Ugh. That’s about all I’ve got this morning. That and jeans that still are a bit too tight because I can’t seem to stop shoveling fatty foods into my mouth. It was a McDonald’s morning this morning, after a rice crispy treat with M&M’s. But, considering the fact that I was up at 3:30 A.M. and the fact that we need to make a Sam’s/Evil Empire run, it seemed to be the most appropriate thing to do.

I love my children, I really do. They’re each a unique little blessing from God. And I have high hopes for them. I pray every day that they will grow into Godly men. But, sometimes…. well, let’s just say that blessings can be mixed! 🙂 It’s my fault, really, that the youngest hasn’t been sleeping well lately. He’s a total “Mama’s Boy” and Mama has been gone overnight twice in the past three weeks. So, he’s a bit clingy. And I really don’t mind cuddling with him some at night, although I definitely prefer cuddling with my hubby, but I have to draw the line at being up, and I mean up at 3:30 A.M. Not only was the little stinker roarin and ready to go, he was bound and determined that Mama wasn’t going to sleep anymore either. At one point, the entire family was awake. That’s when Up went into the DVD player and Mama ran for the shower. I have to admit, it wasn’t hard shutting the door to Stephen’s cries of “Maaamaaa” as I left for work this morning. And, as is typical, once Mama is out of sight, she’s out of mind. He was quietly cuddling with Daddy by the time his brother and I pulled out of the garage.

Now, I’m a zombie, and I’m covering AP Lit for a fellow English teacher today. Heaven help us all!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Chris and I have a new favorite comedy–ABC’s Modern Family. It’s everything we love in a comedy–witty, quirky, sarcastic, and completely relate-able. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve looked at each other while watching the show and given each other the, “That’s so you!” look. It’s one of the few shows out there that actually makes me laugh out loud.

That said, the episode last night got me thinking a bit about the nature of romance. In the episode, one of the couples decided to “spice up” their celebration of Valentine’s Day by doing a bit of role playing. The wife had her husband meet her at the bar of a hotel and “pick her up”. The results were both disastrous and hilarious, which is why we watch the show, but it got me thinking about the ways in which people try to rekindle the romance in their relationships. Many relationship “experts” advocate the idea of couple’s engaging in role play to heighten the romance in their relationships. But, I have to confess, I don’t quite get it. If I wanted to be with someone else, then I would have married someone else. I love my husband and I can’t think of anything more romantic that being with him.

This is the man who still finds me attractive even though I’ve gained an extra 15 or so pounds. The man who walks past me in a room and brushes my arm, hand or back. The man who comes up behind me and gives me a hug for no reason at all while I’m doing dishes or pondering something in the kitchen. The man who tells our sons every day that he loves them. The man who spends his day off doing laundry–even folding it and putting it away! The man who sends me an e-mail saying, “I’m not sure I’ll be home for dinner but there’s a pot of chili on the stove for you and the boys.” The man who checks in with me every day to see how things are going and eats burritos or stir-fry at least once a week because those are the only two meals I really cook. The man who lets me fall asleep on the couch and then gently wakes me up for bed after cleaning up the kitchen, feeding the animals, and letting the dogs out. The man who finishes projects that I start and laughingly deals with “fine messes” I tend to make (like getting my car stuck in the snow in our front yard).

This is the man who watches Grey’s Anatomy with me because he knows I love it and who takes me to see the Twilight movies even after being told by colleagues that, “As the spiritual head of the household you should not allow your wife to watch those movies or read those books.” The man who laughs at statements like that and who treats me as a partner, an equal, an intelligent human being capable of making her own decisions about what she reads and watches.

This is the man I can trust to be completely honest with me, even if he has to tell me something I don’t really want to hear. The man who encourages me when I’m losing confidence in myself, who supports me in every decision I make, and who believes in me more than I believe in myself. This is the man who has voluntarily committed to spending the rest of his life with me, as big of a mess as I am, and raising our two boys in love and in Christ. The man who tries to follow God’s will in everything that he does and puts his family first, below God.

What can be more romantic than being with your true love–the person you are building a life with? No, I’m afraid I don’t get role playing. I think my hubby’s pretty amazing just the way he is!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

I was putting together a soup for snack day at school this morning. As I was pouring the soup into the crock pot I realized that I had no idea how I was going to get it there without it covering the front seat of my car. You see, I teach in a town about twenty miles from where I live and there are several turns, curves and hills along the way. As I was standing in the kitchen staring at the crock pot, I had an idea. I pulled the Press N’ Seal out of a drawer and carefully wrapped it around the lid and top of the crock pot.

