Heaven, Life, and Leaving a Legacy

Watching the news yesterday, there was a lot about Gerald Ford. The interim pastor serving at Ford’s Episcopal Church, in California, spoke about the former president--talking about what a great man Ford was. The pastor went on to say: “If anyone deserves to be in Heaven, it’s Gerald Ford”. I found that comment unsettling. I don’t deny that Ford was a good man. The part I take offense to is that anyone would “deserve” heaven. If any of us were worthy to be fully in God’s presence, there would be no need for Jesus to die in our place or rise again to conquer sin and death. Scripture makes it pretty clear that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The only thing that can possibly save us from ourselves is God’s gracious salvation given to us in and through Jesus Christ. I try not to make claims about where specific people will spend eternity, since I am not God. One thing I do know with certainty, however, is that God cares greatly about how we relate to Jesus Christ. I think, in the end, the question that God asks us will not be: “What good things did you do in your life?” The question God will ask is something like: “What did you do with my Son?”

Ephesians 2 (New Living Translation) speaks to this: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

My upset with the comment about Gerald Ford and Heaven stems from the proximity of death to my mind and heart recently. It is hard to miss all the death on the news, with Gerald Ford, James Brown, and Sadam Hussein, just to name a few. Plus, with my grandma dying recently, death is sitting heavily on my consciousness. It makes me think about the purpose of life. If I had to sum up the purpose of it all, I would say it is about loving God and loving others. As Amy Grant said in a song, long ago, “We’re just here to learn to love Him. We’ll be home in just a little while”.

I think it is important to live our lives with the end in mind. Really, in the grand scheme of things, we are here for such a short time. All the things we chase after: money, success, approval, beauty, youth, etc…what do those things really matter? I had a conversation, recently, with someone who thinks making money is what it is all about. That seems so sad to me…because, as we all know, you can’t take it with you.

I hope, at the end of my life, I will have lived for something more than myself and my wants. I hope that my life touches other people and makes their lives better…maybe even makes the world better. I want to leave a legacy… which, I think, is what we all hope for at the end of our lives. There is a song, by Nichole Nordeman, that talks about leaving a legacy of grace—a life that points others toward the love of God. I post this video (below) for you…because this is the song of my heart these past few days. Really, it is a prayer…a prayer for a significant life that makes a difference. I pray this for myself, and for all of you. May we, truly, leave a legacy.

Nichole Nordeman
“Legacy”

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

Chorus:
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such, will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

Chorus:
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

Nichole Nordeman - Legacy

It's true, Nichole Nordeman is my favorite Christian artist. Her voice is angelic and her lyrics have actual depth. I pray that this song will speak to you as it has spoken to me.

Memories

My apologies, readers, for these past few days of silence. Our family experienced a tragedy this Christmas. My grandmother, Melba (see blog about “The Importance of Memory”) passed away on Christmas Eve afternoon. Her death, at any time, would not have been unexpected…but somehow, it seemed like a surprise. Over the past few days, I find my thoughts continually returning to my grandmother and her death. It is especially haunting during quieter times: like when you are trying to fall asleep, but just end up lying there because sleep won’t come…and there is nothing to do but think.

My grandparents took an extra interest in my life and activities. Because my parents were divorced when I was really young, Grandpa and Grandma Ehrnschwender tried to make up for my dad not being a daily part of my life. They also tried to help mom, because she was the only one of their seven children who was “going it alone”. I don’t remember any first day of school where Grandma was absent. In the early years, she would walk me to and from school for the whole first week. Even during years when we lived far from Ohio, my grandparents would come visit regularly—and were always there for anything remotely significant (like new school years and mom’s hectic seasons at work).

When I was in the sixth grade, mom and I moved back to Findlay, OH…just a few houses down the street from Grandpa and Grandma. I saw them every day of my life from that point onward—during the ordinary times, as well as the extraordinary ones. In those years, my grandparents became like another set of parents to me. They loved me and spoiled me, but they also scolded me and encouraged me to be a better version of myself. They were especially protective of my mother and equally condemning of my “teenage attitude” phase. I cannot recount how many times I heard things like, “You need to be nicer to your mother”, “Your mother works so hard; you need to help her out more around the house”, “Be respectful to your mother”, etc. (Note for mom: I know they drove you crazy and probably overstepped their bounds by giving you advice more often than they should have, but they always had your back! Always!)

There was never a concert or performance that my grandparents missed. When I got dressed up for dances and special events, they took pictures beforehand and smiled proudly. Grandpa always told me that I “sure do clean up well”. Grandma would say I looked “just like an angel”. Somehow, I never questioned their pride—or their faith--in me. It beamed across their faces. People 3,000 miles away could see how much they loved me. There are days where I may question my worth or significance, but there is no doubting that I have been deeply loved.

