds a lot of water.

When we concentrate on having our speech be always with grace, we demonstrate we have high regard for our hearer in mind. What we’re saying, what we’re inferring and what we’re meaning is our side or our part of the communication — whatever grace there is in that depends on the importance we’ve placed on it. The other side of the communication depends on the other person: what’s heard and how what is heard is being interpreted by the other person–the hearer. This is why it’s such a useful practice or habit to seek feedback or to replay what you think you’ve just heard the other person say. Going a step further, it’s also useful to clarify the meaning behind what’s said. This is especially useful or important when discussing some serious matters or making serious decisions.

I shared last night with the ladies in the group how my husband had misunderstood a statement I’d made some weeks ago. After talking about the situation again at another time, I realized that I could’ve been clearer or elaborated on what I’d been thinking but was trying to communicate a point with some brevity that first time. I know, that’s hard for me. ~wink~ When my husband clarified what he thought I meant by what I said, I was able to tell him what I really meant. Isn’t it interesting how many misunderstandings would either never come to be in the first place or could be instantly clarified by simply restating back what we think the other person said or what we think the other person meant. We could save ourselves so much time and so much emotion if we’d just employ this simple process. It’s stilted at first, to be sure, when you begin to practice this communication clarification tool, but it’s a tool really worth learning to use and to personalize depending the situation.

Well, that verse in Colossians continues on with another critical aspect of our speech: that it be seasoned with salt that we may know how we ought to answer every man.

Think of delicious soup or any food, really, it’s usually the addition of salt that makes it so tasty! And, it’s what makes you want more! That, and it makes you thirsty! Now, think back on one of your recent conversations. Were your words seasoned with salt? Did you know how you ought to answer? Was your conversation satisfying? That’s some great food for thought, isn’t it?!

Salt’s an interesting thing when you think of all it does–not only is it savory, it’s a preservative. So, regarding conversation or communication, you might think: is it pure? is it clean? is it true? is it sincere? Think of some opposites — these might clarify for us a bit better if our communication is gracious and seasoned with salt or not: is it impure? is it unclean? is it empty (salt lost its savour, as in Mark 9.50)? is it corrupt? Ephesians 4.29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.”

This is sobering, isn’t it. Bcz it’s pretty easy to fall into poor or derogatory communication, maligning, or ungracious speech. All of these different thoughts have caused me to question or mentally review recent days’ conversations: Were they always with grace? Was my speech seasoned with salt? Did my words point to my Saviour or to the Word? Did I draw others to Christ or give them a taste of heavenly things?

Fifty shades of moral depravity

heart2.jpg.fpx

I haven’t read the book. I won’t watch the movie. I saw the trailer for the movie Fifty Shades of ~~Grey~~ Evil in the theater. Prior to another film I saw in the theater last fall, I heard the trailer as it played and teased the audience with despicable allure. One needn’t have grown up with a sex-addict psychopath to know when someone/something is evil. Nor, dare I say, does one need to be “spiritual” to recognize the evil of immorality — sexual abuse or abusive behaviour. The law of God is written in our hearts. We know from the Word that God has given us this gift for our good–for our protection. But when we deny Him, walk in our own ways, neglect the truth or buy into sin, we can be so easily lured into believing lies and become trapped by the devil’s clever snares.

So it is when a sensational movie comes along. And maybe the worst lure of all for someone who’s firmly decided to not see the film or read the book is fear of rejection or fear of not being cool. Ever been confronted with that: don’t-be-sucha-prude lure? Sure you have. I have, too. O, so you’re too good for that? O, so you’re afraid you’ll like it? O, so you’re happy with your same ol’ – same ol’ sex? Don’t you want to spice things up a bit? O, you can’t handle it? You know what I mean. And then, there’s the judgement bomb: How can you self-righteously judge a movie or a book you haven’t seen?

I can’t take seriously and/or don’t care about any of that vitriol. We don’t have to experience wickedness to know it’s wicked. We don’t have to view evil to know it’s evil. Again, God’s law written on our hearts—and if we know Him, His Spirit bears witness with our spirit. We can know — with assurance — things that are wrong – evil – immoral – vulgar – whatever, without seeing or experiencing them. It’s amazing how much controversy is being raised over this movie — shocking that it’s being defended. More than Harry what’s-his-name. Although, ironically, I see danger watching sorcery, et al.

Isn’t it interesting that society in general seems to have allowed so much room for women’s liberation; giant leaps in “equality” and yet — and yet — here comes along a movie filled with such abuse, degradation, humiliation, torture and control — the very things from which women are fighting to be freed. Homes and families are being shredded all over the world by such behaviours as are depicted in the film (and books, etc.). Women all over the world are being sexually used and abused, tortured and controlled by ruthless sexual psychopaths and staggeringly lucrative multi-billion dollar sex/porn industry with all its facets. Magazines, print ads, window displays are not far behind. And now… Fifty shades of what? Entertainment? For Valentines Day — Really!?!? Is it for audience shock and awe? Is this art? Why was this film made? And what’s next?

These questions and more flood my mind as I see the headlines in the news and on Facebook. I grieve the loss of innocence… I grieve what our daughters and granddaughters face… I grieve what our sons and grandsons face: society’s free-fall into the abyss of evil. I also grieve for the young minds that will be filled with unforgettable scenes… I grieve the messages that will be given to so many who are desperate for love, attention and acceptance — how I pray they don’t get lured into believing that true love is fifty shades of grey.

Lord help us all.