**Product Promo Moment–if you haven’t tried Glad’s Press N’ Seal, you need to e-mail the company and see if they’ll send you a trial roll. It’s amazing. I promise, you will never buy saran wrap again!

After finishing that, I decided to add an extra layer of protection with aluminum foil. As I was sealing the foil over the Press N’ Seal I realized, this is what God does for our hearts, although probably not with tin foil! When we give our hearts to God, he seals them with his love and grace so that no matter what happens, he is there. God protects and keeps our hearts for him so that with his seal around us, not even the gates of hell will prevail against us. We can stand firm and confident in the knowledge that the creator of the universe holds us in the palm of his hand!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Monday evening, a teenager from our community was killed in a car accident. His grandparents are members of our congregation, although the teen himself attended another church while in high school. He had graduated last spring. His grandparents asked my husband to take a role in their grandson’s funeral, to which he agreed. He met with the pastors of the other congregation who would be presiding over the service to discuss the details of the service. Through the course of discussion, Chris learned that this young man was expecting his first child. His girlfriend is five months pregnant. As a parent, this news broke my heart. Yet, Chris and I were both disturbed at the response the other two pastors involved in the service had to this news. They decided that they would have to be careful about addressing this young man’s salvation because his girlfriend was pregnant and they didn’t know if he would have been “right with God.” My jaw hit the floor when I heard this! But that wasn’t all. After leaving this meeting Chris went over to the grandparents house to be with them for awhile and found that this concern over the young man’s salvation had been passed on to his family! His grandmother told Chris over and over how concerned she was that her grandson had not been “right with God” at the time of his passing because his girlfriend was pregnant. Chris tried to reassure her, asking her if she had forgiven her grandson. Of course, the answer was yes. He tried to help her see that as much as she loved her grandson, God loved–and loves– him even more. So, if she could easily forgive him, how much more so would God!

I couldn’t stop thinking about this last night. One of John Wesley’s three principles for Christian living kept going through my mind–do no harm. It makes me angry when Christian people, especially Christians with authority over others, violate this principle, whether intentional or not.

First, no one, not even a pastor, has the right to judge whether or not someone receives salvation. While our lives as Christians should bear fruit, and while we should live our lives so that others might know Christ through us, the state of our soul’s eternity rests firmly in the hands of God. It is by God’ grace alone that we are saved. We can’t earn it, we can’t do it on our own. Nothing we say or do can make us “right with God.” It is God alone who reconciles us to him. The whole of Scripture can be boiled down to God attempting throughout history to reconcile humanity to himself, finally finding that reconciliation through the ultimate sacrifice–Jesus Christ and God himself. Think back to John 3:16– “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes may have eternal life.” God’s grace surrounds us from the time we are conceived and salvation is there in a moment when we choose to accept it.
Who are we to judge what occurs between the heart of the creator and the heart of the created?

Furthermore, scripture makes it abundantly clear that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Ask God to reveal your sins to you and he will gladly comply. God has put me in my place several times when I have judged or misjudged the behavior of someone else. We all have something or lots of somethings to be held accountable for. And, quite frankly, I don’t see bringing a child into the world as one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I am not an advocate for premarital sex, but it burns me to the core to hear people talk of an unplanned pregnancy as a “sin” or “mistake”. If we as Christians truly believe in the sanctity of life, then we must accept each new birth as a precious gift from God, regardless of whether or not the parents were married when the child was conceived. Moreover, in this particular situation, when the family of this young man holds that newborn in their arms, they will be holding onto a living piece of him. What a beautiful gift!! Don’t tell me God had nothing to do with that!

Finally, when a family is grieving, especially due to sudden unexpected loss, it is not the time to quibble over theology. Families need comfort and support. They need a pastor or spiritual leader to offer them hope, to bring words of peace. They do not need to be thrown into emotional and spiritual turmoil, questioning themselves, the nature of God, their own faith. Although, many people do this anyway, it shouldn’t be brought about by their pastor! A pastor should help put pieces back together.

I had an uncle who died from colon cancer almost ten years ago. Due to a serious childhood illness, my uncle’s brain never developed past the age of nine. As he was dying in the hospital, my grandmother’s pastor came to visit. He informed her that if Charlie was not baptized, he would not go to heaven.

