Grandma's got it right

Our college president once said that while many clamor to prove that they have found the secret to solving this problem or the other, Christians can state with confidence that, even if she listens to different music and dresses funny, Grandma has had it right the whole time. When it comes to our basic theology, the Bible is quite clear about the truth. We are wise to look to our experienced elders for a good start, and a continual guide, as we develop our own theology. It is for this reason that I was thrilled to spend an afternoon with a seasoned Christian, even if much of her wisdom had to come to me in a difficult language.
Some of the things she said were really interesting to me. I'll give you the translation and let you decide what you think of it.

1. She had each of us explain how God called us into our work. My friend then asked her how God called her to missions work. She replied, "God never called me to missions. He called me to follow my husband." She then went on to say that there were plenty of times she cried as a result of that calling, but she has no regrets.
And so I wonder, for how many women is that the case? I believe that some are specifically called to a ministry. In that case, if they plan to get married they need to find a man who has the same or a compatible calling. But some women, to the horror of modern western sensibility, really are called to follow their husbands and support his ministry. Maybe a lot more of them than will admit it.

2. Her husband was in a car accident. When the police arrived they saw the car and assumed the driver was dead. If I understood her correctly, he not only survived the accident, he also survived being hit by a passing vehicle after he got out of the wrecked car. One of his friends commented to him later, "God must want you around longer because he has more for you to do." He replied, "God doesn't need me to do anything. He isn't done doing things IN me." I found that to be a really interesting perspective. I fall too easily into a "git r done" attitude and fail to remember that God cares more about developing a man after his own heart than finishing my latest project.

3. She knew her husband for some time before they started a romantic relationship. She had always admired and respected him but had no idea that he liked her and had never entertained the thought. When he told her of his interest, she took some time to pray about it. She wanted to marry a man who had committed all of his life to God. This man fit the description. She felt God telling her that he would bless whichever decision she made about this man, but that she really did have to chose whether or not she would love him, and then stick to her decision. She chose to love him, and as a result God blessed her choice and "je suis tombe d'amour" (I fell in love).
Attraction is an emotion that can seem uncontrollable and irresistible. But it is something that God has given us control over, with His aid, and He expects us to be wise in our relationships. Whether we are on the pursuing or responding end of the relationship, we need to make certain that we present our emotions and cravings (or lack thereof) to God for His guidance before we act on them.

Cool!

Today I got a four course meal when I wasn't planning to eat lunch at all!
Our normal ride to church decided to attend a different one. My friend and I decided, therefore, to take public transportation to church, and go directly into Paris afterwords to make good use of "dimanche gratuit" (free museums the first Sunday of the month!). However, when the service ended my friend started talking to the lady sitting next to him. We talked for a while, and then she invited us to her house. We had a delightful time. She and her husband were in ministry for years. He has died and she is still involved, I think, in a lot of churches in Paris. So we talked a lot about calling and ministry and life- almost entirely in French, I might add- and she fed us very well. It was a wonderful time, and very encouraging.

After that we went to the national museum of modern art at the "Centre Pompidu." That was about what I expected. No, actually it was worse. My friend and I were hoping to find a modest selection of works that were actually good and a few more that were strange enough to be entertaining. We found two or three that were good and about 10 more that were mediocre. We found one that was fantastically strange. And one or two others that were mildly amusing. A lot of it was unimpressive. But a lot of it was also just plain disturbing. Much of it was sexually themed. Not glorifying sex, for the most part. Worshiping it, perhaps, but more out of fear than of adoration. Fortunately, thanks to the highly abstract nature of most of it, there weren't a whole lot of things that were actually pornographic, and I could just avoid paying too much attention.

However, there was a whole temporary section that was devoted to feminism. We glanced in the first room. Um... yeah. Not cool. We made a quick sweep through the safest looking part of the exhibition and then left rather quickly.

And I learned something nifty. Whenever I have financial problems, all I need to do is hang a metal snow shovel from the ceiling and I will be able to pawn it off on a gullible modern arts guru for good cash!

Awww...

I got a package today from my mom with a whole bunch of pictures from home. It made me really miss my family a lot. If I had gotten it on a rainy day it would have been really miserable, actually. But God gave us one of the most beautiful days imaginable today. So as soon as I got done looking at the pictures I pulled the bicycle out of the garage and went for a good long ride. There is nothing like sunshine, a very slight chill, the smell of spring, and a mild physical effort to make me feel fantastic.

On another happy note, I have been singing "Alors, entend nos coeurs" ("Listen to our Hearts," by Steven Curtis Chapman) for a couple of weeks. On Tuesday I found the guitar chords online. They are difficult, but learnable. I also found the chords for "The Great Adventure." Those could keep me busy for quite a while. SCC is a super good guitar player, but fortunately those are two of his easier songs.

And it's the weekend! I am looking forward to getting caught up and relaxing a little. I will NOT be watching the superbowl because it starts at midnight my time. Besides, a far more fascinating television event begins on the 10th. Yay, Olympics! I hope to learn a lot of French watching it this time. Have I ever mentioned that I went to UND at the same time as one of the guys on the US olympic hockey team? I maybe even saw him once in a while. I think that makes me pretty much famous.

And tonight, I am going to attempt tacos. Without taco sauce or salsa. I've got tomato paste and various fun spices from the Asian market that might do in a pinch, and home-made flour tortillas. Mmmmmm!