“Bread”

   Do you remember the quartet from the 1970s, Bread?  Led by David Gates, this soft rock band released one chart-topping hit after another: Make It With You, It Don’t Matter to Me, Diary, Baby I’m a-Want You, Lost Without Your Love, etc. 

 

These guys made a career out of mournful, pull-at-the-heartstrings ballads.  I know.  I bought every album Bread released.  Not exactly a bright move for a teen who’d just been dumped by her boyfriend.  But I learned something from the experience.  Tender lyrics and beautiful orchestration aside, David Gates and company could put me in a blue funk for days.  Until I had an epiphany (aka: a “Duh moment.”).  For a melancholy like me, “Bread” was toxic. 

 

IBM was right: G.I.-G.O.  Computerese for Garbage In, Garbage Out.  Not that all Bread tunes are garbage, but sentimental, emotional lyrics dripping with enough sugar to land me in a diabetic coma was a poor choice for me.  So I got rid of ’em.  Fast.

 

What about you?

 

What do you listen to?  Watch on TV, the theater, or bring home from Blockbuster? What and who do you tune into?  What books do you read?  Why?  

 

IBM was right.  But the concept didn’t begin in Silicon Valley.  God’s Word puts it this way:  “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  (Proverbs 4:23, to cite just one verse on the subject.)  

 

When it comes to true Bread, there’s only One.

 

by Kristine Lowder

Waiting & Longing

Thomas a Kempis wrote, “Wait a little while, O my soul, wait for the divine promise, and thou shalt have abundance of all good things in heaven.”

Have you noticed?  We’re expanded by longing.  Something grows in us as we focus heart, mind, soul and will Homeward.  Romans 8:24-25 says: “That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother.  We are enlarged in the waiting.  We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us.  But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.” (The Message.)

As pastor and author Rick Warren writes, “In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life – longings that will never be fulfilled on this side of eternity.”

We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be!   We forget that for believers, earth isn’t our final home.  We were redeemed for something much better!

Waiting and longing.  Neither is easy.  But there can be a “sweet pain” in both if we let them draw our hearts toward Home.

Shared by: Kristine, professional mom, blogger, author, homeschooler, humorist, and chief wrangler at the ‘ole “testosterone farm.”

Exploring the delightful, sometimes dangerous and always mysterious realm of Christian womanhood: http://www.HEvencense.wordpress.com

You’ll Be Home, Part 2 of 2

Curious verb choice, isn’t it?  Was.  Not is.  Past tense.  After all, these men had hoped that Jesus would redeem Israel, deliver her from under the heavy boot of Rome.  But now it’s too late.  Jesus is dead.  Buried in that borrowed crypt.  Sure, some women claimed they’d been to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty, but they were clearly a cup and a saucer short of a place setting.

What was Jesus thinking?  Did he smile?  Suppress a grin?  Nope.  He proclaims this teary twosome “foolish” and “slow of heart to believe.” (verse 25)  Then he gives them a refresher course in Moses and the Prophets 101.

Incredibly, they still don’t get it.  (Ah, the benefit of 2000/2000 hindsight!)  As the trio approaches a village, Jesus acts as if he’s going further.  They urge him to stay the night with them, which he does.  Can you imagine their faces at the table later when Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it and gives it to them?

“Hmmmm… this seems a little familiar….Haven’t we seen something like this before… Do you remember that afternoon in Bethsaida, with the loaves and the fishes….?  Remember when Je….. Hey!!!!!”

Do you recognize the risen Lord?  Have you left the “big city” and set out for Emmaus?  Keep walking.  Keep looking.  Remember you’re only a visitor on this earthly sod, and you never know whom you may meet on the journey.  Somewhere up ahead you’ll recline at a table.  Bread will be broken and served by nail-scarred hands.  Soon, perhaps in the twinkling of an eye, the dust of the day and the weariness of the walk will fall away and you’ll be a visitor no more.  You’ll be Home.

By Kristine, author, blogger, humorist, homeschooler, professional mom.

(Part 1 posted on April 14.)

You’ll Be Home – Part 1 of 2

Have you ever wondered about the two guys on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24? How could they be so close to Jesus and miss Resurrection Sunday?  I mean, this is “later that same day” – as in, the women went to the tomb” early this morning” (verse 22).  But here comes the doleful duo, faces so long they could eat corn out of a Coke bottle.  They’re looking at the afterglow of the Mightiest Moment in History and seeing the headlight of an oncoming train.

You know the story.  Neck-deep in their discussion “about everything that had happened,” who shows up?  The text doesn’t say where He came from, but Jesus “came up and walked along with them” (verse 15).  What did he say?

“Shalom, fellas.  Howzitgoin?” Or maybe, “You look like someone just offered you a pork dinner with a bacon chaser.”  How ‘bout, “Mind if I join you?  I’m due at the Ascension in a coupla days.”  Whatever the initial greeting, Jesus asks, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  Lowder translation:  What’s up, guys?”

Jaw unhinged in astonishment, Cleopas answers.  Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and purported Resurrection from the dead were all over Jerusalem.  Emmaus was probably about seven miles northwest of Jerusalem.  Not exactly an ocean away.  These two men couldn’t believe that anyone in the area didn’t know about it!  (After all, the crucifixion, Jesus’ death and burial were all in the last chapter.  See Luke 23.)

But neither of these men recognizes Jesus. Where has this guy been?  “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (verse 17)

Well yes, Jesus could have answered, now that you mention it, I am “only a visitor” to Jerusalem.  I stopped there en route to paying the sin penalty for all mankind.

But Jesus doesn’t say that.  What He doesn’t say is significant.  He doesn’t lecture, nag, or chide.  He doesn’t wave a red flag or dispatch a bolt out of the blue.  Jesus doesn’t even declare, “Fellas, it’s me!”  He simply asks, “What things?”  (verse 19)

The reply is interesting: “About Jesus of Nazareth.  He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people…”

Stay tuned for Part 2, coming on April 21.

By Kristine, author, blogger, professional mom, humorist, homeschooler.

Hopes Dashed

Disappointment is a smile turned upside down and a heart shattered. It comes to all and shows no discrimination; young and old, rich or poor, introvert or extrovert, each and all have high hopes and at times find those hopes dashed. It is never easy to keep a stiff upper lip, suck it up and put on a happy face.

I can find renewed hope in what merely appears to be hopeless situations. “Now to him who by the power of work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 RSV).” Disappointment tiptoes in darkness of despair, hope marches in the light of God’s grace!