My grandfather had passed away just six months before. He was the emotional and spiritual rock of our family, and my grandmother was still reeling from his loss. When her pastor, this man she trusted to speak the truth of God’s love, told her this, she was thrown into despair. She and my grandfather had talked to a well-respected pastor when my uncle was younger about baptism. He told my grandparents that since Charlie had the mind of a child, he would be welcomed into the kingdom of God regardless of his baptismal state. Now, as she was preparing herself to lose her oldest child, my grandmother had to second-guess everything she believed. My father, a spiritual rock himself, convinced my grandmother that Charlie was fine, that God would welcome him with open arms, and that baptism now would only confuse and scare him further, as he already did not understand what was happening to him.

I have some definitive thoughts on baptism that I could share, but as this post is already too long, I’ll save it for another day. Suffice it to say, we, as Christian leaders, need to be very careful and intentional to do no harm. John Wesley’s second principle of Christian living, after do no harm, is to do all the good you can. I think these two principles are tied together. As we should intentionally do no harm, so we must be intentional to do all the good we can. If something we are doing or saying is not working for the good of others, then maybe we should consider that we are doing harm. Finally, Wesley tells us that we should love all. Everything we do or say should reflect that perfect, sustaining, redeeming, life-giving, life-affirming love that God has for us, that Jesus showed as he walked among the least of us; the outcasts, the sinners, the sick, the judged, the broken, the weary, the oppressed.

I believe in a God of grace and mercy, a God who sacrificed everything to reconcile our messed-up human selves to him. God is “right” with all of us. Thank you, Jesus!!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

I returned Wednesday from a three-day trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. I went with colleagues for a conference on “Engaging Students Intellectually, Emotionally, Socially, and Behaviorally”. All in all, it was a good conference. It makes me feel good to know that we’re on the right path with our students. And while teaching will never be an art that is perfected, I think our high school is making some good headway. For all the complaints people have about the education system, there are some really good things being done, some in virtually impossible circumstances. And although I’ve probably said it before, I’m going to rant about it again. Teaching is hard work. Not only are teachers responsible for educating students in knowledge materials, we are somehow supposed to also craft responsible citizens, caring human beings, ideal workers who are able to engage people on an appropriate social level while being emotionally stable and intuitive. Teachers are supposed to accomplish all of these things and are also the only people held accountable for any of it. Forget parents, forget pastors, forget mentors, forget self-responsibility. Teachers are supposed to fix it all. And, all in all, I have to say we’re doing a pretty good job, given what we get to work with.

Luckily, there are conferences on the beach to escape to! 🙂 I enjoyed my time walking the beach, combing through the sand for sea shells to give to my boys. It amazes me the wide variety of life the tide brings in. Aside from shells, shark teeth, sticks and an old butane lighter, we saw live sand dollars and star fish, algae and sea-foam. And although it was peaceful and beautiful, it was somewhat lonely as well. There’s something about walking along the surf that makes me contemplative. Maybe it’s looking out at the vast horizon sinking into the endless gray expanse of water and knowing there’s nothing out there until you hit the coast of France. Maybe it’s watching your footsteps disappear with each successive wave. Maybe it’s seeing the assortment of shells in all shapes and colors and realizing that each have been carefully and artfully crafted by decades of salt and waves.

My own contemplations led to think longingly of my boys, all three of them. I saw myself walking along the beach holding Chris’ hand. I saw Stephen running headlong into the waves, splashing gleefully with his daddy in the water. I saw Garrett under an umbrella on the beach, a plastic orange pail beside him, digging methodically into the sand to extract whatever treasures might lie beneath. And me, sitting beside him, helping him to craft a sand-art masterpiece.

But what my time at the beach really brought home to me was how blessed I am to have my boys, all three of them. It also reminded me to not take any time with them for granted because, like the footsteps in the sand, it goes too soon.

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

My husband and I were watching American Idol last night, one of my guilty pleasures, and a worship pastor, married with three kids, came to audition. Avaril Lavegne was the guest-judge, complete in a little devil-hooded hoodie. The pastor performed his audition piece, an original song he had written in honor of his wife. He had a wonderful voice and presence–deep, scratchy, rock vocals. He seemed to be everything American Idol looks for in a contestant. I thought he was a shoe-in for Hollywood, until Avaril started to speak. “It’s really hard to be a pop star and have a family and kids. You’re gone all the time. You never see them.” (paraphrasing a bit here) She then went on to tell him that with being a pastor and having children that she didn’t think he could do it all, and that she was not going to vote him through. The other judges murmured their agreement and the final vote was up to Kara, who seemed to be leaning in Avaril’s direction.