My most poignant memory of love, in fact, is a memory that I have of my Grandma. She taught me the reality of sacrificial love. My disclaimer is this: there have been many people, throughout my life, who have loved me deeply and sacrificially, but this memory is my first awareness of “selfless love”. This is the memory which keeps coming back to me, especially in the quiet, sleepless hours.

When I was 12 or 13, my other grandma (Luella “Luby” Dietsch) passed away. I had just spent several days at Grandpa and Grandma Dietsch's house (a few miles across town), visiting and having "grandparent bonding time". They dropped me off at my house, after taking me out to lunch. Not three hours after they dropped me off, Grandpa Dietsch called me and told me that Grandma had died. It was the summer and my mom was at work. I guess Grandpa was in shock and didn’t think about the fact that I was a young girl, all by myself…and that the news would be overwhelming to me.

I’m not sure I even shut the door on my way out, I just remember running…running to my grandparents house, with tears streaming down my face--not even able to see because my eyes were so wet and blurry. I couldn’t think of anything besides getting to my grandma. Grandma and Grandpa Ehrnschwender were sitting out on their front porch, as they often did. I ran up the porch steps, fell down on my knees in front of my grandma, buried my face in her lap, and sobbed. In between sobs, I found a way to tell her what had happened. I remember Grandma saying to me, “Oh baby, if I could take your pain myself, I would do it in a heartbeat”.

The most striking thing about that day was looking up at my grandma after she declared she would gladly take my pain. I looked into her eyes and realized that she truly meant what she had said. If we'd had access to some cosmic USB cord that could transfer emotion from one soul to another, my Grandma would have taken my pain into herself. Being that I was a preteen at the time, my whole life was about me. I couldn’t fathom selfless, sacrificial love at that point in my life. Looking in my grandma’s eyes that day, I thought: “She means it. She would really bear all of this pain for me”. It was the first time I remember being aware of a deeper kind of love—a love that gives without thought of the cost.

That penultimate moment of realization has paved the way for deeper understandings of love and sacrifice. Yet, the first time I could get my mind around that kind of love, it was kneeling at the feet of my grandma. I won’t forget the look of love in her eyes that day. That is how I remember my grandma. That is what I think about most in these days since her death.

Message for Aunt Mary

I am, even as you read this, working on a more in-depth blog (to be posted this very night)...but in the meantime, I need to leave an important message for my Aunt Mary (a frequent "lurker" on this site). For everyone else, this will be a meaningless, cryptic post. For my aunt, it will be loaded with meaning. I submit these pictures to you for your approval, Aunt Mary. I await a comment...come out of your lurking shadows and let me know what you think.

Track Santa

Check out this cute site, where you can actually track Santa's path, as he delivers presents all around the world: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/default.php

The FULL Reason for the Season

You hear everywhere that “Jesus is the reason for the season”. While that is true, I think it is important to remember the BABY Jesus is not the end of the story. We are talking about the Most High God, come to earth, to bear our flesh and walk our roads. Then He dies and carries our sin and shame…rises from the grave…conquers evil, death, and oppression…offers new life to any who will receive it. People who feel far from God—far from themselves, far from others—are brought near by the God who refuses to remain at a distance. We have a God who is not content to be “watching us from a distance” (I REALLY dislike that song--but that will be the subject of another blog). This God has entered into our situation—but more than that—He offers a way out…a better way…true, real LIFE. I love that phrase from the Bible which says, “The people who walked in the darkness have seen a great light”. That GREAT LIGHT is Jesus Himself…who sends the darkness running in fear.

With those thoughts in mind, I want to share two songs with you, my blog friends. These are a little more serious than the video with the camels in sneakers! I just came across these songs, never having heard them before. The first one is called “It's About the Cross" by the band Go Fish (www.gofishguys.com). I can’t find the lyrics anywhere…but listen to it; it’s good stuff.

The second song is called “While You Were Sleeping” by Casting Crowns (lyrics below). I found it pretty convicting. I pray for all of us that we won’t be sleeping as God moves in our midst.

"While You Were Sleeping"
By Casting Crowns

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had came
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

It's About the Cross

While You Were Sleeping - Casting Crowns

Three Random Thoughts by Tina

First Random Thought:

Anyone who owns a TV has probably heard about the Rosie O’Donnell/Donald Trump “feud”. In case you haven’t heard, I am going to share a little summary…but first, my opinions.

