Why I Follow Christ -- Defending My Faith

Why do I follow Christ? What's the point of my Christianity anyway? It's an increasingly unpopular way to live these days and definitely has a million negative stereotypes that have historically been true to one degree or another. 

Am I naive? Fooled by cunning men and propaganda to blindly follow a patriarchal order that is out of touch and refuses to change with the time? No. That's not it at all. 

I don't blindly obey the precepts of a church, I follow Christ, at least I try to. I'm really bad at it sometimes. I do stupid things. I say stupider things. I struggle to incorporate into my life even some of his most basic teachings. "Love one another." Okay. But not the stupid people, right? Especially not the ones who are mean to me or abuse others or are lazy and greedy and selfish, because that would be ridiculous. Or not apparently. 

Something miraculous happens inside of me when despite all logic and reason, I try to love all of God's unlovable children. It changes me. I gain more patience. I gain wisdom. I feel happier. Who knew?! God knew.

It turns out that a lot of the time, I am that unlovable person who really, REALLY needs love and acceptance and gentleness when I really, REALLY don't deserve it. I don't know even know how to get help, so I pray that God will send me help,  someone who is willing to love me despite my being a pathetic human who has made a LOT of mistakes and is kind of prickly and unlovable. I have to hope that another person is trying to heed God's word to "Love one another" because imperfect children are all He has to help His other imperfect children.

So what does this have to do with following Christ? Surely I can love people and not believe in Him, right? I guess you could, but my experience has been that without his power to make me more than I can be on my own, I don't get very far. I do a great deal of trying and failing at what my heart yearns to do until I ask for His help.

He alone was able to overcome every temptation -- including the temptations to scream, "You're all idiots!" at the people He came to love and serve and save, yet they would not listen. He experienced all of the struggles of being a mortal and overcame it all, just so He could reach out His hand and pull me up when I'm crumpled in a heap on the floor, disgusted with myself for being mean and impatient and yelling at my kids again. 

Why?! Why would He even bother? Because in a totally incomprehensible way, He loves me that much. I am His sister and He knew that He was the only one of God's children who could do this for the rest of us. He came to experience this life so He could find the path that I could follow to get home. He doesn't even force me to come, He just holds out a hand and says, "Come follow me."  I don't even remember that "home" but He promises me that is so incredibly more than what I have now and I believe Him. 

Following Him is hard. When I stumble and fall, sometimes I feel so embarrassed or ashamed that I can't seem to keep my feet that I cover it up with anger and yell at Him. "This is the stupidest path!" I cry. "Seriously? Do you see how easy the other way is? This way just makes me feel weak and tired and everybody else can see how bad I am at walking. Especially walking by your side, I can't even begin to measure up! They're all making fun of me and pointing out how hypocritical it is for me to say I follow you, when I can hardly stand." 

Then my brother Jesus smiles and says, "Fear not. Be still and know that I am God. The road is going to get harder so you can become stronger. Don't let go of my hand. If you're holding my hand you can even walk on water if you have to, but you have to keep your eyes on me. I don't care if you stumble and fall, as long as you get up and try again. I'm here as long as you will walk with me. I know the way." This is why I follow Him. 

Because of Him, I like who I am and who I am becoming. Because of Him I can forgive myself and I can even forgive all the stupid people around me who are also falling down all over the place. I can even love them! 

It feels like following Christ is getting to be a pretty unpopular thing in this world, but why? All the things He ever taught would even be considered politically correct. Maybe it's time for us all to forgive each other for being so inadequately human and see the good in our intentions. Giving up on Christ isn't the answer. Without Him, I'd have to put my faith in men, who can fall so easily off that pedestal, or worse, in myself. I like me, but only when I'm holding His hand and walking His path, doing all that I can to be like Him. It's hard, but it's worth it.

Sunday Thoughts: The Parable of the Sleepy Child

Gid the warrior, still learning about life and its lessons

Gid had a personal experience like the ten virgins yesterday. It was the day of his good friend Ben's baptism. Ben specifically invited him and Eli to come, but when the time came to wake up, Gid could NOT wake up. He was cranky and tired and no matter how I coaxed or cajoled, he wouldn't get out of bed. 

I tried to help him understand how we sometimes sacrifice our comfort in order to show other people love and support. I even bribed him with getting a doughnut after the baptism -- knowing that he would be sad to miss it and trying to find an incentive that would speak louder than his bed. Nope. He wasn't having it. 

 I worried because I knew we had to be 15 minutes early as I was playing the piano for the service. Eventually I had to just leave him to his own devices and finish getting myself and Eli ready to go. 