WHAT?! An Idol judge is suddenly concerned about someone’s family and career? Are you kidding me? They’re supposed to be judging the quality of the voice not the life. Of course, anyone who watches T.V. knows it’s really all about the story. You have to sell the person, not the singer. And who would appeal to middle-class Americans more than a lovable working father grasping for his dream? Don’t give me this “it’s too hard on your family” crap. How many single parents have been on Idol over the years? Does anyone remember Fantasia? And what’s this junk about not being able to have a career and be on the show? Do you think it was easy for an oil rigger to go on Idol week after week? Or how about a Marine? Or a teacher? Or a single mom working two jobs to support her disabled child? No, the judges did not balk at this contestant because he was a working father, they balked because he was a (whisper) Christian.

If there’s one thing network T.V. doesn’t want, it’s an openly Christian, Christian. It’s fine for reality show contestants to talk about their faith. It makes them likable. They seem more wholesome, “good”. They can even go so far as to use the word God and sweetly speak of their younger years spent singing in front of their home congregations. But please, don’t mention Jesus. It’s too overtly Christian to openly follow Christ, and a worship pastor most certainly openly follows Christ. And let’s not use the word “pastor”. It’s a bit off-putting. Too staunchy and strict. No fun. We could sell a youth leader or song leader, but a pastor is just a bit too much. Don’t you agree?

It blows my mind that a show which could produce Adam Lambert would be uncomfortable with a pastor. But, maybe I shouldn’t be. I mean, Adam Lambert is everything American’s love, right? Outspoken, flamboyent, overtly sexual, pushing the boundaries of what is “acceptable”, shocking, but not Marilyn Manson-like. A male counterpart to Lady Gaga, perhaps.

I don’t mean to come across as self-righteous. That’s a distinctly Christian trait I can’t stand. It’s just that I get tired of this perception that Christians are unacceptable. Most of us are just trying to show God’s love to a world in need. We want to reach out, to bring hope, to care for the world and those who dwell within. And I don’t like double-standards. If the judges don’t want an open Christian on their show, fine. But say that. Don’t be hypocritical about it. Isn’t that what Christians are supposed to do? 🙂

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

My mom came down to help me with the boys this past week while my husband was away at a conference. One of the wonderful things about my mom is that she is a MOM. When something needs to be done, she just jumps in and does it. Poopy diaper, let’s go change it. Getting Garrett dressed, clothes are ready to go. Need some coffee, already brewing. Dinnertime, on the table. Lunch is made the night before, clothes are folded, dishes are done, floors are swept and kids are bathed. Spoiled? Completely. But sometimes, I need that. Maybe it’s being one of two girls growing up. Parents tend to respond differently to daughters than sons. My sister and I have always been Mommy and Daddy’s girls. But it’s more than that. My parents and I have a deep and meaningful relationship. And although they will always do whatever they can for me, they know that my sister and I both love them and respect them. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my parents, and I am truly grateful for the love and support they show to me.

I think if I can be half of the mom my mom is to me, my boys will be in pretty good shape!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

I’ve been getting more interested in the national health care debate now that it seems something is finally going to happen. Although I’m excited at the prospect of more working class Americans receiving health insurance benefits, and I’m thrilled that some limits will be put on insurance companies, I’m not happy with the way it’s all come about–especially the 1 TRILLION dollar price-tag. The bargaining and bribing and additional spending for personal pet projects once again demonstrates the selfish nature of American politics with politicians out to get what’s best for them, not the people they were hired to represent. Just once, I would like to see politicians forget about their own pride, agendas, and ambition and do something that would truly impact and better the lives of the poor ,the marginalized, the oppressed, the struggling. And lo and behold, in this season of miracles, I witnessed just such an event.

A few months ago, it was brought to the attention of our local state senator, Jack Goodman, that there were a number of families within his district that would not have enough resources to put a Christmas meal on the table. So, he decided to act. Working with local business, Senator Goodman created the Season of Hope campaign to provide a Christmas meal for families in need. Each family in need received a bag filled with enough food to feed 4-8 people. Included were canned vegetables, stuffing mix, gravy mix, fresh squash, fruit, a bag of potatoes, and a gift certificate for a meat purchase. Oh, and dessert. Our church participated in the project by becoming an assembly center. Last Tuesday evening, over forty volunteers gathered and put together over 400 bags of food in about 45 minutes. The food was delivered later in the week to each family who had signed up, and extra bags were created and distributed for anyone else who had need.