As far as Rosie is concerned, people know that she just talks off the top of her head, says obnoxious things, and tries to be shocking…that is part of the allure of “The View”. I personally feel that, as talented as Rosie is, she could find a way to be funny without mocking other people. There is no need to defame others—no matter how deserving of defamation they may be.

As for Donald Trump, is he still three years old? Seriously, weren’t we all taught that “two wrongs don’t make a right”? Just because someone says something mean about you does not give you the right to respond in kind. This “feud” is nothing more than a couple of emotional toddlers name-calling one another. I taught 1st grade Sunday school for a few years; those kids were more mature. Tina says to Rosie and Donald: GROW UP ALREADY!

Here is a summary of the aforementioned feud (taken from the Associated Press), in case you have no idea what I am talking about:
“Things got even uglier Thursday in the bitter war of words between Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell. The Donald called the Los Angeles-based morning show "Good Day L.A." to sound off on O'Donnell's remarks about his near-firing of Miss USA Tara Conner.
"Maybe she wanted to put the crown back on Miss USA's head," the real-estate mogul said of the openly gay O'Donnell, who has four children with her partner, Kelli. "I think she's very attracted to Miss USA so she probably wanted to put the crown on her head herself."
Insult No. 2: "She is a very, very unattractive woman who really is a bully."
Insult No. 3: "Ultimately, Rosie is a loser, and ultimately ("The View") will fail because of Rosie. ... Barbara (Walters) made a mistake and let me tell you something, Barbara's a good friend of mine. She cannot stand Rosie O'Donnell."
It all started when O'Donnell, co-host of the ABC morning talk show "The View," blasted Trump on Wednesday's show. She said Trump's news conference with Conner, whose title was in jeopardy because of underage drinking, had annoyed her "on a multitude of levels" and that the twice-divorced Donald had no right to be a "moral compass" for the beauty queen.
"He inherited a lot of money," she said. "Wait a minute, and he's been bankrupt so many times where he didn't have to pay. ... I just think that this man is sort of like one of those, you know, snake oil salesmen in 'Little House on the Prairie.'"
Trump fired back later Wednesday in a TV interview, calling O'Donnell a "slob," among other insults. "I never went bankrupt, but she said I went bankrupt. So probably I'll sue her because it would be fun.
An amused O'Donnell talked about Trump's comments with her co-hosts on Thursday's edition of "The View." "Wasn't that a fun night of viewing? ... Look who's here today: Kelli. I was afraid to leave her home in case somebody with a comb-over came and stole her from me," she said.
In an entry posted Wednesday night on her Web site, O'Donnell duplicated an excerpt on Trump's rocky financial history from his biography on the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which is written by users.
She wrote: "i will let you know if the donald sues me/or if kelli leaves me for one of his pals/don't u find him charming."”

Second Random Thought:

I went to the Cracker Barrel for dinner the other night with a good friend of mine. Being that I am trying to live a vegetarian lifestyle, I thought I would go with the “vegetable plate”. First, when I asked what the “vegetable of the day” was, I was told, “red-skinned potatoes”. Since when do potatoes count as a vegetable of the day? I know, I know, technically, potatoes are vegetables. I get that. But, when I think of a vegetable of the day, I think of something, I don’t know, GREEN!

Then, trying to get a little protein, I ordered the pinto beans as one of my choices for the “vegetable plate”. I also ordered some “greens”. Both of these items came with massive amounts of pork in them. I know that the cracker barrel is not meant to be a haven for vegetable eaters…but, seriously, what is so wrong with just a plain old vegetable? Does there need to be meat in everything? Pretty soon there will be meat cookies!

I do have to give a shout out to the Cracker Barrel, though, in that their dumplings are the most beautiful piece of food this side of heaven! I would pick all kinds of meat out of my food if it means I get to eat those dumplins!

Third Random Thought:
I love Christmas hymns. The words are so incredibly deep. It saddens me that most people only know the first verse of most of these songs. I especially love the words to “We Three Kings”. In fact, I think it is my favorite Christmas song (really, an “Epiphany” song). It tells the whole story…not just that a baby was born, but who that baby was and what He came to do. Take a good look at these words:

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
Refrain
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.
Refrain
(Tina’s favorite verse)
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Refrain
Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.
Refrain

I am posting (below) the CUTEST version of this song I have ever seen. You will love it, especially the camels. I thought I would throw in “Joy to the World”, from the same Christmas special, as well. Keep in mind, these are all done through Claymation. They are amazing!

We Three Kings

This is fabulous. I love it! Though they changed my favorite verse, I still like it...how can you dislike camels in sneakers?