Just as we were about to walk out the door with no sign of Gid, he came upstairs and told us to wait. I was so sad to have to tell him we couldn't. We had to leave then or I wouldn't make it to play the prelude. Eli and I enjoyed the baptism and went out for a doughnut afterward. 

Last night I heard the rest of the story that broke my heart. Gid climbed into my lap and started telling me that he had had a rough day. When I asked him why, he said it all started with us leaving him at home when we went to the baptism. He told me that when we walked out the door he prayed that we would come back and let him get dressed so he could come with us. Sigh. 

I explained to him why I had to leave right then and told him that was why I had tried and tried to get him to wake up earlier. I also told him the parable of the ten virgins and helped him see that he was kind of the like the five virgins who weren't prepared to go into the wedding. They were sad too and wished that someone would come out and get them when they were finally prepared, but it was too late.

I started thinking about this again this morning, feeling so sad that Gid would think to pray, but that he would pray for something that God couldn't answer. I realized that it is important for all of us to understand that God is always there for us, but he won't undo the consequences of the choices we make. He knows that our best learning takes place when we have to suffer a bit for our mistakes. We can't make bad choices and then pray that we don't have to feel the pain of those choices. 

Our works/actions are crucial to how well God can bless us. He wants to bless us! He wants to answer our prayers! But we can't pray for things that go against His law and the way agency works on the earth. We are most certainly saved by Christ's grace, but many of the blessings that happen in this life come from our works. Gid learned this in a hard way yesterday. 

Gid the Science Kid

What do you do if you're seven years old, home recovering from pink eye, bored and full of energy? You do science experiments of course! Who will want to watch them? Probably just your grandparents and a handful of very patient friends. But they can't watch it unless your mom makes a video, can they? So she does! And it's admittedly kind of longish, but truly devoted fans of Gid the Science Kid won't care, because there is some pretty funny important science going on here!

Well, we're not talking hypothetical here people, this is real life stuff! So, without further ado...I give you...

GID THE SCIENCE KID!

Say Merry Christmas with a Funny Quote!

In case we missed you with our letter, or you just want a Christmas giggle, here are the funny quotes from our house this year. Jonah had so many funny texts, he got his own post, see below.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

CHRISTMAS MORNING OBSERVATIONS 2012
Curtis about his new Perplexus: “This thing is so annoyingly awesome!”

Hannah about her super comfy orange blankie: “It’s like laying in a pile of dead bunnies!”

HANNAH LOVIN’ ON HER BROTHERS
“Cody, you handsome hunk of man flesh, would you please bring me the cider?”

“Jonah, stop smelling like a delicious man.”

LIFE FROM CURTIS’ POINT OF VIEW
After checking the pool chemicals which were not balanced; hence, no swimming: “Another day ruined on account of science.”

Curtis’ morning trivia: “Which continent has the largest variety of habitats?”
Eli: “Africa?”
Gid: “Las Vegas?”

RANDOMNESS FROM ELI
“Mom, is Gigi one of my cousins or one of my grandmas?”

(in a wistful voice) “Guys, I really want to go to Nauvoo so I can see the Salt Lake Temple.”

“Gid, your skin feels...
paquonchinatous!”

GIDDINESS FROM GID
To Curtis while riding on his back: “I’ll hold on to your chest hair.”
Curtis: “I don’t have any chest hair.”
Gid: “ALL animals have chest hair!”

Whispered in church: “I’m the bored-est pig in the barnyard.”

After being startled by mom: “Whoa! My heart was beating faster than a chicken!”

When sharing something he wrote with Hannah: “I’ll just read it to you because...uh...
you don’t really know how to read.”

Another conversation with Hannah: 
“Hannah, what is your butt made out of?”
Hannah: “Um...cells?”
Gid: “No, it’s made of beautifulness!”

THE PARENTS
Phonetic silliness: 
Jen to Eli: “That would be re-dickle-ous.”
Eli replies condescendingly: “Mom, it’s not redicklous, it’s re-dick-lee-ous.” Okay then.

Jen: “Gid, do you remember how to spell platypus?”
Gid: “I used to...yesterday.”

Explaining to the little boys why they can’t be homeschooled, Ren asks: “Do you KNOW why we stopped homeschooling?”
Gid: “Cuz we’re facing the facts.” Yup, that says it all.

Jen to Hannah: “You can’t be perfect all the time. If you were, then you would get taken to heaven and I would miss you.”