Senator Goodman did what every American politician should be doing. He listened to the needs of his constituents, he worked within the community he represents, and he truly made a difference in the lives of people in need. Not only that, this conservative politician just won the vote of a liberal “commie”, as my husband would call me. 🙂 All in all, not a bad day’s work.

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I have so many warm memories around the holiday that I have always been joyful for the season to arrive. Yet this year, I must confess that has not been the case. I don’t know if my husband is wearing off on me (he truly hates Christmas) or if our culture has just so completely bastardized the holiday that any semblance of what it should be is gone. Full disclosure here would necessitate me saying that I’ve been a little depressed lately in some other areas and the semester is drawing to a close which means a grading frenzy has ensued. Also, the weather has been cold and dreary. Yet, even with that, there’s something bigger going on in our culture when it comes to the de-Christ-mas season.

I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately, trying to find what it is about Christmas that I’ve always loved so much. The thing that comes back over and over again is the warmth. My parents were both educators, and as such had time off during the holidays. We spent that time together as a family, truly enjoying the experience of being together. Our grandparents were usually always with us for the holidays. We played cards, made cookies, watched Christmas movies. But the highlight for Christmas for me was our Christmas Eve tradition. Each year on Christmas Eve, our church has a silent candlelight service of the Lord’s Supper. We would go together as a family and sit in the softly lit church. The only sounds were the pianist and organist playing Christmas hymns and the creak of the wooden floors as families came in. The church would be packed, whole families together, grown sons and daughters returning home. Looking around, you could see the contentment on each face. Sitting and looking at the altar, listening to the hymns proclaiming Christ’s birth, staring at the golden trays containing the crackers and juice that symbolized the body and blood of Jesus, you couldn’t help but contemplate the meaning of the celebration. As the deacons passed around the trays, the pastor, still silent, would lead the congregation in taking the crackers and juice, and you could hear the entire congregation act in one accord. Even my sister and I, before we were old enough to partake of the elements, would bring hard candy to eat at the appointed time so that we too could participate in this sacred act.

After worship, we stepped back out into the cold where we warmly greeted our fellow congregants. You could hear laughter tinkling through the night and calls of Merry Christmas echo down the street. Our family would pile back into the car, and we would head out to see the Christmas lights. We put Christmas music on and headed out of town to a little country drive-through light display. After getting mini candy canes from friendly faces in Santa hats, we drove back to town and through the neighborhoods of the community looking at the lights on display at people’s houses. Once home, we would have a dinner of deli meat and cheese sandwiches, decorate cookies, watch a Christmas movie, and head for bed.

Every year, in the early morning hours, my sister would tiptoe into my room and snuggle into bed with me. As we waited for the sun to rise and my parents to wake, we’d spend the time talking and laughing. As girls we talked with breathless anticipation about what might be waiting for us under the Christmas tree. As young women we talked about our hopes and dreams. And as adults, we talk about our own families and experiences. It’s our own sacred time that draws us back together as sisters.

Once Mom and Dad were finally up and ready to go, breakfast was in the oven, we went to the tree. But before anything else happened, my dad would read for us the Christmas story out of Luke. We’d listen to the familiar words anew, talk about how the significance of them had changed for us over the year, and remember that greatest gift of all. Only then did we descend upon our own gifts, handing out one at a time and giving everyone a turn to oooh and ahhh over each gift.

Our day would end with family friends, either going to a movie or eating leftover turkey and playing Trivial Pursuit. It was never anything fancy. But, in looking back, Christmas for me always began with the birth of Christ. It was an intentional focus on something beyond ourselves; beyond shopping, and baking, and decorating, and partying. It was simple, it was pure, it was holy. And that’s what I’m missing this Christmas season. The simplicity of the message–God came to Earth, the purity of the message–God came to Earth as a newborn baby, the holiness of the message–God came to Earth to sacrifice himself so that we, his beloved creation, could live freely. I don’t want to watch an endless parade of commercials blaring on about savings and gifts, and they’ll love you forever if you buy this. I don’t want my kids to go sit on the lap of some stranger in a red suit who listens to kids spill their hearts out about gifts he can’t actually deliver on. I don’t want to listen to “Jingle Bell Rock” and I don’t want to rock around a Christmas tree. I want to sit again in the silence, to kneel at the manger, to peer into the face of a newborn and know that deep within those eyes lie the answers to all of the mysteries of the universe. I want to be filled with that love that has no bounds and to give that love to others. I don’t want to end this season being full, but being filled. I want to truly say to everyone I meet, “Merry Christ-mas!”

Blessings and Peace,
Sara