Jonah's Ride Requests: Fall Semester

Jonah has to text me every day to remind me to pick him up -- he has accepted this fact and even embraced the responsibility as an opportunity to let his creative juices flow, sometimes in a flood of hilariousness. I included most of these in the family Christmas letter, but in case you missed it or just want to read the rest, here's the whole enchilada from fall semester of Jonah's junior year.

****************************************
“Houston to mothership, prepare for rendezvous.”
“Negatory Houston, fathership has already launched.”

Shuttle ready for docking captain. Prepare for a greeting party?

Starship Jonah is ready for takeoff.

LITERARY
Limerick:
There once was a twin at school, 
When the bell rang, he left, per the rule.
Then in a text he cried, 
“I do need a ride
And preferably in the car that looks cool.”
Response:
The car that is cool is gone
Required by Dad to move on.
But the beast of a car
Still drives near and far
And will soon go pick up the son.

Haiku:
Son waiting for ride
Hoping for mother to drive
Come pick me up, please?
Response:
Father’s already gone
The cool car is almost there.
Enjoy the ride dude.

But soft! What light through yonder mobile communications device breaks! It is the son. Arise, fair mother, and retrieve the son, who is already stooped with exhaustion and slight impatience with his schoolmate. (Romeo and Juliet)

To drive, or not to drive? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler on the road to suffer the cut-offs and lane switches of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of bad drivers, and by opposing end them? (Hamlet)

COMICAL
Yo yo, we clubbin’ tonight? (Brian Regan)

Please to be sending a ride, please. And if you get peanut butter, get SMOOTH. (Brian Regan)

Behold, thus saith the son, bringest thou the metal crate that thou mightest bring the son hometh, that he may rejoice , and partake of the meat, and the fruit, and the fruit snacks, and the wheat, and the wheat by-products, and the pretzels, and the fruit bats, and the breakfast cereals, and the soups of thy home.
Transportation 2: 35 (The scriptures with a little Monty Python)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a boy in possession of a large schoolbag must be in want of a ride. This has never been more true than in the happenings of Higley High school, where a young teenager was behind a building with his mildly annoying schoolmate. (Pride and Prejudice)

HISTORICAL
When in the course of daily events, it becomes necessary for one boy to request the transportational vehicle that connects him to another and to assume among all hours of the school that the parental figure shall assume the station of chaufferism to which the laws of nature and of nature's car entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of teenage-kind requires that they declare their need for a mode of transportation. (Declaration of Independence)

Four score and seven minutes ago, our bell system brought forth a new class period, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all languages are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great Patience War, testing how long we must wait for the transportation of our persons. (The Gettysburg Address)

MUSICAL
This is the text
that goes with the name of the contact
and this is the contact, so this is where it goes
has nothing to do with the message so we'll say
"Hey, hey hey hey hey hey hey hey (I need a ride)!" (The Jonah Movie -- Veggie Tales)

Wheels, glorious wheels
we're anxious to drive it
four axles a day,
our favorite ride!
just thinking of rolling circles
gives us lots of feels
for wheels, wonderful wheels, marvelous wheels, gloriouuuuuuuuuuuuuus WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELS. (Oliver!)

Dough, you use to buy some gas
Ray, the street near where I am
Me, the person who needs a ride
Far, not really, just a mile
So, I really need a ride
La, I'm singing while I wait
Tea, not something that I dtink
that will bring us back to do re mi fa so la ti do so DO! (The Sound of Music)

Cars for the merchandise, cars for the button-hooks, cars for the fancy goods, cars for the hard goods, cars for the noggins and the pickins and the firkins
Cars for the hog's head cask-can demi-john, cars for the crackers and the Jonahs and the fly-paper! (Music Man)

Once there was a Jonah, Jonah, Jonah
Once there was a Jonah, tall, tall, tall
In the lot he waited, waited, waited,
in the lot he waited for mom, mom, mom (Primary Children’s Songbook)

Keep walking, but you won't get very far
Keep walking, but you really need a car
It's plain to see, it's way 
below the par to keep walking, when you could go drive a car
IT'S PLAIN TO SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, (I see!) it's way below the par to keep walking, when you could go drive a caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar. (Veggie Tales -- Josh and the Big Wall)

For a car with a driver helps the Jonah get home, the Jonah get hooome, Jonah get home
For a car with a driver helps the Jonah get home, 
in the most delightful way (Mary Poppins)

Response:
A mother cleaning up her nest has very little time to rest
While folding up the clothes of all her kids. 
With every task she undertakes, she wants a piece of cake,
A doughnut, some chocolate, she'd love a sweet pastry...

Are you busy? Busy? Dreadfully busy? Have I no idea what you have to do? 
Busy? Busy? Horribly busy? Or can I get a ride home from you?
(Veggie Tales: The Good Samaritan)
My response was from Veggie Tales--Josh and the Big Wall:
Keep walking...heh heh. JK.

One daaaaaay, while he was waiting for his mommy, he had a pack, his big backpack.
He wiiiiiiished that he could take it off his shoulders, his heavy pack, the big backpack.
A paaaaaack like this would make him feel so handy, but heavy this, and heavy that.
The spleeeendor of his pack was nonexistent, it was quite large, quite large and fat.
I will feel well if I take off my pack. The sun's getting hot and I really might fall flat.
A pack as this, a pack as that, a big back pack, his big back paaaaaack! 
Oh hurry Mrs. Mommy before my friend and I go splat! (Funiculi, Funicula -- heard in Veggie Tales)

Why are there so many songs about rides home?
And what's at the other's house?
Walking's fulfilling, but only elusive, to those who live way nearby.
Some choose to move and some choose to just leave school, but I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the leaving connection,
the walkers, the wheelers, and meeeeeee. (Kermit the Frog, The Rainbow Connection)

It isn't good to be alone, it isn't good.
So if you could give a ride you really should, 
so you and your son can be together... (My Turn on Earth)

AND FINALLY....

I wish you a Merry Christmas,
I wish you a Merry Christmas,
I've wished you a Merry Christmas
so come get me right now. :)
Response:
We won't go until you say please,
We won't go until you say please,
We won't go until you say please,
so say please right now!
His response:
Please?

Peace Be Still

I’ve been preparing to accompany our congregation’s choir for our Christmas performance today and we’re singing a FORTY-THREE page cantata! The music is so beautiful, but some of it stretches my pianistic abilities. I can sight read almost anything, but the technical aspects of my piano playing are still a work in progress. When it comes to crashing octave jumps and 5 note chords all over the place, I can do it, but with practice. 

Well, I’ve been practicing and practicing and practicing, even dreaming of the notes and I’ve got most of it, but I’ve been feeling stressed about it. I know that usually when I perform I do well, but that extra jitteriness affects the passages that are hardest, making it inevitable that I mess up, sometimes small, sometimes HUGE! I have wanted to get this music down so I can support the choir, because I know that when I am hesitant they are too. So yesterday as I still was making mistakes my guts were just churning with anxiety for today’s performance.

I took some time to attack the anxiety with my arsenal of emotional and holistic tools: attacking the anxiety with essential oils, positive scripting, reverse polarity exercises and lots and LOTS of prayer. I felt a little relief but still that internal shaking and sense of dread persisted. 

I finally sat down to practice again in the afternoon and felt like I got worse and worse instead of better. I was starting to despair, wondering if I’m just too emotionally unstable to successfully conquer this issue, when my mind tuned into the words of the piece I was playing. The cantata is about Christ’s life and I starting thinking about Him, picturing Him front and center in my mind. As I did, I felt a calm come over me and my hands and insides stopped shaking. I felt hope and peace. I felt assurance and confidence that I wasn’t alone and that with His help, nothing was hopeless. I played for over an hour. If I let the image slip from my mind I would lose that sense of calm and start to get worked up again, but no sooner would I cast my mind to Him than I would feel the peace return. It was nothing short of a miraculous answer to prayer.

I’ve always known that Jesus Christ’s grace is real and works in my life daily, but I don’t know that I’ve ever felt it so tangibly as I did yesterday when He calmed the storm that was raging inside of me. The words “Peace be still,” are for me just as surely as they were for a band of frightened fishermen 2000 years ago. (Mark 4:39)

Emotions are NOT Feelings, are they?

If you were a stranger and walked into my house today, you'd have no doubt what our family culture finds important...here's two examples:

This morning I overheard a conversation between Eli(8) and Gid(7) that went something like this:
Gid says to Eli, "I was just writing in my journal."
Eli: "You're not going all "Diary" are you?"
Gid: "No, it's just a journal."
Eli: "But you're writing down your feelings!"
Gid: "No, I'm writing my emotions! Emotions are NOT feelings." (Note: We'll have a chat about synonyms soon!)

And then just a second ago, Gid comes running upstairs yelling, "Mom! Quick! I need Lavender, Melaleuca and a band-aid!"

We're all about being self-sufficient here in the Byers house, just not in the ways you'd normally expect. Haha!